Dress Up Day

[DirtyDawg]

Me and my Wife were on a Royal Caribbean cruise, First Time Cruisers and we could not understand why they wanted us to dress up on the 2nd night...Meeting the Captain..... We did not pack for it so we were kind of stuck.. Why is this required, I don't understand? :confused: :confused:

 

I am not trying to be a Slob, It just that I did not know why and I felt Dumb for not brining nicer clothing. I saw people in tuxes and I could not understand why? Plus they did not make it clear and said that I could rent a tux but I felt I had to, Instead me and my wife were stuck in the room due to not knowing :( We just ordered room service

 

I am not a slob :o

 

Just a reminder of what this thread was originally about.

 

Boy has this thing gone WAY OFF TOPIC! :o

 

Oh well.:(

[navybankerteacher]

You couldn't be more wrong. Just returned from two weeks in Europe. My husband had with him (and wore) slacks, dress shirt, jacket, tie, and shoes. Do you consider that casual?

 

I had a skirt and twinset with shaves and jewelry as needed. Nothing "scruffy" about that. Had I needed a dressier outfit I would have packed one.

 

When we cruised the Med in 2012 I had an outfit I could have worn to formal night if we had one--a long black skirt and sparkly black top.

 

There is nothing scruffy about the way we dress, and I can assure that most of our clothing is from better brands (my husband is partial to Brooks Bros and Ralph Lauren and I am partial to Eileen Fisher and Ralph Lauren).

 

I did say "usually" scruffy - clearly not including everybody - because I generally travel wearing a blazer (having pockets to carry documents, etc. makes it easier - yes, Brooks Brothers also, if it matters) so I can, and have, travelled with just carry-on --- but too many posters on these boards emphasize a couple of apparently related things: they do not like to check bags and they do not like adhering to dress codes. Baggage fees have been cited as the reason for travelling light and travelling light has been cited as the reason for ignoring dress codes.

 

So perhaps we should all agree to blame it on the source of all the woes in the world: airlines ------ whose outrageous fares, narrowing seats, shortened legroom, lack of meals, delays in delivering checked luggage, failure to enforce priority disembarking for first class passengers, extra fees every way you look --- all supposedly justified by holding fares to levels which the travelling public demands.

[swedish weave]

These threads always take the same route and the same arguments are posted.

 

One important fact that is usually overlooked is that if the cruise line didn't allow the type of attire you are fussing about, you would NOT see it in the MDR.

 

Remember -- The cruise line determines what is acceptable and your opinion does not supercede theirs.

[maywell]

I did say "usually" scruffy - clearly not including everybody - because I generally travel wearing a blazer (having pockets to carry documents, etc. makes it easier - yes, Brooks Brothers also, if it matters) so I can, and have, travelled with just carry-on --- but too many posters on these boards emphasize a couple of apparently related things: they do not like to check bags and they do not like adhering to dress codes. Baggage fees have been cited as the reason for travelling light and travelling light has been cited as the reason for ignoring dress codes.

 

So perhaps we should all agree to blame it on the source of all the woes in the world: airlines ------ whose outrageous fares, narrowing seats, shortened legroom, lack of meals, delays in delivering checked luggage, failure to enforce priority disembarking for first class passengers, extra fees every way you look --- all supposedly justified by holding fares to levels which the travelling public demands.

I prefer carry-on and spinners not because of airlines fees but due to easy to deal with, especially when one is walking a while plus flight of stair(s). Combine that with public transportation to the port and mostly traveling by myself- using a carry-on is a no-brainer for me.

 

I can't speak for everyone why they use it or don't, but that's my reasons for using carry-on.

 

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[Grandma Dazzles]

I always tell myself I will not get involved in dress thread comments! But I often cannot resist!

 

My personal opinion is that cruisers should stick to the "suggested guidelines" for dining room dress. However, I am not going to flame or get upset with anyone who wears respectable looking shorts and polo shirt to the dining room.

 

What I am upset about is a situation that actually happened - we saw several people from the next table to us playing basketball (a good heated game; even waved to them, watched for a few minutes, etc.) Forty-five minutes or so later they arrived for dinner - still wearing the same athletic shorts (not "dress" shorts) and very obviously sweaty T-shirts. I'll leave the rest to your imagination - air freshner would have been appreciated in our corner of the dining room!

 

Unfortunately, some people just don't get it.

[cruznjan]

I watched someone throw such a fit in the MDR on the ship last month because he was asked not to wear shorts to dinner. He pushed his way past the crew member who was trying to be polite to him and he said "what are you going to do about it?" He was at his table by this time and the dining room manager felt that he did not want to make the situation any worse than it was. Believe me, it was not a nice environment for those around him. The situation was dealt with successfully the next day.

