Rent a tux from the ship or pack a suit???

[BigZfan]

My husband and I are going on a 6 day Western Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale on the Carnival Freedom for our 10th anniversary. This will be our first cruise. He is considering renting a contemporary black tuxedo with a long tie and two white shirts and colored vest from Carnival’s Gifts and Services Bon Voyage Department. (He wouldn’t want the traditional bow tie, tux)

 

He is considering it because we have reservations for the Steakhouse for the 1st night and the 6th night, and our understanding is that the MDR will have elegant nights on the 2nd night and the 5th night. Therefore he would be able to wear it four times, and he wouldn’t have to pack it, it would be waiting for him on the ship.

 

My question is, would we stick out like horribly if we did this? Do people dress up for the Steakhouse on cruise ships? Should he just pack a business suit with a few shirts instead? Obviously this will change what two dresses I bring, which is fine, I just don’t want to do both. It’s either tux or suit. We are just thinking packing wise, it would be easier to go with the rental, but we don’t want to stick out either.

[H82seaUgo]

he will turn heads, but no head is more important to turn than yours! :)

 

go for it~!

[douglinc@msn.com]

I always take a suit or slacks and a sports coat. Either is just fine.

 

Doug

[1948buddy]

Carnival seems to be getting more and more relaxed on dress codes. I like being able to wear dress shorts and a nice shirt to the MDR on non formal nights. On formal nights I wear a suit and tie, never a tux, but I have seen a lot lately with just slacks and a shirt. The only thing that bothers me are men who do not remove their ball caps for dinner. have a great cruise, and if you like the tux, by all means go for it. We went to the steakhouse once, and I wore slacks and a shirt, and everyone else had suits and ties, but now I hear it is mostly the other way around.

[jonathansburden]

My DH usually brings his tux for elegant night and a suit for the steakhouse, but if I had to pick one, it would definatly be the tux!! The only thing I think looks better than a tux is a formal kilt ;)

[SMSACE6]

I say bless him for wanting to dress up! But I think he will be more than fiine in a nice suit. I see less and less men in tuxes on my cruises, but I guess it is ultimately up to him ( with your input;) ) Have a great cruise:)

[divngmedic]

How much is the tux rental? I went and bought 3 dress slacks for our frist cruise, wore then, then came home sent to the dry cleaners and put them in the closet. A few months I had a need to wear a pair for wedding and all three had holes in them from the cleaners. I paid well over 250 dollars for three pairs of pants and all are ruined.

[BigZfan]

How much is the tux rental? I went and bought 3 dress slacks for our frist cruise, wore then, then came home sent to the dry cleaners and put them in the closet. A few months I had a need to wear a pair for wedding and all three had holes in them from the cleaners. I paid well over 250 dollars for three pairs of pants and all are ruined.

 

They offer a few different rentals, but the one he is looking at is $110. It includes two shirts. They had another option that was more traditional with the bow tie, and one shirt for $85. Plus, different options with up to four shirts for more money.

 

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He has a suit, but we would have to buy a nice garmant bag/luggage for it because believe it or not we have never travelled where we needed anything besides backpacks and baseball jerseys before. (We are bringing a Marlins Big Z jersey on this trip and catching a game at the new ballpark after the cruise!!!)

 

We are more concerned about sticking out as over dressed on the non-elegant nights at the Steakhouse, then sticking out on the elegant nights at the MDR. But I think he would look pretty sharp in a tux or a suit. I'll let him decide what to do, but he wanted me to ask if we would stick out really bad if he wore a tux for the entire cruise, minus casual evenings, instead of a suit so that is what I am doing.

[divngmedic]

They offer a few different rentals, but the one he is looking at is $110. It includes two shirts. They had another option that was more traditional with the bow tie, and one shirt for $85. Plus, different options with up to four shirts for more money.

 

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He has a suit, but we would have to buy a nice garmant bag/luggage for it because believe it or not we have never travelled where we needed anything besides backpacks and baseball jerseys before. (We are bringing a Marlins Big Z jersey on this trip and catching a game at the new ballpark after the cruise!!!)

 

We are more concerned about sticking out as over dressed on the non-elegant nights at the Steakhouse, then sticking out on the elegant nights at the MDR. But I think he would look pretty sharp in a tux or a suit. I'll let him decide what to do, but he wanted me to ask if we would stick out really bad if he wore a tux for the entire cruise, minus casual evenings, instead of a suit so that is what I am doing.

Thanks for that info. I guess I better buy new pants and a jacket. We will be on a back to back and that is $220 for the while trip. That is a lot of booze money. I will stick with dress slack, button down long sleeve shirts and a sports coat. Every time I wear I tux I end up married.:p

[Runaway Parent]

I think it depends how often you plan to cruise whether to rent or go ahead and buy. My husband rented one for the first cruise, and we bought one after that. He takes it every cruise, so it has paid for itself several times by now.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

They offer a few different rentals, but the one he is looking at is $110. It includes two shirts. They had another option that was more traditional with the bow tie, and one shirt for $85. Plus, different options with up to four shirts for more money.

 

------

He has a suit, but we would have to buy a nice garmant bag/luggage for it because believe it or not we have never travelled where we needed anything besides backpacks and baseball jerseys before. (We are bringing a Marlins Big Z jersey on this trip and catching a game at the new ballpark after the cruise!!!)

