Category: Uncategorized

  • Main Dining Fashion – Library!

    Main Dining Fashion – Library!

    Trish Berry, December 2024

    I always pack a book when we go on a cruise; in fact, I pack three.  I can’t go to sleep at night unless I’m reading a book I’ve read over and over.  If I’m reading a new book, I can’t put it down and will read late into the night. I do this at home as well.  If I know how the story is going to end, then I can sleep.  If I don’t know how the story is going to end, then I can’t sleep.  So, I am always reading two books — one during the day hours when I can and one when I’m going to bed to sleep at night.  Works for me.

    It was new to me that most Royal Caribbean cruise ships have libraries.  Below is a photo of me in one of the most beautiful libraries I have seen on a cruise ship.  It is the Adventure of the Seas.  There was a great selection of books with plenty of room to sit and read right there in the library.  A nice quiet place that few people frequented.

     

     

    My next encounter with a great library on a cruise ship was on the Serenade of the Seas.  The Serenade had just completed a cruise around the world.  (We were not on that cruise around the world.)  The picture below shows that library, and it was packed with books for those cruisers on a long voyage. Those books were double-stacked. I crawled around the bottom row to see the books behind the front books. I spent a lot of time crawling around there. And, wow, did I find a hidden surprise.

    My favorite book during my lifetime has been ‘The Stand’ by Stephen King.  On this cruise in that cruise library was a Stephen King signed copy of ‘The Stand.’ I found it the first time I was in the library.  I took it back to our stateroom and thumbed through it.  Yes, I think it really was his signature, but I wasn’t sure because I have never seen his signature.  I couldn’t start reading that book again (have read it probably 50 times) because I would not have done anything else on the ship except read my favorite book.  I returned it to the library.  I wanted to keep it, to steal it, but I didn’t.  I wanted someone else to enjoy it. 

    Just think, that book, my favorite book, had been all around the world before we came on the ship.

    Writing a book to me is like a huge complex word puzzle that is so huge that it could surround the entire world. It is huge, really huge.  You have plotting, character development, setting, theme, conflict, hero, anti-hero, symbolism, and protagonist.  The writer is the one who puts those complex pieces together to make a book.  I have so much admiration for anyone who can write a book whether it’s crap or a brilliance by words.                                                 

    Almost every day I went back to the library to see if someone else had found that treasure.  It was still there. I would tuck it in a little bit more out of sight so no one would see it.  Change the places where I would put it.  What was I doing?  Was I plotting to steal it? 

    I cannot steal.  But I had an overwhelming temptation to become a thief.  I had found a rare gem of a book with the author’s signature.  What to do? What to do?  Each day.  Each day it was still there.  I would touch it.  I don’t want to say ‘fondle,’ because that makes me sound sick in the head, but I think there was a bit of fondling going on with the book.  But I kept putting it back.

    On the last day of the cruise, I went to Guest Services and asked if I could keep one of the books in the library.  I was told, “Oh, yes, help yourself.  You can take any book or books you would like.”

    Grinning like a crazy woman, I ran to the library.  Why hadn’t I thought to ask before then??

    Nooooooooooo!!!! It was gone.  My book was gone.  I crawled around on the floor, checking each book in that round book display.  It took several hours.  The book was not there. 

    Someone else on that cruise ship loved that book as much as I did.  It didn’t help the hurt I felt inside at the loss of such a precious item, but I knew only a person who loved that book would have taken it.  Maybe they had checked with Guest Services before I. Maybe.  Or maybe they just took it because it is such a glorious book.  (I was trying to find some good in the person who had MY book.)

    Or, they simply read the dust cover, became interested in the story and wanted to read it.  Maybe they had seen one or more of the movies that were based on the book and wanted to read the words.  The written word is always better than a movie. 

    The movies were okay, but the book is where you really get the feelings of fear, the concern for mankind in the future.  I have that same fear now for our world.  But Stephen King wrote of it many years ago, as he has done on many subjects.  A seer?  I think he might be. 

    I will always remember this incident with sadness.  I lost something.

