First time on Cunard

[rhkennerly]

Wow! Someone really "knows" his place!

 

Guess I was sent to the right husband school.

[maitai999]

Been on over 12 med cruises on Victoria and Elizabeth and 2 on QM2. If I was a newbie reading some of the posts on this forum I would be petrified. Talk about a load of pompous nonsense. My husband and sons all wear tux and I wear ballgowns because we enjoy it, not because we are worried we would not fit it - basically anyone will fit in unless you are walking around in a pair of shorts and t-shirts. Cruising on Cunard, certainly Britannia level is not for the elite - you may want it to be, but it is easily affordable in todays society and if you are used to travelling worldwide in 5* hotels and eating in Michelin restaurants you may be rubbing shoulders with Pete the Plumber from Peterborough or even Bob the Builder from Bolton !! We like the product - we keep coming back, but talk about "bigging it up" - it is a holiday, enjoy it and don't worry about being judged by the old school brigade .... prestigious ... long gone

Edited May 18, 2014 by maitai999

[caber]

Thanks for that. I feel much better. (not that I was the least bothered) I agree that some of the posts would scare a newbie.

 

Fortunately I have cruised other lines for a long time now and have met many who do cruise on Cunard. These people were all perfectly "normal". :D

[pepperrn]

... Aboard the qm2 now waiting to disembark. Too much is made of the men's dress code. I wore a dark suit, as did about half the men at early seating ...

Hi rhkennerly,

We must have been on different QM2 WB crossings... that both arrived in New York on the 16th, we were certainly on different sittings ... as I observed, in the Britannia Restaurant on late seating, and around the ship in various bars etc, 95+% men in "black tie" with the remainder in dark suit.

Or "no change" from my previous crossings.

Now, early seating may be different with people going to bed almost right after dinner, and I may therefore have missed them around the ship later on, so I'll bow to your greater knowledge of that of course.

 

Thankfully, I saw no man ignore the evening dress-code, and only one woman.

Edited May 18, 2014 by pepperrn

[MicCanberra]

As near as I can tell, it's all about women dressing up. Men are expected to be like a potted palm, something for the women to stand next to and pour an occasional drink into. Our job is to not distract from the woman's outfit and to nod agreeably, like a palm frond near an air vent.

LOL:D

 

It's unfortunate you see it that way. Black tie is the most ingenious ensemble ever designed for men. All men, regardless of age or physical build, look great when wearing it.

My wife would agree with you there.:D

[MicCanberra]

Thanks for that. I feel much better. (not that I was the least bothered) I agree that some of the posts would scare a newbie.

 

Fortunately I have cruised other lines for a long time now and have met many who do cruise on Cunard. These people were all perfectly "normal". :D

I may be a newbie to cunard but not to cruising or Crusie critic. These dress code discussions can always stir emotions but I am getting a good grasp of what may be required without feeling intimidated at all. Thanks all for the varied opinions as it all helps me make informed decisions.:D

[giggle0]

Hi is it exceptable to wear dark smart denim with smart jacket on informal nights????

[capnpugwash]

Hi is it exceptable to wear dark smart denim with smart jacket on informal nights????

 

From Cunard FAQs

 

Formal evening wear consists of an evening or cocktail dress or smart trouser suit for ladies, a tuxedo, dinner jacket or dark suit for men or you may wear formal national dress or military uniform. Military or Award decorations may be worn on formal nights. A range of gentleman's formal wear is available to hire on board. Further details on this facility can be found by clicking here.

 

Informal evenings would consist of a required jacket and optional tie optional for gentlemen, whilst ladies should wear cocktail dresses, stylish separates or equivalent.

 

Please note that after 6pm, shorts and blue or worn denim (for men and women); sandals and sleeveless tops (for men) are not considered appropriate within the ship. On formal nights, any guests wishing to dress more casually are welcome to dine in the Kings Court or Lido buffet restaurant and relax in the Winter Garden or Garden Lounge bar, but should not use other areas within the ship, including our Alternative Dining Restaurants, out of respect for their fellow guests

 

 

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/life-on-board/dress_code

[pepperrn]

Hi is it exceptable to wear dark smart denim with smart jacket on informal nights????

Isn't this an oxymoron?

 

In the evening one can wear denim (overtime on a building site) and one can be smart (on a Cunard vessel). But you cannot put the two words in the same sentence surely. :confused:

 

Why would someone wear building site/lumber jack etc. working clothes on an evening out to dinner in a superb restaurant followed, maybe, by a show in the theatre?

 

Unless one is so hard-up that one has no change of clothes. Now that I can understand and will support you. Poverty can hit us all, and is not to be laughed at or derided.

Edited May 20, 2014 by pepperrn

[Victoria2]

Isn't this an oxymoron?

 

In the evening one can wear denim (overtime on a building site) and one can be smart (on a Cunard vessel). But you cannot put the two words in the same sentence surely. :confused:

 

Why would someone wear building site/lumber jack etc. working clothes on an evening out to dinner in a superb restaurant followed, maybe, by a show in the theatre? Unless one is so hard-up that one has no change of clothes. Now that I can understand and will support you. Poverty can hit us all, and is not to be laughed at or derided.

 

I have yet to hear of dark [deep grey/black] denim Armani jeans being worn on a building site. :)

 

Dark [not the trad. indigo] beautifully cut denim jeans, worn with a jacket will be fine for informal evening wear.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Victoria2

[pepperrn]

I have yet to hear of dark [deep grey/black] denim Armani jeans being worn on a building site. :) Dark [not the trad. indigo] beautifully cut denim jeans, worn with a jacket will be fine for informal evening wear.

