Formal night rules

[jerblu]

How out of place would we be if we did not go by the formal night rules?

 

Would a Navy blazer and dark grey trousers be ok? Or is a tux needed?

 

What if you dont dine in the MDR?

[paul929207]

Tux is nopt required. Sports coat & tie are fine. If you don;t go to the main dining room, the dress code for the buffet and specialty restaurants is smart casual

[cruisin36]

Please read the dress codes in the Princess Answer Book available on their website. What you will see posted here may or may not be acceptable as it will vary from ship to ship within thr Princess fleet.

[robgvic]

BUT THEN WHAT YOU READ IN THE ANSWER BOOK MAY NOT BE ACCURATE EITHER BECAUSE , AS YOU SAY, as it will vary from ship to ship within thr Princess fleet. BUT THEN , THE ANSWER BOOK SHOULD GIVE YOU THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.

[chipmaster]

A blazer and grey trouser will be fine on formal night in any of the eating areas.

 

As another poster said the buffet is pretty much anything goes.

 

As to the speciality resturant, they say smart casual but on formal night I'd like to think everyone would like to enjoy their upscale dinner in more than "smart casual"

 

Enjoy your cruise

 

How out of place would we be if we did not go by the formal night rules?

 

Would a Navy blazer and dark grey trousers be ok? Or is a tux needed?

 

What if you dont dine in the MDR?

[cherylandtk]

To the OP: Is your question regarding Princess ships or Crystal? You posted in the Princess forums, but your next listed upcoming cruises are on Crystal.

 

Assuming you do mean Princess, the blazer/tie/slacks will be fine for formal night on Princess ships. That meets the guidelines (OK, not quite a suit, but close enough) for all ships. And as noted above, the rules are sometimes much more lax on some ships than what is the printed policy. (So lax that the Emerald allowed short shorts for women and short-sleeved Hawaiian shirts for men on formal night two weeks ago.)

[sunsetbeachgal]

Does anyone know how "lax" the guidelines have been recently at the main dining room for Formal Night on the Ocean Princess? Our upcoming 14 night cruise is two back-to-back 7 day cruises, so there are four formal nights.

[cruisin36]

BUT THEN WHAT YOU READ IN THE ANSWER BOOK MAY NOT BE ACCURATE EITHER BECAUSE , AS YOU SAY, as it will vary from ship to ship within thr Princess fleet. BUT THEN , THE ANSWER BOOK SHOULD GIVE YOU THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.

 

If the Answer Book is not accurate why do they even put it in there. Perhaps you should contact princess and advvise them. In any event if the OP abides by what is currently published (right or wrong) they cannot go wrong. Do you agree?

 

I think dress code posts should be deleted before the first answer is posted.

[luvs2travl]

If the Answer Book is not accurate why do they even put it in there. Perhaps you should contact princess and advvise them. In any event if the OP abides by what is currently published (right or wrong) they cannot go wrong. Do you agree?

 

I think dress code posts should be deleted before the first answer is posted.

 

 

I 100% agree! There must be at least a thousand threads on Formal Nights/Dress Codes/What Can I Get Away With...etc! Don't folks know how to use the "Search" feature here on Cruise Critic?

[AlaskaGolden]

[/u][/i][/b]

 

 

I 100% agree! There must be at least a thousand threads on Formal Nights/Dress Codes/What Can I Get Away With...etc! Don't folks know how to use the "Search" feature here on Cruise Critic?

 

The thing is...the dress code requirements in the MDR and specialty restaurants seem to change from month-to-month and ship-to-ship. It's helpful to hear what's recently been "required" on the ships some of us are sailing in the near future.

[cruisin36]

The thing is...the dress code requirements in the MDR and specialty restaurants seem to change from month-to-month and ship-to-ship. It's helpful to hear what's recently been "required" on the ships some of us are sailing in the near future.