    But I still have my old copy. I hope whoever took that book loves it as much as I would have loved it. Maybe they crept to the library on a daily basis to check to see if it was still there.  Maybe we passed each other on the stairs or in the hallways. Maybe we were side by side on a lounge chair in the solarium reading a book. Maybe we ate at a table near one another in Main Dining or the Windjammer.  (I would never think of sticking a fork in someone’s eye over a book, never. Hah!!)

    That book will make me always remember gator teeth, cornstalks, deep friendships, betrayal, and true patriotism. Again, it’s one of the greatest books by one of the greatest authors of my lifetime. 

    Wouldn’t it be something if we ran into Stephen King on a cruise ship???  All of us would recognize him.

    The ship would probably tilt to the side when we all rushed to him.  That’s the life of a celebrity, a literary celebrity.  Put a long beard on him, fake nose, black eyeglasses and a face mask.  He might get past us then, but only then. 

    Thanks for reading and letting me share my feeling of loss, but enjoy the libraries these cruise ships have.  It might lighten the weight of your suitcase.

     
    Trish
  • Main Dining Fashion – Pretty Jewelry and Ugly Jewelry

    Main Dining Fashion – Pretty Jewelry and Ugly Jewelry

    Trish Berry, December 2024

    White Royal Caribbean Scarf, Caribbean Dress Line, Faux Pearl Bracelet, Mermaid Scale Ring, Gold Bracelets, Gold Necklaces with Charms

    Pretty, shiny jewelry is not as lovely as a big sparkling smile.  Pretty, shiny jewelry is not as lovely as a laugh from the heart that rings across the dining room.

    I have old, wrinkly hands, as you can see in the photo, but I dress up those old hands any way I want.  (Remember, these are 76-year-old hands!!!!)

    I love jewelry.  Always have.  Always will.  But it does not need to be expensive jewelry.  I play with different rings and bracelets on the cruises I take.  I wear my good jewelry, but I also wear fun pieces. I found some fun rings in the Cayman Islands.  They are simple adjustable rings in various colors and are called Mermaid Scale Rings.

    I found these rings at the souvenir store at Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.  There are many things to see in this shop.

    I don’t usually wear cheap jewelry because of my allergies to certain metals.  Nickel is the worst.  A lot of the cheap jewelry being sold now can cause severe reactions, even leading to keloid scarring, which is an overgrowth of scar tissue.  If you develop this on your ear lobes, it can be costly to have removed.  

    I’m showing you a photo of me with some of the rings on, the store where they were purchased, and the display box where I found them on the counter at the back of the store. They are so cute and so cheap, $5.00 each.  (But I only wear them during dinner and then remove them.  I don’t keep them on long enough to cause harm to my body.)  The photo below is a picture of one of the mermaid scale rings I put on my husband’s little finger.  I thought he looked cute.  He did not think he looked cute.  Possibly a blackmail photo?

    Below is a highlighted photo of the tulip ring from the top photo. You are very special if you have a tulip ring. That means you won at Bingo. You press the sides to turn it on and off.  Some nights, a lot of people have flashing rings on their fingers.     

                                                             

    I also have fine jewelry that I pack.  I transport this fine jewelry in our roll-on suitcase, and I use a Yale Lock that can only be opened with a key.  All my valuables, makeup, and medications are in that case. I board the ship with this small, wheeled suitcase and take it everywhere with me until the rooms are opened at around 1:00. 

    Any fine jewelry I take with me is always locked in that suitcase with the Yale lock when I’m not wearing it and am leaving it in our stateroom.  I trust no one with my jewelry, except my husband and son.    

    Most of my fine jewelry came from my husband over the 54 years that we’ve been married, but some of it came from my mother, grandmother and mother-in-law.  

    I am allergic to jewelry that is not 14K or 10K gold. I can wear sterling silver, but I am a yellow gold girl.  I can wear gold-filled jewelry without getting a rash on my wrist, but I will not put gold-filled earrings in my ears.  I learned my lesson when I was a teen and first had my ears pierced. 

