Who Wants an End to HAL Formal Nights Entirely?

[Hlitner]

We like the formal nights, and as a guy I find it actually makes packing much easier on longer cruises. We will soon be on a HA cruise that has 12 formal nights and 30 casual. For those 12 formal nights I will just take my Tux, dress shoes, 2 shirts, a few tie/cummerbunds, and that is pretty easy. For 30 casual nights we really need to thinik about what to take, how to mix and match, how many pair of shoes, etc etc.

 

Hank

[oliverbc]

Don't you dare stop formal night . I just bought three new outfits for our 17 day trip. This is the only opportunity to get dressed up and we love it.

[talfonso]

Formal nights are the best parts of cruise vacations - don't end it, HAL! I love being in my finery and taking in the atmosphere akin to a Sweet 16 party in a five-star hotel or other high-caliber banquet facility!

[Highbypass Turbofan]

We bought the cruise, we are on vacation, and we don't like to be dictated on how we dress or where we can eat. This formal night crap gets so bad that some new cruisers think they have to hide in their cabin on formal nights because they dont have proper attire.

I don't mind a formal night with a minor dress code like "business casual", but you can forget about the tux thing...no way.

 

Be gone with ye...!!!

[Linaeve]

Please keep the formal nights! I agree that there are not enough times in life to dress up like that. Frankly I find it uncomfortable to dress up like that if everyone else is in jeans and t-shirts. I love the chance to dress up and not feel out of place. It's only 2 nights and the food on the rest of the ship is wonderful. People can even get dinner sent to their rooms if they don't want to dress up. So I see no reason not to keep it. As others have said, if they don't enjoy it they can find another cruise line.

 

I personally brought my dress in a regular suitcase, steamed it in the bathroom and was ready to go. No extra suit case needed. I don't see how one or two additional outfits creates extra luggage unless these same people were planning on wearing the same outfit from previous days on those nights. Just my thoughts.

 

Long live formal nights!

[hmh]

We just returned from "Sea of Cortez" Cruise. My husband took his tux in a plastic cleaner bag, put on top of things in suitcase, took it out in cabin and there was no problem w/wrinkles. It doesn't weigh that much and he enjoys dressing up--so it is not a problem to us. HAL provides options and people can dress, pretty much as they want, within limits--even on Formal nights, we saw a nice mix of Tux and dark suits or slack/jackets. We noticed that a family in shorts was turned away from MDR on a Smart Casual night, as all were in shorts--w/in minutes they were all back in long pants. Men appear to be less "dressy" on Smart Casual nights, which is, I think, because women usually have more options in casual/formal dress. It would be possible to wear the same outfit every SCN, and probably no one would notice, unless you were at a table with the same people and even then, it probably would not matter. That way, you would not have to take more clothing. This topic is one that will never "suit" everyone, but it does provide some interesting discussions. I've been on this board since 2000 and in 10 years, this topic is still "alive and well." :) Ciao!! hmh

[chrispb]

Please keep the formal nights! I agree that there are not enough times in life to dress up like that. Frankly I find it uncomfortable to dress up like that if everyone else is in jeans and t-shirts. I love the chance to dress up and not feel out of place. It's only 2 nights and the food on the rest of the ship is wonderful. People can even get dinner sent to their rooms if they don't want to dress up. So I see no reason not to keep it. As others have said, if they don't enjoy it they can find another cruise line.

 

I personally brought my dress in a regular suitcase, steamed it in the bathroom and was ready to go. No extra suit case needed. I don't see how one or two additional outfits creates extra luggage unless these same people were planning on wearing the same outfit from previous days on those nights. Just my thoughts.

 

Long live formal nights!

How dare you tell people to find another cruise line just because they don't "do" formal? What do you think the Lido is for?

I could say to you that you need to get out more if you have no opportunities to dress up at home - but I won't:D

[Topsham]

How dare you tell people to find another cruise line just because they don't "do" formal? What do you think the Lido is for?

I could say to you that you need to get out more if you have no opportunities to dress up at home - but I won't:D

 

 

I think you are missing the point here. I think what the poster means is that if you don't care for the product that Holland America is selling then you have a choice to cruise with another cruise line. The HAL product included formal nights. One could say, "How dare you buy a cruise from HAL and then tell them how to run it!" No difference.

 

The original idea of the Lido dinner was intended to be for those passengers who for one reason or another did not want to go to the dining room. It wasn't intended to be an 'escape' from wearing formal wear. The formal dress code was intended to be for all public rooms after 6 pm.... bars, lounges, casino etc. Over time the rules have been 'bent' and formal is now taken to mean dining room only.

