Celebrity dress code

[Ma Bell]

I am not a formal wear hater, but sometimes travel with others who are, so can easily explain why they keep booking Celebrity.

 

They keep booking Celebrity for all the same reasons that people who do not drink or do not gamble in the casino or use the gym or do not participate in bingo or art auctions or trivia keep booking Celebrity.

 

The formal dress option is a very small part of a Celebrity cruise, involving only a few hours out of the entire cruise.

 

There are many other aspects of Celebrity cruises that attract them, so they are not about to rule out an entire cruise line just because it offers an activity or event that does not appeal to them.

 

Exactly. It's nice that there is something for everybody and each can do his own thing and still spend wonderful times together with friends. It's not necessary to try to put a square peg in a round hole.

[SeagoingMom]

I guess I'll just never understand why this issue is so divisive. Formal nights are no secret on Celebrity but they also give you avenues to "opt out" if you don't wish to do formal - so shouldn't everyone then be happy? I want to participate in the Formal in the MDR and you can chose to not by going to specialty, buffet or room service. Where it gets all mucked up is those that chose not to participate think it is their job to try to get around the guidelines to prove a point and dumb down the formal experience for others. Why does it bother those that don't wish to do formal that others of us love our formal nights? If you hate formal, don't wish to partake of the non-formal alternatives why keep booking on Celebrity when there are other lines that don't have formal nights? Any formal wear haters that want to explain?

I am not a "formal wear hater," but I have read many much more vitriolic threads than this one on the subject of formal night, from which I have gleaned an understanding of the general arguments on both sides.

 

I would say that many of the "haters" you speak of have an innate distaste for being told what to do: in this instance, how to dress, and by extension, where they may or may not eat based on the requirements put upon them about how to dress! The most common argument against formal night seems to be, "It is my cruise, I am paying good money for it, and I will do what I like." They commonly decry the necessity of buying, packing and wearing clothing that they do not already own, would never wear at any other time, does not represent their lifestyle, or does represent their normal life so they do not want to wear it on vacation.

 

Any tendency they may have to be insulting toward formal wear advocates does not in any way advance their argument, of course, any more than it advances the arguments of their opponents when they also engage in it.

 

One aspect of their complaint is one I at least understand, even if I don't agree with it: folks who don't want to dress up feel, and indeed may actually be, excluded from a venue (MDR) on one or more nights of their cruise because they are being forced to follow a convention (dress code) that they themselves have no use for. They have chosen their cruise line for other reasons than formal nights, and they frankly do not care that someone else may have chosen it because of formal nights. And they especially do not want to be forced to pay extra to go to a specialty restaurant to avoid the MDR, for which they have already paid, just to not offend someone else's sensibilities. And many do not want to feel relegated to the buffet because they are not dressed well enough to suit someone else. I would feel very negative about this myself if I were a "hater," as we never eat dinner in the buffet.

 

This is a summary of what I have understood to be the major arguments against an enforced dress code. It is seen to deny to passengers an aspect of their cruise they have paid for, and for this reason it seems elitist and objectionable to many. Again, I am not saying I agree with the arguments, but this is what they seem to be.

[Ma Bell]

The problem with this argument is they knew what they signed up for when they purchased the cruise. The only choice should be if they can stand to get dressed for the evening or not. They are not deprived of anything and let's face it, Celebrity makes it pretty easy to comply with their dress code. They are only depriving themselves. I can't imagine any of the men in my life including a husband, three sons and three grandsons that wouldn't put on a jacket if they really wanted to eat in the dining room on Formal Night. And if they didn't want to wear it they would have no problem going elsewhere for a couple of nights.

 

Celebrity sets the standard, not the passengers and it has nothing to do with them offending anyone's sensibilities or not suiting someone else's taste. It's FORMAL NIGHT as designated by the cruise line. It's a decision that needs to be made before taking the cruise.

Edited July 19, 2014 by Ma Bell

[Tommy3putts]

Ahhh this is y I love these threads. Good stuff.

[Freqflyer2012]

So to avoid formal attire on Formal Night in the MDR I must dine in Oceanview buffet or buy up to a specialty restaurant. It’s not enough that I already paid for ship’s fare which includes stateroom and MDR meals. Seems to me if you want to dress up - go ahead. Why should everyone else? Not everyone wants to drag formal attire around Europe to wear ONCE. It’s not like I am intruding on a private reception or in a private club. If Formal Night is classified as a private reception maybe Celebrity needs to provide an alternative and comparable dining venue. Does intolerance come with formal attire? You will look great – enjoy yourself. Maybe upgrade to a specialty restaurant. Celebrity would appreciate that as well.

[travel_nuts]

I always purchase season tickets for the symphony where formal wear is the norm. If you showed up in shorts, you would be turned away. I have never seen anyone show up dressed outside the dress code suggestions just because they purchased tickets and didn't want to comply. Everyone purchases tickets knowing the dress code. If they are in the mood for casual attire, they simply select another venue for that night's entertainment. I really don't see much difference.

