Trish Berry, May 2025
(Banana Republic Linen Blouse, Gold Rings and Bracelets, Diamond Studs, Gold Hoop Earrings, Apple Watch, Gray Acupuncture Wristlets to prevent sea sickness, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish, (299 Pucker Up)
You’ve flown into the port or you’ve driven to the port. You’ve had on the same clothes all day long. You get to your room, which is available to you usually around 1:00 p.m., and your luggage is still in the bowels of the ship. You wait patiently. You know your luggage will be delivered. There are as many as 6,500 people on the ship. That is a lot of luggage. You have a set time for dinner. The time for dinner comes, but you head to Main Dining because you know it’s okay to go dressed as you came on the ship that first night. You may be rumpled, wrinkled but never cranky because no one is cranky on a cruise ship. Those who sail are happy to be there, happy to wait their turn for anything, even their luggage.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is very understanding of any delay in getting our luggage so there is much leniency in recommended dress code for the first evening. It’s a come-as-you-are affair that first night. Some, once boarding the ship, go directly to the pool, as they have traveled with their swimsuit under their clothes. Swimsuits are never allowed in Main Dining, but with something on to cover the swimsuit, such as a beach coverup, that attire is acceptable the first night. You cannot be wet in Main Dining. You cannot be barefoot in Main Dining. But, on that first night, there is much understanding from the cruise line. They welcome you.
Always wear compression stockings when you travel a great distance where you are seated for a long time. Below is my collection of compression stockings.
These can be purchased at Walmart, any drug store near you, or on Amazon.
I wear them openly, if I have on shorts, so the entire world can see because a vein in my leg was damaged when I had a DVT (deep vein thrombosis). That leg throbs at times even now, seven years later, and the compression stocking makes the throbbing go away. There is no solution for that throbbing. I will always have that throbbing, but it does not prevent me from enjoying life from day to day.
If I’m in Main Dining, the compression stocking on that one leg is covered by my clothing. Or, I have a compression stocking in my handbag that I can discreetly slip up on my leg if I’m going to be seated for a long time.
When traveling for a South Pacific cruise, you will be flying for long periods when coming from the United States. This is a dream-of-your-life cruise. It lasts 18 days. I would suggest you fly in the day before ship departure because there could be a delay in your flight. Stay in a nice hotel for that one night. There are many to choose from.
You fly from the US to Sydney, Australia, then on to Bay of Islands, New Zealand, then Papeete, Tahiti, then on to Moorea, French Polynesia, then on to Raiatea, French Polynesia, and on to Honolulu, and Oahu, Hawaii. Then you have your flight home. Lots of sitting on planes and in waiting areas. Put on those compression stockings!!
It was a number of years ago that I had the blood clot. Blood clots are stealthy. In layman’s terms, it’s when your blood sticks together (coagulates) into a tiny, minute thing, and clogs the direct flow of blood. It can cause great harm. These clots can travel to your heart or lungs. They can develop anywhere in your body – arms, legs, lungs. Blood clots cause death. I had known someone who had had a blood clot in their leg so I knew the symptoms. Pain on my ankle bone when I had not hit it on anything; red, white and blue discoloration; warm to the touch; swelling. I went to urgent care, had an ultrasound, and one DVT was discovered along with another small clot that was not considered dangerous. Blood tests were run, and I was put on a blood thinner for six months. To this day, I am on a daily 81 ml Aspirin. I always will be.
What causes blood clots? In my case, it was estrogen, but your age (I was 69 at the time), pregnancy, obesity, smoking, certain medical conditions, dehydration and prolonged sitting. So, NO prolonged sitting. Get up and move around when vacationing. On an airplane, go to the bathroom at least once an hour. Intermittently, get up and stretch, moving your entire body around. Put on your compression stockings, both legs, when on those long flights or when sitting for hours and hours. If you work at a desk, wear compression stockings.
Movement means more fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!