    (Fifty-nine years ago, you went to a doctor to get your ears pierced.  My doctor had a pair of scissors with a needle-like fixture on one end.  He snapped those scissors.  I almost hit the ceiling with the pain, but one ear was done so I had the other ear done.  I cried.  Some of my girlfriends would put a raw potato behind their ear, on the lobe, and an ice cube on the front of the lobe to numb it.  Then, another girlfriend would jam a needle that had thread in it into the lobe and pull the thread through.  They were successful, but I did not want to do that so I thought things would be better if I went to the doctor.  Well, I might as well have stuck with the potato and ice cube.  It was extremely painful to get your ears pierced back then.  And back then, you walked around with cat gut (as I was told) that was tied after it was in your lobe.  I had to pull that cat gut (??) back and forth until the lobe healed enough to put in earrings.  That must have been an awful sight to see.  That cat gut thread was black. It was impossible not to see it.

    Just think, short hair with black thread in a circle hanging from your lobes.  Ugaleee!!!!)

    I recently had another piercing in my ears so I can wear two pairs of earrings at one time.  Numbing creams are now used. To be on the safe side, I ordered my own numbing cream and put it on my earlobes before I went.  I wiped it off in the car.  I told no one at the store.  They put on new numbing cream.  I had a double dose of numbing cream.  I didn’t feel a thing.  Chicken?  Yes.   

    I wear three gold-filled bangle bracelets.  One came from my mother, one from my grandmother and one from my mother-in-law.  One is made by Marathon, another Bates & Bacon and another by Winard.  I have a smaller Carl ART.  These are dear pieces to me because of the memories.  These were popular back in the 1960s.  I wear them along with my Apple Watch.

    We are not back in the 1960s.  I wear what I want when I want, which is what every person should do. 

    The last time we were on the Serenade of the Seas, someone on our floor hung blue and white rubber bracelets on everyone’s door handle.  Those bracelets said ‘Serenade of the Seas.’ (See photo above.) That was so sweet.  I wore those bracelets each day we were on the ship.  If I knew who to thank, I would thank them.  It made me smile every time I thought of someone being so thoughtful of others on the ship before we even set sail.  You, out there, I thank you very much.  You made our cruise even more fun.  Hope to meet you one day.

    I have an Apple watch and an Apple phone.  We did not want to spend that much money, but these are safe items for us to have.  If the watch is close to the phone, I can call for help if I fall, I can answer phone calls, just by speaking into my wrist.  Look sort of funny doing that in the grocery store, but what the hey.  On the cruise ship, I get in lots of stair steps because we use the stairs as much as possible.  Most ship have covered walking on Deck 5.  I go there to get in my steps when I’m on a smaller ship.  I work at those steps, putting some energy into the, huffin’ and puffin’ so I get my heart pumping.  

    Whether you have a watch or phone or not, try to get your steps in.  Here I am at the computer typing while I’m telling you to get your steps in, but each step we take each day helps us.  My husband and I just try to keep moving around.                         

    Thanks for reading.

    Doll up with jewelry if you want.  Don’t doll up with jewelry if you don’t want.  We are all individuals who do our individual things.  Most importantly, have fun.

     

    Trish

  • Main Dining Fashion – Travel Medical Insurance A Necessity

    Trish Berry

     

     

    No one wants to hear Alpha, Alpha, Alpha, on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. That means medical emergency.

    You’re going to Main Dining to enjoy a fabulous meal.  A snapped napkin in your lap, stemware in front of you, along with all the forks and knives you need for a pleasurable meal. You do not want to choke on your food, stop breathing from a heart attack, or have a stroke.  No one wants that.

    You have to be prepared, though, when you travel to have medical coverage.  Medicare is not accepted on a cruise ship, or
    on foreign soil.  Blue Cross Blue Shield will not cover you. 

    YOU MUST HAVE TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE when you travel. YOU MUST!!!!  I cannot stress this
    enough.

    There are many travel medical insurance programs available. The ones most often used by cruisers are Allianz or GeoBlue.  We, personally, have GeoBlue. 

    We have not had to use it, hope we never have to, but we are at an age (76 and 79 – 2025) where there is the possibility that we would need medical coverage at one time or another because we are old.  Our bones are not as strong as they were (osteopenia sneaks in on the best of us).  We are more likely to fall because our balance isn’t as good as it once was. Our vision isn’t as good as it once was, even with eyeglasses.  Our immune systems are not as strong as they were, making us more susceptible to illness.

