June 5,2010 Relocation Cruise

[sgawlak]

If you are a firefighter or have a family member who is a firefighter, please send me a private message and I will ensure we pack a Toronto firefighter T-Shirt for you.

Only 7 packing days left

 

[sgawlak]

I have been looking at the train option from Dover (DVP) to Victoria (VIC) and there is an opportunity to add the London Pass.

Can anyone explain to me the difference between the London Pass and the Oyster Card?

Since we are staying on Cromwell road, we will probably just walk over to the V&A, Science and Natural History Museum on the day of disembarkation.

Possibly venture out to the Tower of London and the Thames cruise if the girls are up to it for the evening.

We are also looking at the option to jump on the Picadilly line from Gloucester to Heathrow the next day.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[desparatelydisney]

This one is for the ladies..

Would anyone like to share what they are wearing on formal night?! I need to decide if I am to buy a new dress or use one I have, so your comments will help me decide. DH is renting the tux so I also need to look the part
Alos, I've read about the dining rooms being a bit cold, is this correct? Would a pashmina/wrap do to keep me warm? I laughed when I got an email from DCL this week telling me to bring a scarfe and gloves

Only 9 days now until we're in Barca-single digits!!

Oh, and also, is anyone dressing for pirate night. DS has a pirate outfit I may or may not bring...I don't think i'll be wearing anything piratey though I may look for a skull and crossbones t-shirt or something.

I'm wearing a black cocktail dress with a red beaded shawl for formal night. DH is renting the tux. For Pirate night, I have a costume from Mickey's Pirate & Princess Party in '08 but whether I bring it or not will depend on the how stuffed our bags are....still can't get DH to even make his packing list

 

[YenSid1222]

Hello Everyone,

I have created the promised spreadsheets for our Fish Extender list. If you would like me to email you the document, please PM me your email address. Here are some things to note:

1. I know many of you are going to request upgrades at the Port. I went ahead and listed your current cabin and you will see on the spreadsheets there is a blank space we can write down any adjustments.

2. I only made maps of the decks that we are currently occupying. If someone upgrades to a deck other than 2, 5, 6 or 7 (like me when they give me the Walt suite...complimentary, of course...) then we will have to make do.

3. The file is in .ppt (PowerPoint), if you cannot open it please let me know and I will send it to you in a different format.

Finally, does anyone know if the computers on the ship allow you to use any microsoft products? If I can access PowerPoint, I can actually make updates after our meeting and print pretty new copies...

 

[qashqaiqueen]

This one is for the ladies..

Would anyone like to share what they are wearing on formal night?! I need to decide if I am to buy a new dress or use one I have, so your comments will help me decide. DH is renting the tux so I also need to look the part
Alos, I've read about the dining rooms being a bit cold, is this correct? Would a pashmina/wrap do to keep me warm? I laughed when I got an email from DCL this week telling me to bring a scarfe and gloves

Only 9 days now until we're in Barca-single digits!!

Oh, and also, is anyone dressing for pirate night. DS has a pirate outfit I may or may not bring...I don't think i'll be wearing anything piratey though I may look for a skull and crossbones t-shirt or something.

I have a 2 or three dresses I can wear with heels. Which dress I wear depends on
1) If Virgin comes back to me and tells me I can put a case in the hold and

2 ) How bloated I look after all the the food and drink I've eaten

I'm definitely wearing a cardigan for the flight and will bring a couple of shawls/pashminas with me
No tights (translated for our American friends as hose). I'll be Veeting all the way up

I'm not brave enough to wear a swimming costume so it will be vests, kaftans and wraps for me during the day.

 

[karentan]

If you are a firefighter or have a family member who is a firefighter, please send me a private message and I will ensure we pack a Toronto firefighter T-Shirt for you.

thats really nice of you to do that for people, i dont know any firefighters, but its a really nice gesture

Would anyone like to share what they are wearing on formal night?!

i've got a 3/4 length (technically a prom) dress, in dark purple. i DONT wear dresses, but wanted to make an effort for the cruise, and this is the only one i found that i actually quite liked.
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs...dcrumb=Home~Women~Occasion+&+evening+wear
of course, i'm not that skinny

Finally, does anyone know if the computers on the ship allow you to use any microsoft products? If I can access PowerPoint, I can actually make updates after our meeting and print pretty new copies...

i'm not even sure if they have printers? then again i didnt take that much notice of the internet cafe last time.


not too long to go now! it's been a bit iffy at work recently so i just really need some time off now, just gotta make it through 5 more shifts.....