 

I think that says so much about the ignorant slob than anyone else.

He would have made for an uncomfortable evening for others sat at the dining table, and showed himself up to others going in to dinner.

Its not so much what he chose to wear/not wear, it would be his manners.

Respect as well.

We tend to cruise with P and O..never seen this on there.

Let us hope after that he decided that cruising was not for him, and went for the sort of hotel where you can slob out to your hearts content the whole time.

 

This guy wasn't ignorant. He knew exactly what he was doing. He was out to defy the system. I been on cruises where people have openly made "make me" statements. Apparently they have made up their minds not to comply.

[GUT2407]

Now I don't care what someone else wears to diner.

 

DW and I like to dress. I do find terms like "Dress up day" "playing dress up" and Prom night" offensive.

 

However I have NEVER been on a cruise where I wasn't provided documentation, usually when I book, that tells me about these issues. So I must say the excuse "I didn't know" doesn't really cut it with me.

[cruznjan]

Now I don't care what someone else wears to diner.

 

DW and I like to dress. I do find terms like "Dress up day" "playing dress up" and Prom night" offensive.

 

However I have NEVER been on a cruise where I wasn't provided documentation, usually when I book, that tells me about these issues. So I must say the excuse "I didn't know" doesn't really cut it with me.

 

Amen!

[Beachdude]

However I have NEVER been on a cruise where I wasn't provided documentation, usually when I book, that tells me about these issues. So I must say the excuse "I didn't know" doesn't really cut it with me.

 

So what does that mean? The OP is either a lier or not as diligent as you?

 

Beary

[maywell]

So what does that mean? The OP is either a lier or not as diligent as you?

 

Beary

The dress code for RCI is on the website under what to pack and on the ship dailies - I going with blissly ignoring it til he got called out for at a captain's dinner (no less)....

 

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[iancal]

Like others, IF we are dressed up the fact that others are not is of no consequence to us.

 

I can understand someone not reading the information. We are all bombarded with information these-much of it junk mail.

 

We did an RCI cruise last month. I could not believe how much email we started to get even though we booked three weeks prior to departure. I started to ignore it all since most of it was bumph imploring us to buy excursions, restaurants, beverage packages, spa appts, whatever.

 

It is a turnoff and I can understand if someone decides not to wade through it all.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I have never been on a Royal Caribbean ship, but wouldn't there be info in the first day's newsletter have a summary of what the dining room dress code entails. I know that on my last Princess cruise, there was, and also a sign in front of the MDR that we were assigned to listed the "acceptable" clothing for dinner.

 

If we're on a non-cruising vacation and dressing down, we would go to eateries that didn't seem fancy. If we wanted a spiffy restaurant, we would try to dress up a little at the least. If in a particularly casual part of the country (and can see from the diners that shorts were the usual wear, that would be different.

 

The other day, my daughter was telling me about how some of the teaching advisers in her program harp on the teens about dressing up for work. I said that it's best to wear a suit for a job interview, but look around and see what the normal wear is for that workplace and follow suit. It's always better to go up a notch for jobs, special occasions, restaurants if you're not sure.

[gek]

However I have NEVER been on a cruise where I wasn't provided documentation, usually when I book, that tells me about these issues. So I must say the excuse "I didn't know" doesn't really cut it with me.

 

People often make assumptions based on previous experience or what they have been told. In my case before my first cruise I made some assumptions based on land-based resort holidays. The idea that there might be a dress code just never occurred to me so I didn't go looking for the info.

 

However being a fairly obsessive type when it comes to holiday planning I did eventually come across the dress code info and asked my travel agent and friends with more cruise experience about it. They all said the same thing - formal wear is not mandatory despite what the dress code said.

 

As it turned out my first cruise was a fairly down-market experience and the dress code was not enforced so based on that experience I made assumptions that future cruises would be the same. I was then absolutely flabbergasted by the amount of tuxes and gowns I saw on my next cruise. Nevertheless, it was clear that formal wear was still not mandatory because there was no enforcement.

 

In fact if it weren't for Cruise Critic I would still be assuming after many, many cruises that formal wear was optional because I have never seen it enforced. I have a number of friends who still believe that formal requirements are virtually non-existent on anything but Cunard.