    A medical emergency is expensive when you are away from your home country.

    • One story:  Heart attack in his room.  Three jolts with the defibrillator, and his heart started again, but he was flown by helicopter to Nassau for additional treatment.  Each step along the way, he had to pay with his charge card, to be reimbursed when he got back to his home country after filing his insurance claims when he was home.  But, he had to pay with that charge card, so make sure you have a good line of credit on your charge card.  His sister was traveling with him and his wife.  The sister was staying in another room, but she had a charge card.  Between
      the three of them, they were able to come up with the $65,000.00 cost that he had to pay before he was reimbursed when he got home.  He never told me the travel medical plan he had, but he was reimbursed.  He did not stop cruising because I met him on a cruise that came after his medical emergency cruise.  He had five stents placed
      in his heart.
    • Another story:  Gentleman contracted a severe illness.  He became seriously ill, could not breathe.  In a foreign country, two hospitals turned him away because of his contagious diagnosis.  Once finally admitted to another hospital, he paid day-to-day on his charge card until he was well enough to travel.  Because of his diagnosis, he had to take a private jet home.  No airline would accept him as a passenger.  He went into debt for $40,000.00 for that flight. A friend loaned him the $40,000.00 with their charge card.   We met him on a cruise after his medical emergency, so he continued to cruise after that.  We cruisers are stubborn!!

    I read online there that the older you are, the less coverage you are given. Check the policies to see what kind of cap there might be on the coverage provided for your age.

    A GeoBlue agent told me that they worked with their policyholders on the phone while they are in a foreign country, helping them as much as they can. We carry our GeoBlue card with us at all times.  There is a phone number on that card.  We would call them immediately if we got into trouble.

    Royal Caribbean has a phone number that allows you to contact them if you have a medical emergency while in port.  That phone number is located in the daily Compass. With your Royal Caribbean app on your phone, you can find that phone number and call them from shore.

     

    My husband injured his back when he fell back on that giant Belize chair you see above. We did not need medical help, but it was difficult getting him on and off the tender to get back on the ship.

    Always be prepared for medical emergencies.  Get that insurance.  If you travel a lot, as we do, get the annual plan.  If you only go on one cruise, get the insurance for that one cruise.  If you fly to Spain for one of the Mediterranean cruises, make sure you have travel insurance.  Get the coverage for all members of your party.

    Women, just because you have a charge card with your name on it, does not mean you have a large credit line unless that charge card is in your  name only. My husband and I have a charge card that has a large credit line.  That credit line applies to both of us because we are co-borrowers on that credit card.  We have the same account number.  If one of us dies, the other can continue using the card and keep that large credit line. Many many years ago, the husband was looked upon as the primary  moneymaker.  As a result, credit cards were put in their names, with the wives being given a card with the same number but it was like handing the credit card to a 16-year-old.  The woman didn’t have equal rights as the husband.  Make sure that you are a co-borrower.  Make sure you have your own charge cards in your own name.  Charge cards at department stores are great, as they establish a credit history for you.  But, a department store does not give you a line of credit  You can only use that card at that store.  Keep your department store credit cards.  Keep building your own credit history. 

    Only a major credit card will give you a line of credit that will allow you to charge a large sum of money such as you would need in a medical emergency in a foreign country.  Also, you can always call a relative or close friend to help you come up with the funds using their credit card if you get into a medical emergency.

    Be safe.  Enjoy your cruise and trip abroad.  But be safe and have that medical insurance
    to cover you.

    Thanks for reading. 

     

    Trish

  • Main Dining Fashion — Important Muster on a Cruise Ship

    Main Dining Fashion — Important Muster on a Cruise Ship

    Trish Berry, December 2024

    Our safety onboard is crucial.  Royal Caribbean sees to it that we are as safe as possible, but it’s our own responsibility to be as safe as possible.

    When you sit at the terminal, waiting to board your ship, you do the first two steps of safety on your phone app.  Once you get on the ship, you should go immediately to your muster station.  The muster station is the place that you are to go in the event of an emergency on the ship where passengers might possibly have to board the lifeboats.  Always remember your muster station number and location. This station number and location will be on the same app as your safety check-in.  

