Dress Code

I will be on Seabourn 6-12/6-27 Seward to Vancouver. Bringing a tux. I'll bet 80% of the men won't be wearing them...especially in Alaska! But this is the end of a dying era, and I'm going to be the well dressed man my wife deserves when she wears her new frocks. Will post here while aboard to let you know what the % of tuxes is.

I will be on Seabourn 6-12/6-27 Seward to Vancouver. Bringing a tux. I'll bet 80% of the men won't be wearing them...especially in Alaska! But this is the end of a dying era, and I'm going to be the well dressed man my wife deserves when she wears her new frocks. Will post here while aboard to let you know what the % of tuxes is.

I think the key words above are "the end of a dying era." Enjoy wearing your tuxedo!

 

I'm going to be the well dressed man my wife deserves when she wears her new frocks.

 

 

Spoken like a true gentleman. I hope she appreciates you.

Will post here while aboard to let you know what the % of tuxes is.

Could you also post the % of men with jackets but no ties?:evilsmile:

On our previous four Alaskan cruises (first one was in 2006, most recent in 2015; all but one were 14 nights which meant more than one "formal" evening), tuxes were definitely in the minority. If I had to guess, I'd say even 20% is being generous. As in Antarctica, most people visit Alaska to observe the scenery and wildlife from outside their staterooms and aren't particularly concerned with formal dress. We did not tote formal wear to Antarctica (and it fell over the holidays) and will not be toting it to Alaska in August either.

On our previous four Alaskan cruises (first one was in 2006, most recent in 2015; all but one were 14 nights which meant more than one "formal" evening), tuxes were definitely in the minority. If I had to guess, I'd say even 20% is being generous. As in Antarctica, most people visit Alaska to observe the scenery and wildlife from outside their staterooms and aren't particularly concerned with formal dress. We did not tote formal wear to Antarctica (and it fell over the holidays) and will not be toting it to Alaska in August either.

Was not aware that Seabourn had cruised Alaska previously?

I believe Zelker is referring her previous cruises on HAL and Celebrity. But to answer your question, Seabourn has been to Alaska before. In the summer of 2002, as a result of 9/11 and having to drop many European itineraries, one of the small ships was given a waiver from some of the environmental regulations and they cruised Alaska.

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I believe Zelker is referring her previous cruises on HAL and Celebrity. But to answer your question, Seabourn has been to Alaska before. In the summer of 2002, as a result of 9/11 and having to drop many European itineraries, one of the small ships was given a waiver from some of the environmental regulations and they cruised Alaska.

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I was referring to the dates Zelker quoted in her post. I am also not sure that one can compare dress codes of Seabourn with those on HAL and Celebrity.

Currently onboard Encore in the Med. I was actually surprised how "casual" the majority of the passengers were dressed most nights. Even on the 2 formal nights I saw maybe 3-4 men in tuxedos and most in dark suit and tie (although there was also khakis and Hawaiian shirts and tee shirts and a scarf). No one was in jeans but even the ladies didn't dress up as much as I am used to on Seabourn. We have such a casual life at home that "dressing for dinner" is part of the whole cruise experience.

I quote the Cruise Critic on the Encore.

"from the conversation and the amount of bling on show in the evenings, you can tell that most people are wealthy."

For people with good taste that says enough to suggest the sort of people you are travelling with.

Tony

:evilsmile::evilsmile:People think jeans are a problem! On Quest, at about 2130 last night - the Captain's Gala Reception, followed by Formal dinner - a rather gross couple waddled through the MDR wearing bathrobes!! Restaurant Manager and various other officers totally gobsmacked! We shall find out tonight if they have been identified yet - and presumably keel-hauled

Bathrobes and waddling suggest they are under some kind of professional care. Maybe they had escaped from the Medical Department on deck 3? Which way were they heading? To the midships elevators for the Club or casino or maybe from there to the Observation Bar? Just when you thought you had seen it all...

Seriously though, I hope that at least one of the 2 of 'em caught the stares and heard some mocking remarks or laughter from the MDR. And that started a blazing row between the 2 of them afterwards!

I hope they get some religion before tonight. Otherwise, and before long, I hope that they go back to whatever mass market cruise line they are confusing Seabourn with.

Happy and healthy sailing!

Trying to work out the standard for a first cruise.

