HAL Officers on Formal Night?

[fann1sh]

Fair enough, Iancal.

What's one person's minus is another's plus.

It was a minus for me for years that HAL allowed smoking in cabins. But, I brought ionizers which made the air easier for me to breathe. I accepted the minus and adapted.

That policy changed. Maybe this one will, too.

[startwin]

[quote name='fann1sh']Yes, Startwin, I edited that obvious flaw out of my answer. Good point.

But, what about my answer as edited?

Edit: Oh, sorry about that. I forgot the wording of the answer to "Does HAL have a dress code?" I'm curious: does "black tie invited" get the same treatment? Is a dress suggestion or request or invitation from a host who isn't a corporation different?[/quote]


Sorry I don't get your point - may be just me being dense:o So many response still stands.

[Typhoon1]

They are only people who spend their time sailing the world.

After that, they put their pants on the same way the rest of us do. One leg at a time.

[iancal]

You raise a good point about smoking in cabins.

HAL is now on our short list much more often exactly because they no longer allow smoking in the cabins.

We don't care about smokers on the balcony or in the casino (which we can avoid) but the chance of geting a cabin that smelled of stale smoke or one that had to be deep cleaned several times after we arrived was always offputting to us. We will now be taking more HAL cruises than we otherwise would have.

I realize that for others this is not a particularly good change. So customers will be gained, and others lost.

[fann1sh]

[quote name='startwin']Sorry I don't get your point - may be just me being dense:o So many response still stands.[/quote]


Sorry, I really shouldn't post when I'm doing other things and am distracted. There was no reply expected from you, and I regret my bungled typing and diction made you think otherwise. Our posts have been at cross purposes today, and that is entirely my fault. Apologies. You have been very patient with me.

My original post (as edited after you quoted it) was to Iancal's address, and my addendum, "EDIT", was to Opinions address.

And really - neither of [I]them[/I] owes me a response, even though Iancal and I have already exchanged further courtesies.

I should not let myself be drawn on the issue of "What difference does it make to you if I simply do as I please? How does it affect you, or prevent you from doing what you please?" Either people already understand what's problematic about it, or they never will.

[startwin]

Sorry, I really shouldn't post when I'm doing other things and am distracted. There was no reply expected from you, and I regret my bungled typing and diction made you think otherwise. Our posts have been at cross purposes today, and that is entirely my fault. Apologies. You have been very patient with me.

 

My original post (as edited after you quoted it) was to Iancal's address, and my addendum, "EDIT", was to Opinions address.

 

And really - neither of them owes me a response, even though Iancal and I have already exchanged further courtesies.

 

I should not let myself be drawn on the issue of "What difference does it make to you if I simply do as I please? How does it affect you, or prevent you from doing what you please?" Either people already understand what's problematic about it, or they never will.

 

No problem - I missed your earlier posts, which is why I was confused:)

[DizzyDallasDi]

I should not let myself be drawn on the issue of "What difference does it make to you if I simply do as I please? How does it affect you, or prevent you from doing what you please?" Either people already understand what's problematic about it, or they never will.

 

Ummm...errrrr...huh? What is problematic about me wearing shorts or jeans and a t-shirt on formal night if I eat in the Lido then sit outside looking at the stars?

 

What difference does it make to you? How does it affect you, or prevent you from doing what you please?

 

I guess I don't understand what's problematic about it and I never will. ;)

[jimmy2x]

Ummm...errrrr...huh? What is problematic about me wearing shorts or jeans and a t-shirt on formal night if I eat in the Lido then sit outside looking at the stars?

 

What difference does it make to you? How does it affect you, or prevent you from doing what you please?

 

I guess I don't understand what's problematic about it and I never will. ;)

 

Although we have never done what you describe, it is our intention to do so on our next cruise in January. We have always done the normal dining thing, but neither the wife or I take much pleasure anymore in formal night. In addition, I've got a bit of a pinched nerve that is aggravated by sitting for an extended period in anything approaching a hard chair.

 

So, in addition the the "anytime" dining, which tends to be a shorter period of time, we will avail ourselves of the lido in "smart casual" clothing so that we can at least hit the public areas afterward. If a few folks are upset about that, it is not my problem. My experience so that so long as you are not dressed like a slob, nobody cares.

[fann1sh]

My opinion of what's "problematic":

 

someone knows in advance about a policy

 

doesn't like it

 

books anyway

 

ignores the policy, and maybe also justifies ignoring it.

 

Why problematic? It's rude.

 

Non-smokers berating smokers who are following the smoking policy: rude. When smoking in cabins was allowed, it was my job to cope with something I didn't like, and be polite about it.

 

Lido in smart casual on formal nights, jeans in the MDR on smart casual nights, shorts at night on deck, not in public rooms....none ignores the dress policy. Not rude. Indicates coping with something you don't like, and being polite about it.

 

Going to the MDR on formal nights not dressed in what policy defines as formal? Rude.

 

"My dressing the way I want doesn't prevent you dressing the way you want."

 

Of course not. But it misses the point. When almost everyone follows the policy/request/suggestion, then people "complement your fellow guests", as HAL puts it.

 

It's disingenuous to pretend not to get that.

 

As long as HAL continues to make the request/suggestion, and attempts to create "festive formal evenings", it's polite to comply. Not polite to HAL, but polite to the fellow guests.

 

Everyone that follows the request/suggestion expects or hopes others will. If they mainly do, the plan works.

 

If they don't...it doesn't.

 

It's not about clothes. Trivial.

 

It's about courtesy. Important.

 

When people try to pretend the whole thing is trivial, that's problematic.

 

In my opinion.