    Once onboard the ship, when it’s close to time for the ship to leave port, the captain will occasionally come on the loudspeaker and remind all passengers that they must check in at their muster station before the ship can leave port.  We have never had a delay in departure due to someone not checking in at their muster station, but it has been down to the wire in some instances.  I would hate for them to call my name over the loudspeaker at departure time because we always know that it’s the person who has not checked in at their muster station.

    All cruise lines have to follow the rules and regulations put in place by the Safety of Life at Sea.  These regulations require the ships to have life-saving devices onboard the ship, enough fire equipment to extinguish a fire, and rules for keeping the ship stable.

    Many years ago, rock ballast and water ballast were used to keep a ship balanced. All those years ago when ships came into Tampa Bay, they threw the rocks overboard to lighten their load.  Even now you can find some of these rocks that have been recovered, split into two pieces (or more) and discovered to be geodes. Some are smoothed to make bookends or other home decorating objects.   I could write forever about my love of geodes.  Cruise ships do not now use rocks for ballast.  They use water.  The ships are structurally made to stay stable.  This stability prevents large movements by the ship, making for a more comfortable ride for the passengers. These are some photos of my geodes.

      

    There are requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard that have to be met.  We were on a RC cruise ship when we stopped at Key West, Florida. The Coast Guard had set up desk stations on the ship.  All passengers had to show their passports and photo IDs.  We never were told why this was done, but I’m sure it was for our safety.  We were delayed by two hours in getting to shore.  Some excursions were cancelled, funds refunded.  But we all knew that there was a reason for the Coast Guard to be on our ship.  No one complained. 

    Occasionally, boarding the ship has been delayed for a Coast Guard inspection.  Everyone is okay with that. No one has complaints.  We all know it’s for our safety.

    The app on your phone shows you how to correctly put on your life vest.  When you get to your room, locate your life vests so you can snatch it if you ever need to use it. 

    All the cruise ships must have life jackets, life rafts and lifeboats.  Regulations require that there are more of these life-saving devices onboard than passengers.  That’s to ensure that there are plenty of safety devices to save people.

    Fire on a cruise ship. A horrible thought.  But all ships must have sprinklers, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors.  You follow orders, go to your muster station. 

    Hope this relieves any concerns you had about safety.  The cruise lines do everything they can to protect their passengers.

    Get to that muster station first!!!!

    Thanks for reading.

    Trish

  • Main Dining Fashion – Self-Tanning for Cruise

    Trish Berry, December 2024

    A tan looks good on everyone.  It enhances colored clothing, whether white or black.  But some of us cannot get in the sun without a lot of SPF on their bodies.  I am one of those.  I have had several bouts of basal cell skin cancer and squamous cell skin cancer.  Luckily, these were caught in time because I go for an annual exam by my dermatologist.  I check my body on a regular basis; in fact, I found the two squamous cell cancers at home and called my doctor immediately. I avoid the sun. I wear a hat, an Eric Javits straw hat, and a sunscreen that is high in protection, like 100 percent.

    That’s the reason I use a self-tanner.  I think I look better with a self-tanner, less pale.  It took some experimenting to find the right one for me.

    We all have different skin types. Our heritage plays a part in that. I am 50 percent Irish, so I freckle. Freckles can be darkened by any tanning lotion, darkened to the point where they look like a skin cancer, waiting for a skin doctor to walk by you on the ship, stop you, and then tell you to see your doctor.

    Freckles are beautiful, spread across the nose, even along the arms and across the shoulders.  This is a little secret that I will share with the younger girls:  As you age, and the more sun you get in your younger years, your skin makes the decision to give you little marks here and there.  Some people (even doctors, really wanted to bust his chops when he said this) call them age spots.  My granny called them liver spots.  You’ve seen them.  You know what I’m talking about.  So they are age spots, along with my Irish freckles, but I prefer not to have the polka dot look, if I can avoid it.  So I self-tan to blend those freckles (or age spots) to a warm tannish glow.

    I have tried the L’Oreal Sublime Bronze mist spray in medium color.  If I spray it on one leg and then use a latex glove to spread it out, I get good coverage without really dark freckles.  This is a reasonably priced self-tanner. Available at Walmart or Amazon.

