Black Tie nights - are there an alternative dining arrangments?

The biggest part of my forthcoming P&O cruise that I'm fearing are the 4 "black tie" nights. I don't own a suit, and the last time I wore a tux was back in 2005 at the world premiere of the Peter Jackon's King Kong. Since then I've been very much smart casual, but I don't wear ties and I dislike jackets.

Are there alternative dining options during those nights where formal attire is required?

The biggest part of my forthcoming P&O cruise that I'm fearing are the 4 "black tie" nights. I don't own a suit, and the last time I wore a tux was back in 2005 at the world premiere of the Peter Jackon's King Kong. Since then I've been very much smart casual, but I don't wear ties and I dislike jackets.

 

Are there alternative dining options during those nights where formal attire is required?

Hi, the answer is yes! On formal nights those who do not wish to participate in formal attire often dine in the buffet area.

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Hi, the answer is yes! On formal nights those who do not wish to participate in formal attire often dine in the buffet area.

Thanks, Mika6617. I thought that might possibly be an option (or alternatively room service). Will have to think. I remembered that I hired my tux last time, so I may look into that option this time.

Martyn

Thanks, Mika6617. I thought that might possibly be an option (or alternatively room service). Will have to think. I remembered that I hired my tux last time, so I may look into that option this time.

 

Martyn

No problem, I must admit that although I wear a tux myself, after the third wear I'm a bit 'formalled' out if you know what I mean?

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yes you can use the buffet ,but some areas of the ship will not serve you

unless you are dressed formally,

The buffet is not formal, just the normal evening casual. the Beachhouse is as well as was the Glasshouse last time I was on Ventura, despite P&O saying it was formal. The theatre and show lounge, a number of bars and the casino are evening casual as well. You will be OK, just enjoy.

If you get to a M&S you can buy a dinner jacket and trousers, shirt and dickie bow for about £75. that'll last for many cruises, premiers etc.

If you are with your wife/girlfriend she will love the chance to glam up. And she'll think that you look extremely handsome too.

Go for it!

The biggest part of my forthcoming P&O cruise that I'm fearing are the 4 "black tie" nights. I don't own a suit, and the last time I wore a tux was back in 2005 at the world premiere of the Peter Jackon's King Kong. Since then I've been very much smart casual, but I don't wear ties and I dislike jackets.

 

 

 

Are there alternative dining options during those nights where formal attire is required?

Love the name [emoji23]

I used to love the whole formal thing but as the years go by both my husband and I become increasing fed up of it - the novelty has well and truly worn off.

I'm going to be honest, on recent cruises the buffet quality has been in a terminal decline, but it's doable for a few nights.

What ship are you on? If it's Britannia I believe the Limelight Club is Evening Casual - great because you don't have to bother with formal in the restaurant or after dinner because you have your meal and entertainment in one venue. I believe the charge is approx £22pp. As mentioned the Beach House is another option. I'm sure at least one bar will accommodate a casual code too.

We have found room service surprisingly good and a couple of times on our last cruise we're happy to catch up with TV we downloaded onto a memory stick and eat in the cabin. I know that some would regard this as crazy but we like to relax on holiday and do as the mood takes us.

Hope that helps - you know what you like and what you don't so don't feel pressured to conform unless it's your choice. I would add though that if we choose not to 'go formal' we do respect the code around the ship and avoid areas where it is being observed.

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No problem, I must admit that although I wear a tux myself, after the third wear I'm a bit 'formalled' out if you know what I mean?

 

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I tend to agree.

I wear a tux frequently during the year, and whilst I support it on the ships, after the third, I have had enough, especially in high summer.

I have just seen that our up and coming 17 nighter on Ventura, has FIVE, so we will be looking for an escape route at some point as well, after all, we are on holiday :D

I tend to agree.

I wear a tux frequently during the year, and whilst I support it on the ships, after the third, I have had enough, especially in high summer.

I have just seen that our up and coming 17 nighter on Ventura, has FIVE, so we will be looking for an escape route at some point as well, after all, we are on holiday :D

Five eh? Two too many there I think. For me it's a change to wear a tux as normally I don't in 'normal' life but you find the novelty soon wears off especially when you notice that more and more people on board these days tend not to bother by the second week. Still there's always options I guess.

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I can understand many people's frustration with 2 Black Tie events every week, that is OTT.

As said your option is Buffet but also the Beach House is casual on formal evenings. If you are going on Britannia then another option is the Limelight Club which again is casual for all evenings.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and mine is that two Formal Nights a week is entirely fine. There are plenty of other cruise lines that don't enforce Formal Dress and anyone who isn't happy with Formal Nights should really consider them.

