Formal attire??!!

[pdcruiser2005]

I'l be taking my first cruise on HAL to Alaska in June. I just read their dress code policy. I am confused. What does "formal night" mean in reality on HAL?

 

Is anyone who's not dressed to reqs confined to their cabin? to the brig?

 

Since I plan on NOT having a coat or tie anywhere near my luggage, this is an important question for me.

 

Thanks

[LARGIN]

Looks like you might have to stay in your room or eat at the buffet. HAL is more formal than most.. Tuxedos and dark suits/ties is the norm on formal nights.

 

From HAL..

 

Evening dress falls into three distinct categories. Each night a daily program will be delivered to your stateroom announcing the suggested dress for the following evening. Comfortable, relaxed clothing is fine for evenings designated as casual; however, T-shirts, jeans, swimsuits, tank tops and shorts are not allowed in the dining room, Lido restaurant, or public areas during the evening hours. During informal nights, dresses or pantsuits for women and jackets (tie optional) for men are standard.

 

On festive formal evenings, women usually wear cocktail dresses or gowns and men usually wear business suits or tuxedos. There are approximately two formal nights per week. (Gentlemen: Although business suits or tuxedos are suggested attire for formal evenings, they are certainly not required. You are welcome to wear a jacket and tie on formal nights

[pdcruiser2005]

I get the idea of formal wear, and I have no problem with people who want to dress up for an evening--and I don't want to intrude on their experience. But what I want to know is if there will be clear, specific, graphic, auditory, tactile directions where they would rather I not congregate during formal nights.

 

Is it a specific room, area?

What time does it start/end?

Will I be banned from the theatre? library? disco? casino?

 

In other words, I'm willing to play along, but I am not going to like it much if some crew member/enforcer gets an attitude because I've inadvertently wandered into the wrong place at the wrong time. And I'd rather clear it up now, before we sail.

[ryansmemom]

On Holland America ships the dress for the evening is for the entire evening, for just about all public areas of the ship. This includes, dining room, lounges, casino, theater, etc. They do serve dinner in the Lido for those who are not dressed formally. The other alternative is to have dinner in your cabin. If packing space is a problem, you can rent a tux through the cruise line. I don't know if that is a viable option for you. However, it is not just a formal dinner, it is formal night. They also request that people stay in their formal attire for the entire evening.

 

People who enjoy and look forward to this aspect of cruising really enjoy these evenings. That is one of the reasons they choose to sail with a company like Holland America. I can see that you already appreciate this and are very considerate and I really appreciate that.

 

You will, however, find people who are not as considerate as you, who will "crash the party." I just want to thank you again for your sensitivity. You really have class. And you are a true gentleman.

 

Linda

[kitty9]

If you're not properly attired on formal nights, there's a chance you won't be allowed into the dining room or other public rooms including the show lounges and disco. I've seen the maitre'd ask persons who were not dressed according to code to leave the dining room and come back dressed appropriately. HAL is one of the more formal lines, and because they attract an older passenger, they always tend to dress more formally.

 

This is directly from the Holland America website:

 

On festive formal evenings, women usually wear cocktail dresses or gowns and men usually wear business suits or tuxedos. There are approximately two formal nights per week. (Gentlemen: Although business suits or tuxedos are suggested attire for formal evenings, they are certainly not required. You are welcome to wear a jacket and tie on formal nights.) Formalwear for ladies and gentlemen can be pre-ordered for your use for the duration of your cruise. Just call Cruise Line Formalwear at 800-551-5091 to reserve and it will be ready in your stateroom when you board.

 

In order to complement your fellow guests, Holland America asks that you observe the suggested dress code throughout the entire evening.

 

 

 

Since this is your first cruise, may I very politely recommend that if you really like the idea of a very casual atmosphere on a cruise, there are a number of other options that are very casual. NCL, Windjammer, Oceania and Windstar are cruise lines who's only code is clean slacks and a collared polo shirt. No jackets, ties or tuxes. Unfortunately, and I don't mean this as a slam, you were guided to one of the more formal cruise lines in the business when your travel agent (if you used a TA) should have been guiding you to a cruise line that met all your expectations.