    I’ve also tested Malibu Hemp Golden Glow. This did not work for me. Malibu Hemp Golden Glow is white when it comes out of the pump bottle so I could not tell where I was tanning. If they added a hint of color to this product, it would help in applying to the skin. Malibu Hemp Golden Glow made my freckles very dark.  If you have no freckles, this would work for you and give you a great tan. This is a very economical product. Available at Walmart or Amazon.

    Equate Lovely Glow works for me.  My freckles do not get real dark.  I like this product very much, but it is getting more and more difficult to find.  I purchased this at Walmart, but the Walmart website shows that it is now out of stock. I hope they continue carrying the product. This is a very economical product.

    L’Oreal Sublime Bronze lotion made my freckles darker. If you have no freckles, this might work for you. It is an economical product and can be purchased at Walmart or Amazon.

    L’Oreal Sublime Glow Daily Moisturizer Lotion, medium skin tones, is the self-tanner that works best for me.  Instead of making my freckles stand out, it blends the freckles in with my skin. I don’t know how it does it, but it does.  I get an almost even tan all over my body.  I loved (past tense) this product.  It was reasonably priced, but now it is very hard to find and it costs more than I want to pay.  When it was available, you could buy it at Walmart, Amazon or Target.  You can purchase it on eBay and Amazon now, but the price is quite high.

    If you have freckles or age spots and want to hide them, there is a product made for you. Experiment to find a product that is best for your skin. If you want to let your freckles (or age spots) glow in the sunshine, that is glorious to see.

    My long-gone aunt had more freckles than uncolored skin.  She was beautiful.  She was a walking example of someone who cared less of what people thought of her and more of what she felt about herself.  She was wonderful.  But she also made me aware of taking care of myself so that I was happy with myself.

    Thanks for
    reading.

    Trish

  • Main Dining Fashion – Easy Style Cruise Clothing

    Trish Berry, November 2024

    This photo of me sitting in the car after a Main Dining evening shows me in a black jumpsuit. This was not a frugal purchase, just an old purchase. I have had it in closet since the 1980s or 1990s (still had shoulder pads in it, which I removed). It is a Liz Claiborne that I purchased at a small boutique in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., all those years ago. It is made of 82 percent triacetate and 38 percent polyester.

    I have what is called a “duster” on over the jumpsuit. This duster was purchased at my Salvation Army thrift store for $5.99. Royal Caribbean has tropical nights for Main Dining occasionally, and this is one of my favorites to wear because of the tropical colors of the duster. The label states that it was made by Fashion Queen. I have researched that name, but I do not think the company is still in business.

    Many of you will recognize the red car. It sits on the promenade. People have their photos taken there, as my husband and I did. Again, you can see the black shoes that I purchased on one of our Bermuda trips, the ones I purchased in the pharmacy.

    Not everyone dresses up like I do for Main Dining. As the years have passed, the dress code has gone from tuxedoes for the men and ball gowns for the ladies to a tie and shirt for the man, and a sundress for a lady. I wonder if as the future years pass, the dress code will become even more relaxed. I hope not. I like dressing up each evening, trying to look my best for myself, for my husband. It is like prom night, and I get to have prom night for seven nights straight, or however long we are on the cruise.  Below is a photo of me in a less formal attire.

    Enjoy your prom night or enjoy the evening of your choice. I have seen beautiful dresses, flowing gowns, sheaths that are sleek and lovely, and the cutest sundresses. All the women look beautiful. Their eyes sparkle, their smiles are big. We all have an enjoyable time.

    Thanks for reading.

     

    Trish

  • My frugal, affordable, creative styles for cruising

    Trish Berry, November 2024

    main fashion dining logo

    As you can see in the below photo, I also wear pants to Main Dining on Royal Caribbean.  I like to have my scarf around my neck (my neck gets cold), and a handbag.  The scarf is an estate sale scarf that I purchased for $2.00.  I add a touch of color to my handbag to match my outfit.  To find the right color to attach to my handbag, I find an old piece of clothing in the color I need in my closet and cut a strip that I can attach to the handbag with a safety pin.

