Formal Nights On Princess

[annierie]

Would you please review my post again and tell me where I quoted from the "answer book"???? I just read it again and I think I clearly stated that on the first page of the patter it states "Tonights dress:formal".

 

Again - Apologies accepted gratiously!

 

Just jumping in to correct you -- because using a very simple analytic approach to this argument --

 

The answer book tells you that on formal nights, the code is only applicable to dining in the traditional or anytime dining rooms.

 

Since the patter only states the code for that day, it logically applies to the venues that Princess has deemed to be formal, which are the dining venues.

 

The Horizon Court is never formal, not even on formal nights. Princess has expanded the areas where guests not dressed formally may dine to include the specialty restaurants. They also have not specified formal dress to attend the shows, drink in the lounges, or gamble in the casino.

 

ONLY DINING VENUES follow the code for the evening.

 

How hard is that to comprehend?

[Dead-metal]

Hi All

 

Next time you see a Scotsman in a kilt, think he has used up about 20kg

 

of his luggage allowance to get it there.

 

Thats why we wear nothing under it, we have no more luggage allowance.

 

yours Shogun

:)

 

I think the dress code shows respect. If Princess ask passengers to dress in formal attire then you should.

[1 HappyCruiser]

I suggest separating the dining rooms by attire. One will be for those who wish to wear ripped shorts and stained t-shirts with beer logos. Another dining room will only allow those in top hat & tails. Finally, the biggest dining room will be for those who just want to enjoy a nice meal without trying to make a statement to the entire ship. ;)

 

That sounds like a great idea to me. It simplifies things & eliminates any hard feelings from anyone who believes dressing down takes away from their enjoyment.

 

Going out of my way to mimic others? Really? REALLY YES !No. I said I would NOT wear a tux, but a dark suit. If everybody at the table is more lax re a tie, then I would probably not wear one. If everybody else wears a tux I am not going to rent one, I will stick with the suit and tie I bring. I am not trying to please anybody, rather I am being courteous of others at my table. If they choose to wear blazers or suits on smart casual nights, I will not change to please them.

 

There is a big difference between being respectful of others and going out of my way to please people. If you are somehow allowed in with jeans and button up shirt on formal night, I think that is being rude to the table mates who are enjoying their evening by dressing up.

 

I don't care if I never see somebody again, I will be just as courteous to them as a friend I have known for years. Sounds like you may not share that view.

 

You're following their lead to not take away from their enjoyment. Sound like mimicking to me.

 

[/color]

 

I think you should review my post again thouroughly. You will notice that I made no mention of the "answer book". My reference was to the first page of the daily patter. I just looked at a current one and it states "Tonight's dress: Formal". Apologies accepted!

 

You quite often make mention of the Answer Book in your posts & therefore should be quite familiar with it. It looks like you should review it once more....you missed something. :p

btw- The Patter doesn't say "remain dressed for the evening". If you interpret it as meant for the whole ship, there would be 3/4 of the people not properly dressed at times.

[mytime53]

You are missing the point. This is about people using the Main dining rooms in non-formal attire on formal nights.

The answer I gave to the prior question did come with the caveat that I might be wrong and would be corrected if so.

I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong, but I believe that formal wear is for public areas after 6pm. That is what I wrote. This was not a statement of fact, but what I believed to be true. And I think I made that quite clear.

Try reading the post before posting a nasty comment.

 

You'll have to excuse my confusion...when you post about "public areas after 6" it would appear that you aren't referring to the MDRs anymore. And certainly many people on this thread are not just referring to the MDRs.

As for my making nasty comments...sorry, they weren't intended to be. If I said "I may be wrong...be corrected" I would not take offense if told I was wrong and then corrected. Maybe I needed a :) after the remark.

[cruiseron36]

That sounds like a great idea to me. It simplifies things & eliminates any hard feelings from anyone who believes dressing down takes away from their enjoyment.

 

 

 

You're following their lead to not take away from their enjoyment. Sound like mimicking to me.

