Dress code.....

[Mr. Luckytoo]

Not meaning to pick on you specifically, but I get real tired of this comment in these dress-code threads. The only way the arguement that you should take a different cruise if you hate dressing up, is if EVERYBODY'S number one reason for taking ANY cruise is the dress code.

 

I would bet that almost everyone's reason (ESPECIALLY the people who don't dress up) for choosing Celebrity is something OTHER than the dress code - maybe the service, the food, the itinerary, etc. So saying, "if you don't like dressing up, you need to be on Carnival or NCL) is ridiculous.

 

PS90 - you bring up a very good point. No, not everyone on a Celebrity cruise wants to dress up in formal wear - I know on my first few Celebrity cruises I didn't - I went business casual, without a tie, nice jacket. I looked fine, fit right in and no one said anything to me - ever. Since that time my wife and I decided to wear more formal clothes...just because.

 

If Celebrity did away with formal nights would I no longer sail Celebrity? Heck no! That's just one piece of the puzzle for my wife and I. But I do see people posting that if you don't want to dress up sail NCL/CCL and I think it's because of the attitude.

 

If we're honest there is a growing segment of the population that likes to be rebellious, to push the limits and see what they can get away with. I've seen more 'attitude' on NCL cruises than I have one Celebrity cruises. The whole concept of Freestyle is doing things when you want and how you want. Nothing wrong with that but when you have selfish people it just fans the flames.

 

So many people come onto the Celebrity boards having sailed NCL/CCL or other lines and they feel 'entitled' to dress how they want because, "it's my vacation.'' I mean on NCL I've read about and observed the pub crawl, hairy legs contest, etc., and on Celebrity the cruiseline isn't going to host those type of events - it's [=X=] intended for a more mature/refined cruising guest (my personal opinion)

 

I remember on one Celebrity cruise there were these two couples who wore cowboy outfits on formal night. It looked totally out of place next to the suits and jackets but it didn't look bad at all! In fact I thought that the ladies outfits, complete with lots of tassles and sequins, were rather attractive. For those couples and their culture they were wearing 'formal wear'. Same goes for people from Scotland where the men on the ship were wearing kilts - darn hairy knees :p. But hey I thought they looked sharp.

 

Bottom line is this, and I can only speak for myself, the ship has standards: cusine, entertainment, rooms and yes a dress code. I believe that the majority of cruisers like it and respect it. If you don't like the recommended standards maybe you should find something more to your liking. Thank goodness we have options, from wild party ships, to Freestyle dining to enrichment lectures at sea. Life is good! :D

[Presto2]

Hi everyone just for the record I hate to dress up. Put on a cruise I rent a tux and I am bringing ties to wear with my dress shirt for casual evening. I am offended when someone else does not even make the extra effort. If you do not want to dress for the evening then do not come to the MDR or take a different cruise where your dress would be appropriate. I do it for my gal and because that is what I agreed to when I booked this cruise. This will be my 10th cruise and her 4th.

 

Couldn't agree more ------ there are plenty of casual cruises to suit all tastes. If we wanted casual we would have gone with NCL or the former OV but we chose Celebrity. I don't understand why people book a cruise line and then moan about the dress code being formal. :confused::confused::confused:

[bradpole]

Not meaning to pick on you specifically, but I get real tired of this comment in these dress-code threads. The only way the arguement that you should take a different cruise if you hate dressing up, is if EVERYBODY'S number one reason for taking ANY cruise is the dress code.

 

I would bet that almost everyone's reason (ESPECIALLY the people who don't dress up) for choosing Celebrity is something OTHER than the dress code - maybe the service, the food, the itinerary, etc. So saying, "if you don't like dressing up, you need to be on Carnival or NCL) is ridiculous.

I couldn't agree more!

 

Using the "take a different cruise line" argument makes it sound the ONLY reason one would choose Celebrity or HAL would be because there is a formal night. NOTHING else separates them from the likes of NCL Carnival? Just formal night? ;)

 

I asked that same question on the HAL board and didn't get a single response

 

I fell in love with HAL, and hopefully Celebrity too, because of many little things that they do, the required formal night is just one negative.

