Dress Code Question - Island Princess

[StlCruisingFool]

I'm looking over the paperwork from the cruise I booked last night for Alaska. We have two formal nights and 5 casual nights. I've read over the dress code listed, but have questions:

 

1. My husband is a t-shirt/jeans guy. Is it okay if he wears a polo shirt and jeans to dinner on casual nights? As far as the kids go, What is the dress code for them? I didn't see one listed. Is shorts okay for them? For women, Are capris and a polo okay?

 

2. Formal nights: How formal we talkin? Hubby must have a jacket? What about a tie?

[tmitchell82]

I have seen people come to dinner on casual nights with jeans, but "nicer jeans" and not t-shirt, but polo type shirts.

[Toto2Kansas]

I'm looking over the paperwork from the cruise I booked last night for Alaska. We have two formal nights and 5 casual nights. I've read over the dress code listed, but have questions:

 

1. My husband is a t-shirt/jeans guy. Is it okay if he wears a polo shirt and jeans to dinner on casual nights? As far as the kids go, What is the dress code for them? I didn't see one listed. Is shorts okay for them? For women, Are capris and a polo okay?

 

2. Formal nights: How formal we talkin? Hubby must have a jacket? What about a tie?

 

The dresscodes are a bit 'give and take' when it comes to many of your questions, but the shorts will not be OK in the dining room, they are one item of clothing that they normally will not allow. If you want to cruise TOTALLY casual, there is always the buffet as an alternative. ;) Enjoy!

[Appygirl]

Woman OK in capris. I didn't see anyone on the Island wearing jeans on casual nights. It might depend on the maitre d' if your husband wants to give it a try. Jacket and tie is a must for formal nights. However there was one elderly man at our table who was wearing a long sleeved shirt, no tie, no jacket. I kind of wondered how he made it inside.

 

I think your husband will feel very out of place in the main dining room. You'll be happier eating upstairs in the Horizon Court where jeans and shorts are no problem. Your kids will be happier too not hanging around in the main dining room for an hour and a half to two hours while every course is served.

[sunshine nana]

We were on the Emerald in the Baltic last July and because of trying to travel light, DH did not take a jacket. He did take 2 dress shirts and 2 ties which he wore to the MDR on the formal nights with dockers. Most of the men were dressed as he was or even less formal without the tie. Even the group near us having the special chef's dinner did not have jackets.I wore a nice dress or dressy pants with sparkly top on formal nights. Don't worry, things have changed in the last few years.In 2006, DH took his tux and I took formal dresses, no more!

[caribill]

As far as the kids go, What is the dress code for them? I didn't see one listed. Is shorts okay for them?

 

Depends on their ages. If they have reached the age of 10, then they are old enough for long pants at dinner. (This is my opinion, not a Princess rule)

[1 HappyCruiser]

I'm looking over the paperwork from the cruise I booked last night for Alaska. We have two formal nights and 5 casual nights. I've read over the dress code listed, but have questions:

 

1. My husband is a t-shirt/jeans guy. Is it okay if he wears a polo shirt and jeans to dinner on casual nights? Absolutely OK. As far as the kids go, What is the dress code for them?About the same but much more loosely enforced. I didn't see one listed. Is shorts okay for them? They might get by with shorts but most times not. For women, Are capris and a polo okay? Yep.

 

2. Formal nights: How formal we talkin? Hubby must have a jacket? What about a tie?

A jacket hasn't been required in quite a while as long as he has a long sleeve shirt and on some ships even a short sleeve shirt.

[StlCruisingFool]

Thank You everyone for your posts. Our kids will be 6 and 8 at the time of sailling. They shouldn't have a problem sitting in the dining room. I'll have to get them some dresses to wear to dinner. DH seems to be okay with his jeans and polos.

 

One last question, not regarding dinner....Just in general, What is the dress during the day? Can you wear t-shirts and shorts on board during the day? Is there a cut off time to change into casual clothing for the night?

[Toto2Kansas]

Thank You everyone for your posts. Our kids will be 6 and 8 at the time of sailling. They shouldn't have a problem sitting in the dining room. I'll have to get them some dresses to wear to dinner. DH seems to be okay with his jeans and polos.

 

One last question, not regarding dinner....Just in general, What is the dress during the day? Can you wear t-shirts and shorts on board during the day? Is there a cut off time to change into casual clothing for the night?