 

You cannot show up at any club or restaurant with a certain dress code and demand to be allowed in regardless of your dress. I don't see why cruising on a ship with a dress code should be any different.

 

HAL have tried to relax the rules to suit everyone. Best of all worlds so I don't see why anyone would want to change it even further and eliminate formal nights altogether.

 

Stephen

[sagiv666]

There are so many people who say they will eat in Lido rather than dress formal, that I wonder at what point, it's time to do away with formal nights - to go all 'elegant casual'.

 

Maybe it is mainly because of airline weight restrictions and people don't want to lug the formal clothing or maybe it is because formal is alien to their lives and they don't want to experience on vacation but it seems many folks say they don't wish to participate.

 

You want it to continue or not?

 

I enjoy formal nights on HAC, and I have been cruising for more than thirty years (HAC, Royal Caribbean, NCL). I get over the airline weight restrictions by renting a tux for the duration of the cruise; when one considers the price for cleaning a tux, washing the shirt, etc., the price is not bad. However, if it bothers you so much, try NCL.

[Himself]

Good Suggestion!

[RevNeal]

I think you are missing the point here. I think what the poster means is that if you don't care for the product that Holland America is selling then you have a choice to cruise with another cruise line. The HAL product included formal nights. One could say, "How dare you buy a cruise from HAL and then tell them how to run it!" No difference.

 

The original idea of the Lido dinner was intended to be for those passengers who for one reason or another did not want to go to the dining room. It wasn't intended to be an 'escape' from wearing formal wear. The formal dress code was intended to be for all public rooms after 6 pm.... bars, lounges, casino etc. Over time the rules have been 'bent' and formal is now taken to mean dining room only.

 

You cannot show up at any club or restaurant with a certain dress code and demand to be allowed in regardless of your dress. I don't see why cruising on a ship with a dress code should be any different.

 

HAL have tried to relax the rules to suit everyone. Best of all worlds so I don't see why anyone would want to change it even further and eliminate formal nights altogether.

 

Well said, O Captain! And, I particularly agree with your final paragraph in that HAL has tried to relax the rules to suit everyone. For those who don't like the Formal Dining set up in the Main Dining Room (for whatever reason), the Lido provides an excellent "Casual" environment.

 

As for those who wish to wander the ship after dinner, so long as they're in what the Line has set as the minimum for any evening (i.e., Smart Casual) I don't perceive there being any substantial issue. My own "problem" (such as it was) regarded those who ignore even the line's minimum for evening wear (no shorts or t-shirts in the lounges, etc). If some people don't want to wear, or remain attired in, Formal Wear on Formal Nights, the good news for them is that the Line has decided to do nothing more than ask them to consider remaining so-attired. The good news for those of us who prefer a refined, sophisticated, elegant, genteel, adult environment during the evenings is that the Line still states, in its dress code, that shorts and t-shirts are "not allowed" during the evening hours. It is a compromise -- I don't get everything I want, but it enables me to at least enjoy the evening without having the atmosphere too heavily impacted by naked hairy legs and arm-pits; likewise, the other side doesn't get everything it wants, but it does allow them to not have to be "straight jacketed up in monkey suits" all night long. Sadly, it would appear that even this degree of compromise is insufficient for some.

[fayruz]

The good news for those of us who prefer a refined, sophisticated, elegant, genteel, adult environment during the evenings is that the Line still states, in its dress code, that shorts and t-shirts are "not allowed" during the evening hours.

I dont' mind dressing up for the evening but my husband will wear smart casual even at my funeral, I believe; what I* really cannot understand in adult evenings is dressed up children running wild in adult areas. I've had a silk scarf teared in two because it was caught up under the wheels of a speedypram race....

 

*

yes, I do have children of my own

yes, I am a granny

yes, I have cats and dogs runing wild in my house but not in party hours

[ot73nl]

I like formal nights!

[happyglobetrotter]

NO

 

formal dress is not to be "imposed" on passengers who are there on holiday and pay for it. That doesn't mean I can show up to dinner with ragged jeans and tank top.

If someone wants to "dress up", well go ahead and do it, I don't think I have to go to buffet because other people want to act like they're going to the Opera House.

Elegance should be the rule for every night :) but "Special nights" should not be imposed on.

 

 

YES.

 

Formal nights are not 'imposed' like you say on many other cruise lines. Go on cruise lines WITHOUT any formal nights. Why not go with a cruise line which is more in line with the vacation experience you want. You do not have to sail HAL.

 

Hal passengers as a whole want and love formal nights, try another cruise instead of imposing your personal choice on others. HAL is an experience and that experience includes formal nights. The choice is out there.....choose your venue.