    Gap Linen Pants, Kim Rogers Linen Top, Modified Flip Flops, Gold Bracelets, Gold Necklaces, Apple Watch, Vintage Silk Scarf with Claude Monet scene on it, Diamond Stud Earrings and Gold Hoop Earrings, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish (#299-Pucker Up)

    The white linen pants outfit above, is not a matched white set, but both are linen so it looks like a matched set. Another waddable of mine.  The wrinkles do not matter when it comes to linen.

     Kim Rogers, a brand I found in the past (when I shopped in department stores) at Belk’s.  I’ve always loved Belk’s.  My mom would take me in there when I was young.  The entire store smelled of gardenias, just like the gardenias beside my grandmother’s front porch.  The smell made me feel like I was in a good place, a place of love.
    I make my own evening handbags.  I have a black one and a white one because those are the core colors that I use. They are simple but utilitarian. They are large enough to hold by phone, tissues, reading glasses  and anything else I might need while dining.
    Whatever you wear, it doesn’t matter.  You will be you.  You will be making memories that you will carry with you always, memories as good as the smell of gardenias.
     Thank you for reading.
      Trish

  • Main Dining Fashion – Solid Black and Bermuda

    Trish Berry, November 2024
    I like solid black as one of my base colors.  I wear a black outfit at least two nights a week, switching it up with different accessories.  I can hang a white scarf around my shoulders and decorate with jewelry. Or, as in the photo below, I can wear black on black with an accent bow.
    Vintage Echo Black Silk Scarf, La Femme Black Dress, Stud Diamond Earrings, Gold Bracelets, Gold Rings and Necklace.  Black shoes were purchased at the pharmacy in Bermuda and have no name on them, but they are cute and comfortable. I bought two pairs of these sandals because I liked them so much.
    I buy fake Zirconia on eBay, usually made by Stauer.  Stauer makes lovely vintage zirconia pendants that you can switch around from outfit to outfit. I usually pay $10.00 for a pendant, but the postage is high so the end price is more, plus you pay taxes.  But, I could not go out and buy such beautiful pendants anywhere else for that price.  A lot of people are purchasing from Temu, but I have never purchased anything from there.  Afraid I would get carried away.
    The white scarf I’m wearing in the below photo was purchased at the Promenade on the cruise ship for $10.00.  I love this scarf and use it frequently because it really does keep my shoulders warm.
    Royal Caribbean White Polyester Scarf, Caribbean Clothing Midi-Length Dress, Gold Bracelets and Gold Rings, Gold Necklaces with Pendants, Diamond Stud Earrings, Apple Watch. And my rose sparkle ring that I won at Bingo.
    I am so very proud of this bow I made for this outfit.  It is made of a flimsy fabric.  After I had made it with my rubber band, it hung down like a limp flower.  What was I to do????  Well, Elmer’s Glue is invisible when it dries.  So I carefully put Elmer’s on certain parts of the fabric, elevated it on something (can’t remember what) after stretching that section out.  After it dried, I applied Elmer’s, stretched another section out and laid it on top of something to dry.  Wow, it worked like a charm.  I attach this bow, or any other bow, to the dress with a safety pin, a large safety pin.
    If you ever get to Bermuda, make sure you go to the Crystal Caves.  You can purchase an all-day ticket at a booth as you get off your ship.  This ticket allows you to use all the buses and ferries on the islands all day long. (Bermuda is a string of islands linked together by bridges.)
    We took the ferry over to Hamilton Township, caught the local bus to the Crystal Caves and loved it.  The cost to us for doing this was much lover than paying for an excursion.
    The caves are famous.  Some young boys were playing ball in the early 1900s when their ball went down a hole.  They climbed down to retrieve their ball and this is what they discovered. . .
    Below is a cute red phone booth that people have their photos taken in.  A visual memory of the past.
    Within walking distance from your ship is the Dockyard Museum. It is filled with this history of Bermuda. Go there. It is fantastic.
    Below is a photo the beautiful Main Dining Room on the ship we were traveling on.  Beautiful!
    Remember, what you wear does not make you.  It enhances you.  If you choose to dress up a little in the evening, it makes you feel good about yourself, go for it.  I like Main Dining simply for that reason.  Every woman I have ever seen in Main Dining has been beautiful.  Their eyes sparkle as they talk across the table, the smiles are wide, and they laugh a lot.  It is a joy to see. They don’t all ‘dress up,’ as I call it.  Some are in cute sundresses, their shoulders pinkish from the sun. Some are in elegant jeans with white piping and a white shirt and two-inch heels. They are all lovely. All women are lovely. That smile makes them beautiful. 
    Thanks for reading.  Hope to see you on our next cruise.
    Trish
  • Frugal (cheap) cruising clothes ideas

