TUI Discovery - formal wear query

[Anne B - Glasgow]

Hi. We're going on the TUI Discovery later this month and have been reading the reviews. Been on several Thomson cruises so far and always enjoyed the formal nights. I see on this ship that there's no captain's dinner which we always loved cos love to get dressed up - butthat there's a "dress to impress" evening instead although the reviews are saying it wasn't worthwhile taking formal wear. Not sure if that's because it's only had a few sailings and hasn't settled down yet. Can anyone tell me if they saw some passengers wearing dinner suits and evening dresses at this event or are we better not to trek it all across on a plane? Gutted cos really like to get all dressed up sometimes but don't want to be the only people there in "formals". :eek:

[shot2bits]

As I understand it, there are no formal nights, just the so called 'dress to impress'. Quite who you are trying to impress is beyond me! We sail on the 23rd of this month and I won't be taking a DJ or Tux. First time ever on a cruise. If you read the discovery review on here, it's all confirmed. However, you can dress up if you want, it's your holiday.

Edited July 5, 2016 by shot2bits

[Anne B - Glasgow]

Thomson shop are checking with other passengers due back this weekend so if we have any different info, we'll put it on here.

 

Bit of a shame if no formal nights at all. We may just dress up anyway of course but it would be nice if other people were too. We on the week before you so won't have time to post anything before you sail. Have a great time.

[Pensioncruiser]

We have friends returning this Saturday they will give me a honest report which I will post ASAP. We personally would be disappointed if we are the only guest's in formal attire but if we are so be it as it's all part of our holiday enjoyment😎 but we don't go till next year so things may have changed😉

[Anne B - Glasgow]

Many thanks, I'll look out for that and will post here if I hear anything else. ;)

[Katomerikaf]

I think it would be a shame if everyone leaves their finery at home :(

We don't sail until next year but will be getting dressed up for the dress to impress night - the more people who make the effort the better it will be.

Maybe TUI will re-introduce their formal night......

[Pensioncruiser]

I must agree and as I said we will always dress as we have always done and if I am the only one in a DJ

[Pensioncruiser]

Continuing😚 then so be it I don't believe that everyone who at the moment dresses up will suddenly disappear, they must enjoy that part of the cruise or why do it?

[campolady]

Continuing then so be it I don't believe that everyone who at the moment dresses up will suddenly disappear, they must enjoy that part of the cruise or why do it?

 

Totally agree Pensioncruiser - dressing up is part of the cruising tradition and we would be very sad to see it go. Hubby will have his DJ and I'll be in a long dress in October and again next year whatever anyone else wears.

Edited July 7, 2016 by campolady

[shot2bits]

It's something of a relief that this time around I am not obligated to wear a dinner suit. Due to weight restrictions when flying with Germania I would have had a problem. We will still make an effort though and I am sure Mrs S2B will carry on dressing up regardless!

[stevedeccaman]

comments from FB on captains cocktail night :)

none are mine as not offski till October :(

Stevie

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We're on the 6 week count down now, and although we've cruised many times with various lines...our family hasn't so, lots of questions!

The formal night is called Dressed to Impress, for those who've been on Discovery, did many people go the whole hog, tux/long dress etc? For those yet to sail, how many are going to take full-on evening gear? We will be taking ours, and intend to wear them, whatever the situation, but some inside info would be appreciated!

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Yes we dressed up for the Captains cocktail night as did quiet a few which was lovely. .I feel it's all part of the holiday ...enjoy its a beautiful ship. .we loved every minute

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Yes we dressed up, lots of people did, it was lovely to see that so many did..

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We've just come back and I would say it was 50 50 we dressed up because it's only for one night and it makes the. Night special

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To be honest few if any wore dinner jackets on the cruise,most wore smart causal long trousers,shirt,with or without ties.Dress what you feel comfortable in ,or want you want its your holiday

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[jimb98]

We were on the Discovery two weeks ago and there were lots of guys in tux's and some in kilts. Almost all the women had posh frocks on.

[stevedeccaman]

jimb98, any good or bad thoughts or your cruise and the ship in general ?

 

Stevie :)

[jimb98]

Overall I liked the ship but the air conditioning problems over-shadowed the cruise. The Live room was absolutely freezing the whole time and they obviously couldn't fix it. Such a shame as it is a nice space and they had some good entertainment on there. Because it was so cold people gravitated to the Atrium which meant you could rarely find a seat in there.

The aircon in our cabin never worked the whole week and they lied to us at least three times about getting it fixed; just like the old Thomson days where they treat you like imbeciles and expect you will just take it. They have a shock coming.

The entertainment was very good, shows excellent and the comedian very, very funny.

Staff, apart from a very officious woman at reception, were very good and friendly.

Food was good but not as good as I was expecting. Waiter service was very good in the restaurants if you drank wine but not so good if you wanted a beer.

Always able to find a sun lounger, even on sea day.

