We mentioned fashion the other day (Diane von Furstenberg designing suites at Claridges in London), and here’s a follow-up: Dior has released their 2011 “cruise collection.”



We’re a little disappointed to see a major house dress women like sexed-up little girls. But hey, it’s not the first time a designer has run a controversial theme through his or her collection. And though there are many long dresses at the end of the collection, half of them remind us of the prom dress rack at Macy’s, and the final three look like something from a New Year’s Day float.

So much for our fashion-forward sense. We still remember the actual Christian Dior and that prejudices our judgment.

Regardless, the price tag alone will probably keep you from seeing any of these dresses on passengers aboard the big cruise ships, but there’s every likelihood that they (or a reasonable facsimile) could appear on a starlet at a dinner party aboard a Mediterranean yacht.

BTW, does your cruise wardrobe need a few new items? We must be on a DVF kick this week because we’ve noticed several appealing, well-priced, and definitely more womanly options in the Diane von Furstenberg boutique at Saks. Take a look for yourself.

(We like to mention this from time to time: Passport Newsletter never receives payment or compensation of any kind for the recommendations we make. That’s how you can trust what we say. That’s also one of the reasons our subscriptions are not free. Better advice than anywhere else, at just a fraction of the cost of a cruise frock.)

Here’s the second part of that Dior runway show:

Spa treatments are increasingly popular aboard cruise ships.

While spas have been installed on brand-name ships for quite some time now, they have evolved, expanded and become more important to cruisers in general, and particularly in attracting spa-goers to the cruising experience.

Recently cruise lines have realized that the spa experience is not just about getting a massage, but also about surrounding oneself in a cocoon of well-being that extends into one’s home as well.

And since home at sea is a stateroom, the latest development for spa lovers is the introduction of the “spa cabin.”

These special accommodations are located near the spa, with close or private access that means you can scoot between your room and the spa facility in your robe and slippers without having to traipse through public areas of the ship. Most spa-category staterooms allow unlimited access to the spa facility (although treatments are additional), so you can relax in a meditation room or solarium and soak in the atmosphere of the spa whenever you like.

The ambiance extends to your personal space as well. In your stateroom, you’ll find upgraded robe and slippers, a spa-style shower with multiple heads; and healthy alternatives in the stateroom mini-bar.

Of course, these luxuries are not part of the advertised lead price; spa staterooms are in the upper echelon of categories and are usually veranda-style accommodations or suites. If the whole idea is pampering body and soul, it makes sense to include the more gracious, spacious “home” that goes with it.

More on this topic in our next post.

Peg Prideaux, CTC
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