 

But go, have fun, and make the most of your cruise, but know that by chosing not to dress to code on formal nights, you're going to miss the things that make cruising special, like the best food, and also you miss out on things you paid for.

[ger_77]

We absolutely love to dress up on formal nights aboard ship, however on our last HAL cruise - Prinsendam, June/04, our luggage was lost. We didn't see a change of clothing for 3 days into our trip and that meant we missed out on the first formal evening. What a disappointment that was. We put on our nightly laundered (courtesy HAL) "travel clothes" - both DH and I in dockers, golf shirts, and sneakers - and put on our brightest smiles as we made our way up to the Lido Deck for the buffet dinner.

 

Strange, though, how things have a way of working themselves out - we felt horrible having to miss the wonderful ambiance of a formal evening in the dining room, but along with another couple (whose luggage was also lost)whom we made great friends with, we were the only people having dinner on the outdoor deck at the back of the ship. We were treated royally by the wait staff, never having to even get anything for ourselves, and we were also treated to sights the formal diners never had the chance to see - pods of dolphins frolicking in the ship's wake, a beautiful lightning display, and amazing marble quarries.

 

We went to the Queen's Lounge for the performance that evening, and simply told the people as we sat down that our luggage was lost and we didn't have any choice but to be dressed the way we were. They were most sympathetic and welcomed us as if we'd been dressed to the 9's. You'll have a good time, no matter where you are - enjoy yourself.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[TWA4Ever]

On Holland America ships the dress for the evening is for the entire evening, for just about all public areas of the ship. This includes, dining room, lounges, casino, theater, etc. They do serve dinner in the Lido for those who are not dressed formally. The other alternative is to have dinner in your cabin. If packing space is a problem, you can rent a tux through the cruise line. I don't know if that is a viable option for you. However, it is not just a formal dinner, it is formal night. They also request that people stay in their formal attire for the entire evening.

 

People who enjoy and look forward to this aspect of cruising really enjoy these evenings. That is one of the reasons they choose to sail with a company like Holland America. I can see that you already appreciate this and are very considerate and I really appreciate that.

 

You will, however, find people who are not as considerate as you, who will "crash the party." I just want to thank you again for your sensitivity. You really have class. And you are a true gentleman.

 

Linda

 

Absolutely love it, Linda!!!

[BobBeaSea]

pdcruiser, I can't speak for HAL as I have not cruised with them. One thing I do know is that most mainstream or mass-market cruise lines' attire recommendations are just that, recommendations. The minimum requirement for the dining room for dinner is casual (shirt w/collar- polo or buttondown, dress slacks and shoes). Don't banish yourselves to the nether regions of the ship on "formal night(s)" because you are not properly attired. If you don't feel comfortable in the dining room don't go but DO go everywhere else. I am assuming your discomfort in the dining room is based on what you think or feel, not what you think others would think and feel. It is your vacation, do what you think is best but remember, it is not your job to ensure the happiness and satisfaction of others. If you sat at my table dressed casually on formal nights it would not bother me one bit. To me it is insane to think how someone is dressed could ruin my vacation. Incidentally, there will be plenty of people changing out of formal wear to more comfortable clothing right after dinner- this also drives the traditionalists crazy. How people can knot themselves up over this is beyond me.

[Happy ks]

To the OP, would you, at the least, consider a dress shirt and a tie? You can take the tie off after dinner. Missing dinner in the dining room because of clothes is a loss for you, especially your first cruise. Even though you say you will only dress casually, you may be uncomfortable with your choices while you are out and about formal evenings. Another way to go would be to rent a tuxedo onboard, rather than pack a suit and tie.

 

You do have choices, room service or the buffet on formal evenings. I don't believe it for an instant that you will not be allowed in other venues if you are dressed casually during the evening. I've never seen a single "authority" tell a person to leave, the crew is actually much more gracious than many of the posters you will read here. As a matter of fact, once you are on your cruise you will be delighted just how friendly people are. Our favorite table mates so far were people who were not "dressed" and we enjoyed their company a great deal.

 

Whatever your choices are, I hope you have a wonderful cruise to Alaska!