 

During the day almost anything goes, totally casual. Short and jeans will be fine. But for Alaska, If I were you, I might rethink that shorts idea, occasionally you can wear shorts in alaska, but it isn't warm enough to wear them in most areas. Enjoy!

[1 HappyCruiser]

Thank You everyone for your posts. Our kids will be 6 and 8 at the time of sailling. They shouldn't have a problem sitting in the dining room. I'll have to get them some dresses to wear to dinner. DH seems to be okay with his jeans and polos.

 

One last question, not regarding dinner....Just in general, What is the dress during the day? Can you wear t-shirts and shorts on board during the day? Is there a cut off time to change into casual clothing for the night?

 

The only requirement for dress during the day is that they don't like wet bathing suits in the Horizon or dining rooms & you have to wear shoes or sandals. Recently on the Emerald they were refusing to seat people carrying towels in the DR but the bathing suits were OK. The towels had to be left at the door or put in a beach bag while seated. You'll see people dressed in a variety of clothing, sweat suits, jeans, shorts, bathing suits & even suit jackets.

[cb at sea]

Usually beachwear during the daytime....shorts, tees, flip-flops....all fine!

There is no "schedule", so you can take all the time you want to dress for dinner! I enjoy taking my time....usually leave the pool around 4 or so, hubby takes his shower, dresses and heads to the casino. Then, I have the cabin all to myself for all of my "primping"...I'll meet him when I'm done, and we get our evening started!

 

There is no "cut-off" time for casualwear. Some folks will change back into more casual attire after dinner.....we don't, because we're lookin' good!

[Pam in CA]

The only requirement for dress during the day is that they don't like wet bathing suits in the Horizon or dining rooms & you have to wear shoes or sandals. Recently on the Emerald they were refusing to seat people carrying towels in the DR but the bathing suits were OK. The towels had to be left at the door or put in a beach bag while seated. You'll see people dressed in a variety of clothing, sweat suits, jeans, shorts, bathing suits & even suit jackets.

FYI, they don't like bathing suits at all in the buffet unless they are covered. I've seen people walk in and been sent out. Also, shoes/sandals must be worn in any dining room. This is for your safety as glass can, and does, break and while they do a good job of cleaning it up, there might be a tiny sliver that's not caught. Murphey's Law says that you'll be the one to find it.

 

As the others have said, shorts except on toddlers are not allowed in the dining room in the evening. I gather your children are girls. A couple of nice sun dresses would look lovely on them on formal nights. :)

[StlCruisingFool]

During the day almost anything goes, totally casual. Short and jeans will be fine. But for Alaska, If I were you, I might rethink that shorts idea, occasionally you can wear shorts in alaska, but it isn't warm enough to wear them in most areas. Enjoy!

 

Yeah we will probably be wearing our capris or jeans, but I wanted to ask about shorts too.

 

Thank You everyone for your help. I just wanna try to be as comfortable as possible, but still follow their guidelines. :)

[1 HappyCruiser]

FYI, they don't like bathing suits at all in the buffet unless they are covered. I've seen people walk in and been sent out. Also, shoes/sandals must be worn in any dining room. This is for your safety as glass can, and does, break and while they do a good job of cleaning it up, there might be a tiny sliver that's not caught. Murphey's Law says that you'll be the one to find it.

 

As the others have said, shorts except on toddlers are not allowed in the dining room in the evening. I gather your children are girls. A couple of nice sun dresses would look lovely on them on formal nights. :)

 

Not that it bothers me at all but recently on the Emerald the guys at lunch time were in the dining room wearing their bathing suits with just a shirt & were seated. The gals did have a cover-up and were also being seated. (you couldn't tell if they were damp or not) It was only the towels that they objected to and I thought it was a little strange. I would hate to be seated right after they were finished if they were wet. :(

[Pam in CA]

Not that it bothers me at all but recently on the Emerald the guys at lunch time were in the dining room wearing their bathing suits with just a shirt & were seated. The gals did have a cover-up and were also being seated. (you couldn't tell if they were damp or not) It was only the towels that they objected to and I thought it was a little strange. I would hate to be seated right after they were finished if they were wet. :(

I was on a cruise this year when two very hairy old men came in from the pool, without shirts or shoes, and made a beeline for the buffet. It was an "ewww" moment. They were stopped cold and told to cover up; they argued for a few minutes but then went out and came back with shirts and sandals on.