 

 

 

You quite often make mention of the Answer Book in your posts & therefore should be quite familiar with it. It looks like you should review it once more....you missed something. :p

btw- The Patter doesn't say "remain dressed for the evening". If you interpret it as meant for the whole ship, there would be 3/4 of the people not properly dressed at times.

 

Once again. I was not making any reference to the answer book or any interpretation of whatever you are talking about. I was quoting from the first page of the patter.

 

Is that too hard to comprehend annierie?

[cruiseron36]

:)

 

I think the dress code shows respect. If Princess ask passengers to dress in formal attire then you should.

 

See how simple it is??? I agree!!

[annierie]

Once again. I was not making any reference to the answer book or any interpretation of whatever you are talking about. I was quoting from the first page of the patter.

 

Is that too hard to comprehend annierie?

 

You really don't get it, do you? Princess offers many options on formal night that do not require formal dress.

 

It doesn't matter in those other venues what the Patter says about the code, because Princess has stated that the code only applies to the traditional and anytime dining venues. It does not apply everywhere else on the ship. So, if the Patter says "here's tonight's code", it's the code that applies to dining in the specified venues, period.

 

I am telling you that Horizon Court is a public area. So are all the other venues where casually dressed cruisers are not violating anything.

 

You don't help new cruisers who wish to understand what to do, when you make them believe they are not welcome anywhere on the ship in the evening unless they are formally dressed, because that is just not correct.

 

Princess wants as many passengers as possible spending money in the bars, the casino, the show lounge, etc. They don't want hundreds of passengers slinking to and from their cabin if they have dined in Horizon Court or in the specialty restaurants, all of which are public areas.

 

You did make this statement earlier, did you not?

MattOsprey stated:

I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong, but I believe that formal wear is for public areas after 6pm"

 

You responded:

You are correct. The Patter states that dress for the night is either formal or smart casual. It does not limit it to the MDR.

 

 

You have been corrected that your response to MattOsprey was wrong, and you insist on playing a semantics game about the Patter.

 

You don't assist others with incomplete statements about evenings on board the ships.

[bonagrad]

Once again. I was not making any reference to the answer book or any interpretation of whatever you are talking about. I was quoting from the first page of the patter.

 

Is that too hard to comprehend annierie?

 

Isn't the answer book intended to provide you information prior to cruising? As someone new to Princess, I'm going in with expectations based on what Princess has provided to me prior to cruising. I would not be happy showing up and have them do a switcheroo on me and banish me to my cabin if I don't want to remain in my formal wear. That is exactly why I did not choose Celebrity.

[spunkie4]

I agree.....more and more don't know how to dress for a formal night.....at least the sales of beer have been a boom for Princess.

 

I saw something on the Emerald in September that I thought I would never see on a Princess Ship. Someone brought a "bucket of beer" to the dining room at lunch and was allowed in.

[annierie]

Okay, my head is reeling here. Can someone please explain to me how "dressy pants with formal top" and "jacket and tie" actually take up less room/weigh less in luggage than two dresses and a tuxedo?

 

Charming.

 

Hi rdsqrl, I see no one answered your question, but I'm going to attempt to explain my current approach to cruising, although I know there are some people who use the "luggage excuse" to get out of dressing nicely.

 

We currently will only take things that get used often and are versatile. The suit requires lots of "stuff" that weighs more, and takes up space, and we still have to take other "smart casual" wear for the rest of our trip.

 

The suit with all the trimmings for DH weighs 8 pounds. I have weighed it, and have decided that much space and weight that we have to shlep around Europe or wherever, just to be worn twice for 3 hours, is not cost effective.

 

He always wears a sports jacket on the plane, and two pair of coordinated slacks that can be worn other nights in land restaurants, or by themselves with a shirt are more useful for our long trips. The suit would only get worn on the ship twice, period. He doesn't have to bring the size 12 dress shoes if he wears the sports jacket. The loafers that are worn the other nights to dinners, at sea and on land, are enough.

 

For me, I don't bring the cocktail dresses anymore. I only bring coordinated separates, and one very nice floor length jersey dress, but it certainly is not a "formal" dress, it's useful with or without a jacket or pashmina, and can be worn throughout the trip.

