1st Oceania Cruise - Their Definition of "Elegant Casual" for Alaska?

[Wannaknow]

This is our 1st Oceania cruise & our 1st cruise to Alaska. The cruise starts 6/29 for 12 days.

I know Oceania does not require formalwear (thank heavens!), but what do people wear for evening in Alaska? In my mind, it is going to be very cold all the time. Cruise evening air-conditioning, alone, is cool to me.

What is reasonably appropriate attire on Oceania in Alaska? For men too.

Many thanks.

[LHT28]

I know Oceania does not require formalwear (thank heavens!), but what do people wear for evening in Alaska? In my mind, it is going to be very cold all the time. Cruise evening air-conditioning, alone, is cool to me.

 

What is reasonably appropriate attire on Oceania in Alaska? For men too.

 

Many thanks.

 

For the dinner dining venues you can wear dress pants, skirts & a nice top or dress your choice

Men : dockers polo shirt or dress shirt... your preference

as long as the shirt has a collar I think men are fine

We did Norway this summer & that is what we wore

DH took his blazer (just his personal preference) but not required

We wore jeans in the daytime because near the North Cape it was COLD

I took a cardigan & pashmina just incase it was cool in the GDR but it was fine for me

 

enjoy the cruise

Lyn

[aohkay]

There are also lots of other threads on CC regarding weather appropriate clothing for Alaska, as it does tend to get cool and breezy. IMO, dressing in layers works well, as the weather can change very quickly.

[StanandJim]

Plan on dressing in layers, whatever your gender!

 

We've been in Alaska (early July) when the temperatures hovered between 80 to 90 degrees, and it was blindingly sunny for 15 days straight; and then we returned, five years later when it never got above 70 and there was a constant gray mist.

 

I'd also suggest that you bring more than one jacket which will "do" in the rain.

 

Have a fabulous cruise!

[Leonid]

AS StanandJim opined, the weather can "vary". Since you're going in late June, heed the advice to bring clothing so you can layer. We've been to Alaska 3 times, and the weather has been record high temps (2004) to overcast skies and drizzle (2006).

 

We're doing the 08/26/2011 sailing out of SF. We plan on bringing an assortment of outer lay gear. A poncho is an item you might want to pack.

 

Have a great cruise.

[Mura]

But wasn't the question directed towards clothing while on board? Such as while dining? That's the way I read it! "Country club casual" really doesn't apply to touring off-ship.

 

I was with Lyn on this summer's Norway cruise and I dressed for dinner just the way I have done on cruises in warm climates.

 

What we wore off the ship was something else entirely.

 

It's a long time since we have done an Alaska cruise (although I have booked two for this summer but we probably won't do either one!) ... my recollection is that in general it was on the warm side. I probably did have a jacket -- I didn't just wear a t-shirt and jeans in the cities. But when tramping around a glacier, yes, dress in layers!

[Wannaknow]

Thank you everyone. I appreciate your help. I was really inquiring as to what people wear in the dining rooms in the evening. We are new to Oceania (as well as Alaska).

"Country Club Casual" can mean many things to many people. We are from SoCal & people here dress quite casually in the golf clubs we go to.

Would black pants (not necessarily dress pants) be o.k. with dressy tops? Also nice white denim pants with dressy tops & small heels?

My husband is fine with Dockers & polo shirts with collar or nice dressy sportshirts (Tommy Bahama) type if that's o.k.?

[LHT28]

 

Would black pants (not necessarily dress pants) be o.k. with dressy tops? Also nice white denim pants with dressy tops & small heels?

 

Jeans (white or other colours) are not permitted in the Grand dining room or specialty restaurants for dinner ...you could wear them to the buffet though

[Mura]

Technically that jean restriction is true, Lyn, but Howard frequently wears his levis to the GDR and he hasn't been thrown out. Perhaps because they still look brand new and don't have any holes in them ...

 

My guess would be that nice looking denims (of whatever color) will pass muster ... unless the maitre d' is in a bad mood!

