formal nights for men

[vacationaddict]

My husband is not the suit type. He has a black tweed jacket and nice black dress pants. Will this be good for formal night. He plans on wearing a white or black shirt with a tie.

[Truffle]

Depends on the cruise line but for most it sounds more like what one would wear for informal nights (what we in the US call semi-formal.) Some will tell you "wear what you want, you will not be turned away at the door" but in all honesty, this is not okay for formal except if you can "get away with" it on a short (3-5 day) cruise on a smaller ship.

Don't mean to offend, and some will tell you what you want to hear, or what they wish to be the case, but if you want to follow the "suggested" attire of the mainline ships, have him wear at least a suit.

It's amazing how the attitude changes when the men see how other men are dressed and that it's not just a plot of their own wife to get them to dress up! I have heard several women on this board say that they just take the appropriate attire for their husband and when he sees how most of the other men are dressed he chooses the appropriate attire! Good luck! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[Andee]

That sounds too casual for formal night to me--just one woman's opinion.

[madelinerose]

Hi,vacationaddict - One thing I've never understood. Perhaps your dh can offer an answer:

If you're willing to wear a sport coat/jacket and slacks with a dress shirt and tie, what's the difference from wearing a suit, dress shirt and tie?

You're still wearing the same amount of pieces! I realize that you can wear the sport coat with other slacks, etc., but...

With a suit, your jacket and slacks will match, you'll look trimmer (monotone color), more pulled together, the fabrics will be the same and you'll definitely appear more handsome.

I agree with the others...a suit or a tux is "formal". I would pack a suit without his knowing, then you'll be covered. If you're wearing a formal dress/outfit and he's in a sport coat, it's not going to work.

There are wrinkle-resistant or no-wrinkle-guarantee suits on travelsmith.com and magellan.com. The jacket and pants are sold separately. Black would be a great option for formal night. You can pack them in your suitcase without his knowing. Hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Another option - rent a tux from the cruiseline and it will be delivered to your stateroom and say "surprise!" [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

I've never cruised before, but I know that Carnival suggests a dark suit or tux for the 2 formal nights on our 7-day cruise. I'm fortunate that my dh has no objection to wearing a suit. We look forward to dressing up, especially since we're planning on dining in the supper club.

To each his own, but, if you can convince him that he'll look more lean, handsome and powerful in a suit, you're on your way.

Good luck!

Karen [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Carnival Miracle 10/24/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2004;10;24;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[riffsmom]

My husband retired his suits when he retired! I wouldn't even think of asking him to pack some for a vacation--especially since we are going to Mexico. We are planning to be comfortable and enjoy our vacation so we will eat in our room or at another resataurant on board if "formal"night in the dining room feels uncomfortable.

[eightplus]

I think your DH will be fine. My DH will be wearing similar on our next cruise in May 04. (A dark sport coat and dark slacks with shirt and tie.) We have been on several cruises and have seen this numerous times. He decided not to buy a suit and I'm ok with it. (By the way, I will be wearing a black gown on captains night, and a black long skirt and jacket the 2nd formal night.) [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] IMO if he's wearing a jacket, and feels good - be happy!! I know you will get many opinions!

[fascination 5/10]

I have to agree with Eight plus... I think he will look very nice. You will see all types of attire, but he will be more than appropriately dressed with a jacket and tie. There will be many men dressed more casually who will get the wrath of the fashion police!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;5;10;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Fascination 5/12/03

[fascination 5/10]

Let me clarify, though, I have only cruised one 4-day cruise, with only 1 formal night, and that was my experience last year. The man next to me was wearing a Tommy Bahamas shirt and shorts.... and no one stopped him. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;5;10;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Fascination 5/12/03

[sgtmonz]

a packing hint for everyone... take your suits and shirts to the dry cleaners a week before your cruise and tell them to wrap’em separately in the plastic when they are done... then leave them in the plastic when you pack them in your garment bag... it cuts down on the wrinkles... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[fascination 5/10]

Sgtmonz...
I've heard that's true. Do you know whether that's the case for silk shirts too (Tommy Bahamas)?
How's the recovery going?

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;5;10;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Fascination 5/12/03

[sgtmonz]

hey fascination...

i don't know if it's true or not for silk but i would bet it's better then nothing... and it really does work for other garments... not perfect, but better then without...

recovery... sucks... i'm really questioning myself if it was worth it... i wish i was a woman so i could tolerate more pain but i'm a big baby boy... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

thanks for asking though... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[fascination 5/10]

Sgt....
I've heard that recovery is worse when you get older.... I had my tonsils out on Valentine's Day when I was in the second grade...as a reward I got a puppy!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;5;10;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Fascination 5/12/03