20040131 ~ Cruising Jan 31 2004 Western Who's with us?

[Cap]

Must have been quite a party. Randy's not up yet, and it's well past 5:00 AM.

It's a little warmer here today - up to 14 F, with 1 - 3" of snow forecast.

I got my snowblower started last weekend. I'm glad I had the electric starter, because it sure wouldn't have started on one pull of the cord. Guess I'll have to double underline the April "summerize snowblower to do item this year.

We're off to breakfast out - not as nice as Palo's brunch, but the waffles (round, no ears) are great and I don't have to cook the bacon.

Hope you all have great days. Go easy on the asprin, you late night party-goers.

 

[The4OfUs]

Just reading a thread on the main cruise board where someone doesn't want to dress up for formal night, and there are people there saying "well gee, that's ok, it's YOUR vacation, do what you want, blah blah blah"...on one hand I can totally see where they're coming from, but on the other, it does affect the general atmosphere when people deliberately ignore, or even worse, mock the "recommendations" (as noted by one of the posters there, whose tablemates showed up in shorts on formal night).

Anyhow, I'm taking the "to each his own" approach, but we are dressing up on formal and semi-formal nights, as well as Palo, and I can't wait!

I had already asked about the guys - DH is going with his suit for both formal and semi-formal nights, and he looks great in them...but what about you women? How fancy do you get? I have 2 best friends who have some amazing closets and I'm going to raid them...but I wanted to get an idea of what you see on board before I do! Full out ball gown type things, xmas party "nice" type things, bridesmaid dresses type things? I have plenty for semiformal night, but I want formal night to be all fancy and magical...

(yes I'm a dork)

 

[Kabuli1]

Nikki, I like to dress up, but I have no idea of what fits me this year! AND buying new is out of the question! Randy will wear a suit the three nights, I'll probably wear a long black dress w/ a sparkley jacket for formal and a dressy dress for Palo and Semi Formal night and Jill will wear fancy dresses left over from prom/homecoming etc. Sounds like I should try on some clothes today! I guess I don't buy the "it's your vacation" arguement. If I were on vacation in most of the big cities in the world I'd dress up for dinner at a nice place. My level of dressing up wouldn't measure up to what many people wear - but I try my best. However, my vacation is not ruined by what others wear. Dean, that doesn't mean you should show up to formal night in your speedo! I might have to ask for different tablemates!

Cap, must be nice the retirement thing! Oh I forgot to tell you earlier, I love playing cards! What are we going to play?

What to do today? Pack, or pack? Any Advice?

Karyn

 

[The4OfUs]

Sounds like what I was planning to try to find, Karyn - tell me why guys can get away with wearing the same suit every night when I have to find a few dresses to get by in! *grin* Actually, I wouldn't want to wear the same thing, so I'll stop complaining now.

I went back to the thread in question about not dressing up, and got a tad annoyed when I read one person's attitude that basically said that people who feel they have to dress up on formal night are either those that don't get out much or who put on airs while on board. Couldn't keep my mouth shut on that one, I mean come ON...I could easily turn that one around (but I didn't) to say that those that DONT dress up as requested are rednecks and uncouth...but why paint people with such a broad brush!

I can't believe you guys are packing already! I probably won't do that until the weekend before we go - or do you mean pack the house up?

 

[dheller97]

Wow, think I'm out-classed here. Had laid out the speedos to dry so they'd be ready for formal night. I'm way out here in the wilderness, and we "red-neckers" just like being comfortable.

But, if I have to, I'll dust off the jacket and dig out a Disney tie hoping not to drop food on it so I can use it again next voyage.

