Opting out of formal night

[Ratdoggie]

Just curious...are more people opting out of formal night this year?

 

We are going on a Princess cruisetour in Alaksa this summer and are thinking about skipping formal nights this trip. The main reason is airline baggage fees and we are already packing for a 12 night trip (although we do plan on doing laundry).

 

We've cruised twice before and enjoyed dressing up on formal nights both times, me more so than hubby. But Hubby doesn't want to miss out on any good dinners in the dining room.

 

Are others having this dilemna? :o

[oskidunker]

Well worth it to enjoy formal night once every 2 years when I cruise.

[Duck Duck Cruise]

We opt out of formal nights. We go to the specialty restaurants those nights.

[paul929207]

On one of our cruises last year, we had two couples who only showed up for dinner on the formal nights. Most other nights they ate at the buffet.

[BURWASHT]

When it's so hot outside and just came back from a tour who wants to put on a tie and coat to go for dinner??

[kendon]

Our family loves formal night and looks forward to it.

[fridaythecat.u.k.]

When it's so hot outside and just came back from a tour who wants to put on a tie and coat to go for dinner??

 

I thought formal nights were usually held on sea days :confused:

[Clutterlady]

We have opted out of formal nights on our last 3 cruises. We usually do the pay venues or eat at the buffet. It's your choice....enjoy:)

[paul929207]

I thought formal nights were usually held on sea days :confused:

They are. Don't know what the other poster was talking about.

[Luckyroot]

I'm confused by the posters who say they opt out and go to the pay venues.

 

Isn't formal night the dress code for all restaurants (both regular, anytime and specialty dining)?

[Duck Duck Cruise]

I'm confused by the posters who say they opt out and go to the pay venues.

 

Isn't formal night the dress code for all restaurants (both regular, anytime and specialty dining)?

 

No. Princess website even posts that the Specialty Restaurants are always smart casual, even on formal nights. On some ships they try to make them Formal, but policy is actually smart casual.

 

Here it is from the website:

 

Dining & Nightlife

Dining with Princess is a celebration of the truest sense with dishes created from the freshest ingredients. Opt to fill your nights by catching a production show, dance the night away or visit our Vegas-style casino. Click on a topic headline to view detailed information relating to your selection.

 

Casual Dining Venues

 

When a casual mood calls, you have plenty of choices – even on formal nights. Whether it be one of our specialty restaurants, the 24-hour buffet at the Horizon Court, the pizzeria, burger & hot dog grill, or 24-hour room service, you’re able to choose how you dine with us.

[LARGIN]

We are not doing formal on our b2b Alaska cruise next month but will be going formal on our September cruise as we are taking our kids & spouses and grandkids & spouses. I figured that will be a great time to see our kids dressed up & take some family portraits..

[DonnaK]

Our family loves formal night, so we will be participating. Our formal clothes dont take up all that much extra room in our luggage. I just wear those slinky fabrics that roll up nicely and never get wrinkled. My husband's suit goes in a large trash bag which folds rather compactly over the top of the clothes in the suitcase, and stays wrinkle free.

[1 HappyCruiser]

I thought formal nights were usually held on sea days :confused:

Not always. Sometimes they're on a night after leaving a port in the Caribbean.

 

To the OP. The women can get by with almost anything decent for formal nights as long as it's neat & decent. A gown isn't at all a necessity. A pair of black slacks with a fancy top will suffice.

The guys can get by with a long sleeve dress shirt even without a jacket. It makes for easy packing especially for an Alaskan cruise.

[Ms. Alpha]

They are. Don't know what the other poster was talking about.

 

On our 10 day Panama cruise last month, our sea days were all at the beginning of the cruise so our second formal night was on a port day (San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua).

[Bookish Angel]

We can, and do, formal at home when at the opera, theatre, etc., but definitely do not want to do it on vacation.

[souyouki]

= more luggage space, and no need to opt out of formal night for me.

 

At least that's my strategy for my cruise on the Star... this cruise, being my fourth, has not caused me to become formal'd out. But in case I do get formal'd out as I take more cruises, I'll probably start considering cruise lines where there's no mandatory formal nights (and therefore skipping formal nights would not mean that I miss out on evening activities).

[hockey grannys go 4]

My dw and i enjoy the formal nights i have no trouble with the tux in the suitcase and still have more than enough room for the remainding clothes and still get below the 50 lb mark for air travel

[Clutterlady]

= more luggage space, and no need to opt out of formal night for me.

 

At least that's my strategy for my cruise on the Star... this cruise, being my fourth, has not caused me to become formal'd out. But in case I do get formal'd out as I take more cruises, I'll probably start considering cruise lines where there's no mandatory formal nights (and therefore skipping formal nights would not mean that I miss out on evening activities).

 

If you opted out of formal nights why would miss out on evening activities:confused:

[souyouki]

If you opted out of formal nights why would miss out on evening activities:confused:

 

Because some cruise lines where formal nights are not optional asks you to be in formal attire in public rooms in the evening...

[Clutterlady]

Because some cruise lines where formal nights are not optional asks you to be in formal attire in public rooms in the evening...

 

Thank goodness you don't have to remain formal on Princess for the entire night:)

[cruisehappi]

Mom, dad, me and hubby, all opting out of formal night. Baggage costs are way too high already. I usually travel without checking bags, but am bringing more for a 2-week vacation. Won't include formal wear in that!

[Rosethorn40]

DH and I are packing for our 2-week Hawaiian Cruise even as I write this (Okay, he's packing, I'm taking a break. We have just decided no formal night for this cruise. Dh is 6'8" and wears a size 15 shoe. His dress shoes, tux pants, tuxedo shirt, white dinner jacket-plus box that holds his black bow tie and cummerbund, cuff links & button covers just takes up too much room when we need clothes enough for 14 days. Yes, I can do laundry, but this is my vacation too!

 

Renting is out of the question. They don't carry his size, at least they didn't on the Caribbean Princess last fall when his luggage went missing for two days, and we missed the first formal night.

 

If DH is leaving his Dinner Jacket at home there is no need for me to pack a dressy dress, high heels (My feet are breathing a sigh of relief), and everything else I need to look presentable next to my handsome husband.

 

However, on the next, shorter cruise the formal wear gets packed!

[kendon]

Because some cruise lines where formal nights are not optional asks you to be in formal attire in public rooms in the evening...

 

Which lines??

[Pam in CA]

Sometimes I opt out of formal nights; usually, I don't. It all depends on the cruise. If I do opt out, I either do room service or go to the buffet as I don't want to impose my dressing down on other cruisers. Going to a specialty restaurant is also an option.