 

[adrianna_sarah]

This is what I'm wearing for formal night (in the teal):

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Women...AQU/Womens-Dark-Aqua-Appliqué-Maxi-Dress.html

I ordered the tall, so it hits the top of my shoes. I am wearing it with gold high heel sandals. My husband is an army officer and I've had more occasions to wear ball gowns in my adult life than most people. This time I'm choosing practical and packable.

As far as a swimsuit goes, I have another Miraclesuit on order. It's my third and every time I order I go up a size. It is truly miraculous though as pushes my unsightly bulges into better places. I can't exactly take a deep breath when I have it on but who really needs to breathe anyway? So overated...

 

[K8T]

I have been looking at the train option from Dover (DVP) to Victoria (VIC) and there is an opportunity to add the London Pass.

Can anyone explain to me the difference between the London Pass and the Oyster Card?

Since we are staying on Cromwell road, we will probably just walk over to the V&A, Science and Natural History Museum on the day of disembarkation.

Possibly venture out to the Tower of London and the Thames cruise if the girls are up to it for the evening.

We are also looking at the option to jump on the Picadilly line from Gloucester to Heathrow the next day.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Hi the Oyster Card is used for travelling on Underground, train, buses etc., Bascially you get the card, load it with money (pay as you go), or link it to your credit card (you can cap any amount).

It is a cheap way of using the travel network, without having to keep getting tickets. You can buy a Travel Card, too, which you buy for one or several days and you can use within the Zones you purchase. With the Oyster Card you pay to get one, with the Travel Card, you don't pay for the card, just what you use and it is paper, not plastic.

http://www.visitbritaindirect.com/ Should give you information about Oyster Cards and you can prebook them if you wish.

The London Pass is a card that you can buy for a set fee, that gives you 'free' (although you have already paid), access to various tourist attractions, I am not sure what they are, but probably things like Tower of London, Madam Tussaurds etc. You can incorporate a travel card with this too and sometimes they do a buy a London Pass, get a travel card free. The London Pass is only worth getting if you are going to visit a lot of places. I think it may also give you priority entrance, so you don't have to wait to get in. You probably need to look at the entrance fees for where you want to go and work out if it is a saving.

Bear in mind that the Underground is split into Zones. Zone 1, being central London and you can move anywhere within that Zone with a Zone 1 Card. If you try and go out that zone, your Travel card won't work, unless you have paid to access that zone, so look and see how far you are going to be going.

Heathrow is out in Zone 6 I think, so you need to make sure your card, if you get a Travelcard, covers that, or just buy a Zone 6 on the day you need it. There are automated ticket machines at all the stations and usually a 'manned' booth too. (you would load your Oyster with enough to enable you to get to this Zone).

Gloucester Road to Heathrow is doable, but bear in mind the tube is very busy, slow and grimy. If you have a lot of bags, you will need to negotiate some steps down to the platform (I am not sure Gloucester Road has a lift). You then have to walk along tunnels to get to the station. It really depends how mobile you are with bags and stuff. I am not sure how long the journey takes, probably 50 minutes or so I would think.

Alternatively get to Paddington, either by the Circle Line from Gloucester Road, or a cab which will be around £10 ($14). The Heathrow Express goes from Paddington direct, in around 15 minutes and is much easier to negotiate, clean and modern. I love it! Again you can price this up on line.

Hope this helps.

Kate

 

[Dopeylover54]

Hello Everyone,

I have created the promised spreadsheets for our Fish Extender list. If you would like me to email you the document, please PM me your email address. Here are some things to note:

1. I know many of you are going to request upgrades at the Port. I went ahead and listed your current cabin and you will see on the spreadsheets there is a blank space we can write down any adjustments.

2. I only made maps of the decks that we are currently occupying. If someone upgrades to a deck other than 2, 5, 6 or 7 (like me when they give me the Walt suite...complimentary, of course...) then we will have to make do.

3. The file is in .ppt (PowerPoint), if you cannot open it please let me know and I will send it to you in a different format.

Finally, does anyone know if the computers on the ship allow you to use any microsoft products? If I can access PowerPoint, I can actually make updates after our meeting and print pretty new copies...

Not sure about microsoft products...but I do remember there is a printer in the internet area on deck three, at least there was in 2008, the last time we cruised.

 

[desparatelydisney]

thats really nice of you to do that for people, i dont know any firefighters, but its a really nice gesture


i've got a 3/4 length (technically a prom) dress, in dark purple. i DONT wear dresses, but wanted to make an effort for the cruise, and this is the only one i found that i actually quite liked.
http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs...dcrumb=Home~Women~Occasion+&+evening+wear
of course, i'm not that skinny

That's beautiful, Karen!!

This is what I'm wearing for formal night (in the teal):

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Women...AQU/Womens-Dark-Aqua-Appliqué-Maxi-Dress.html

I ordered the tall, so it hits the top of my shoes. I am wearing it with gold high heel sandals. My husband is an army officer and I've had more occasions to wear ball gowns in my adult life than most people. This time I'm choosing practical and packable.

