joanna111 Posted September 21, 2015 #1 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Granted that Gala Night is not as, well, Gala as it used to be, but I'm puzzled by what I hear for our upcoming cruise. What we have is: 7 day cruise with 1 sea day has 2 Gala Nights, followed by a 7 day cruise with 1 sea day has 2 Gala Nights followed by a 13 day cruise with 8 sea days has 2 Gala Nights. I've only done one TA before in 2013 but there were 4 Gala Nights on that cruise. To me Gala Nights are more welcome if I'm at sea day after day than if I'm in port day after day. So it's extra puzzling that we have only half as many on the T/A as we have on the port-intensive Med cruise. Just wondering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 21, 2015 #2 Share Posted September 21, 2015 (edited) While it is fluid these days and not always according to pattern, most 7 day cruises have two 'gala' nights. Most 10 to 13 day cruises used to have 3 'gala' nights and a fourteen day cruise would normally have 4 'gala' nights. They are not always/only sea days but often are days when the ship leaves port earlier than usual. No matter what your documents say, there is a reasonably good chance it could change when you are aboard. Have a great time on your multiple cruises. :) Edited September 21, 2015 by sail7seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted September 21, 2015 #3 Share Posted September 21, 2015 If you look at your schedule, there will probably be any earlier port day that will serve as the formal (Sorry...old habits die hard) night. If you post the schedule/itinerary for the two one week cruises, I'm sure someone can help you figure them out. However, the numbers of nights sounds correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare chrismch Posted September 21, 2015 #4 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Our 14 day cruise next month shows only 3 gala nights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted September 21, 2015 #5 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Our 14 day cruise next month shows only 3 gala nights That makes sense. You can wind up with 4 formal nights on a 14 day cruise, but only if it's a B2B or 14 day Collector's Cruise. That's because each 7 day segment has 2 formal nights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratheden Posted September 21, 2015 #6 Share Posted September 21, 2015 We only had 4 Gala nights on our 22 day Adriatic and Mediterranean Cruise earlier this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare erewhon Posted September 21, 2015 #7 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Three "Gala Attire" evenings are listed for our 14 night Noordam cruise next month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted September 21, 2015 #8 Share Posted September 21, 2015 WE have a Collectors Cruise coming up -- 2 seven day cruises. Documents indicate there are to be 3 Gala nights. But until we get on the ship, we will not know which 7 day cruise will have 2 Gala nights and which one will only have 1 Gala night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapper1 Posted September 21, 2015 #9 Share Posted September 21, 2015 If you look at your schedule, there will probably be any earlier port day that will serve as the formal (Sorry...old habits die hard) night. If you post the schedule/itinerary for the two one week cruises, I'm sure someone can help you figure them out. However, the numbers of nights sounds correct. I'm more comfortable with the term "formal night" too. "Gala" is a term I have never used in my life so it just seems silly to me--but that's just me and whether people use "formal", "dress up", "gala" or some other term, I'll know what they mean. 😃 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted September 21, 2015 #10 Share Posted September 21, 2015 WE have a Collectors Cruise coming up -- 2 seven day cruises. Documents indicate there are to be 3 Gala nights. But until we get on the ship, we will not know which 7 day cruise will have 2 Gala nights and which one will only have 1 Gala night. Yup, mine too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted September 21, 2015 #11 Share Posted September 21, 2015 WE have a Collectors Cruise coming up -- 2 seven day cruises. Documents indicate there are to be 3 Gala nights. But until we get on the ship, we will not know which 7 day cruise will have 2 Gala nights and which one will only have 1 Gala night. Yup, mine too. Does that mean one of the legs has only 1 Gala night on one of the segments? Or are they going to tell you, "Hey. You dresses up last week. Take tonight off."? Or, have they declared that Eastern Caribbean more casual than the Western? Or vice versa? So many questions! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveOKC Posted September 21, 2015 #12 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'm more comfortable with the term "formal night" too. "Gala" is a term I have never used in my life so it just seems silly to me--but that's just me and whether people use "formal", "dress up", "gala" or some other term, I'll know what they mean. 😃 I am certain HAL changed from Formal to Gala to denote the change in the dress code policy for that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted September 21, 2015 #13 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Does that mean one of the legs has only 1 Gala night on one of the segments? Or are they going to tell you, "Hey. You dresses up last week. Take tonight off."