 

IMO black pants (don't have to be dressy) would pass muster, especially with a dressy top. I've seen people in the dining rooms with less dressy tops. Including me!

 

You don't need HIGH heels, that's for sure. Even though I think the rule says "no sandals" they're talking more about floppies than they are about all sandals. I have worn shoes that I would categorize as sandals (which usually have a low heel) and not encountered any problems ever.

 

<My husband is fine with Dockers & polo shirts with collar or nice dressy sportshirts (Tommy Bahama) type if that's o.k.?>

 

Sounds fine to me!

 

Mura

[LHT28]

Technically that jean restriction is true, Lyn, but Howard frequently wears his levis to the GDR and he hasn't been thrown out. Perhaps because they still look brand new and don't have any holes in them .

Mura

 

Maybe he just got lucky ;)

[Mura]

Maybe he did! Then again, he's worn them fairly often ... to the GDR and Tapas, NOT Toscana or Polo. And maybe I'm misremembering -- perhaps it wasn't at dinner time, just for lunch.

 

But I haven't been thrown out wearing what are technically sandals at night, either. Not that they are anything like flip-flops ...

[Wannaknow]

I'd really appreciate more feedback on this matter of white, black or other-color denim. I'm not talking about "ratty-looking" denim. I have a great deal of difficulty in finding clothes that fit. Denim, rather than cotton, silk, wool etc seems to work for me. I am a long, long way from being a teenager so I dress appropriately for my age. My pants are denim, but not tight, flashy or anything of that type.:confused:

[StanandJim]

I'd really appreciate more feedback on this matter of white, black or other-color denim. I'm not talking about "ratty-looking" denim. I have a great deal of difficulty in finding clothes that fit. Denim, rather than cotton, silk, wool etc seems to work for me. I am a long, long way from being a teenager so I dress appropriately for my age. My pants are denim, but not tight, flashy or anything of that type.:confused:

 

The dining room captains cannot take the time to closely inspect the material of each guests trousers, so if it does not "read" as denim from ten feet away, you'll probably be fine.

The logic here is to maintain a standard, not to punish or embarrass violators.

[LHT28]

This is the first cruise I have taken jeans with me only because we were going to the Arctic circle

 

The dress code states no jeans for dinner ...so if they are denim & look like jeans do not be surprised if you are asked to go change ;)

I usually take cotton or cotton/poly blend slacks that do for day or night...no problem

 

I have some microfibre dress pants (Tilley) that I wear for evenings with a nice top ..nothing fancy

 

There are people who would like them to allow jeans in the dining rooms for dinner.

I like to wear something a bit nicer ...I wear jeans at home all the time so wearing a nice pr of cotton or linen pants is dress up for me ;)

Lyn

[aohkay]

Personally, I like the rule regarding no jeans in the restaurants at dinnertime and I would hope O abides by the rule.

 

If people want to wear jeans at dinner, perhaps book a different cruiseline?

[Wannaknow]

Personally, I like the rule regarding no jeans in the restaurants at dinnertime and I would hope O abides by the rule.

 

If people want to wear jeans at dinner, perhaps book a different cruiseline?

 

Thank you for your suggestion. :rolleyes:

[Mura]

I personally don't have a problem with jeans per se, even though I almost never wear them. And if you have a (somewhat) dressy top, why not?

 

Having gotten hooked on the How Do I Look program on the Style Network on cable, I see how they really do push jeans outfits... most of which are really very classy.

 

Now, if they are faded and worn and more hole than fabric ... I agree. Not appropriate. But jeans by themselves (especially when you consider what fancy jeans cost these days!), I see no problem.

 

If you were to show up in jeans, cowboy shirt (maybe a hat) and boots ... well ... it probably wouldn't work.

 

Our Danish friend bought a pair of boots on our western parks trip three years ago, which she just loves ... and has NO place to wear! And she isn't cruising ...

 

Maybe it averages out. Even on Oceania, SOME people dress for dinner... others ... well, I won't say they DON'T!