I think it will be great. There is nothing more handsome than a soldier in dress though

At 5', wonder where the tall would hit me


Since everyone else put a link to their dresses, I thought I would put a link to mine....picture is in purple, but I got black.

http://www2.victoriassecret.com/commerce/onlineProductDisplay.vs?namespace=productDisplay&origin=onlineProductDisplay.jsp&event=display&prnbr=GP-193557&cgname=OSKEYCLOZZZ&rfnbr=3198

Hello Everyone,

I have created the promised spreadsheets for our Fish Extender list. If you would like me to email you the document, please PM me your email address.

Scott....send you my email on FaceBook.

 

[karentan]

its 4.42am here, and wayyyy to early for me to be up for work
loving everyone's dresses though, formal night should be a blast! plus i've never seen gary in a tux before (he got married in a kilt), so we're definately going to get a photo done

 

[YenSid1222]

its 4.42am here, and wayyyy to early for me to be up for work
loving everyone's dresses though, formal night should be a blast! plus i've never seen gary in a tux before (he got married in a kilt), so we're definately going to get a photo done

Funny...I was just thinking I was up too late (again). But we have been packing and getting ready most of the evening. Now I just need to get some sleep before I have to do that "work" thing they make me do! It really gets in the way of my personal life.

 

[karentan]

I'm very much a night person so having to get up at 4am for the early shift kills me, i can't ever get an early night as just not used to going to bed early. Plus i had to get up earlier today as I'm picking up one of the other girls. Still, only 7 hours between me and a day off. Can't go quickly enough!

 

[idreamofwdw]

Beautiful dresses everyone, it's going to be a very welll dressed ship

I had forgotten that I had an evening dress-duh! It's been so long since i've worn one I forgot I had it and that I loved it! Will there be time for them to dry clean it on the ship before formal night do you think? There seems little point having it done before we go for it to get creased in my luggage?

I'm really pleased that there are other men wearing tux's, just need to find something very smart for ds and we're going to buy dd a new princess dress on board She has an Ariel one from last year and it is just beautiful. They just don't seem to have the same quality/variety in the Uk. Karen, you may disgree with this

Another clothing question-do you think Birkenstocks are acceptable for (non-formal) dinner?

Karen 4am is WAY too early to get up for work-it's night time!!!

 

[K8T]

WOW

These dresses are beautiful. Adrianna, I saw that dress and loved it, but thought I was too big for it!!!. puts my black number into oblivion!! OH always wears a DJ for formal night and dd a pretty dress. It is the only time we get a great photo together and dd in a dress without complaining. I don't think she will take a princess dress this time, now if it was Bolt, or Simba!!

Thank you so much for the FE List and the cabins I was wondering how I would find my way around - hadn't even thought of looking them up first!! (duh), now it all seems a lot less daunting and may do a couple of 'drops'.

Karen, why are you up at 4am? Do you have a long way to travel to work?

Printing off lables at work today, if I get a chance (boss is lurking again), for the FE Gift bags, then I am finished. I daren't let OH see how much space they are taking up, I didn't realise these little bits would make much difference.

Head is still whizzing with what I have to do before next Wednesday. I need to start making lists!

Have a good day everyone.

Kate

 

[qashqaiqueen]

This is what I'm wearing for formal night (in the teal):

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Women...AQU/Womens-Dark-Aqua-Appliqué-Maxi-Dress.html

I ordered the tall, so it hits the top of my shoes. I am wearing it with gold high heel sandals. My husband is an army officer and I've had more occasions to wear ball gowns in my adult life than most people. This time I'm choosing practical and packable.

As far as a swimsuit goes, I have another Miraclesuit on order. It's my third and every time I order I go up a size. It is truly miraculous though as pushes my unsightly bulges into better places. I can't exactly take a deep breath when I have it on but who really needs to breathe anyway? So overated...

Really nice dress. I'm bringing a couple of maxi dresses aswell.
I tried on one of my evening dresses yesterday. There were bulges in places I didn't know existed. So I will be getting out the spanx and any other contortion corsetry I can find.
As you said, who needs to breathe!!

 

[sgawlak]

Hi the Oyster Card is used for travelling on Underground, train, buses etc., Bascially you get the card, load it with money (pay as you go), or link it to your credit card (you can cap any amount).

It is a cheap way of using the travel network, without having to keep getting tickets. You can buy a Travel Card, too, which you buy for one or several days and you can use within the Zones you purchase. With the Oyster Card you pay to get one, with the Travel Card, you don't pay for the card, just what you use and it is paper, not plastic.

http://www.visitbritaindirect.com/ Should give you information about Oyster Cards and you can prebook them if you wish.