My other half hates dressing up, so we do end up in the buffet on formal nights, ( with me in my posh frock!)

One gripe I have with P and O is that the buffet is often themed in the evening, so if you don't like curry or Mexican or whatever is on offer, there is not a lot of alternative choice.

If you do decide to splash out on a tux for emergencies, check out Matalan, they were much cheaper than M and S, it's possible Asda, Sainsburys and Tesco may have them in their on line stores. Probably cheaper than renting.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and mine is that two Formal Nights a week is entirely fine. There are plenty of other cruise lines that don't enforce Formal Dress and anyone who isn't happy with Formal Nights should really consider them.

There are not "plenty of other cruise lines that don't enforce formal dress" sailing from Southampton, though.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and mine is that two Formal Nights a week is entirely fine. There are plenty of other cruise lines that don't enforce Formal Dress and anyone who isn't happy with Formal Nights should really consider them.

OR alternatively people who don't want to wear formal on both nights can just use one of the alternative dining options as opposed to another line. That's why there are code choices. Isn't everyone happy then?

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Thanks everyone!

I may hire a suit for the two weeks I'm aboard the Arcadia. Gives me options, and should be cheaper.

OR alternatively people who don't want to wear formal on both nights can just use one of the alternative dining options as opposed to another line. That's why there are code choices. Isn't everyone happy then?

 

 

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Absolutely agree. Everyone should be happy.The point I was making is that P&O do have 2 Formals a week and you should know that when you book and they do offer alternative dining options so it is a matter of choice what you do. I have no problem whatsoever with that. I love Formal Nights and I get fed up reading about people moaning about them.

I don't think 2 formal nights is OTT at all. If you are going to the trouble of packing your glad rags, you need to know that they will get some use. If there was only one formal night, lots of folks would probably decide that it would not be worth the hassle of packing their finery.

Don't forget that formal nights are a big revenue stream for P&O - people will tend to splash out on better bottles of wine, more drinks pre and post dinner, plus the ubiquitous photographs. It is therefore in P&O's interests to maximise the number of formal nights, within reason.

5 formal for a 17 day on Ventura. We are doing this in August. Just as well we aren't flying ...

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Thanks everyone!

 

I may hire a suit for the two weeks I'm aboard the Arcadia. Gives me options, and should be cheaper.

Go online with M&S. Its cheaper than hiring for two weeks

Absolutely agree. Everyone should be happy.The point I was making is that P&O do have 2 Formals a week and you should know that when you book and they do offer alternative dining options so it is a matter of choice what you do. I have no problem whatsoever with that. I love Formal Nights and I get fed up reading about people moaning about them.

Just to clarify my point, I am not moaning, I participate in formal nights, but in the height of summer it can be a little uncomfortable, and as I attend a lot of tux do's throughout the year, I will choose not to attend all 5 on my 17 nighter on Ventura.

As stated, formal nights are purely revenue generators for the cruise line. What I will moan about is that having taken the trouble, they let people in the main dining room people that are clearly violating the dress code for that evening. I wouldn't dream of trying to get in wearing jeans and a tee shirt, but those that do clearly get away with it.

OR alternatively people who don't want to wear formal on both nights can just use one of the alternative dining options as opposed to another line. That's why there are code choices. Isn't everyone happy then?

 

 

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Well said Florry

5 formal for a 17 day on Ventura. We are doing this in August. Just as well we aren't flying ...

 

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I think that is the same cruise we are doing:cool:

We have 4 on a 12 night cruise on Britannia, too excessive I felt, 3 would have been appropriate. I will do all 4 if they are on the sea days but if 1 is on a port day I won't be.

Beach house or room service will be my alternative dining option, I've had no problem going to live lounge and crows nest not dressed formally on previous cruises.

Hi, the answer is yes! On formal nights those who do not wish to participate in formal attire often dine in the buffet area.

 

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You could go to the buffet area, but depending on which ship you are going, the buffet could be very poor. At least, the MDR could be "hit and miss" (on formal nights, the MDR cuisine standard does not necessarily always match up to the level of the dress code). We had bad experiences especially with the buffet recently on the Ventura - that was probably the worst buffet cuisine we have had on our 10 cruises. The buffet dinner was so bad that after taking the food, we tasted it and we simply could not swallow any more . We just left it and walked off.( This has been discussed extensively in other P&O threads, so will not go on any more here). So, really, going to the buffet is not always a proper alternative.