Tuxedo or not?

[WiscCruiser]

It's been three years since we've cruised. That's far to lengthy a shore excursion, so my wife and I are booked on the Ruby Princess in January 2012 and sailing the Eastern Caribbean.

 

The last time we sailed I brought my tux and wore it on the two formal nights.

 

We are confirmed for Anytime Dining. My question is, "In the past three years is the practice of getting all dressed up on formal nights outdated? Should I bring my tux?"

[paul929207]

My tux joined me on all 5 cruises this year.

[Astro Flyer]

It's been three years since we've cruised. That's far to lengthy a shore excursion, so my wife and I are booked on the Ruby Princess in January 2012 and sailing the Eastern Caribbean.

 

The last time we sailed I brought my tux and wore it on the two formal nights.

 

We are confirmed for Anytime Dining. My question is, "In the past three years is the practice of getting all dressed up on formal nights outdated? Should I bring my tux?"

 

While the number of tuxes seems to be related to the destination, I don't think you'll see many in the Caribbean but mostly suits & even less 'formal' clothing on formal nights. On our recent NE/ Canada cruise we dined elsewhere on formal nights because we didn't bring formalwear. Even then our TD waiter encouraged us to attend in regular 'resort casual' clothing but we declined his offer. Not attending the formal nights had no affect when we decided how much of an extra tip to give him.

[amazinglife]

you could bring a tux if you choose but more men are dressing in suits.

[Maddle]

 

The last time we sailed I brought my tux and wore it on the two formal nights.

 

We are confirmed for Anytime Dining. My question is, "In the past three years is the practice of getting all dressed up on formal nights outdated? Should I bring my tux?"

 

The direct answer to your direct question - in my experience - is that yes, formal dressing is on the decline.

 

Having said that, tuxes were in use on all of the cruises I did this year. My husband wore his tux, and he was not alone. He received many compliments. On one cruise, I suggested he leave it home as we did not expect there to be many and I didn't want him to feel out of place. In fact - that cruise had the greatest number of tuxes (not counting last New Year's.) He felt underdressed without it, and that he had missed the mark.

 

So - if you don't mind packing it, and you enjoy wearing it (as my husband does) wear it and know that you are setting the bar. You will probably be in the minority, but I don't think you will be alone.

 

Maddle

[rockymo]

If you own your own and don't mind packing it, I say wear it proudly. We enjoy the pagentry, if you will of dressing for dinner (where else except for royalty do they do this any more?) makes for a special evening. You will NOT be alone and you will probably get envious looks from ladies who wished their hubbies would wear one! I think it makes the food taste better too!

[sp2]

We are going on the Jan 22/12 Ruby cruise. Perhaps we will see you there?

My hubby usually brings his tux because he enjoys wearing it. I think it is true that there are fewer men wearing them in recent years, but they have by no means disappeared. He also has not brought it on a few cruises and did end up feeling underdressed at times.

 

Having said that, he has mentioned that it is sometimes hot wearing it in the Caribbean, and after dinner we go back to our cabin and change into something less formal. So I think it really is up to you and what you feel comfortable with, and whether you have room to pack it and all the accessories (shoes etc).

 

Have a great cruise!:)

[TracieABD]

My husband has done both tux and suit. He has never stood out as over or under-dressed.:)

[beauty1492]

DH has started just a suit instead of his tux because of wieght of his luggage.....I think the tux always looks great but not as manatory as days gone by. Last cruise I only saw a hand full.

[Seafoam Green]

You have your own tux. It should accompany you on your cruise.

 

To quote a fellow CC member who recommended tux rental for my husband: "then he will look good enough to be escorting you"

 

Plenty of people wore tuxes on our most recent cruise and they looked terrific. The tux rental was convenient and provided very nice formal attire.

[geoherb]

We usually pack our tuxedos to wear. We don't have many occasions to wear them at home. It's always nice to be among the best dressed. The one time we left them at home and went with sports coats was on our Alaskan cruise. It was an issue of packing--being able to fit our clothes into two pieces of checked luggage and not having to pay for a third piece. We're flying Southwest for our next cruise, so I don't mind having the extra luggage since it doesn't cost extra.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

I think less than 5% wear them....

[Jane361]

We're cruising on the Pacific Princess from Fort Lauderdale to Manaus, Brazil from Dec 15 to Dec 30. Will that make a differance in the number of tuxedos since it is over the holidays? My husband has a tux but would rather not take it. However, he does not want to be underdressed if most men are wearing them.

