Formal nights

[1160451]

Hi everybody,

Advice please.....

Four of us, 2 couples, have booked on the Discovery Jan 2017 in Carribean.

We have cruised on this ship when it was a RCI Ship.

We cruise every year in January to the Carribean.

Over the last 5 years we have cruised with Holland America, P and O and Fred Olsen.

We have cruised with Thomsons on the Destiney a few years ago.

So a couple of questions.........

 

Just wondered if Black tie nights are adhered to on the Captains Night on Thomson.

Have read the brochure and see they suggest it, but brochures and reality are often miles apart.

Doesn't bother us either way, as we will adhere but just wondered.

 

Also see Dining is called "open dining", no sittings, so presumably you turn up and are seated ?

We like mixing on a large table, so on arriving at Dining Room are you asked what size of table?

 

Another thought just hit me, on our other cruises the show times are matched to the Dining Sittings. On Open Dining presumably you have to match your own time to the Show times. If so, doesn't the Dining Room get really busy at certain times.

 

Looking forward to returning to Thomson, as the most "fun" we have had on a cruise was on Thomson Ships.

Just hope the six years since we last cruised with Thomson haven't changed them much.

 

Thanks in advance, always get good feedback from all the boards. Although Holland America site was a bit sniffy...😄

[gillhalfpint]

Formal night - Captain's night not necessary black tie. My husband wears a green dickie bow, and ties of all colours seen. Men wear DJ's, tux, suits whatever suits them as long as smart. Ladies get dolled up.

 

Open seating most nights in main dining room any time you like once they are open. You get asked if you mind sharing so can get onto large tables ok.

 

Captain's night you will be allocated first or second sitting. You can pick your own table then when the doors open. They are roughly 6.15 and 8.15 and the show is geared to each dining time. There will be a note in your cabin to say which sitting you are on.

 

This info of course to our recent cruises. We are going on Discovery for the first time in October to the Caribbean, then again in Jan 17 for my "big" birthday.

[1160451]

Cheers Gill......we are also on the Discovery, a back to back, starting 15th Jan.

Just to be clear, there are only set dining times ie first and second sittings on the Captains night ?

[gillhalfpint]

Cheers Gill......we are also on the Discovery, a back to back, starting 15th Jan.

Just to be clear, there are only set dining times ie first and second sittings on the Captains night ?

 

We are on a back to back starting 22 Jan, and love these islands. Our third time, and don't seem to need to get deeted up on them. Must be lucky! Main Dining Room open from 6.30 to 9.30 at night and you can go down anytime to eat every night apart from Captain's night when you have your chitty with the set dining on.

Of course, I am presuming Discovery is following the same pattern as the other Thomson ships.

[1160451]

Cheers Gill,

 

As for the deeting...we are just back from a cruise up the Amazon, we covered up head to toe and deeted plus Maleria Tablets.

Never saw a mossie and the tablets made me go "funny" for two days......

We have never bothered deeting in the Carribean.

 

Our two cruises are Tropical Sands then Paradise Islands.

 

We cruised on this ship when it was with RCI, it was very good. Except for the Formal Dancing which was not too well catered for.

 

The Buffet was the largest we had ever seen along with the Casino. Maybe because it was an American ship.

 

Have a good time in October.

[gillhalfpint]

We are Paradise Islands the same week as you, then Tropical Delights. I see you have started a roll call for your cruise, I have one for the 22nd but will pop into yours too as you never know if you get good information that will suit us too.

 

I am not sure what changes might be made when Thomson take the ship over in June. Someone thought the Casino area might be reduced, but we have never been on her, so I will do my usual - go to the top and explore my way down. October seems a long way off at the moment though, but still looking forward to going back over there. Will be our first transatlantic too, another reason for booking as we wanted to try one.