 

Also this elegant casual is a joke, most people are simply sloppy. Wearing the same thing at night than what they wear to go sit on a beach or go on excursion is not my definition of smart or elegant casual. Elegant casual way too often is ''''extremely casual''''. And it becomes downright sloppy more than once.

 

Louise

[Djptcp]

DH and I have been on many cruises during the past 18 months, on both HAL and Carnival, and have not noticed empty tables on formal nights. I think there are a few who don't like to dress up and they make it seem as if there are many. So, go cruise freestyle on NCL:cool:

[Opinions]

YES.

 

 

Also this elegant casual is a joke, most people are simply sloppy.

Louise

 

No!...In my opinion "most people" are not simply sloppy...From what I have observed elegant casual is not considered a "joke" by most cruisers...There may be some on every cruise that are guilty but let's not then say that most people who cruise are simply sloppy.

[PirateShark]

Here is another "yes keep the formal night" vote with a minor twist. Make a "formal" night once a week. Meaning 1 week cruse (7 days or less) have one night formal. 14 day cruise, 2 formals, etc. I think that cruises under 4 days should be exempt from formal nights. While I understand the "I'm on vacation so I'll do what I want" sentiment, I think that for one night a week, it won't kill people to either dress or go to the Lido (it's the same food anyway people!). We all know the rules going into the game so griping about it IMO is just silly. Nobody put a gun to your head and told you that you MUST cruise HAL.:rolleyes:

[world~citizen]

Well.

 

If formal nights were eliminated, the most popular thread would then become: should we bring it back. :eek:

 

Smooth sailing to you...

[gillianrose]

The combination of formal clothing and smelly tobacco products is very unappealing. If I am going to wear something formal, I ought not to ALSO have to have tobacco odor waft onto my clothes.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

OK I admit I have not read all the posts but thought I would make a comment. I am so sorry I have been away from the boards but my life has kept me very busy but in a good way:)

After having done 27 cruises I have to admit I am extremely tired of of bringing Formal clothing to wear. I can still vividly remember the excitment of dressing up but sadly it no longer brings that excitement. I just as soon wear something nice but not formal to dinner.

We recently spent 7 nights on the NCL Pearl where YES they do have Formal nights but they call them "Formal or NOT Night" we chose to NOT. All though wouldn't you know the first Formal night we get invited to dine with the Captain and we brought no Formal Wear :eek: Tom did have dress pants and dress shoes and a nice shirt, I had dress pants, dress shoes and a nice dressy black top with my jewelry that has lots of bling :D To my surprise we were not the least bit under dressed with the other couples that were also invited. I have to admit I absolutely loved this, our luggage was the lightest it has ever been, it was easier to pack with less being sent to the Dry Cleaners before the cruise. Yes the Photo people were out in about on the ship and we saw several that did chose to dress up and even saw a few men in tuxes but no one felt out of place and no one looked out of place nor did any one dress shabby.

I would love it if HAL went to this for at least the 7 night cruises or as someone said maybe just one Formal Night but make it a Formal or Not night ;)

[leeh]

I agree with Pirate Shark....keep the Formal night but limit it to once per week.....any more than that and it loses it's " Special" status ! We're doing a 30-day one and they have 8 Formal nights..way too much for a 4 week cruise. With many port days, we'll be dressing up almost every other night while at sea !

 

We have never booked a cruise because of the dress code...it's all about the Ship and the Itinerary.....I don't believe that anyone "dressing-up" is going to offend other diners, so if people want to go for the glam ever night that's up to them. I like the designation..."Formal ...or Not !" ....if there has to be a second dressy night, maybe that could be it ??

[stylin]

:)I love the formal nights it makes you feel special and you see the other passengers in a different light. I also think this is what makes HAL different. They should maintain the edge and not be more of the same.

[Copper10-8]

One formal night per week sounds like a winnner for all to me:)

[tcv cruiser]

Yes, definitely keep formal nights. We enjoy many, many aspects of our cruises and one of them is formal nights. We enjoy the opportunity to dress up and have some evenings that feel more festive than the others. Eliminating formal nights simply reduces the number of options for cruising passengers. There are many cruise lines to choose from. We purposely choose a line that still has formal nights. For those who do not want to partake in formal night, there are other lines that have eliminated them entirely. In addition, even those lines that have formal night have non-formal dining options. A one week cruise has two formal nights and 5 casual nights. The number of hours that one wears formal wear on a cruise amounts to about 12 hours (maximum) in an entire week and as pointed out by many, can be avoided by those who really don't want to dress for dinner. Why not keep formal nights and keep more options for everyone?

[bcd2010]

One formal night per week most likely would lead to attitudes/comments such as "Why should I buy/lug a formal outfit if I'm only going to wear it once?"