Had an inside plus cabin on Deck 7 which was spacious, unfortunately the clinging shower curtain, poor toiletries and no fridge let it down.

Had a problem with my bill over a measly, fictitious charge which I had a real problem resolving, again smacks of the old Thomson approach. Seems like the customer is still always wrong.

Apart from the aircon all the other things are pretty minor and we had a great time. If they'd fixed the temperature in the Live Room it would have been much better as people would have had much more choice.

One last thing; the casino has virtual roulette; what a shame!

[stevedeccaman]

Thanks jimb98 for taking the time to post this

happy cruising :)

Stevie

[Huddersfieldtourist]

We were on the first cruise and can advise that there were quite a number of male passengers wearing DJ / tux etc if that helps on the Dress to Impress night.

[davecttr]

Just back and had 2 dress to impress evenings. Yes, a fair percentage of people wore formal wear and many others 'dressed to impress'. however if you are of the persuasion that would be horrified if the next table were wearing evening casual maybe the ship is not for you ;)

[Pensioncruiser]

As promised 'second hand' report on our friends experience on the Discovery, firstly they are seasoned cruisers with Thomson and other lines, they like basic cabins and like to dress smart not posh and eat in the main restaurant.

They absolutely loved the ship and found the food very good, staff was not up to normal bit slow in some areas they say because not so many Philippians they did see a few old faces felt they would improve with time:rolleyes: Had most of the sport, sorry ladies, on the big screen on deck which they loved,, they are in there seventies so were not worried that the climbing wall was not operational. Dress they found as normal for Thomson with most people dressing up and the normal amount of DJs and kilts. Found the theater had plenty of space and they did not need to get in early to find seats as with the sun loungers. The bar menu, which I have a copy of, is vastly improved for the AI from the other ships you have a selection of 3 white and 3 red wines, ALL international btl/caned beers , bub/peroni/becks/Guinness, all liqueurs lots more whiskies inc Jameson, back after a short break, and even Mrs PCs favourite BAILEYs which I have had to pay the extra for since the last century:p. Just hope they change the other ships as we have three cruise before we go in Sep 2017:eek:

[spoon84]

I'm just back from a fortnight on the discovery. Lots of men in tux's and a few kilts. I'd say on average that most were smartly dressed every night. I always ate at the waiter service restaurants and spent every night in the live lounge so I'm not sure what the buffet was like in terms of dress.

[davecttr]

I'm just back from a fortnight on the discovery. Lots of men in tux's and a few kilts. I'd say on average that most were smartly dressed every night. I always ate at the waiter service restaurants and spent every night in the live lounge so I'm not sure what the buffet was like in terms of dress.

 

Did you enjoy our Texan friend singing? There were mutterings about maybe he would break his foot :eek:;)

 

The aircon in there was fun, allegedly RCI may not have handed over a user manual :D

 

an authorative onboard source informed me they are carrying some extra crew as it will take some time to ascertain the correct manning levels.

 

ps - the crew show should be back once they settle things down. Hazel? is aboard

[Anne B - Glasgow]

Thanks to everyone for getting back to us on the question of formal wear and for all the other info on the ship. We're sailing on Saturday and very much looking forward to it. Will def pack the DJ and posh frock - and a couple of shrugs to combat the overactive air con :p. Will post a review on return. Thanks again everyone. :)

[Pensioncruiser]

Have a good one😁😁😁

[spoon84]

He sure loved those boots.

 

It's very odd as I've seen the comments about the air con but didn't feel cold at all. I'm always cold at home & the coldest in work. I always have the heating on and have extra layers with me! but I was absolutely fine everywhere onboard in sleeveless tops. I tended to be at the bar or the high stools at the side never sat in the soft low seats. It was always around 8/9pm too so perhaps it had heated up by then. On my last night it was too warm in the live room, the casino manager was given a fan by one of the guests! He was on the case though and had requested they turn on the air con.

[davecttr]

He sure loved those boots.

 

It's very odd as I've seen the comments about the air con but didn't feel cold at all. I'm always cold at home & the coldest in work. I always have the heating on and have extra layers with me! but I was absolutely fine everywhere onboard in sleeveless tops. I tended to be at the bar or the high stools at the side never sat in the soft low seats. It was always around 8/9pm too so perhaps it had heated up by then. On my last night it was too warm in the live room, the casino manager was given a fan by one of the guests! He was on the case though and had requested they turn on the air con.

 

The aircon switched off in my cabin twice, each time early evening for about 2 hours. I reported it the second time and an engineer arrived within 20 minutes, 2 minutes after the aircon started again :p The cabin maintained a lovely coolish constant temperature the rest of the time.

 

Of course everything will take time to reach their desired level of reliability, after all, they are learning the ship as they go along.

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Had most of the sport, sorry ladies, on the big screen on deck which they loved

Why do people always assume that women don't like sport. I can tell you there were lots of women on Azura last week cheering on the Welsh football squad.

 

I know quite a few men who hate football, while I love it :D