[HomelessBear]

I'm looking over the paperwork from the cruise I booked last night for Alaska. We have two formal nights and 5 casual nights. I've read over the dress code listed, but have questions:

 

1. My husband is a t-shirt/jeans guy. Is it okay if he wears a polo shirt and jeans to dinner on casual nights? As far as the kids go, What is the dress code for them? I didn't see one listed. Is shorts okay for them? For women, Are capris and a polo okay?

 

2. Formal nights: How formal we talkin? Hubby must have a jacket? What about a tie?

 

 

Hi,

 

Congratulations on booking your alaska cruise. I'm sure you will love it. It is a very beautiful place.

 

I have seen children - and adults - turned away from the dining room in the evening wearing shorts. One lad who was told at the door that his shorts were not acceptable, was then told by who I assume to be his mum - "I told you not to wear them!". He came back in long trousers and was then let in!!

 

You mention "....5 casual nights" - they are not so much casual as "smart casual". As long as folks look "smart", I don't think there should be a problem personally, but dress codes are a pandoras box of comments on these boards!

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[Pam in CA]

You mention "....5 casual nights" - they are not so much casual as "smart casual".

Right. There's a difference between being "McD's casual" and "resort or smart" casual. The ships dining rooms are like going to a good restaurant with your boss. :)

[1 HappyCruiser]

Right. There's a difference between being "McD's casual" and "resort or smart" casual. The ships dining rooms are like going to a good restaurant with your boss. :)

 

About the only thing different lately is the no shorts rule. Jeans- OK, T shirts -OK, sandals- OK. sweat pants -OK, Crocks & sneakers-OK ;)

[chipmaster]

My 2 cents on this as a person very comfortable in jeans and tshirt at work, presenting to senior VPs or dinner with interview candidates is that the difference between what is totally mainstream / majority and what is minimum acceptible will vary by a lot based on culture, ambience and setting.

 

Your kids can like get away with jeans and a nice top, or if girls any type of reasonable dress on all nights including formal. You'll find for formal nights many dressed better. I would NOT recommend shorts, and for Alaska there need really isn't there even in the best of weather situations.

 

For the men/boys the majority of people IMHO will be in slacks, coat, tie or better on formal night. For casual nice jeans and a nice golf/dress shirt is more than good. You absolutely will find those in slacks, shirt and tie, for formal night, and on every cruise I've been on have seen adults in the main dining room with less formal ( jeans, nice ones and styles top ) too on formal night.

 

What you end up comfortable is very personal and how you choose to want to fit / blend in and still have a good time.

 

Good luck!

 

I'm looking over the paperwork from the cruise I booked last night for Alaska. We have two formal nights and 5 casual nights. I've read over the dress code listed, but have questions:

 

1. My husband is a t-shirt/jeans guy. Is it okay if he wears a polo shirt and jeans to dinner on casual nights? As far as the kids go, What is the dress code for them? I didn't see one listed. Is shorts okay for them? For women, Are capris and a polo okay?

 

2. Formal nights: How formal we talkin? Hubby must have a jacket? What about a tie?

 

 

Bad example for me, I've done 30-40 dollar meals with boss or interview candidate and wife in jeans and t-shirt but that is the cultural of my company :D

 

Right. There's a difference between being "McD's casual" and "resort or smart" casual. The ships dining rooms are like going to a good restaurant with your boss. :)

[Cruisin' Chick]

another thing to consider is the temperature inside the ship. It tends to be on the cool side, at least for me. So even if you get a nice day in Alaska (which does happen at times during the summer), the shorts that are comfortable outside, may not be inside. I find that to be the case on most ships, but usually don't change to something covering my legs if I'm inside for just a meal.

 

Uncovered bathing suits in the buffet or dining room?:eek:

[satxdiver]

You are going to Alaska not the Caribbean. It will be cold most likely so there will not be a lot of pax wearing shorts. On my Alaska cruise I wore jeans and most of the time a long sleeved shirt. Alaska is a very informal state as the people there are used to being in the outdoors. Jeans and some kind of boots are the order of the day. Take layered type clothing so you can add and subtract as the weather dictates. Juneau and the other cities on the coast get a lot of rain so be prepared.

 

Males do not have to wear a jacket or tie on formal nights. However I found the MDR to be cold. I wore a full collar nice sweat shirt on formal nights over my long sleeved dress shirt and corduroy pants. I wore my hiking boots to all dinners. I did a lot of hiking in Alaska including Denali and did not want to drag along 10 pairs of shoes (male)! Being male I wore the same pants to all dinners and the same sweater to both formal nights. We can wear the same thing twice.