 

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[Cruise Junky]

I always purchase season tickets for the symphony where formal wear is the norm. If you showed up in shorts, you would be turned away. I have never seen anyone show up dressed outside the dress code suggestions just because they purchased tickets and didn't want to comply. Everyone purchases tickets knowing the dress code. If they are in the mood for casual attire, they simply select another venue for that night's entertainment. I really don't see much difference.

 

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Your symphony must be very different from our symphony. Quite casual here. You still get suits and jackets but mixed with jeans and t-shirts

[whataboutport]

If you want to eat in the MDR on formal nights, put on a shirt with a collar and sleeves for men, and a skirt or dress for women. It's so lax nowadays.

 

If you want to stay in your wife beater and shorts, eat in the buffet. It's not that bad! Or order room service. Geez, it's not that hard.

 

If you don't want to pay extra for specialty restaurants, then don't. I don't.

[gek]

Your symphony must be very different from our symphony. Quite casual here. You still get suits and jackets but mixed with jeans and t-shirts

 

Ditto. I can't imagine why a concert performance would have a dress code.

[gek]

I am not a "formal wear hater," but I have read many much more vitriolic threads than this one on the subject of formal night, from which I have gleaned an understanding of the general arguments on both sides.

 

I would say that many of the "haters" you speak of have an innate distaste for being told what to do:

[snipped[

 

I would add that it's not about hating being told what to do, but being told to do something which seems utterly ludicrous. I understand that others may enjoy it so I will opt-out rather than spoil it for them. I just wish that opting out didn't cost me money, although I guess I do save money on clothes :)

[teecee60]

I can't imagine why a concert performance would have a dress code.

 

Haven't you been following this, and every other dress code thread? :confused:

 

If ANYBODY wears casual clothing in the MDR on formal night, it makes the food smell and taste bad, causes the wait staff to make mistakes, disrupts cooking in the galley, destroys a person's ability to converse, and induces sickness in each and every diner, at each and every table. :eek: :rolleyes:

 

It's quite obvious that ANY casual clothing worn during a symphony performance would result in similar chaos, by making each and every instrument change the sound being generated, distract the conductor causing mistakes, disrupt the timing of each and every player, and confuse those in charge lighting as well. :mad: ;)

 

It's a very simple cause and effect relationship, all that is needed to understand this is to be "flexible and open minded."

Edited July 19, 2014 by teecee60

[Tommy3putts]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz66/trwilliams2/d5374973a3b01560262eabe7d67b6d1b.jpg

[cle-guy]

It’s not enough that I already paid for ship’s fare which includes stateroom and MDR meals. Seems to me if you want to dress up - go ahead. Why should everyone else? Not everyone wants to drag formal attire around Europe to wear ONCE. It’s not like I am intruding on a private reception or in a private club. If Formal Night is classified as a private reception maybe Celebrity needs to provide an alternative and comparable dining venue. Does intolerance come with formal attire? You will look great – enjoy yourself. Maybe upgrade to a specialty restaurant. Celebrity would appreciate that as well.

 

The fare you paid for includes those things, as well as a requirement to follow certain rules policies and regulations, some of which are included in the cruise contract noting formal wear on a particular number of flights on a cruise to dine in particular venues which also says you will be welcomed in alternate venues for dinner should you choose not to wear formalwear. You can't simply pick and choose the parts of your cruise agreement with the line to suit your fancy at any one time, you have to take in the entire agreement and all its terms if you are going to rely on some of its terms.

 

Also I don't think the contract guarantees meals in the MDR at all, it just indicates you will have access to food while on board, it does not dictate a venue for consuming the food itself.

 

Those who make the argument they are uncomfortable in formal wear or don't want to drag it around Europe for a week -- what about nudists uncomfortable in any sort of clothing. Should we just allow them to wander about in whatever outfit (or lack thereof) they are comfortable in? Of course this happens on a the various chartered Nudist cruises already, but I'm talking about a normal Celebrity booked cruise. If you don't want to follow dress code, why should the nudists be expected to either?

[lovemylab]

The Formal dress code only applies to the Main Dining Room, nowhere else on the ship. It has been that way for several years now.

 

 

This hasn't been the case on my cruises. On both the Solstice (Med 2012) and Summit (Caribbean 2013) the formal dress code also applied to the main level of the theatre. Those in casual attire were asked to sit in the balcony.

[papaflamingo]

This has been beaten to death on many sites, especially the Royal Caribbean threads. Statements like "if you have to have formal cruise on a Luxury line," followed by "if you don't want to dress right, cruise on Carnival." But it's about an "experience." The Formal Night is designed to set an air of "the old days" of cruising. A nice dinner, among people who are dressed "to the nines." It's about the "experience."