Are Italian loafers or boat shoes acceptable with a sports jacket and cotton chino's or trousers? We're travelling hand carry only and shoes are one thing we usually only pack one of.

Otherwise I'll pack a travel suit and proper shoes!

Trying to work out the standard for a first cruise.

 

Are Italian loafers or boat shoes acceptable with a sports jacket and cotton chino's or trousers? We're travelling hand carry only and shoes are one thing we usually only pack one of.

 

Otherwise I'll pack a travel suit and proper shoes!

You'll be fine with either

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I'm a little late reading this board, but Wow! Maybe you view things differently when you grow up in the south... However, I would never go to any restaurant anywhere and not follow the dress code. Especially Seabourn, we pay an considerable amount of money to cruise this line. Make it enjoyable and follow the guidelines of the dress code, it's not that hard people. If you don't want to adhere to the dress code, then dine in your room or perhaps another cruise line. 😬

I'm a little late reading this board, but Wow! Maybe you view things differently when you grow up in the south... However, I would never go to any restaurant anywhere and not follow the dress code. Especially Seabourn, we pay an considerable amount of money to cruise this line. Make it enjoyable and follow the guidelines of the dress code, it's not that hard people. If you don't want to adhere to the dress code, then dine in your room or perhaps another cruise line. 😬

One should definitely adhere to the dress code. The problem here is, I think, some do not like the way the dress code has evolved and still think it should be the same as it was ten years ago.

Well said travel-girl:)

Re the Dress Code, I noticed a big difference regarding the normative dress on my two Seabourn cruises, Dubai-Monte Carlo, and my recently-completed circle-UK.

The former cruise had younger passengers dressing much more casually, while the latter cruise had older passengers dressing much more traditionally.

We were wondering whether this had more to do with the demographic or the environment, and would love to hear your thoughts. The Dubai cruise was much less expensive on a daily basis compared to the UK cruise, and we wondered whether the cruises drew a different demographic (older vs. younger; richer vs. poorer). Of course, the Dubai cruise had much warmer weather, so that might have dictated the more casual attire.

Next stop: Antarctica: How will people be dressing on that one? I assume much more casually...

I don't think it has anything to do with richer vs. poorer. More likely it's older vs. younger. Younger people don't care about formal wear. And because younger is the demographic Seabourn is chasing to build a future clientele you can be certain the dress code will continue to evolve toward a more casual one.

We are in the much older demographic group and I suspect on our last Seabourn cruise we were the oldest. But nowadays we prefer cruises with mainly, or better still only, smart casual and have mothballed our formal wear. For this reason we no longer sail with Silversea.

If we ever make the Antarctic cruise I couldn't resist NOT packing my dinner jacket. When else in your life will you get the photo opportunity ?

I'm thinking icebergs in the background, bow of the ship.

Always judge a man by the shoes he wears.

Henry :)

"I don't think it has anything to do with richer vs. poorer. More likely it's older vs. younger. "

The change we noticed on our Anchorage/Vancouver Seabourn trip a month ago was the increased number of obese passengers. Several had to use wheeled zimmer frames to move around. I watched, with morbid curiosity, to see what they chose at the buffets and I am sure their condition was caused by greed rather than ill health.

A fellow passenger expressed the opinion that Holland America are more involved with the Seabourn marketing and selling hard the 'as much food and drink as you want' as a feature.

Also more obvious was the number of people sitting down for lunch the instant the deck buffet was opened - something we never noticed before.

No, we did not see more young people but we did see more fat ones - and inevitably their dress code was in a world of its own.

Tony

Why I avoid buffets

I don't think it has anything to do with richer vs. poorer. More likely it's older vs. younger. Younger people don't care about formal wear. And because younger is the demographic Seabourn is chasing to build a future clientele you can be certain the dress code will continue to evolve toward a more casual one.

Seabourn isn't the only cruise line having this same debate. We often travel on Crystal and they have loosened their dress code to the delight of some and the consternation of others. Since we don't dress up much at home (being retired and living in California) we love to dress when we cruise. We especially love to see the Asian women's fashions. Their colors and styles are much more unique than those from New York or Paris.

Without question the trend is more casual. I suspect formal nights will soon be a thing of the past (and speaking about those passengers who walk through the ship in their robes) along with good manners

Younger end of the SB demographic and I love to dress up, on the occasions I have seen badly clad individuals never found them all to be young!

However, the country you are from can make a difference.