[luxurysailer]

DH has started just a suit instead of his tux because of wieght of his luggage

 

 

????????????? There can't possibly be any significant difference in the weight of a suit as compared to a tux.

 

We are always very careful with the weight of our luggage. On a recent two week Alaska cruise with two days spent in souther California prior to returning home DW and I had all the clothes that we needed, and then some, with only two suitcases and one garment bag, none of which seriously approached the weight limits. And I had my tux with me.

[Aus Traveller]

I think less than 5% wear them....

On the three Princess cruises we have been on this year I estimate the percentage of men wearing tuxes at around 20% - 25%. Maybe it depends on the particular cruise. :)

[chisoxfan]

I say go for it. Don't make your decision based upon what the "95%" do but what feels correct and proper for you. More to the point, on our last Carribean cruise, I wore my tux and found many kindred souls (probably 30% were sporting tuxedos). As my wise tailor told me, "you're not getting older but more elegant."

[suzski]

For us it depends on where we cruise from....with the baggage fees, sometimes it doesn't make sense to pack that extra weight. However, if we're driving to the port or sailing from a nearby location, absolutely! My hubby looks handsome in his tux and I want him to wear it proudly...I get to show him off!

[Woobstr112G]

You have your own tux. It should accompany you on your cruise.

 

To quote a fellow CC member who recommended tux rental for my husband: "then he will look good enough to be escorting you"

 

Plenty of people wore tuxes on our most recent cruise and they looked terrific. The tux rental was convenient and provided very nice formal attire.

 

Agreed. I've rented since 2008. Would never think of not renting nor not wearing a tux.....

 

Bob

[Ashland]

Eastern Caribbean..a tux..not necessary anymore.. JMHO..However it's your vacation do whatever makes you happy...Enjoy :)

[Sincity]

On the three Princess cruises we have been on this year I estimate the percentage of men wearing tuxes at around 20% - 25%. Maybe it depends on the particular cruise. :)

 

Not to offend anyone, but it seems to be age demographic related as well. The last time I wore a tux was to my senior prom in 1985. I have brought my suit and as of late, just slacks and a sport jacket. I'm on vacation and want to be as comfortable as possible and not really into "Black Tie" events. :cool: Probably more so with Gen Y.

[Times Prince]

If you own your own and don't mind packing it, I say wear it proudly. We enjoy the pagentry, if you will of dressing for dinner (where else except for royalty do they do this any more?) makes for a special evening. You will NOT be alone and you will probably get envious looks from ladies who wished their hubbies would wear one! I think it makes the food taste better too!

Totally agree with this - if you own your own, then bring it and enjoy the evening !

 

We've sailed Eastern/Southern Caribbean the past three years and still see 30-40% tuxedos - and when one gets to the theater for a show it looks more like 80-90%. So I guess the casual dressers go elsewhere.

 

I have **outgrown** my tux and wore a suit the past couple of cruises and feel a little underdressed for some of the evening.

 

So if you've got the tux, wear it - it probably weighs less than a good wool suit when packed.

[Putterdude]

East Caribbean, West Caribbean, South Caribbean, I never go on a cruise without my tux or dinner jacket....to us formal nights are a very important part of a cruise.

[jeromep]

We cruised Alaska this summer and formal nights were only had a few men in tuxes. I was amongst that minority, even fewer of us wore white dinner jackets. I think I saw about 3 of us that did the white jacket route. It was easy to do the tux for this cruise because we drove to the port, however I'm not sure I'd be so inclined to pack a whole tux for a sailing that we had to fly to, with the cost of flying with your luggage going through the roof.

 

The cruisers in Alaska did respect the formal night attire requirements, we didn't see anyone that was not attempting to stay in the spirit of the evening.

 

I did like the the formal night vibe and dressing up. The last time I wore a tux was for my wedding, and this particular tux I rented was nicer than my wedding tux.

[satxdiver]

I have not really seen a lot of tux wearers on Caribbean cruises. Those who did wear them seemed to be of the senior set. It is hot in the Caribbean and everyone is in a resort mood. But you should wear whatever meets your approval.

 

On one Caribbean cruise I met this older couple who dressed formal but ate in the buffet! They then camped out in front of the piano in the piano bar the rest of the night still in their formal garb. Most seem to make a dash for the stateroom to get back into resort wear like me.

[kendon]

My husband packed his tux for this Sunday's cruise on the Ruby. We love to dress up on formal nights.