 

I'm not going to avoid an entire cruise line because of formal night, I make the effort to appease the fashion police and dress appropriately for that evening, but each and every formal night we seem to run into more and more people who share the same opinion, "formal night is a thing of the past and casual [sorry "smart" casual] just makes more sense for vacation!"

[Spf12]

Have cruised Celebrity 31 times since 2003 and complied reluctantly with the dress code.Have also cruised Azamara and Regent where the dress code is resort casual ( elegant casual on Regent).Celebrity should end their ridiculous dress code and enter the 21st century.

[tally10]

Not meaning to pick on you specifically, but I get real tired of this comment in these dress-code threads. The only way the arguement that you should take a different cruise if you hate dressing up, is if EVERYBODY'S number one reason for taking ANY cruise is the dress code.

 

I would bet that almost everyone's reason (ESPECIALLY the people who don't dress up) for choosing Celebrity is something OTHER than the dress code - maybe the service, the food, the itinerary, etc. So saying, "if you don't like dressing up, you need to be on Carnival or NCL) is ridiculous.

 

This argument comes up with every dress code thread and I, for one, totally agree with you. Personally, we for the most part, adhere to the dress code (except as I have said many times before, I wear a sport coat and tie on formal nights). Yes, I do wish formal nights would be part of a bygone era, but I realize that so many diehards on these dress code threads are resistant to ANY change whatsoever. The absurd part to me is that those who may not agree with them, absolutely "ruin their experience" and are "just rude, selfish, and inconsiderate people" who flagrantly snub the rules. And, they say it will lead to shorts, tank tops, flip flops,etc. in the MDR on formal nights. Thankfully, you will never experience these people and their attitudes on a cruise.

[bradpole]

Have cruised Celebrity 31 times since 2003 and complied reluctantly with the dress code.Have also cruised Azamara and Regent where the dress code is resort casual ( elegant casual on Regent).Celebrity should end their ridiculous dress code and enter the 21st century.

 

I agree!

 

What some seem to never understand that is even with "resort casual" or "country club casual", etc... you can always dress more formally IF YOU DESIRE! But for the people who don't enjoy dressing up they aren't forced to!

[cruzeluver]

Celebrity should end their ridiculous dress code and enter the 21st century.

 

But where does that leave those of us that love formal and the ambiance it creates?

[bradpole]

But where does that leave those of us that love formal and the ambiance it creates?

 

You can still dress formally, absolutely nothing stopping you!

[Spf12]

You can still dress formally, absolutely nothing stopping you!

Agree 100%.You can wear Formal attire and no one will laugh at you.Just make believe you are on the TITANIC.

[Presto2]

You can still dress formally, absolutely nothing stopping you!

 

But for those of us who would feel a complete idiot if most people didn't 'give it a go' it doesn't help! When hubby and I left our cabin last cruise we were really edgy and it was only seeing everyone else joining in that made us feel comfortable ---- and not completely out of place !

 

I think this is just one of those arguements where neither side/ really understands the others point of view and we have to agree to disagree !

 

I just hope that in August there are enough people in posh gear to make us not feel stupid or out of place ! To us if we dress up and most don't we'd feel like the only couple at a party who bothered to wear fancy dress !!! We've paid a lot for our posh gear so have to wear it now !!!!;)

 

PS We normally do smart casual / casual for holidays so are not your 'formal at all costs brigade'

 

:)

[jimandtoni]

Have cruised Celebrity 31 times since 2003 and complied reluctantly with the dress code.Have also cruised Azamara and Regent where the dress code is resort casual ( elegant casual on Regent).Celebrity should end their ridiculous dress code and enter the 21st century.

Or maybe...just MAYBE??...you should stick to cruise lines that have dress codes more to your liking and leave the more formal ones to those of us who enjoy it? naaahhhh....that's RIDICULOUS!!

[Spf12]

Or maybe...just MAYBE??...you should stick to cruise lines that have dress codes more to your liking and leave the more formal ones to those of us who enjoy it? naaahhhh....that's RIDICULOUS!!

Why shoud I,I'd rather drive you crazy.