[stevedeccaman]

"Will be our first transatlantic too, another reason for booking as we wanted to try one"

 

 

us too Gill ,sister & brother in law did TA last year from Malaga with 6 days at sea (they said instead of flying back from Bridgetown they wanted to go back on the six days at sea (that was on Celebration):eek:

 

so hence we booked on ye "new" discovery:cool:

Stevie

[kruzseeka]

"Will be our first transatlantic too, another reason for booking as we wanted to try one"

 

 

us too Gill ,sister & brother in law did TA last year from Malaga with 6 days at sea (they said instead of flying back from Bridgetown they wanted to go back on the six days at sea (that was on Celebration):eek:

 

so hence we booked on ye "new" discovery:cool:

Stevie

 

I'd always been adamant I wouldn't do a TA because we love getting off exploring and therefore chose port intensive cruises. However we did a TA on Dream a couple of years ago and much to my surprise, I really enjoyed it.

 

I think it comes down to mind-set. You know you're getting on and have a number of sea days ahead, so you simply relax into the slower pace. We found lots of things going on though so the days could be quite busy if you wanted them to be. We did the chocolate making course which if it's available on your trip I'd thoroughly recommend - not only were the chocs delicious it was great fun and Gerry, if he's the one running it, was hilarious. He lives round the corner from us and we occasionally bump into him - he's still doing some TAs for Thomson so you might be lucky. Of course there's lots of other extra things arranged too and as you travel further south, the weather tends to warm up so spending more time on deck becomes an attractive proposition.

 

Anyway we enjoyed it so much we've since done another with a TA in both directions so you can tell I'm a convert now. It's different, but good to try something new so I hope you both enjoy your first TA.

Edited February 27, 2016 by kruzseeka

[gillhalfpint]

Thank you for the gen. Love chocolate, so that sounds a distinct possibility. Seems a long way away at the moment, but am so looking forward to it. It's funny, but when I know a sea day is coming up I am fine with it, but when a "bonus" sea day is announced for a missed port as was done for San Blas, I feel at a loose end, despite the heroic efforts of the show team to keep us entertained. Just know it will be a fantastic cruise.

[CRUISIN LINDA]

If the dinner sitting you are allocated is not the one you want, the maitre D will change it for you ( although why Thomson don't ask which you would like when you book, I don't know!)

[Julessmiles]

Cheers Gill,

 

As for the deeting...we are just back from a cruise up the Amazon, we covered up head to toe and deeted plus Maleria Tablets.

Never saw a mossie and the tablets made me go "funny" for two days......

We have never bothered deeting in the Carribean.

 

Our two cruises are Tropical Sands then Paradise Islands.

 

We cruised on this ship when it was with RCI, it was very good. Except for the Formal Dancing which was not too well catered for.

 

The Buffet was the largest we had ever seen along with the Casino. Maybe because it was an American ship.

 

Have a good time in October.

 

 

My experience with Thomson is they don't do anything in particular with Formal Dancing - it's usually pre-recorded music early evening in one of the bars which a few people get up to & dance along to....

[1160451]

Hi jules......

if I recall that was similar to what we remember.

We are keen dancers, but this Jan 17 we have decided to return to Thomson, basically for the fun element we remembered. Presume the resident band still plays uptempo music so we can always fit a jive or chic cha in.

 

This year we have deserted P and O and Fred olsen for the Caribbean, with the AI and tips included the cost is very competitive. This surprised us as the Thomson 7 day cruises we have looked at in the past were very expensive.

[Julessmiles]

Hi jules......

if I recall that was similar to what we remember.

We are keen dancers, but this Jan 17 we have decided to return to Thomson, basically for the fun element we remembered. Presume the resident band still plays uptempo music so we can always fit a jive or chic cha in.

 

This year we have deserted P and O and Fred olsen for the Caribbean, with the AI and tips included the cost is very competitive. This surprised us as the Thomson 7 day cruises we have looked at in the past were very expensive.

 

Yes, all the bands we have ever seen on Thomson have been very 'upbeat' !!

