| One of the questions I'm asked a lot about in my | | | | churches abroad generally require that your legs and |
| role as an Image Consultant is what to take on a | | | | shoulders are covered. Sandals or comfy shoes |
| cruise - usually by clients who have never cruised and | | | | essential. |
| know that I have. | | | | Casual Evening - For these evenings a pair of |
| My first cruise was years ago, so long ago that there | | | | trousers and a skirt in a neutral colour like navy or |
| were still two class ships, first and second class | | | | stone are ideal and a selections of nice tops and |
| passengers - I went on holiday on P&O's Oriana | | | | jewellery to dress them up slightly. If you are canny |
| (the old one) and I was ruined for life. As a second | | | | about what you wear and when it's useful to wear a |
| class passenger we were confined to the back of | | | | top for the evening and then use it on one of your |
| the ship and there were certain doors we could not | | | | days in port. |
| go through - still I didn't care - I was young and I had | | | | Informal Evening - I see this as a chance to wear |
| a wonderful time. The next year I went back on the | | | | day or cocktail dresses (just below the knee) or an |
| same ship and it had become one class and I could | | | | evening pair of trousers and dressy top. The chaps |
| go all over the ship - I couldn't believe how big it was | | | | will be wearing lounge suits so it fits together quite |
| and how much I hadn't seen the year before. | | | | well. Also if you have good jersey basics you can |
| Since then I've cruised again and again and have | | | | dress plain styles with costume jewellery and then |
| probably been on well over twenty cruises. I've tried | | | | use the same thing on days in port or casual |
| the dress down sort but my preference is for the | | | | evenings without the fancy accessories. (ex. A plain |
| ships that have formal evenings. To my mind the | | | | black scoop neck dress worn with black patent |
| dressing up is part of the holiday and I'm prepared to | | | | shoes/bag and silver costume jewellery on an |
| put some effort into it. A ship on a warm night at | | | | informal evening can easily be worn with white or red |
| sea with total darkness and just the ocean all around | | | | on a casual night and sandals and a scarf on a day in |
| with all the public rooms beautifully lit and furnished, | | | | port - I make my basics really work for their living). |
| piano music tinkling, champagne flowing and every | | | | Formal Evening - This is the time I get out my long |
| one in formal dress (even the waiters change their | | | | dresses and give then an outing - the fellas are all in |
| jackets and the crew wear formal attire) is a sight to | | | | dinner suits and it's impossible to go over the top. |
| behold. | | | | Chiffon and sequins abound. If you are on a |
| I tend to have five requirements if I'm packing to go | | | | two-week cruise and there are four formal evenings |
| on a Cruise when I know the weather will be warm. | | | | it's easy to wear one dress and the beginning of the |
| They are: | | | | cruise and again at the end (I may change the look - |
| Daytime on the Ship - For this I prefer lightweight | | | | say that I'd worn a magenta pink dress with silver |
| jersey separates, trousers, shorts, t-shirt tops, a light | | | | jewellery/shoes and a sequin bag - I might switch to |
| cardigan/jacket. Here you also need to add in | | | | black accessories or pink ones the next time I wore |
| swimwear and cover-ups, flip-flops etc. I prefer | | | | it - I'd also carry a different shawl, I always take |
| trainers, or loafers - something with a rubber sole so | | | | shawls as the air-con can be quite cool in some of |
| you don't slip on newly washed decks is ideal. | | | | the public rooms). |
| Daytime in Port - In port, it depends on the weather | | | | There are no weight restrictions if travelling from this |
| but if hot it needs to be lightweight - and of natural | | | | country so it's how much you can reasonable |
| fibre, whilst some prefer shorts and t-shirts or | | | | manage to take which will fulfil your needs. If |
| sundresses, because I burn easily I prefer lightweight | | | | travelling on a cruise for the first time don't worry |
| baggy crepe trousers and short-sleeved tops. It's | | | | about the clothes, use my guide and you won't go |
| also worth considering where you are going as | | | | far wrong. Enjoy! |