Dressing down.

[annieuk]

One thing we can be sure of - P&O won't do anything that doesn't make good business sense. At the moment the percentage of people conforming to the dress code is quite high - I think School Holiday Cruises seem to be slightly different. If older people - the ones with the money and the time to cruise and who often book the suites and mini suites - still prefer the dress code to stay as it is, I can't see it changing any time soon.

[daiB]

We're just back from 10 nights on Aurora. The following are observations, not criticisms.

 

 

 

On formal nights many ladies wore full-on beaded and sequinned evening gowns and dresses, but there were a lot more ladies wearing the kind of dress one might wear to a wedding or a day at the races than on our previous cruises (the kind of thing that might previously have been worn on semi-formal nights). A lot of the men were wearing suits rather than DJs or tuxes, and most were not dark suits. A couple of men looked super-smart in dress uniforms or kilts.

 

I like putting on the glam because for 50 weeks of the year I rarely get the chance.

 

 

 

I would say adherence to the formal dress code was somewhere around 75% or below. There were a lot of people who preferred to remain casually dressed and they were certainly allowed in the freedom dining MDR.

 

 

 

Even on casual nights many people did not observe the dress code (maybe 30-50%?) (faded/light-coloured jeans, T-shirts, hoodies, flip-flops) - the kind of clothes I would expect to wear around the ship or ashore during the day. Even my teenage son, who dislikes "dressing up" commented on it. I never saw or overheard anyone being challenged regarding their dress.

 

 

 

This is the first P&O cruise where I have seen so little observance of the dress code - it was very, very noticeable. Your figure of 95% compliance may be true for adult-only cruises or cruises during school term-time, Dai, but for this one it was way off the mark.

 

 

 

Well of course non school holiday cruises are in the majority 40 weeks to 10. So that gives me the 95% adherence that I have observed. I do find that parents with small children are amongst the best dressed.

 

 

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[groovechick]

As I said Dai, our recent cruises have only ever been in school holidays and this is the first one where dress code observance - whether formal or smart casual - was so noticeably low.

40 weeks out of 50 is surely four fifths, which would correspond to dress code adherence on 80% of cruises?

[Josy1953]

We got off Azura this morning and I have to say that we were very disappointed that people were allowed in the MDR wearing shorts and tee shirts on formal nights. This seems to be the way P&O are going now.

[Cruise Puss]

We got off Azura this morning and I have to say that we were very disappointed that people were allowed in the MDR wearing shorts and tee shirts on formal nights. This seems to be the way P&O are going now.

 

That's appaulling! That is not only extremely poor behaviour, but disrespectful to all those passengers that had made the effort to adhere to the dress code.

 

I sincerely hope this does not continue happening!

[Selbourne]

We got off Azura this morning and I have to say that we were very disappointed that people were allowed in the MDR wearing shorts and tee shirts on formal nights. This seems to be the way P&O are going now.

 

I'm staggered. I've never seen that on any ship on any of our cruises. I have seen passengers in bars several hours after the 6pm dress code 'enforcement' rule (such as at 8pm in the Crows Nest on Britannia - a family in shorts and t-shirts on a formal night, who were not challenged) but never in a main dining room. The restaurant manager should have refused them entry and I'm surprised that other passengers didn't complain. The rules are clear. The buffet is available for dinner on formal nights for those who do not wish to dress formally. As Cruise Puss says, that shows a complete lack of respect for fellow passengers and is unfair on the staff who have to deal with it. But I still can't get over that this was unchallenged on Azura. Thankfully, it's our least favourite ship in the fleet, so,we won't be rushing to go on her.

[NSWP]

We got off Azura this morning and I have to say that we were very disappointed that people were allowed in the MDR wearing shorts and tee shirts on formal nights. This seems to be the way P&O are going now.

 

If P&O are permitting pax to dress like that and gain admittance to the MDR it will eventually become the norm, as on some other lines. They don't want confrontation. Pretty weak of the Restaurant Manager/Head Waiters to allow them in.

 

Our generation that dress properly is slowly fading and many of the later generations don't want to follow the rules.

 

As I have said before, if a dress code is not enforced properly, get rid of it.:evilsmile:

 

I have to fly 12000 miles to get on a P&O UK cruise but still manage to cram a nice dark suit in for formal nights.:halo:

[john watson]

Unfortunately many passengers who have never cruised before aren't into wearing formal attire, and, it seems, that that is the direction P&O wish to go.