 

We don't bother with dining in the MDR that much on the formal nights, if they have a valid alternative. But, we know if we wanted to, that we could "get by" with our choices, as they meet the spirit of the evening, even though they aren't suits and cocktail dresses.

 

Formal nights on a cruise ship have become something we have to get through, and we avoid ships with them every chance we get, but we cruise for itinerary, and sometimes that means a traditional ship. As long as they have alternatives, we deal with it, but I'd much rather pack snorkel gear, water shoes, binoculars, bird guides, travel guides, extra lenses for the camera, rain gear, hiking boots, etc. etc., in other words, things that make what I wish to do more enjoyable, and the ships know that they are catering to a vastly different population than those of 20 years ago when there was one dining option and no choices like there are today.

 

Besides, now that I'm an old woman, thanks to Jenny Joseph:

 

WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR PURPLE

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick the flowers in other people's gardens

And learn to spit

 

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only bread and pickle for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes

 

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

 

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple. :):):)

 

-----------------------------------

In other words, I value individuality, and style, and slightly thinking outside the box, so to speak, and know lots of cruisers who do what they wish, within reason. We all have room on the ships to express that individuality, and sometimes people here, not you, but lots of very ESTJ types that see only black or white and no shades of grey whatsoever, don't allow the room for those different in some fashion --

 

Oh well, off my soapbox, but I think as cruise addicts, we should try and get more and more people interested in cruising, to keep our favorite ships and lines from going bankrupt, like some did after 9/11. We shouldn't chase people away when the lines need new passengers to fill all these huge new ships.

 

The world isn't homogeneous. I don't quite understand why cruising has to be, but then I used to push the envelope in my Catholic high school and roll up my skirt and wear unauthorized socks with my saddle shoes ;)

[1 HappyCruiser]

You really don't get it, do you? Princess offers many options on formal night that do not require formal dress.

 

It doesn't matter in those other venues what the Patter says about the code, because Princess has stated that the code only applies to the traditional and anytime dining venues. It does not apply everywhere else on the ship. So, if the Patter says "here's tonight's code", it's the code that applies to dining in the specified venues, period.

 

I am telling you that Horizon Court is a public area. So are all the other venues where casually dressed cruisers are not violating anything.

 

You don't help new cruisers who wish to understand what to do, when you make them believe they are not welcome anywhere on the ship in the evening unless they are formally dressed, because that is just not correct.

 

Princess wants as many passengers as possible spending money in the bars, the casino, the show lounge, etc. They don't want hundreds of passengers slinking to and from their cabin if they have dined in Horizon Court or in the specialty restaurants, all of which are public areas.

 

You did make this statement earlier, did you not?

MattOsprey stated:

I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong, but I believe that formal wear is for public areas after 6pm"

 

You responded:

You are correct. The Patter states that dress for the night is either formal or smart casual. It does not limit it to the MDR.

 

 

You have been corrected that your response to MattOsprey was wrong, and you insist on playing a semantics game about the Patter.

 

You don't assist others with incomplete statements about evenings on board the ships.

 

I was going to respond with a similar answer but you said it best of all. ;)

 

Someone who constantly steers people to the Answer Book all of a sudden decides that their printed answers no longer apply is not a reliable source and their answers should be viewed with some doubt. They also pick & choose which rules that want to follow selecting the ones that "suit" their needs.

[cruiseron36]

I saw something on the Emerald in September that I thought I would never see on a Princess Ship. Someone brought a "bucket of beer" to the dining room at lunch and was allowed in.

 

I like your avatar. I have a 2006 Sly NA, stick.

[cruiseron36]

I was going to respond with a similar answer but you said it best of all. ;)

 

Someone who constantly steers people to the Answer Book all of a sudden decides that their printed answers no longer apply is not a reliable source and their answers should be viewed with some doubt. They also pick & choose which rules that want to follow selecting the ones that "suit" their needs.

 

I really thought you would understand I was just quoting the words on the first page of the daily patter. I checked with the moderators and my posts are going out exactly as I typed them, so I don't understand the fuss?? I could really care less what others wear. As I mentioned earlier I can choose who I dine with.