[ducklite]

Crystal and Silversea enforce their formal (and all dress code) requirements as well. Most of the other luxury lines have dropped formal nights and now have a dress code (enforced) of business casual (no jeans or shorts, and collared shirts and closed toe shoes for men) every night. I saw them send someone back to their cabin to put on long pants in the Paul Gauguin. I never saw anyone in shorts or jeans after 6:00 pm on the Wind Surf--people just seemed to "get it."

[Sailor_Sally]

Crystal and Silversea enforce their formal (and all dress code) requirements as well. Most of the other luxury lines have dropped formal nights and now have a dress code (enforced) of business casual (no jeans or shorts, and collared shirts and closed toe shoes for men) every night. "

 

You know this how since you have never sailed either line .

[LMaxwell]

To the OP, these are optional participation, but that does not mean you have to sit in your room or avoid the dining room meal you've already paid for.

 

Some may wish to intimidate you or keep you away, but it is not their place.

 

If you choose to dress up, you certainly may do so on formal nights, or on any other night for that matter. If you prefer to be casual you may do that on all nights as well, formal night included. Participation is not mandatory or required. Each cruise line will have a different minimum standard for their dining rooms at dinner time, but generally speaking pants, polo shirt, and close toe shoes are fine for all evenings on mass market cruise lines.

 

Best to check the particulars for any given line though; for example Holland America is more strict with enforcement than Carnival.

 

Ultimately it is up to you to decide how you want to dress and what you find comfortable. I've never seen anyone in a cruise dining room in 25 years of cruising wearing sweaty gym clothes right from the sports court or coming in with wet bathing suits. I read about it a lot on here, but have never seen it. A little common sense goes a long way.

[iancal]

Absolutely.

 

Just because we most formal nights in the MDR does not mean that we hide in our cabins all night or eat at the buffet and then go to our room.

 

We attend the shows, the bars, casino, the shopping venues etc. just like any other night.

 

Most cruise lines now ensure that their alternate pay dining venues do not have a formal dress code on those evenings. They have come to realize the revenue potential from those cruisers who wish to skip the MDR event. We have done this on RCI, Celebrity, and Princess.

 

I think that it is clear that some cruise lines like to have it both ways so to speak. One way of ensuring that the dress codes are followed is simply by enforcing them. People may complain that some people wear shorts in the MDR at dinner time. Clearly, in those instances, the cruise line has absolutely no intention of enforcing their own guidelines so why have them in the first place? If this bothered me, I would be placing as much or more criticism on the cruise line as I would on the diner.

Edited April 15, 2015 by iancal

[ducklite]

You know this how since you have never sailed either line .

 

It's well known. Go ask on their boards and ask. Read about the people who were denied entry due to not adhering to the dress code.

 

I do need to add that the Explorer on SilverSea has a relaxed dress code on some of the expedition sailings.

[ducklite]

To the OP, these are optional participation, but that does not mean you have to sit in your room or avoid the dining room meal you've already paid for.

 

Some may wish to intimidate you or keep you away, but it is not their place.

 

If you choose to dress up, you certainly may do so on formal nights, or on any other night for that matter. If you prefer to be casual you may do that on all nights as well, formal night included. Participation is not mandatory or required. Each cruise line will have a different minimum standard for their dining rooms at dinner time, but generally speaking pants, polo shirt, and close toe shoes are fine for all evenings on mass market cruise lines.

 

Best to check the particulars for any given line though; for example Holland America is more strict with enforcement than Carnival.

 

Ultimately it is up to you to decide how you want to dress and what you find comfortable. I've never seen anyone in a cruise dining room in 25 years of cruising wearing sweaty gym clothes right from the sports court or coming in with wet bathing suits. I read about it a lot on here, but have never seen it. A little common sense goes a long way.

 

Mass market lines being key terms. On the luxury lines the evening dress code applies in ALL public places on the ship.

[FTLcruisers]

sorry you didn't know more about cruising before you went on the ship but you certainly didn't offend me. As most people here said it is not required that you wear a tux on formal night. My husband and I have gone on more than 60 cruises and no longer take any formal outfits when we cruise the Caribbean. We still go to the main dining room for dinner and do not feel out of place since there are others who also are not in formal attire. We do bring formal attire on European cruises since it seems that those passengers generally "dress up" more. By the way, someone mentioned Celebrity requires men wear jackets but my husband has not done so on our Caribbean cruises without any problem.

 

I'm glad to hear that your one awkward evening did not turn you off from cruising. Now you know to do a little research before you go on your next one. Cruise Critic is an awesome place for a new cruiser to get answers to just about any question you can think of (and some you wouldn't think of!) so don't be afraid to come here for help.

 

Marianne