Mille Med., Tux vs. Dark Suit?

[MikeMonty]

I know this topic has been beat to death, but I am looking for something a little more specific. I am going on the Mille Med. Barcelona to Venice this summer and have a question about formal nights? Roughly what percent of the men are in tuxedos? 90%, 50%, etc...I have no problem dressing formal. Basically I am going to buy either a new suit or tux. However, I will rarely wear the tux, maybe once per year. I'll be lucky if it even fits when I need to wear it again [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] I need a new dark suit anyways. Instead of spending $400 on the dark suit and $400 on a tux. I would much rather spend $800 on a nice suit that I know I will be able to wear and enjoy. I have been reading other topics about this and know about ebay, renting, etc...options. I would rather spend $400 on a nice/decent tux than $100 for an ebay tux that I will never wear again(no offense to ebay tux's[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Basic question, will I be the odd man out if I am wearing a nice black suit rather than a tux on a Celebrity Med. cruise? Thanks for your input.

Mike

[mafig]

I think the dark suit will be just fine.

I have sailed on Celebrity and I would say the tux percentages were about 30% early seating to maybe 40% late seating. However, this was in the Caribbean, the Med. is probably different.

If you cruise again, you will wear that tux at least twice on a 7-day cruise, three times on a 10-day or longer, at least on Celebrity.

My suggestion to you is to ask this question on the Celebrity board, which is more active than this one. They will probably have many who have been or are going on a Med. cruise.

Enjoy your cruise.

[Mrs Seabird]

Mike, we went on the Millie Med cruise last summer. Most men were dressed in tux for the formal nights. The Med seems to be a dressier cruise area than others. However, no one was frowned upon for wearing a nice black suit. My husband decided to rent his rather than drag his across the pond. The tux was great, delivered when needed with 3 shirts. I think it cost him about $100.

[HollyB]

I agree, On board Millie most wore tuxes in the med. Although a dark suit is perfectably acceptable. Its your cruise, your choice! Good idea to hire a tux though if you dont want to buy.
Try to pick up a tux at any time in the sales. If you go cruising, then its worth having at least one in your wardrobe.

[JanetMarie]

Wow! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] so different from the states! On our Millie cruise a month or so ago, the ratio was 80% dark suit and 20% in tux for the Caribbean sailing.

If it is a nice dark, dark, crisp [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] suit, you will look fine. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FFA000&cdt=2005;04;02;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
OUR NEXT ONWARD JOURNEY!

[MikeMonty]

I thank everyone for their input. I was not sure if it would be different b/c of being in the Med. as opposed to the Carribean. Still exploring options, might just rent and make it easier. Of coarse then I will need to come up with another excuse to purchase a new suit. I am sure I can think of something[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Thanks again!

[mpbmark]

Having cruised both the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, I can almost guarantee you’ll see more tuxedos in the Mediterranean. Maybe its because the Caribbean area is more laid-back or the Mediterranean cruises have more Europeans. I don’t know. I will suggest however that renting a tuxedo is the easiest way to deal with this problem. You don’t have to pack anything except a pair of shoes (and you can even rent those if you wish), the tuxedo is delivered to your cabin on the first night and returned at the conclusion of the last formal night. No wrinkles and no fuss. Bring a sport coat, a pair of slacks and a couple of shirts and ties that match and you’re prepared for both formal and informal evenings.

Another trick is to pack your sport coat and slacks right out of the closet. Do not spend the money to have them cleaned and pressed before you travel. That way, assuming they get wrinkles in the packing, you take them out after you board, give them to the steward for cleaning and they are returned to your cabin within 24 hours looking like you just bought them. The cost is relatively inexpensive and it adds up to one less packing headache.

Enjoy the cruise. The Mediterranean is great.

Mark

1986--Fairsea
1989--Jubilee
1990--Sun Viking
1998--Grand Princess
2000--Ocean Princess x 2
2001--Legend OT Seas
2002--Infinity

[kbt2]

Yes, I too agree there are more tuxes worn on Med. cruise then on caribbean.
Mike, my DH owns a tux, and quite honestly he prefers wearing one one formal nights on all our cruises, whether it be caribbean, med. or Alaska...but he now rents one from the ship, instead of packing the one he owns. He would rather pay 100.00 now and then, then pack it and have to iron it. So go ahead and buy the suit for semi nights and rent one for formal night. Just my thought. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Kim
Dawn Princess
Regal Princess
Grand Princess
Mercury - Celebrity
Windward - NCL
Monarch of the Seas - RCCL
Voyager of the Seas - RCCL

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;5;7;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0000[/img]