[Malch_uk]

Another thought just hit me, on our other cruises the show times are matched to the Dining Sittings. On Open Dining presumably you have to match your own time to the Show times. If so, doesn't the Dining Room get really busy at certain times.

😄

 

They perform the show twice each night so whatever time you decide to dine you should be able to eat and see the show, but not necessarily in that order.

[1160451]

Thanks everybody....

[ukkid]

My only experience of the Thomson formal night was that nearly all men (unless I missed someone) were suited, of which some were in black tie, in the main dining room. On other nights a few were suited. Then again even on cunard and p&o a lot of men go suited on black tie nights.

 

As an aside I found the formal night a mild annoyance in that I took a suit for one night only. Every other night I was shirt and trousers or jeans. I am glad I didn't take a dinner jacket and all the rest.

 

If you're going to do formal, do it more than once in week. But then that's me, and I guess if you're wearing a dress you may feel you need to bring a different one for each night.

[1160451]

Hi uk,.......on most of our previous cruise, there have been three or four formal, so you get good use out the tux. I take a tux and a white dinner jacket.

Even on non formal nights, or what ever they are called on different lines I wear a suit. Usually take three so with the formal nights wear them 3 times. My wife usuall takes a dress for every night.

Lots of people say it's impossible to adhere to formal nights with 20 kg, but we never have any problems.

We love dressing in the evening it is part of our cruse. But each to their own.

That doesn't mean we are dress police, people can wear what ever they want, but we do like to see a good Formal Night.

On Fred Olsen they used to have three theme nights as well. So that meant three extra outfits.

They have dumped those recently.

[Itsbeentoolong]

One formal night in a week is crazy, taking all that stuff on a plane for 1 night? I love formal nights, got 4 jackets I love but taking it on the stay in a hotel after too for 1 night....might give it a miss on Thomson, shame :(

[1160451]

Yep, does seem a bit of a waste if your land side for the week after. Not much need of suits etc in resort hotel. 😄

[peteukmcr]

Bit of advice required from what people have experienced.

 

How many formal nights are there likely to be on a 5 night sailing?

 

What is 'Captain's night' and is the dress code for this also formal?

 

What are the options if you didn't want to dress formally?

 

Are you denied access to any entertainment venues (bars etc) if you aren't dressed formally on these evenings?

 

Please don't get me wrong, we like to dress formally, but just a bit of clarity required.

[AlanCruise]

The Captain's night is the one formal night. Most people seem to dress for it but Thomson do not enforce it (as opposed to P&O)

 

Otherwise you have the option of the self service restaurants.

[Malch_uk]

Bit of advice required from what people have experienced.

 

How many formal nights are there likely to be on a 5 night sailing?

 

What is 'Captain's night' and is the dress code for this also formal?

 

What are the options if you didn't want to dress formally?

 

Are you denied access to any entertainment venues (bars etc) if you aren't dressed formally on these evenings?

 

Please don't get me wrong, we like to dress formally, but just a bit of clarity required.

 

 

One formal dress night per week on Thomson. On the first week it is known as Captain's night as you have the opportunity to meet him (for photographic purposes) and be introduced to the officers over a free drink. (This is all optional of course.)

If you are on a cruise of longer than one week (T/A, Repo, Baltic etc.) the subsequent formal nights don't involve all the above.

Formal dress applies to the MDR only. Buffet, entertainment venues and bars are all open to formal or smart casual.

[peteukmcr]

One formal dress night per week on Thomson. On the first week it is known as Captain's night as you have the opportunity to meet him (for photographic purposes) and be introduced to the officers over a free drink. (This is all optional of course.)

If you are on a cruise of longer than one week (T/A, Repo, Baltic etc.) the subsequent formal nights don't involve all the above.

Formal dress applies to the MDR only. Buffet, entertainment venues and bars are all open to formal or smart casual.

Many thanks for your prompt response and clarification, much appreciated.