 

It isn't necesarily the ship. Several other factors affect what is allowed. The Maitr De, the Headwaiter, etc. all of which can be different from cruise to cruise. There is nothing wrong with just following the answer book - it works on every ship with any Maitre De and any itinerary.

[bbqbrad]

Dress Code and Tipping threads should be sticky topics at the top of the first Princess Cruises message board page.

[kooljamming]

If the Answer Book is not accurate why do they even put it in there. Perhaps you should contact princess and advvise them. In any event if the OP abides by what is currently published (right or wrong) they cannot go wrong. Do you agree?

 

I think dress code posts should be deleted before the first answer is posted.

 

I respectfully disagree. There are people who still log on hoping to get information about the reality of what happens on a ship. No print can keep up with that. The reality might not reflect the marketing or published guidelines. On the same note we could get rid of smuggling booze, tipping, smoking on balconies, kids in their own cabins, what left to talk/flame about:D:) I would rather know what's happening than what they say should happen. When we start to limit information, then board is completely pointless or we end up with cruise buddies who treat the cruise line like a loved and devoted family member. We can all decide to share or not share on certain threads. The search engine is not the best on this forum, yes I have tired using it. It can be long and tedious to read through, yes I have done it.

 

To Op - I think you will be fine. One should always try to address the OP who takes the time to ask:-) This makes search a bit easier...sometimes

May I ask what your response to the OP who took the time to ask...ok or not?

[Mom33]

BUT THEN WHAT YOU READ IN THE ANSWER BOOK MAY NOT BE ACCURATE EITHER BECAUSE , AS YOU SAY, as it will vary from ship to ship within thr Princess fleet. BUT THEN , THE ANSWER BOOK SHOULD GIVE YOU THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.

 

When all else fails, use some grown-up commom sense when you wonder what might be out of place.:D

[Pam in CA]

How out of place would we be if we did not go by the formal night rules?

 

Would a Navy blazer and dark grey trousers be ok? Or is a tux needed?

 

What if you dont dine in the MDR?

This should be OK. FYI, the suggested dress code is the same in both the Traditional and Anytime dining rooms.

[cruisin36]

I respectfully disagree. There are people who still log on hoping to get information about the reality of what happens on a ship. No print can keep up with that. The reality might not reflect the marketing or published guidelines. On the same note we could get rid of smuggling booze, tipping, smoking on balconies, kids in their own cabins, what left to talk/flame about:D:) I would rather know what's happening than what they say should happen. When we start to limit information, then board is completely pointless or we end up with cruise buddies who treat the cruise line like a loved and devoted family member. We can all decide to share or not share on certain threads. The search engine is not the best on this forum, yes I have tired using it. It can be long and tedious to read through, yes I have done it.

 

To Op - I think you will be fine. One should always try to address the OP who takes the time to ask:-) This makes search a bit easier...sometimes

May I ask what your response to the OP who took the time to ask...ok or not?

 

How can you get reality from this forum???? Whenever a dress code thread starts you will get a zillion different answers! Which one is right. And, as you say it varies from ship to ship so your chances of getting a good answer are 18 ships X 365 days x 3 MDR's per ship = 1 chance in 19,710.

 

Yor answer was I "think" would indicate that you are not sure either.

[99Cruiser]

I usually don't even wear a tie on formal night. I wear a sports jacket and slacks with a button down shirt but take the jacket off right when I get to the table and don't put it back on. Right after dinner I go back and change into shorts, t-shirt and flip flops for the rest of the night. I wear a suit to work every day and when on vacation it's the last thing I want on. The books always say the entire night is supposed to be formal but on over 20 cruises I have never had one issue with changing after dinner.

[Times Prince]

How out of place would we be if we did not go by the formal night rules?

 

Would a Navy blazer and dark grey trousers be ok? Or is a tux needed?

 

What if you dont dine in the MDR?