 

Mura

[MightyQuinn]

Wannaknow, I rarely wear jeans - just not my style. But last year I bought a pair of dark wash (almost black) skinny jeans. They are super soft, have a touch of lycra & fit me like a glove. I bought them specifically for travel, since they're so comfy. They definitely don't have that typical blue jean look. I wore them to the GDR on Regatta on the first & last nites of our cruise. I wasn't trying to test the system or make a point (since I LOVE to dress up & always do for dinner) but the jeans worked best for me that day. No questions asked or eyebrows raised. In fact, on the final nite, I was escorted into the GDR on the arm of the Maitre'd while I wore my lovely jeans! And I felt very appropriate & comfortable walking thru.

 

So my point is that classy, well fitted jeans (black, dark wash, white) will likely pass muster on Oceania. But alas, my skinny hiphuggers have brass buttons on the back pockets, so now they're no longer TSA approved for travel. So much for my good planning!

[LHT28]

I personally don't have a problem with jeans per se, even though I almost never wear them. And if you have a (somewhat) dressy top, why not?

 

Having gotten hooked on the How Do I Look program on the Style Network on cable, I see how they really do push jeans outfits... most of which are really very classy.

 

Mura

I just wonder how they would word that in the dress code notice ;)

 

no holes, some people pay big $$ for those

[Wannaknow]

Mura and MightyQuinn (love that name) - thank you so much for your information. MightyQuinn - you are lucky to still be able to wear those hiphuggers;). I bet you looked terrific in those darkish skinny jeans!

 

Mura - it's true. Jeans are the thing here in SoCal. You can hardly go into any dept. store, Nordstroms, Bloomingdale's etc. without seeing tons of jeans. I'm actually getting tired of them. It's really hard to find nice, casual-ish pants these days, but I will hunt them down!

Just want to make it clear, that I am not talking about blue jeans or jeans per se. I certainly wouldn't wear those to dinner on a cruiseship. I am talking about very nice black and white pants that happen to be made of denim.

Thank you for being so informative and helpful.

[A Knitter]

Mura and MightyQuinn (love that name) - thank you so much for your information. MightyQuinn - you are lucky to still be able to wear those hiphuggers;). I bet you looked terrific in those darkish skinny jeans!

 

Mura - it's true. Jeans are the thing here in SoCal. You can hardly go into any dept. store, Nordstroms, Bloomingdale's etc. without seeing tons of jeans. I'm actually getting tired of them. It's really hard to find nice, casual-ish pants these days, but I will hunt them down!

 

Just want to make it clear, that I am not talking about blue jeans or jeans per se. I certainly wouldn't wear those to dinner on a cruiseship. I am talking about very nice black and white pants that happen to be made of denim.

 

Thank you for being so informative and helpful.

 

 

I have a few pair of St. John Sport pants that have that denim style, but they are soft and classy. I would have not problem wearing them with one of my wearable art sweaters, although I have not as of yet. Perhaps on my TA cruise in 2011. :)

[Mura]

I just wonder how they would word that in the dress code notice ;)

 

no holes, some people pay big $$ for those

 

 

Very true, Lyn ... but I have to admit I've never seen hole-y jeans on the "R" ships ...

 

I can see where it is easier to say NO jeans than No jeans with holes!

 

Mura

[MightyQuinn]

I have a few pair of St. John Sport pants that have that denim style, but they are soft and classy. I would have not problem wearing them with one of my wearable art sweaters, although I have not as of yet. Perhaps on my TA cruise in 2011.

And with a Judith Leiber bag, you'll be all set! :):)

[A Knitter]

And with a Judith Leiber bag, you'll be all set! :):)

 

You remembered:D That is all a girl needs. :):) Happy Holidays

[Palmetto Lady]

I wore white jeans on our last cruise with a white and silver top and silver heels. I doubt that anyone even noticed that they were jeans since the top covered the waistband and the rivets. I would not have worn "blue jeans".