Dress Code: NCL vs. other cruise lines

[christiecruise]

For those of you who have cruised NCL and other cruise lines - can you tell me if NCL is the only one with a very relaxed dress code?

 

I am planning an Alaskan cruise (2012) for 9 of my family members (3 generations) and our hard working guys want to wear their dress slacks and a nice silk collared shirt to dinner. No tie, no jacket. Based on this year's Celebrity Infinity prices, I thought they might be significantly less than NCL (since the Star is leaving) but after spending a bunch of time on the Celebrity CC boards and looking at the Celebrity website it looks like it may be too formal for us. The dress code listed on the website does not list shorts as ever being allowed for women, or any shirt less than a polo style. Looks like formal nights are very formal.

 

Is this the way it is on all lines other than NCL? Do all other lines have formal nights - where men must wear a coat and tie or more formal - unless you want to eat from the buffet? We like looking nice and going to the MDR!

 

I guess I'm so surprised about the level of formality as most trendy high end restaurants these days are not tie wearing places! Hope those of you with varied cruise experiences can help me. We certainly want to cruise on the right ship for us, we have no interest in protesting dress codes or making others feel uncomfortable with our casual dresses and silk shirts :D !

[ohiotrav]

Our last cruise was on the Star to Alaska. My husband didn't bring a jacket only dress pants & shirts with collars. Enjoy your cruise!

[christiecruise]

Oops, maybe I wasn't very clear. I am wondering if any cruise lines OTHER than NCL allow men to eat in the MDR without a tie and jacket, or at least have another option on formal nights (like a specialty restaurant) besides a buffet.

[Planer's Edge]

I believe most all mainstream cruise lines do not require a jacket and tie. Unless your are specifically talking about formal night. Because NCL does not have a specific formal night as they call theirs Dress Up or Not Night.

 

PE

[Warm Breezes]

Carnival

[iheartbda]

Oops, maybe I wasn't very clear. I am wondering if any cruise lines OTHER than NCL allow men to eat in the MDR without a tie and jacket, or at least have another option on formal nights (like a specialty restaurant) besides a buffet.

 

Having experienced formal nights on Celebrity, RCCL and Princess, I can tell you there were those who were not dressed as smartly as you plan and they were all seated enjoying their dinner in the MDR.:)

 

Shorts are not permitted in the MDR, (although I've seen them on occassion), for dinner but they are acceptable for breakfast and lunch if you choose to eat there.

[jla418]

Celebrity is definitely more formal than NCL, as was Princess when we sailed them. On Princess we were able to get a table in one of the specialty restaurants on formal night without coat and tie, but I'm not sure, but I don't recall anyone else not having coat & tie.

 

My father took the entire family to Alaska on the Norwegian Pearl, and we loved the ship and the cruise. Had a great time, and to me, you just can't top the flexibility of FreeStyle cruising. We also sailed on the Norwegian Jewel Transatlantic, and loved that ship as well.

[cynbar]

We have recently sailed NCL, Celebrity and Princess, and I'd have to agree that only NCL dispenses with formal nights. Over on the Princess boards, some posters swear that they go to the MDRs on formal nights with no jacket or tie, but that has not been our experience. Celebrity was the most formal of the three, but I still found that people dressed up on both. I know that my DH would be a little uncomfortable if he were dressed more casually than most everybody else. I'd say to stick with NCL if you want to avoid formal dress, where we found very few dressed up on the optional night (or any other night for that matter.)

[Educators2]

NCL has the option to dress up if you choose. On Royal Caribbean, we ate in the main dining room with "smart casual" clothes-i.e. no jacket for my husband, just a nice long sleeve shirt. Celebrity is pretty dressy, no shorts at "high tea" in the afternoon in the dining room.

Susan

[Sauer-kraut]

Stay away from Cunard, they are very formal even on casual formal night....:D

[robinpow]

As you now, NCL is the most relaxed. I don't even pack anything that resembles formal. Heck I don't even pack my make-up. LOL

 

Carnival like NCL is a budget cruise line. While they have a dress code, it's pretty loose.

 

RCCL is a step up, people will dress a bit nicer. I've seen men with and with out jackets. Women are anything from a nice paints suits, to gowns.

 

Celebrity, no jeans after 5 pm on the ship! Full dress code is in force. Not only by the ships rules, but defiantly peer rules.

 

From what you say, hard working guys and 3 generations, I think NCL might be your best match.

[christiecruise]

Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate your comments, and yes after reading everything that was written, NCL does sound like the right place for us.

 

Writing on these boards is kind of like playing telephone and I had to laugh when I realized how some things I'd written must have been interpreted. But the hard working men in my family (working 60+ hours a week as lawyers and corporate directors) will appreciate NOT having to wear their suits and ties on vacation :D

 

Thanks again, you all have been incredibly helpful.

[sparks1093]

Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate your comments, and yes after reading everything that was written, NCL does sound like the right place for us.

 

Writing on these boards is kind of like playing telephone and I had to laugh when I realized how some things I'd written must have been interpreted. But the hard working men in my family (working 60+ hours a week as lawyers and corporate directors) will appreciate NOT having to wear their suits and ties on vacation :D

 

Thanks again, you all have been incredibly helpful.