Let me answer this in the first person. Our last cruise out of England on the Grand Princess was the start of an extended vacation for us in Europe, and as a result I opted to use a Navy blazer and grey slacks for formal nights rather than add an extra suit or tux to our already overburdened luggage load.

 

There was no problem in entering or being in Traditional Dining.

 

I was, however in a minority as most men wore suits or tuxedos. This made me a little self conscious, but I received no external pressures other than an occasional glance in the hallways from a tuxedo garbed gentleman. Once seated at the table, I looked the same as any of the suited gentlemen.

 

The main thing is my wife thought I was handsome (her being somewhat prejudiced on that opinion ;)).

 

On a more general note, the Formal Night dress applied to all the Main Dining Rooms, but not to the other Anytime dining options of Horizon Court, Cafe Caribe, or, I am told, the specialty restaurants. In years past it was noted by Princess that the dress code was for the ship, however lately they have limited adherence to the Main Dining Rooms. Another thing I have noted in recent cruises is that the Princess Theater tends to be almost exclusively persons in dress code. The blazer would work fine there too.

[1 HappyCruiser]

What you describe would be fine on a formal evening & if you opt for the buffet even shorts & sandals are fine. Although everyone won't agree, other than the dining room there is no dress rules for the rest of the ship. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in.

[Bexhillgirl]

If you sail out of the UK, and most passengers are Britsh, you will probably find the formal dress code of dark suit or tux, mostly adhered to. In other areas, including the rest of Europe, it's a bit more flexible. Always a good idea to ask!!! That's what these boards are for.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Some people will feel that as soon as the clock strikes six, you should be dressed to the nines. But in reality on most Princess ships, you should be fine dressed normally, other than those going to the formal dining in the traditional and anytime dining rooms. So those eating in the Horizon or dressed smart casual in the specialty shouldn't feel any pressure to return to their cabins to dressed up more just to hang out in the ship afterwards or even to go to the casino or the Princess theater.

 

On our last cruise, we had late traditional as usual, and I remember coming inside the ship after we were at the pool a little after six on a formal night. There were plenty of passengers dressed up, all glittery and tuxy, but if any of them were bothered by the sight of us, in our bathing suit coverups, too bad. We weren't going to change for another hour.

 

I also remember seeing a denim shorted couple on one formal night, as people were enjoying the champagne waterfall. I figured they probably ate in the Horizon Court and wanted to check out what was going on in the atrium. If anyone felt they were out of place, I hope he or she kept the mouth zipped.

[jerblu]

I actually DID try to search, but I didnt get what I needed. The replies above have been very informative, and I appreciate them.

 

I just today booked for the Caribbean Princess October 9th sailing. I havent updated my signature yet. (Actually, that is getting unwieldy, I need to pare that down.)

 

Thanks everybody

[CrusinAgain]

The thing is...the dress code requirements in the MDR and specialty restaurants seem to change from month-to-month and ship-to-ship. It's helpful to hear what's recently been "required" on the ships some of us are sailing in the near future.

 

Exactly and from one week to the next on the same ship. What we have seen is the worst that has happened to other guests is if the man does not have some type of jacket on he is asked to return to get one or if the maitre'd has one it is loaned to him. Then other times, no jackets have been fine. I think they are trying to lax their guidelines due to airline regulations of limits.

[Cancun01]

 

As to the speciality resturant, they say smart casual but on formal night I'd like to think everyone would like to enjoy their upscale dinner in more than "smart casual"

 

 

On their website for 2010/11 Princess is now stating "formal" for the specialty restaurants

[Duck Duck Cruise]

On their website for 2010/11 Princess is now stating "formal" for the specialty restaurants

 

WRONG

 

Formal

When formal nights are held, please observe the dress code in the Traditional Dining and Anytime Dining venues for the enjoyment of all our guests.

 

• Evening gown, cocktail dress, or elegant pant suit for women
  
• Tuxedo, dark suit or dinner jacket and slacks for men
  

 

AND

 

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.

 

Straight from the website 2 minutes ago.