 

We are more concerned about sticking out as over dressed on the non-elegant nights at the Steakhouse, then sticking out on the elegant nights at the MDR. But I think he would look pretty sharp in a tux or a suit. I'll let him decide what to do, but he wanted me to ask if we would stick out really bad if he wore a tux for the entire cruise, minus casual evenings, instead of a suit so that is what I am doing.

 

last time i wore a tux on a cruise i went to the casino afterwards and everybody thought i worked in the casino.:D

 

Bill

[stormynow]

Rent the tux and have a wonderful time both of you looking great.

[stormynow]

Wish we could cruise with you.

[e150club]

I would go with packing a suit. This way you can mix pants, shirts, ties and the jacket and have a few outfits to wear. JMO.

[cherbear4000]

I have rarely seen men in tuxes on any of my recent cruises, even on elegant night or in the steakhouse. DH used to bring a nice suit to wear, but he even appeared over dressed in that. Now he brings dress pants and dress shirt, sometimes a tie, no jacket for elegant nights. That is what the majority of men wear.

[back2tampa]

Everyone was dressed nice on the Dream.I saw a few tux,lots of jackets with and without ties and lots without jackets but they did not let someone with a tshirt and blue jeans in ..(One of people in our group) ...GOOD FOR CARNIVAL!

[GrandBistro]

On Carnival you'll see some of everything, from tuxes and gowns to khakis and sundresses on 'elegant' nights. Some folks enjoy dressing up, others don't. (I really enjoy seeing little kids dressed in tuxes or suits and formal dresses- they always seem to enjoy it and look adorable.)

 

Don't rely too much on other people's opinions. You won't stick out, no matter what you wear. Dress to please yourselves and have a great time!

[mikel24m]

They offer a few different rentals, but the one he is looking at is $110. It includes two shirts. They had another option that was more traditional with the bow tie, and one shirt for $85. Plus, different options with up to four shirts for more money.

 

------

He has a suit, but we would have to buy a nice garmant bag/luggage for it because believe it or not we have never travelled where we needed anything besides backpacks and baseball jerseys before. (We are bringing a Marlins Big Z jersey on this trip and catching a game at the new ballpark after the cruise!!!)

 

We are more concerned about sticking out as over dressed on the non-elegant nights at the Steakhouse, then sticking out on the elegant nights at the MDR. But I think he would look pretty sharp in a tux or a suit. I'll let him decide what to do, but he wanted me to ask if we would stick out really bad if he wore a tux for the entire cruise, minus casual evenings, instead of a suit so that is what I am doing.

 

Myself I bring one brown and one black pair of pants(and shoes) and a few different shirts and never feel out of place.If I were you guys and really wanted to dress up I would rent it onboard and save the money for the luggage as well as the extra suitcase fees you probably pay like the rest of us,plus the pain in the butt of ironing and lugging it back home.We have never done steakhouse but have done the chefs table and not one person had a suit or sports jacket so I think you will be good either way

[pault76]

I'm wanting to get a 70's era baby blue tux with ruffled shirts and some sweet white shoes but i'm guessing I can't rent those on the ship. I think i'm gonna hafta hit up the goodwill.

[mikel24m]

I'm wanting to get a 70's era baby blue tux with ruffled shirts and some sweet white shoes but i'm guessing I can't rent those on the ship. I think i'm gonna hafta hit up the goodwill.

 

My honeymoon /wedding was our last cruise .I rocked all white and white shoes :)

[SSFlorida]

I was on the Miracle last week and the sign posted in front of the steakhouse said "jeans allowed cruise casual evenings." A suit will be fine. I did not eat in the steakhouse but I made a point of seeing what people around my MDR table were wearing on elegant night and there were a few people wearing a tux on the first elegant night, but not many, and even fewer were seen on the 2nd elegant night. Most men were wearing some type of coat and tie but open collared dress shirts outnumbered the tuxes.

[jordanaire]

Personally, I would go with a suit. I've seen a FEW guys wearing tuxedos but things have changed over the years and more guys seem to wear suits now. It's all a matter of what you feel comfortable in.

 

A woman once posted whether or not her husband should wear his military dress blues to dinner. BY ALL MEANS! Wear that uniform proudly! I would hope that he would stick out in the crowd because he would deserve to! I would expect a person in the military to be recognized for his service, and thanked by all of us!

 

Wear YOUR suit proudly!

 

:cool:Bill

[golfadj]

Very few guys where tuxes these days.

 

However it is your cruise where what you want and gives you pleasure.

[keiko618]

I'm a tux guy. Wear what fits you and your style but I like the classic tux when "elegant" is the theme. Ladies love it, good for pictures, etc. You can buy one online for much less than renting on the ship. Less than 100 on amazon or google other tux providers. And they have more contemporary also. The guys in our cruise group all wear one and we make a statement around the ship........usually the women say "I wish I could get my man to wear one" which I don't understand, they are just as comfortable as any other suit.

[monobrow1]

We have steakhouse for one night but might do 2 nights

 

will have 2 sportcoats and slacks -

might forgo ties and wear nice dark tshirts under coat