 

On our last cruise I did bring a suit, DW brought a nice dress and the boys brought dress shirts with ties so we could do a family picture on dress up or not night. I'm glad we did because the exodus has started and it could be 10 years or more before we all cruise as a whole family again:(. Anyway, there were people dressed up and there were people in shorts in the MDR so you can definitely do your own thing (this was on the Sky, I'm not sure all ships allow shorts in the MDR at dinner).

[iheartbda]

As you now, NCL is the most relaxed. I don't even pack anything that resembles formal. Heck I don't even pack my make-up. LOL

 

Carnival like NCL is a budget cruise line. While they have a dress code, it's pretty loose.

 

RCCL is a step up, people will dress a bit nicer. I've seen men with and with out jackets. Women are anything from a nice paints suits, to gowns.

 

Celebrity, no jeans after 5 pm on the ship! Full dress code is in force. Not only by the ships rules, but defiantly peer rules.

 

From what you say, hard working guys and 3 generations, I think NCL might be your best match.

This is soooooooooooo not true and your RCCL assessment is debatable as well.

[robinpow]

This is soooooooooooo not true and your RCCL assessment is debatable as well.

 

Not sure what you disagree with, I'm simply stating things I have experienced first hand.

[travelnap]

Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate your comments, and yes after reading everything that was written, NCL does sound like the right place for us.

 

Writing on these boards is kind of like playing telephone and I had to laugh when I realized how some things I'd written must have been interpreted. But the hard working men in my family (working 60+ hours a week as lawyers and corporate directors) will appreciate NOT having to wear their suits and ties on vacation :D

 

Thanks again, you all have been incredibly helpful.

Christiecruise,

I know where you are coming from with those hard working men, as I work as a bank officer, and the last thing I want to do is put on a suit and tie while on vacation. I used to bring the jacket and tie, but the last few trips I have left them at home. I have sailed RCL, HA, Princess, Carnival, and NCL, and I feel most comfortable with just the nice slacks and nice shirt on NCL. Whichever line you go with, that is a great trip and I think you will enjoy it. Happy Cruising.

[NMLady]

For those of you who have cruised NCL and other cruise lines - can you tell me if NCL is the only one with a very relaxed dress code?

 

I am planning an Alaskan cruise (2012) for 9 of my family members (3 generations) and our hard working guys want to wear their dress slacks and a nice silk collared shirt to dinner. No tie, no jacket. Based on this year's Celebrity Infinity prices, I thought they might be significantly less than NCL (since the Star is leaving) but after spending a bunch of time on the Celebrity CC boards and looking at the Celebrity website it looks like it may be too formal for us. The dress code listed on the website does not list shorts as ever being allowed for women, or any shirt less than a polo style. Looks like formal nights are very formal.

 

Is this the way it is on all lines other than NCL? Do all other lines have formal nights - where men must wear a coat and tie or more formal - unless you want to eat from the buffet? We like looking nice and going to the MDR!

 

I guess I'm so surprised about the level of formality as most trendy high end restaurants these days are not tie wearing places! Hope those of you with varied cruise experiences can help me. We certainly want to cruise on the right ship for us, we have no interest in protesting dress codes or making others feel uncomfortable with our casual dresses and silk shirts :D !

 

Celebrity, as you've discovered, is dressier. It and HAL both stress formal evenings on the nights when dinner is formal. RCI and Carnival also have formal nights but imo don't stress it for the rest of the evening.

 

With the exception of formal dress, I've packed the same kind of clothes on all the cruises we've taken, on all the cruise lines we've been on, including Celebrity. For the cruise lines that have formal dinners, we've

worn formal clothes on those nights, but casual attire the other nights.

 

Oceania is similar to NCL in their dress rules -- no formal nights. They don't even have a 'dress up or not' night. All their nights are the same,

resort casual. You can always dress up if you want though. Oceania also has 'open seating' which is similar to NCL's freestyle dining.

 

But with the exception of NCL and Oceania, I think you'll find that all the other cruise lines have some dinners where formal attire is expected.

Does everyone wear it? No. But imo the majority do.

[dohertm1]

Dont worry. NCL is so casual that I have seen male passengers without shirts in the buffet line at lunch and dinner. Way too casual, in my opinion. On the few nights where passengers are requested to dress nicely (and I mean business casual in most cases), so many passengers still wear t-shirts, shorts and jeans. There was a formal night on the Dawn when I saw an older couple with a gown and tuxedo seated right now to a loud family with three very young children and they all were dressed like they were coming from the beach. If there is a dress code on NCL, it's rarely enforced. Have fun, no matter what you wear -- or don't wear.

[iheartbda]

Not sure what you disagree with, I'm simply stating things I have experienced first hand.

I'm disagreeing because you made it sound like this was a hard and fast rule rule on Celebrity, not just what you experienced, and everyone followed it.

 

From what I experienced numerous times, the formal dress code was not in effect for the whole evening, even though it is suggested by Celebrity, and there were plenty of jeans after 5:00, along with tank tops and shorts in the theater and elsewhere.;)

[njhorseman]

I'm disagreeing because you made it sound like this was a hard and fast rule rule on Celebrity, not just what you experienced, and everyone followed it.

 

From what I experienced numerous times, the formal dress code was not in effect for the whole evening, even though it is suggested by Celebrity, and there were plenty of jeans after 5:00, along with tank tops and shorts in the theater and elsewhere.;)

 

I agree. On our Celebrity cruises I almost always changed out my tux immediately after dinner and wore "resort casual" clothes for the remainder of the evening. I was never turned away from the show room or casino.