    Frugal (cheap) cruising clothes ideas

    Loft White Linen Blouse, Gold Bracelets, Gold Necklaces with Charms, Apple Watch, Faux Pearl Bracelet, Diamond Studs, Gold Hoop Earrings, Small Louis Vuitton Clutch to hold Apple Phone

    Trish Berry, November 2024

    I like solid colors for main dining fashion.  I have a white midi dress that I use a lot.  I wear it at least two times a week when we are away.

    I change the look my changing my scarves.  Yes, I use scarves a lot because I am an older lady (76), and I like to cover my upper arms.  Plus, it’s always a tad cold to me so I have the scarf for warmth as well.  The scarves take the chill off.

    To switch up the look of this white dress and scarves, I make a bow to go in the front that I attach with a safety pin.  Oh, safety pins come in handy.  I make my bows by wadding a fabric that matches my scarf, secure the back of the wadded fabric with a rubber band, cut the fabric close to the rubber band, punch in the middle of the fabric, and then put in a few stitches with a sewing needle and matching thread.  In the photo of me sitting at the table, you can see what I’ve done with the gold bow.

    Zesica Dress, Gold Necklace with Stauer Pendant, Gold Bracelets, Apple Phone, Diamond Studs and Gold Hoop Earrings

    I am a frugal girl. Most of my clothing comes from a thrift store in my area.  On Wednesday, the thrift store (Salvation Army) opens at 9:00 (an hour early) and all clothing is half price.  It isn’t like I’m going in and buying my neighbors’ discarded clothing because the clothing in our local store is brought in from different areas.  I never purchased Ann Taylor clothing, Chico clothing, Coldwater Creek, or other expensive brands.  My thrift store carries those brands. I snap them up.  Some of them have the original price tags on them.  On the half-off price days, I pay approximately $5.00 for a dress (sometimes less), $3.00 for a scarf.  Win-win for me.

    I also go to estate sales.  I type in estatesales.net and look at the photos online of estates sales close to my home.  You can do this by going to the site and putting in your zip code.  You will see all the estate sales being held near your home.  If I see expensive clothing in the closets (real fur from the old days), I will attempt to go to that sale, knowing that I will find silk scarves for $2.00.  Most people going to an estate sale are looking for decorating items, collectibles to resell on eBay or other online selling sites, and rugs.  But I go for the clothing.

    Have a great day.  Thank you for reading. My husband and I are both retired and love to travel.  Be happy today.  Smile and everyone will smile back at you.  It is our nature.  We are supposed to go through life with a smile as much as we can.  Bad things can and will happen, but always bring the smile back to your face because we have to go on through life, and a smile makes your heart warm and makes life easier.

    Thanks for reading.

    Trish

  • Main Dining Fashion – Welcome

    Trish Berry

    I am 76 years old and I cruise on Royal Caribbean ships, 30 cruises so far, and would enjoy sharing with you any hints I’ve learned about dressing for Main Dining, onboard casual wear and swim wear.  I’ve learned the hard way how to correct mixing and matching errors, how to travel with needle and thread, and dental floss, all items that can help you to look your best.  But most of all, I want to tell you how I’ve learned to dress the way that makes me feel good.  We should always feel good about ourselves and the clothes we choose can enhance our image, if we want.

    We can get dressy.  We can get sassy.  We can get alluring.  We can get fun, fun, fun. Our answers for happiness are within each and every one of us.  It isn’t always the clothes we wear that make a statement about us, but it’s how those clothes make us feel.  Whatever size we are, we must always love ourselves.  Clothing is just glitter.  Glitter filters off, but the core beauty stays.

    Thanks for reading,

    Trish