 

I feel it's a terrible shame, and if they ever get rid of formal nights that will be it with P&O as far as my Husband and I are concerned.

 

I do not believe "this is the way P&O want to go", they are being driven by a younger populous that think certain ways of dressing are best. I cannot understand the concept of ripped jeans for example, yet at the weekend, in town many girls were wearing these. Traipsing around the shops with my daughter I spotted "Rip and Repair" jeans. I was not brought up thinking riparian meant anything to do with trousers.

 

Regards John

[grapau27]

I do not believe "this is the way P&O want to go", they are being driven by a younger populous that think certain ways of dressing are best. I cannot understand the concept of ripped jeans for example, yet at the weekend, in town many girls were wearing these. Traipsing around the shops with my daughter I spotted "Rip and Repair" jeans. I was not brought up thinking riparian meant anything to do with trousers.

 

Regards John

A lot of what you say is spot on especially for casual nights.

My experience of formal nights with P&O is most people respond to dressing up which is fantastic.

 

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[Millers]

The annoying thing about all this is that people are aware of the code when they book the cruise, why complain about it when they get on. If they don't like it, go to Bennidorm.

 

 

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[dgs1956]

The annoying thing about all this is that people are aware of the code when they book the cruise, why complain about it when they get on. If they don't like it, go to Bennidorm.

 

 

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Correct. The worrying thing is that cruise ships will eventually become more like Benidorm.

[grapau27]

Correct. The worrying thing is that cruise ships will eventually become more like Benidorm.

Unfortunately with cheap drink packages and cruises the Benidorm crowd are on the ships now.

 

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[rangersgirl]

Nothing wrong with Benidorm and they have paid the same money to be on the cruise as the rest of you have they not? What they do on their holidays is up to them . I can't stand the way people on here sometimes think they are better than other people and judge people by their clothes. Oh there formal dresses are not formal enough etc. Why don't YOU enjoy your cruise and stop spending the time looking and judging others . I know which people I would rather be on holiday with . The ones that are having a great time not the ones sitting all night judging everyone else. Yes they should adhere to the dress code but who is to say what is and isn't formal enough .

[Britboys]

I think that there are several issues that may explain some of these issues. First, P&O relaxed the dress code, allowing pax to wear jeans. It is a way of life that some people given an inch will take a mile. Tell them they can wear dark denim and they will wear light, ripped denim. P&O now have so many berths to fill that they will do almost anything to do so. Second, there are a lot of travel agencies out there pretending to be "Cruise Specialists" but are really in business to cash in on the boom and make as many bookings as they can. They do not always give people correct information. I once saw a company on one of the TV sales channels selling cruises. A P&O ship was described as "very informal - you don't have to worry about dressing up". Whilst in essence that is true, it does give an impression that you can wear what you want, when & where you want.

[majortom10]

Nothing wrong with Benidorm and they have paid the same money to be on the cruise as the rest of you have they not? What they do on their holidays is up to them . I can't stand the way people on here sometimes think they are better than other people and judge people by their clothes. Oh there formal dresses are not formal enough etc. Why don't YOU enjoy your cruise and stop spending the time looking and judging others . I know which people I would rather be on holiday with . The ones that are having a great time not the ones sitting all night judging everyone else. Yes they should adhere to the dress code but who is to say what is and isn't formal enough .

 

What a nonsensical response I do not judge anyone who likes holdiays in Benidorm or wherever but it clearly states the dress code for Formal nights in brochures and P&Os website and if they do not want to adhere to that dress code then they are well within their rights to go to the buffet. But nobody can believe that t-shirts/shorts are classed as formal dress and should be refused entry into the MDR. If they do not like it then it is their own fault and should look for holiday elsewhere if they do not want to eat in the buffet. That is not being snobbish or looking down on others but one who adheres to the rules as requested by cruise company or hotel, would like to see them try to get in MDR at Savoy in London and then would you blame the hotel.

[majortom10]

We got off Azura this morning and I have to say that we were very disappointed that people were allowed in the MDR wearing shorts and tee shirts on formal nights. This seems to be the way P&O are going now.

 

On our last cruise on Azura in 2104 the standards of dress were appalling all over the ship and in MDR in the evening. When we had lunch one day with the Purser (as was) we said we were disappointed about dress code and her response was well I have pairs of jeans dearer than your dinner suit. Think that says it all and the attitude of P&O and since then we havent been on Azura and only cruised since then on Britannia and now do not cruise at all with P&O.