[Breezey]

Wow maybe there should be a Cruise Critic code that states do not initiate any questions, comments or complaints regarding how to dress on a ship and please read your respective cruise line's guidelines as to what to wear.

 

If I were a first time cruiser, these threads would scare the life out of me. Imagine having complete strangers on these boards represent an entire ship of voices and tell someone who asks a simple question that they are not welcome unless they follow "the code."

Very sad indeed especially once these same first time cruisers drag their tuxedos, gowns etc only to find that so many on the ship actually do look well dressed without having to follow the exact "code."

 

Plus if I see one more "cut and paste" directly from Celebrity's website stating the dress code...... I have used these boards since our first cruise over 10 years ago, I cannot believe the level of distress this causes for something so simple. Rather than toss out the dress code that everyone is worried about, I say Website hosts or whomever, stop letting these posts continue to drag on and on and get uglier and uglier.

[bradpole]

Or maybe...just MAYBE??...you should stick to cruise lines that have dress codes more to your liking and leave the more formal ones to those of us who enjoy it? naaahhhh....that's RIDICULOUS!!

 

I love that comment!

 

So FORMAL NIGHT IS THE ONLY reason you cruise Celebrity?

 

I'd love to cruise Oceania exclusively, but budget doesn't allow that. Regent, out of my price range, completely. NCL, poor service and poor food. Azamara, 2 ships 'slightly' limited iten's.

[bradpole]

But for those of us who would feel a complete idiot if most people didn't 'give it a go' it doesn't help! When hubby and I left our cabin last cruise we were really edgy and it was only seeing everyone else joining in that made us feel comfortable ---- and not completely out of place !

 

I think this is just one of those arguments where neither side/ really understands the others point of view and we have to agree to disagree !

 

I just hope that in August there are enough people in posh gear to make us not feel stupid or out of place ! To us if we dress up and most don't we'd feel like the only couple at a party who bothered to wear fancy dress !!! We've paid a lot for our posh gear so have to wear it now !!!!;)

 

PS We normally do smart casual / casual for holidays so are not your 'formal at all costs brigade'

 

:)

 

You're letting what other people think influence what you wear. If you want to wear formal, go for it!! Why on earth does it matter what others are wearing? If you want to go formal, go for it!

[rlsii488]

Wow maybe there should be a Cruise Critic code that states do not initiate any questions, comments or complaints regarding how to dress on a ship and please read your respective cruise line's guidelines as to what to wear.

 

If I were a first time cruiser, these threads would scare the life out of me. Imagine having complete strangers on these boards represent an entire ship of voices and tell someone who asks a simple question that they are not welcome unless they follow "the code."

Very sad indeed especially once these same first time cruisers drag their tuxedos, gowns etc only to find that so many on the ship actually do look well dressed without having to follow the exact "code."

 

Plus if I see one more "cut and paste" directly from Celebrity's website stating the dress code...... I have used these boards since our first cruise over 10 years ago, I cannot believe the level of distress this causes for something so simple. Rather than toss out the dress code that everyone is worried about, I say Website hosts or whomever, stop letting these posts continue to drag on and on and get uglier and uglier.

 

 

I am so tired of reading these responses, I told my Husband, please don't look for me by the color of my dress. I am going to go against the "dress code", I will be the one wondering around with the "clothing optional" attitude. ;) I am very nervous about this though, what if someone should notice my flip flops?

[2blueyam]

Here is my two cents. If you don't like to dress up for formal night(s) you can do one of the following and still enjoy your Celebrity cruise.

1. Have Room Service
   
2. Go to a specialty restaurant
   
3. Eat at the buffet
   

This way those that like formal can still get formal dining in the MDR and those that don't want to dress up can stay casual. My guess is that this was the reasoning behind making the specialty restaurants non-formal on formal nights. It gives those that don't want to dress up another option.

Personally my tux will be packed for our next cruise, but I understand those that don't want to dress up. Not dressing up is fine, just don't eat in the MDR on those nights. This should be an easy enough solution.

 

btw: I wouldn't be a big deal to me if someone showed up in casual wear, even jeans as long as they had a nice top to go with it. I might have to say something to the wait staff if it went as far as flip flops and/or shorts. My guess is flip flops and shorts will be less of a problem on my Baltic itinerary than on the Caribbean itineraries.