[spunkie4]

I like your avatar. I have a 2006 Sly NA, stick.

 

Thanks, mine is a 2007, Turbo. Just turned over 10,000 miles.

[cruiseron36]

Thanks, mine is a 2007, Turbo. Just turned over 10,000 miles.

 

Only 10K and living in Florida?? I have just a little over 9K but only drive it from April to October. She'l be going to bed before we board the Crown on Oct 17.

 

DW and I have a Formal night in the Solstice when we take it to dinner at the local Hilltop Saloon. I wear my best jeans and clean T shirt and she does the same.

[1 HappyCruiser]

I really thought you would understand I was just quoting the words on the first page of the daily patter. I checked with the moderators and my posts are going out exactly as I typed them, so I don't understand the fuss?? I could really care less what others wear. As I mentioned earlier I can choose who I dine with.

 

No problem on this end as long as the other poster understands that what is printed in the Patter as far as suggested dress for the evening applies only to the dining room and not throughout the entire ship. If you believe it applies everywhere on the ship for the entire evening then it's your choice to do as you wish and stay dressed in a suit & tie but when someone asks a specific question and the answer that's given is incorrect, I believe someone should say something.

[cruiseron36]

I just did!!

[pablo222]

Hi All

 

Next time you see a Scotsman in a kilt, think he has used up about 20kg

 

of his luggage allowance to get it there.

 

Thats why we wear nothing under it, we have no more luggage allowance.

 

yours Shogun

 

That is funny, either way you read it.

[Shogun]

Hi Pablo222,

 

there is 8 yards of material in a kilt, add jacket etc and the weight is one reason so many folk just can not travel with their kilts, if a charter we can have a weight limit of 22kg, and a 2nd bag costs silly money.

 

yours Shogun

[JerseyGuys]

i guess I don't get the luggage issue. I see a lot of women who bring a large number of shoes already, so is adding one dress outfit putting them over the weight limit? Men also, tuxedo pants or dress slacks aren't heavier than jeans are they? you have to where a shirt to dinner and a tuxedo shirt or dress shirt are actually lighter than a polo shirt, granted adding a suit jacket or tuxedo jacket does add some weight (maybe 2 lbs?) Maybe its the tie, bowtie or cuff links that puts everyone over the weight limit.

 

The real issue is that most people especially in america enjoy a more casual dress style especially on vacation. Live and let live I say, doesn't change the way I dress and I never feel out of place when I dress formally on a cruise.

[xpcdoojk]

We have cruised quite a lot on many of the mass market lines. Our first Princess cruise is coming up in January in New Zealand and Australia. We are planning an extensive post cruise itinerary in Australia, which includes flying on a helicopter to and from an island on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) for 3 nights. The weight on the helicopter flight is 15 pounds. We have to pay for the luggage on our American Airlines flight to LAX, and we are allowed one bag each on our V-Australia flights to and from downunder land. We are doing several Jet Star or Virgin Blue flights in Australia where the luggage requirements are 20KG (44 pounds). We will ditch some luggage in a hotel in Sydney, but still we are travelling light. I have multiple tuxedos along with many different shirts, bow ties, and all of the acoutrements. I will not be taking any of those items on this cruise. We have done the formal night thing with pictures and the whole bit so many times that we haven't bought pictures for several cruises. I don't think renting a going to prom tuxedo is really of much interest to me. So, on formal night, I will discuss with our waiters previously, if they suggest the specialty restaurant on formal night or if we should attend at our table for two dressed in neat black pants and a turtleneck sweater and my wife in a light weight but lovely dress (certainly not a gown) or not. I do understand the desire to maintain formal night, but I do not think it is a priority in the world of travel today. When the airlines stop treating us like profitable cattle (I don't think this is going to happen) I will return to taking two giant suitcases per person. In the meantime I am going to travel light with multi-purpose clothing. We are far more about doing on our cruises than worrying about the impression we make on our fellow passengers. I would rather see, people dressed in comfortable country club apparel than seeing people dressed in a suit that doesn't fit them from 1977. Which I have seen on cruises in the past. JMHO.:cool:

 

jc