? Or, have they declared that Eastern Caribbean more casual than the Western? Or vice versa? So many questions! :D I know, it's just odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakrewser Posted September 21, 2015 #14 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'm more comfortable with the term "formal night" too. "Gala" is a term I have never used in my life so it just seems silly to me--but that's just me and whether people use "formal", "dress up", "gala" or some other term, I'll know what they mean. 😃 WE could call them "Idiot's Delight" nights, but that's probably not PC ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted September 21, 2015 #15 Share Posted September 21, 2015 If you look at your schedule, there will probably be any earlier port day that will serve as the formal (Sorry...old habits die hard) night. If you post the schedule/itinerary for the two one week cruises, I'm sure someone can help you figure them out. However, the numbers of nights sounds correct. That used to be conventional wisdom, but lately it hasn't been like that. I think they like the first gala night to be the first full day, so that it makes sense to have the show where the captain and staff are introduced and they do the "captain's toast." Sort of a grand kick-off to the week. (I'm using "grand" to imply HAL's thinking, not my interpretation of the event. ;)) On our most recent cruise, the first day was a port day, leaving at 4 PM. The second day was a port day, leaving at 2 PM. I expected the second day to be the gala night, as it had the earlier departure time. But it was the first day. If you had a full day in port, that left less time to "dress to impress." :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted September 21, 2015 #16 Share Posted September 21, 2015 On our most recent cruise, the first day was a port day, leaving at 4 PM. The second day was a port day, leaving at 2 PM. I expected the second day to be the gala night, as it had the earlier departure time. But it was the first day. If you had a full day in port, that left less time to "dress to impress." :rolleyes: That's why we like to practice dressing and impressing at home before our trips. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted September 21, 2015 #17 Share Posted September 21, 2015 (edited) I'm more comfortable with the term "formal night" too. "Gala" is a term I have never used in my life so it just seems silly to me--but that's just me and whether people use "formal", "dress up", "gala" or some other term, I'll know what they mean. 😃 I'm the same way. It's probably because gala is used as a noun more often than its used as an adjective, whereas formal is used more often as an adjective. Or is it possible that you need to bring one of these? Edited September 21, 2015 by POA1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted September 21, 2015 #18 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Does that mean one of the legs has only 1 Gala night on one of the segments? Or are they going to tell you, "Hey. You dresses up last week. Take tonight off."? Or, have they declared that Eastern Caribbean more casual than the Western? Or vice versa? So many questions! :D We have no idea. It would be nice if HAL would list the "Gala" nights on the documents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted September 21, 2015 #19 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'm the same way. It's probably because gala is used as a noun more often than its used as an adjective, whereas formal is used more often as an adjective. Or is it possible that you need to bring one of these? Nope -- those Gala apples won't help anyone if they need them for sea sickness -- need green apples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 21, 2015 #20 Share Posted September 21, 2015 It seems to be more than a little suggestive that formal dress on HAL cruises is rapidly disappearing. For those who enjoy formal dress, 'gala' just doesn't cut it. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted September 21, 2015 #21 Share Posted September 21, 2015 We have no idea. It would be nice if HAL would list the "Gala" nights on the documents. Yes, it would. Cunard has the schedule of formal and informal nights for each cruise on their website. It requires some digging, but it's there. I guess HAL can't do that because they leave the decision up to people onboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz chic Posted September 21, 2015 #22 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I guess I've been lucky. Whatever has been listed on my boarding pass for the amount of formal nights has been the amount there has been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 21, 2015 #23 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Yes, it would. Cunard has the schedule of formal and informal nights for each cruise on their website. It requires some digging, but it's there. I guess HAL can't do that because they leave the decision up to people onboard. Kathy, I'm not so sure the decision as to 'gala' nights is left to the Hotel Director, Captain and/or CD. I think almost all decisions come out of Seattle these days. Captain and Hotel Director may request a change or juggling of formal nights but save for rough sea conditions, mechanical issues, or other engineering problems, my understanding is Seattle may or may not agree with the request. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted September 21, 2015 #24 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Nope -- those Gala apples won't help anyone if they need them for sea sickness -- need green apples. Good point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted September 21, 2015 #25 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Nope -- those Gala apples won't help anyone if they need them for sea sickness -- need green apples. Are you sure? ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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