[PS90]

Or maybe...just MAYBE??...you should stick to cruise lines that have dress codes more to your liking and leave the more formal ones to those of us who enjoy it? naaahhhh....that's RIDICULOUS!!

 

So I should go and hang out with 20-year-old "frat boys" and listen to rap music on Carnival or NCL, even though that is not my style in any way whatsoever, just because I don't like dressing formally?

 

Or is this another sarcastic post that I don't understand...?

[Joedog]

Breezy,

 

There certainly is some truth to what you say, especially considering the OP's question was only whether or not the dining dress code applied to the Casino and outside bars, not whether or not there should be a dress code.

[dkjretired]

Casual, Smart Casual, I mean the same thing, not "formal night."

 

Ma Bell is correct, it is what the host requests. I don't care what you wear but on my last cruise on Solstice, people in shorts were turned away from the theater.

[Mr. Luckytoo]

But for those of us who would feel a complete idiot if most people didn't 'give it a go' it doesn't help! When hubby and I left our cabin last cruise we were really edgy and it was only seeing everyone else joining in that made us feel comfortable ---- and not completely out of place !

 

I think this is just one of those arguements where neither side/ really understands the others point of view and we have to agree to disagree !

 

I just hope that in August there are enough people in posh gear to make us not feel stupid or out of place ! To us if we dress up and most don't we'd feel like the only couple at a party who bothered to wear fancy dress !!! We've paid a lot for our posh gear so have to wear it now !!!!;)

 

PS We normally do smart casual / casual for holidays so are not your 'formal at all costs brigade'

 

:)

 

On our last Millie cruise I made a mistake. The Mrs. wasn't feeling up to the firstformal night so we did room service. I made a reservation for the Olympic on what I 'thought' was the 2nd formal night but I was wrong!

 

We both got dressed up and went to the Olympic, I in my tux and my wife in her nice dress. I was looking around to see how many other cruisers were dressed in tux's. NONE! After awhile my wife looked at me and said, 'it's NOT formal night is it?'

 

Not one to admit being wrong I reminded her that we were celebrating our birthday's and who cares how we were dressed. We went to the the 2nd seating that night and yes I was the only guy dressing in my tux. After the show we went to the casino as well. Personally I didn't care but DW wanted to go back and change - so I played craps while she changed. Hey when the dice are hot....:cool:

[SusieV]

There are lots of cruiselines that offer at least a similar experience to Celebrity (Princess, HAL for example). Celebrity is the most formal cruiseline remaining.

 

All you casual dressers who say that the dress code is outdated; you have LOTS of choices when deciding where to cruise. The pax who love formal are very restricted with choice of cruiseline. Can't you just leave us ONE cruiseline where we can enjoy the ambiance of people being formally dressed (and no, me wearing a long gown next to your khakis is not ambiance, sorry)?

 

If you don't like it, you can have room service or go to the specialty restaurants, but for goodness' sakes stop whining. You know what you're getting into- you got information on the dress code with your ticket. If it is that unacceptable to you then you'll have to avoid the MDR- but it's not like you don't have other options.

[MajorDeegan]

I have been on 5 Carnival, 2 NCL, 1 Costa, 1 Princess and now going on Celebrity and I dress up for them all because this is what I agreed to when I purchased the cruise. What I meant was cruise lines have loosened their policy for the clientele that does not want to dress up and advertise their cruises that way. I pick my cruises based on my likes and dislikes. But this one was cost saving and I hope I did not make a mistake because of the style of this cruise company.

[Joedog]

All you casual dressers who say that the dress code is outdated. Can't you just leave us ONE cruiseline where we can enjoy the ambiance of people being formally dressed.

 

You do realize that it is not the casual dressers who are stealing your cruise line. It is your cruise line that is selling you out for more market share (profits).

 

You shouldnt blame people for buying the product that is being sold to them.

[redridinghood]

There are lots of cruiselines that offer at least a similar experience to Celebrity (Princess, HAL for example). Celebrity is the most formal cruiseline remaining.

 

No, it's not, Cunard is.