You've paid the stupid prices that "designer" labels charge for cheap cotton (made in the third world) fabrics?

Putting a fancy label on something (that they've paid $10 for) and getting people and their money to part with $1000 for, does not make them "smart" or acceptable at dinner. They are still jeans. Great around the farm. Not so great around the dinner table. You can justify and excuse all you like. They are still "jeans".

[Victoria2]

You've paid the stupid prices that "designer" labels charge for cheap cotton (made in the third world) fabrics?

Putting a fancy label on something (that they've paid $10 for) and getting people and their money to part with $1000 for, does not make them "smart" or acceptable at dinner. They are still jeans. Great around the farm. Not so great around the dinner table. You can justify and excuse all you like. They are still "jeans".

 

I might/might not pay 'stupid' prices for my jeans, that's between me and my credit card.

 

You can wear your jeans around the farm, but some of us townies dress them up and wear them for an evening out.

 

Non blue denim is very acceptable informal wear in some surprisingly decent venues, Cunard included. I know as I always pack a couple of pairs of white and black denim jeans to wear in the evening and have yet to be turfed out of the restaurant. Luckily, my table companions have yet to look at my legs and cry 'Good God, denim, be gone'!

 

I don't even think you'd be able to tell they are denim, or jeans for that matter, but they are.

Times are a changing.

[giggle0]

I have yet to hear of dark [deep grey/black] denim Armani jeans being worn on a building site. :)

 

Dark [not the trad. indigo] beautifully cut denim jeans, worn with a jacket will be fine for informal evening wear.

 

Thank you that is exactly how i would wear them. you cant buy style :)

[pepperrn]

Well, you can lead a horse to water...

 

I give up. If you really think that people don't notice... so be it... I know which lady I'd much prefer to escort into dinner...

(hint... it wouldn't be the one with a wrench in the back pocket of the jeans, just above the oil stain. It would be the lady wearing something without a back pocket).

 

Happy sailings :) .

[pepperrn]

Deleted. Why bother?

Edited May 20, 2014 by pepperrn

[Victoria2]

Oh but you can. Ask any good dress designer.

 

 

 

Natural style cannot be bought.

 

Anyone can buy 'a' style from a designer, but it takes innate style to really carry 'style' off.

 

You deleted the post I quoted so I see you totally disagree with me.

 

Sorry you disagree but I KNOW for a fact you wouldn't have a clue if my trousers were jeans or not. I also know, and this is an objective viewpoint, not a boast of any sort, I am one of the best dressed in the restaurant in my beautifully cut jeans and beautiful tops.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Victoria2
quote deleted

[pepperrn]

Natural style cannot be bought. Anyone can buy 'a' style from a designer, but it takes innate style to really carry 'style' off.

In the person, I agree with you.

However, we are talking of "working" clothes here, not breeding or deportment.

 

We seem to be going 'round in circles here... you cannot put "style" and "jeans" in the same sentence for dinner in a good restaurant (with a dress-code) or on board a Cunard ship (with a dress-code), unless your idea of "style" is slumming it, being ironic, or bringing a little of an "edgy" city with you.

 

We can all take the easy way out, wear jeans... and call it "style". That does not make it so, no matter how much we may wish it was.

Edited May 20, 2014 by pepperrn

[Victoria2]

In the person, I agree with you.

However, we are talking of "working" clothes here, not breeding or deportment.

 

We seem to be going 'round in circles here... you cannot put "style" and "jeans" in the same sentence for dinner in a good restaurant or on board a Cunard ship (with a dress-code), unless your idea of "style" is slumming it, being ironic, or bringing a little of the ghetto with you.

 

We can all take the easy way out... and call it "style". That does not make it so, no matter how much we may wish it was so.

 

I will continue to eat in my QG ghetto on Cunard, in my working clothes! Hopefully, as I ironically slum it, my fellow diners will bear with me and turn a blind eye to my total lack of style. :)

[pepperrn]

I will continue to eat in my QG ghetto on Cunard, in my working clothes! Hopefully, as I ironically slum it, my fellow diners will bear with me and turn a blind eye to my total lack of style. :)

May I wish you many happy sailings for the future :) .

[Victoria2]

May I wish you many happy sailings for the future :) .

 

Oh you can count on it. Three to go this year and two booked so far for '15.

Enjoy. :)

[MicCanberra]

So does that mean normal Jeans are not accepted on the ship at all?

[pepperrn]

So does that mean normal Jeans are not accepted on the ship at all?

Not at all, you'll see them everywhere during the daytime. And fine they are as well (although some passengers might make inward comment to themselves, or under their breath, ignore them). I've worn jeans on board in the past (but didn't pack any for recent crossings). Ignore anyone who says they are not acceptable for daytime wear, they're wrong, almost anything goes.

Best wishes,

Edited May 20, 2014 by pepperrn

[jimmybean]

Hi Pepper---Sorry I didn't get meet you on the ship last week. Maybe, we passed anonymously on the stairway? Great crossing, hey? Hope to meet you on another Cunard sailing.

 

As for the original questions on this post, I don't think Cunard wants to hide any secret advantages on the ship. Staff wants passengers to have a great time and will try in any reasonable way to make that happen.

 

Enjoy the ship--which won't be difficult or take much effort!

[Victoria2]

So does that mean normal Jeans are not accepted on the ship at all?

 

You'll see tradblue jeans all over the ship during the day, especially if the cruise is a 'cool weather' cruise. No problem whatsoever.

[MicCanberra]

You'll see tradblue jeans all over the ship during the day, especially if the cruise is a 'cool weather' cruise. No problem whatsoever.

Thanks for all the replies.:D