[grapau27]

What a nonsensical response I do not judge anyone who likes holdiays in Benidorm or wherever but it clearly states the dress code for Formal nights in brochures and P&Os website and if they do not want to adhere to that dress code then they are well within their rights to go to the buffet. But nobody can believe that t-shirts/shorts are classed as formal dress and should be refused entry into the MDR. If they do not like it then it is their own fault and should look for holiday elsewhere if they do not want to eat in the buffet. That is not being snobbish or looking down on others but one who adheres to the rules as requested by cruise company or hotel, would like to see them try to get in MDR at Savoy in London and then would you blame the hotel.

Exactly it was the same at the London Ritz hotel when we stayed there.

 

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[rangersgirl]

Some people should take a chill pill. Nobody on here has said they are better than anyone else.

I live about 80 Km from Benidorm and visit regularly. The fact is the behaviour in Benidorm does at time demonstrate the worst aspect of British people's behaviour on holiday. Its not my idea of how people should behave on a cruise ship which is a fairly enclosed environment although I obviously have no problem mixing with them in Benidorm.

Incidentally P&O say what is and isn't Formal enough and, although its vague, T-shirt and shorts definitely don't fall in their scope.

As I say over and over again, this is a Forum and all of us are entitled to our view.

 

 

Exactly thank you it is down to P&O to decide what is and isn't formal enough .So it's down to the staff to decide and if they let people in the dining room wearin what they are that should be enough . No need for all the judging on here.

[dgs1956]

Unfortunately with cheap drink packages and cruises the Benidorm crowd are on the ships now.

 

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I think P&O would rue the day they introduced Drink Packages on their ships. It may work well on other cruise lines but I really can't see it on P&O.

[grapau27]

I think P&O would rue the day they introduced Drink Packages on their ships. It may work well on other cruise lines but I really can't see it on P&O.

IMO the drink prices are reasonable on P&O especially compared to RCI so i agree totally with you.

 

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[groovechick]

Exactly thank you it is down to P&O to decide what is and isn't formal enough .So it's down to the staff to decide and if they let people in the dining room wearin what they are that should be enough . No need for all the judging on here.

 

P&O DO decide what is formal enough, or smart casual enough and say so quite clearly in the information, but people choose to disregard it anyway. I imagine the poor staff a) have enough to do without having to challenge passengers about their dress all the time, b) are reluctant to challenge people because of the responses they are likely to get, c) possibly don't have the authority to do so below a certain level.

 

Personally I don't care what people wear, but why cruise with a line that has a dress code when almost all of the others don't?

Yes, everyone is entitled to enjoy their holiday in the way they see fit, but why should the enjoyment of a few potentially spoil the enjoyment of many who have chosen to cruise with a specific line because of its values?

[dgs1956]

P&O DO decide what is formal enough, or smart casual enough and say so quite clearly in the information, but people choose to disregard it anyway. I imagine the poor staff a) have enough to do without having to challenge passengers about their dress all the time, b) are reluctant to challenge people because of the responses they are likely to get, c) possibly don't have the authority to do so below a certain level.

 

Personally I don't care what people wear, but why cruise with a line that has a dress code when almost all of the others don't?

Yes, everyone is entitled to enjoy their holiday in the way they see fit, but why should the enjoyment of a few potentially spoil the enjoyment of many who have chosen to cruise with a specific line because of its values?

 

Surely nobody can disagree with this post.

[grapau27]

Surely nobody can disagree with this post.

I agree with the post.

 

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[Millers]

Nothing wrong with Benidorm and they have paid the same money to be on the cruise as the rest of you have they not? What they do on their holidays is up to them . I can't stand the way people on here sometimes think they are better than other people and judge people by their clothes. Oh there formal dresses are not formal enough etc. Why don't YOU enjoy your cruise and stop spending the time looking and judging others . I know which people I would rather be on holiday with . The ones that are having a great time not the ones sitting all night judging everyone else. Yes they should adhere to the dress code but who is to say what is and isn't formal enough .

 

 

 

There is nothing wrong with Benidorm, or the people that go there, but my point is (and I am not judging anyone), but if you know the ship has a dress code, don't complain if it doesn't suit you. Do what you want to do, but don't criticise others that want to "dress up".

 

 

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[grapau27]

There is nothing wrong with Benidorm, or the people that go there, but my point is (and I am not judging anyone), but if you know the ship has a dress code, don't complain if it doesn't suit you. Do what you want to do, but don't criticise others that want to "dress up".

 

 

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You can't be any more clear than that.

 

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