A special on Merinomink coats

Every night when I go to bed there’s a little newsletter on my pillow. It gives me details about the next day’s excursion and an itinerary of events on-board the ship from afternoon tea to late evening entertainment (a sample: “Join Kathy and Terry for the songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber and some little known facts about his Musicals in the Leda Lounge”).

Two newsletter blurbs always catch my attention. One is the “Cocktail of the Day” (yesterday it was a “Bahama Mama”) and the other are the “Hair and Beauty Specials.” There are three attractive women on-board who run the boutique, massage room, and beauty salon. There names are Gide, Leah, and Sasha but Ian, the ship’s hotel manager, refers to them as the Nautical Nymphs. I’ve yet to make it into any of their facilities but I run across one or other of the nymphs at various times and have spoken to them about some of the specials noted in the newsletter.

For instance, last night’s newsletter noted that Gide was running a special in the boutique on “Merinomink” coats. This was not a term I was familiar with. So when I saw Gide this afternoon I asked her about it. She told me that a lot of women like Merinomink coats because “they’re very lightweight and soft but also incredibly warm.”

Yes, I said, but what, exactly, is Merinomink. “It’s a blend of merino sheep wool and possum fur,” she said.

“So a wool and possum coat?”

“Well, yes. But we think Merinomink sounds more elegant.”

I’d have to agree.