Dean

 

[goofyaboutmickey7]

my head feels like a football, maybe I should have wore my "Touque"on my head instead of my speedo. oh well did we have fun or what? for folks that are talking about semi and formal nights come on even Mickey and Minnie dress formal. You can see what annie and i and DD are wearing at the bottom of each post. They have tuxedos on sale at International chain right now for $99.00 canadian about 75.00 american, i'm thinking about it. if folks want to enjoy there vacation "their way" I think that is what the hot dog and hamburger stands are for. I like shorts and tees' and sandals as much as the next person but out of respect to other diners, myself and my table mates, I like to appear half decent. I definately would not think of wearing my speedo to the dinner table. H.A.D.D. EVERYBODY aRRRGGGHHHH eH Randy

 

[OKWMEMBER]

I'm totally with you, Nikki. There's a restaurant in Buffalo that we went to for special ocassions BECAUSE they had a dress code and people dressed up to go to dinner. Unfortunately, they had to lower their standards to stay in business. We still go there but it's not the same. Formal nights are a tradition on cruise ships, one that seems to be fading away, sad to say.

I think the deal on the Magic is the family thing and dressing up the kids AND adults, which I'm sure can be a hassle.

I'm sure you'll look fine, Dean!

 

[The4OfUs]

Hope I didn't offend anyone who perhaps doesn't like to dress up...that other woman really just pushed my buttons so I'm avoiding that thread now. Justify it all you like, it doesn't make it right to deliberately ignore the request of the dining room - are there different levels of formal? Sure! But to come straight out and say that anyone who wants to dress up either doesn't get out much or is "putting on airs"...please! Yes, it's your vacation, but it's mine too, and if someone came to my table on formal night in shorts, ridiculing those that dressed up, I'd probably lose it then and there, for destroying what could be a special atmosphere.

I bet you don't see this on ships like the Queen Mary 2, where dining rooms are seperated out by accomodation level, huh! *grin*



We're such a classy group here, I can't wait to see us all spiffed up!!

 

[OKWMEMBER]

Hey Cap! Gail wants to know if you ever got your DCL Passporter! We can try to find one here if you want us to.

 

[dheller97]

Cap, if you didn't find one, let me know. In my race to learn all I could about cruising, I now have two of them. Problem is, still not any smarter about crusin'

Dean

 

[kmc33]

I saw that thread about dressing up too! Now I have to go back to it to check out Nikki's post!! The one I thought was annoying was the person that suggested that if you feel uncomfortable dressed up with others around you NOT dressed up, then maybe you should eat somewhere else! Isn't that backwards?! I thought that's why there are casual options available at Topsider's, Pluto's etc so that people that don't want to dress up have an alternative!

Anyway, I haven't decided for sure what I am wearing... I still have to try on some things too. But, I may wear a plain black velvet dress for the formal night. It's probably more like Christmas party dressy. It's about 3/4 length dress with a jacket that has some scattered sparkly thingamabobs. It's not real fancy or ball gown sort of thing. And I am still trying to figure out the semi-formal/ Palo dinner. Well, I don't know if this helps. I know that when I have been on other cruises, there is such a range of what people wear to dress up. I like to dress-up and look nice, but I like to be comfortable too and not stuffed into something that I can't breath and won't enjoy myself. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

 

[The4OfUs]

...was that this chickie-poo made a downright insulting judgemental comment to justify HER not wanting to get all spiffed up, and no one but me said anything, but when *I* say something about it, suddenly I'm trying to start a flame war? OOOooo-kay then!



I think that "It's my vacation and I'll ignore all the recommendations and do what I want and to hell with the rest of you" attitude is downright classless, and I'm glad I don't have to deal with some of these folks, but whatever...I'm apparently ready to fight w/someone cause there's also a thread about people who do not pay for/use the DCL transfers, but still expect DCL to pick up their bags so they can get into their limos and not have to get all the luggage to/from the limos, or tip the guy for handling the luggage! Excuse me? You dont' want to pay or use the service, but you want the benefits? I started to reply and then shut my browser, cause I'm just being a witch today apparently. *grin*

Kim, I have a black velvet dress (minus the sparkly things) that I LOVE and have worn many times to xmas parties (http://trulson4.tripod.com/photos.html - down near the bottom you'll see 2 photos from past xmas parties, with my pretty black velvet dress - which I dont' fit into anymore *sigh*) - that's exactly how I expect to see people on formal night, a "christmas party" sort of attire, great description! OK, I feel better now that I know I'm on the right track for MY clothes. My daughter will just wear a pretty dress, she's easy to get dolled up, and my son, well, he grows so fast and is so picky we'll be lucky to get HIM into a nice pair of pants and shirt, so that's what he'll do.