The London Pass is a card that you can buy for a set fee, that gives you 'free' (although you have already paid), access to various tourist attractions, I am not sure what they are, but probably things like Tower of London, Madam Tussaurds etc. You can incorporate a travel card with this too and sometimes they do a buy a London Pass, get a travel card free. The London Pass is only worth getting if you are going to visit a lot of places. I think it may also give you priority entrance, so you don't have to wait to get in. You probably need to look at the entrance fees for where you want to go and work out if it is a saving.

Bear in mind that the Underground is split into Zones. Zone 1, being central London and you can move anywhere within that Zone with a Zone 1 Card. If you try and go out that zone, your Travel card won't work, unless you have paid to access that zone, so look and see how far you are going to be going.

Heathrow is out in Zone 6 I think, so you need to make sure your card, if you get a Travelcard, covers that, or just buy a Zone 6 on the day you need it. There are automated ticket machines at all the stations and usually a 'manned' booth too. (you would load your Oyster with enough to enable you to get to this Zone).

Gloucester Road to Heathrow is doable, but bear in mind the tube is very busy, slow and grimy. If you have a lot of bags, you will need to negotiate some steps down to the platform (I am not sure Gloucester Road has a lift). You then have to walk along tunnels to get to the station. It really depends how mobile you are with bags and stuff. I am not sure how long the journey takes, probably 50 minutes or so I would think.

Alternatively get to Paddington, either by the Circle Line from Gloucester Road, or a cab which will be around £10 ($14). The Heathrow Express goes from Paddington direct, in around 15 minutes and is much easier to negotiate, clean and modern. I love it! Again you can price this up on line.

Hope this helps.

Kate

Wow, thanks for the great detailed advice Kate! I think I will just wait until we are at Victoria Station to purchase the Oyster cards.

We will definitely take your advice on the cab to Paddington and take the Heathrow Express.

Thanks again!

 

[karentan]

They just don't seem to have the same quality/variety in the Uk. Karen, you may disgree with this

i agree, we've had the same-ish line of princess dresses since i started 7 months ago. the little mermaid dressing up outfit we've got now is

Karen, why are you up at 4am? Do you have a long way to travel to work?

i was put on the early (delivery) shift today so had to be at work at 6am. takes me about 50 minutes to drive to work and had to pick up one of the girls from work on the way. back home now and VERY glad that i've got a day off tomorrow, had a sucky day at work today.

As you said, who needs to breathe!!

as long as you can eat in it, who needs to breathe too? i know us women can multitask, but eating that amazing food is much more important!


got the day off tomorrow, so glad, today really didnt go very well at work, there was a lot of moves, price changes, and a huge delivery this morning, coupled with not enough staff, not enough management and just a general feeling of chaos in the store.
still, 8 days til barcelona!! this time next week i wont know what to do with myself because the dog will be in kennels, and its just too darn quiet in the house without him

 

[karentan]

Will there be time for them to dry clean it on the ship before formal night do you think?

Another clothing question-do you think Birkenstocks are acceptable for (non-formal) dinner?

you shouldn't have a problem, i'm sure they're used to doing a lot of laundry before the formal nights! not sure if its just normal laundry or dry cleaning though, you might want to dry clean it before you leave, then just get it pressed on the ship. apparently the pressing prices are half of the price to get things laundered.

on our last 2 cruises i wore croc flip flops to dinner most nights and never had a problem. will be doing the same this time. its casual dress code anyway on formal night i'm probably going to wear black flip flops, i cant wear heels at all, they kill my feet and i havent really got any posh shoes (i live in timberland boots and flip flops normally!)

 

[adrianna_sarah]

That's beautiful, Karen!!

I think it will be great. There is nothing more handsome than a soldier in dress though

At 5', wonder where the tall would hit me


Since everyone else put a link to their dresses, I thought I would put a link to mine....picture is in purple, but I got black.

I'm 5'11" with heels! I really want my husband to wear his blues. I've been wondering if mine is too casual for him to wear them, though. Maybe if he goes with dress and not mess...

BTW sexy dress, and matte jersey packs really well.

WOW

These dresses are beautiful. Adrianna, I saw that dress and loved it, but thought I was too big for it!!!.

I'm a tallish size 14, which according to the Boden size chart is a UK 18. I put it on and my husband went nuts. It is very flattering to a curvy figure and very well made.

I think it was Karentan who had the purple dress??? Very sassy. The British officer wives that we were stationed with in Oklahoma used to buy tons of ballgowns at Half of Half and Tuesday Morning (chain liqidators of brand name clothes) to take back to the UK and resell to their friends. Said that the prices were too good to pass up.