Anyway, it was frequently suggested that they set aside a restaurant or part of the MDR for those who choose to dress Formally. So, Quantum will. Grande Restaurant on Quantum and Anthem will be "Formal" every night. If you want to dress formally then you have a nice place to go. If you don't, you have numerous other restaurants to go to. And, lo and behold, the "whining" has already started. "Why do I have to dress formally? It's my cruise! I want to eat in Grande and don't want to dress. Not fair!" Yup.... got what they asked for, and not happy. It's easy. If you want to eat in Grande, you dress. If you don't want to dress, go somewhere else. It's part of the "experience." And, I suspect, there will be a good number who will show up in Grande in casual clothing and demand entry (they are already talking about it). And they'll likely not turn them away.

So, "respect." It isn't always "what I want." It's really what the cruiseline is trying to maintain as it's product. And it's product is an overall cruise experience. Respect it.

[dkjretired]

This hasn't been the case on my cruises. On both the Solstice (Med 2012) and Summit (Caribbean 2013) the formal dress code also applied to the main level of the theatre. Those in casual attire were asked to sit in the balcony.

 

There were a couple of cases of ship personnel going rogue and increasing the dress code however they have been advised not to do this anymore. The dress code in the theater has been smart casual for several years but celebrity's enforcement is sporadic.

Edited July 19, 2014 by dkjretired

[dkjretired]

While I agree with you completely, I can't help but note the rich irony of expecting someone to be open minded and flexible about a policy which would be viewed by many as CLOSED minded and INflexible.

 

(for the record, I personally LOVE the opportunity to wear my tux whether for a typical formal event or, as I will next month, at an Arcade Fire concert :D)

 

Am I missing something, what is closed minded and inflexible? Certainly not Celebrity's dress code, there are loads of options, I think you would be in an absolute minority if that is what you mean.

Edited July 19, 2014 by dkjretired

[wpgcycler]

Am I missing something, what is closed minded and inflexible? Certainly not Celebrity's dress code, there are loads of options, I think you would be in an absolute minority if that is what you mean.

 

While the code itself may be somewhat flexible, there is no option to not follow it if one wants to eat in the MDR - therefore that aspect of it is inflexible (lax enforcement notwithstanding). As for the closed minded part, I'm suggesting that some may consider it so - perhaps the many on here who are objecting to it???

 

Personally, I think it's really a bit of a joke. Either make it formal (IMO, Tux or true dinner jacket - although I have NO idea how to specify real formal for women) or don't - this watered down version with suits and even sport coats doesn't cut it as formal to me - it's what I wear to work.

Edited July 19, 2014 by wpgcycler

[cle-guy]

While the code itself may be somewhat flexible, there is no option to not follow it - therefore that aspect of it is inflexible (lax enforcement notwithstanding). As for the closed minded part, I'm suggesting that some may consider it so - perhaps the many on here who are objecting to it???

 

Sure there is! That option is simply, avoid the MDR for dinner on that (those) particular evening(s) that the formal wear requirement is in place.

[wpgcycler]

Sure there is! That option is simply, avoid the MDR for dinner on that (those) particular evening(s) that the formal wear requirement is in place.

 

Fine, I've made the necessary edit.

[dkjretired]

While the code itself may be somewhat flexible, there is no option to not follow it if one wants to eat in the MDR - therefore that aspect of it is inflexible (lax enforcement notwithstanding). As for the closed minded part, I'm suggesting that some may consider it so - perhaps the many on here who are objecting to it???

 

Personally, I think it's really a bit of a joke. Either make it formal (IMO, Tux or true dinner jacket - although I have NO idea how to specify real formal for women) or don't - this watered down version with suits and even sport coats doesn't cut it as formal to me - it's what I wear to work.

 

Celebrity doesn't guarantee you that you will eat in the MDR and you signed a contract to follow the rules of the cruiseline. I think a case could be made that those who want to violate the dress code are inflexible also. The vast majority of people who sail on Celebrity abide by the dress code for whatever venue they are eating.

 

I do agree that Celebrity should have a dress code and enforce it or get rid of it. As to the formal aspect, the dress code is what Celebrity makes it, not what fashion critics say it is, that part is basically irrelevant.

[Ma Bell]

There are times when we don't care to dress up on Formal Night so we just go elsewhere. That's being flexible.

[dkjretired]

There are times when we don't care to dress up on Formal Night so we just go elsewhere. That's being flexible.

 

Correct and depending on the circumstances there may be a time when you don't want to even bring formal clothes and eat elsewhere, that is called flexible also.

[Oxo]

This subject is like our Government. Nothing every gets resolved and no one agrees! Adjourn!!

[wpgcycler]

Dress codes are interesting to say the least. Unless they are very simple and rigid, they tend to be minefields. Take the "business casual" concept for instance - it's astonishing how some folks (women in particular) interpret that one, showing up in just about anything as long as it's not indigo denim. I remember the days when it was easy to decide what to wear to work - now I gave to guess whether the customer I'm visiting wears jacket and tie, just jacket, no jacket etc. etc. and dress to fit in - I rarely get it right.

 

Unless the code is clear and concise AND rigidly enforced it creates a fertile breeding ground for all manner of faux pas, disagreement and often, belligerence - as is evident from the many threads here on this topic.