 

[Kabuli1]

Well, I don't have a ballgown! I guess it's all decided, we're going to wear black dresses and the DH's are generally going to wear suits and Dean has promised to NOT wear his Speedo! So we'll all get along so long as you don't laugh at my Wallmart finest! (Actually, I bought my outfits at Chico's last year. Nothing new for me this year!) If my mom weren't coming over soon to help with stuff I'd go upstairs right now and try things on!

Oh, how I wish I could justify packing for the cruise and not packing the house!

I saw my Passporter today, somewhere, but I don't know where. I do know where my Passports are, tho, so that's good.

Cheers! I'll check in later!

Karyn

 

[goofyaboutmickey7]

Our Group Is going to have fun fun fun, regardless of how we are dressed. Because we all know that we all are classy!

Arrrggghhh Eh! Randy

 

[dheller97]

The4OfUs
with my pretty black velvet dress

kmc33
I may wear a plain black velvet dress

Kabuli1
I'll probably wear a long black dress w/ a sparkley jacket

With all of these lovely ladies, our group will be the envy of the ball!

Dean

 

[The4OfUs]

You're so sweet!

DD is trying to get me to buy her a new "formal" dress, and new shoes, and is using this "But MOM, we're going on a CRUISE!" card as much as possible!! She's now trying to get herself a new pair of high heeled clogs (very much the rage, because you KNOW that clogs in New England in the winter make SO much sense *rolls eyes*) and claims they will go wonderfully with the long black dress she has her eye on...

uh huh...

 

[kmc33]

WOW, you guys are machines!! It looks like only 4 (if I type quickly - so maybe fewer) more to go after this post to get to 1000!!!


Dean -- you are sweet!!! Are you trying to flatter us so we will help you pack?!

I think you can't go wrong with a black dress. On the other hand, I guess you don't stand out either since there will probably be plently more of them! At the same time, I don't think you can go wrong with a fancy gown either. I think there will be plenty of them too. DH came home with a suit, dress shirt and tie for DS -- all 'gently used' from the 2nd hand kids store. It is SO cute. The only thing is that he doesn't have any suitable (pardon the pun) shoes. DH is working on that. Oh, and by the way, I did forget to mention -- since we don't get out much and like to put on false airs, DH will be wearing a tux.

 

[Cap]

OK, I've heard that our Cruise Director perhaps needs a little loosening up in dealing with the cruisers. Perhaps we can help her by some ice-breaking questions. How about this one?

"Why do the inside staterooms not have windows?"

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by kmc33
DH came home with a suit, dress shirt and tie for DS -- all 'gently used' from the 2nd hand kids store. It is SO cute. The only thing is that he doesn't have any suitable (pardon the pun) shoes. DH is working on that. Oh, and by the way, I did forget to mention -- since we don't get out much and like to put on false airs, DH will be wearing a tux.

We had a suit for Tyler, but it lasted all of 2 holidays and then the kid outgrew it! *sigh* I'm going to stop feeding him. Speaking of dress shoes, Payless has great "affordable' dress up shoes for little boys - we used to get Ty's wingtips there all the time - again, a new pair for just about every holiday!

I love the tux comment...can we put that on the back of a tshirt? "Doesn't get out much and likes to put on false airs..." *snicker*

DH considered a tux rental, but he's going to see if he can fit in his dad's, and if not, the suit will do him...just talked to one friend and she has a RED velvet long dress, how risque is THAT!

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by Cap
OK, I've heard that our Cruise Director perhaps needs a little loosening up in dealing with the cruisers. Perhaps we can help her by some ice-breaking questions. How about this one?

"Why do the inside staterooms not have windows?"

:rofl:

"Is the Gulf Stream a fresh or salt water stream, and can I fish there?"