 

Your mileage may vary.

 

My name is Patricia, and I approved this message.

 

As usual, no opinions were changed by broadcasting it.

[arewethereyet]

Solid post, Patricia. :)

[sail7seas]

My opinion of what's "problematic":

 

someone knows in advance about a policy

 

doesn't like it

 

books anyway

 

ignores the policy, and maybe also justifies ignoring it.

 

Why problematic? It's rude.

 

Non-smokers berating smokers who are following the smoking policy: rude. When smoking in cabins was allowed, it was my job to cope with something I didn't like, and be polite about it.

 

Lido in smart casual on formal nights, jeans in the MDR on smart casual nights, shorts at night on deck, not in public rooms....none ignores the dress policy. Not rude. Indicates coping with something you don't like, and being polite about it.

 

Going to the MDR on formal nights not dressed in what policy defines as formal? Rude.

 

"My dressing the way I want doesn't prevent you dressing the way you want."

 

Of course not. But it misses the point. When almost everyone follows the policy/request/suggestion, then people "complement your fellow guests", as HAL puts it.

 

It's disingenuous to pretend not to get that.

 

As long as HAL continues to make the request/suggestion, and attempts to create "festive formal evenings", it's polite to comply. Not polite to HAL, but polite to the fellow guests.

 

Everyone that follows the request/suggestion expects or hopes others will. If they mainly do, the plan works.

 

If they don't...it doesn't.

 

It's not about clothes. Trivial.

 

It's about courtesy. Important.

 

When people try to pretend the whole thing is trivial, that's problematic.

 

In my opinion.

 

Your mileage may vary.

 

My name is Patricia, and I approved this message.

 

As usual, no opinions were changed by broadcasting it.

 

Double Thumbs Up!

 

Nailed it :)

 

[Wakepatrol]

There are always a few people who cannot understand why someone would not want to dress up for formal evenings. They immediately jump to the conclusion that it must be a money issue, ie these people cannot afford to buy the 'right clothes' . This is often followed by a list of possible second hand stores or perhaps a website or two where wonderful tuxes can be had for a mere $39. - sometimes less.

 

I wonder if these people have given any thought to those who might select an Oceania for instance where casual is de riguer. Do you think these folks cruise on Oceania because they cannot afford the formal gear???

 

Some people only prefer to wear casual attire while on vacation. Now, how hard is that to understand?

 

 

The guy that sails Oceania most likely has a clue to what casual,country club casual are. He does not show up in cargo shorts,t-shirt with his last 4 meals on the front of it,and finished off with a ball cap.

 

You leave this out every single tiime you post on this issue.:rolleyes:

[dakrewser]

As long as HAL continues to make the request/suggestion, and attempts to create "festive formal evenings", it's polite to comply. Not polite to HAL, but polite to the fellow guests.

 

Everyone that follows the request/suggestion expects or hopes others will. If they mainly do, the plan works.

 

If they don't...it doesn't.

 

It's not about clothes. Trivial.

 

It's about courtesy. Important.

 

Exactly.

[startwin]

The guy that sails Oceania most likely has a clue to what casual,country club casual are. He does not show up in cargo shorts,t-shirt with his last 4 meals on the front of it,and finished off with a ball cap.

 

You leave this out every single tiime you post on this issue.:rolleyes:

 

I have never, ever see this on any of my cruises. Where on earth do you cruise?

[arewethereyet]

I have never, ever see this on any of my cruises. Where on earth do you cruise?

I have to say in 20+ years of cruising, I haven't seen it either.

[iancal]

Never seen it on a formal night or on a casual night. Have never seen this in the MDR or in the Lido.

 

Perhaps we are always sailing on differents ships/itineraries than you are.

[Wakepatrol]

My last Westerdam cruise the woman sitting next to me ate in sweatpants every non-formal night. On formal nights,I'm sure she took her sweatpants to the Lido.

[dakrewser]

I have to say in 20+ years of cruising, I haven't seen it either.

 

We saw it about 5 years ago on, believe, the Volendam. Smart Casual night. The gentleman (?) was allowed to eat in the DR that night, but his seat was never used again as far as we could tell.

[SilvertoGold]

I have never, ever see this on any of my cruises. Where on earth do you cruise?

 

Have seen this and similar on Alaska cruises. The only cruises ever where pax disregard the dress code so blatantly.

 

Great post fann1sh!! Thanks.

[hypercafe]

It wasn't just the passengers, they were let into the MDR and served by HAL.

[startwin]

It wasn't just the passengers, they were let into the MDR and served by HAL.

 

If someone turned up at the MDR in shorts and a tshirt covered in food stains, then I have to question the staff for allowing that person in. And I say again, I have never seen anything like this in all my years of cruising.

[startwin]

We saw it about 5 years ago on, believe, the Volendam. Smart Casual night. The gentleman (?) was allowed to eat in the DR that night, but his seat was never used again as far as we could tell.

 

But when you commented on this person you were responding to a post about formal night

[dakrewser]

But when you commented on this person you were responding to a post about formal night

 

In fact it was in response to a post mentioning Oceania - which doesn't have formal nights!

[luxurysailer]

Most people have put teenage rebellion many years behind them prior to their first cruise on HAL.

[wayzer]

On a recent Alaska Cruise on the Volendam we had the Lead Medical Officer and her husband join us for dinner on formal night. It was enjoyable to talk about behind the scene ship board life. They were certainly not talking about confidental information. It was very interesting to hear about the medical department as to what equipment is in the Medical Center. We enjoyed them telling us about the adventures they have been on.. One thing they said that this was not a cruise but a adventure.