Jeans in the dining room and other last minute attire questions

[KroozNut]

No one will ever be considered overdressed when wearing slacks and a button down shirt unless acting in a porn movie. ;p;p;p

 

A classic example of the 'fashion police'... I rest my case..:rolleyes:

[KroozNut]

I will be thinking boom-chicka-wow-wah.

 

Huh?!:confused::rolleyes:

[KroozNut]

Saw one person wearing jean shorts, flip-flops and polo shirt to dinner. Fine with everyone it seemed....

 

Need more context here in terms of where, when and on which night.:confused:

[KroozNut]

Perhaps they don't get out much

 

What? Care to elaborate on this comment a bit further?:o:rolleyes:

[KroozNut]

As I said, there's the reality of what passengers actually experience aboard.

 

And since 'what passengers actually experience aboard' is suspect by definition (i.e. subjective), one should first discount these observations outright (as not true 'reality'), than try to whittle out what represents true reality, which is somewhere in the middle.

[KroozNut]

FYI-You will get eye rolls just for having a kid on a Holland America cruise as we have many times before so it really doesn't matter what they wear :)

 

Uncalled for comment..:rolleyes:

[ithaca gal]

Huh?!:confused::rolleyes:

 

Looks like you need to get out more. Lol

[KroozNut]

Looks like you need to get out more. Lol

 

I suppose so.. :confused:

[not-so-ancient mariner]

This is for the Katie, who started this thread.

 

Two weeks ago, on our Alaska trip on the Westerdam, we saw a man turned away from the dining room on a gala night because he did not have a collared shirt. The maitre d' was very discreet but my partner is a birdwatcher with acute hearing and she overheard it while we were waiting to be taking to our table. The man was told that he had the choice of eating at one of the other venues that night or returning wearing a collared shirt. He came back in 5 minutes with a sports shirt.

 

You suggest that a long-sleeved t-shirt should be sufficient. Sleeve length apparently is not the issue -- there were lots of men and boys with short-sleeved shirts -- but with collars.

 

Now it may be that your son will be treated as a young child and exempted from the dress code. You might want to think about this: risk it or not? Also consider, would he prefer being treated in a special, respectful, adult way by simply wearing a collared shirt? This might be a good occasion for a mother-son talk to find out how he feels about the possible thrill of dressing for an occasion. After all, if he's excited about it, why spoil it for him? And it's a great opportunity for him to learn about wearing appropriate attiire for different occasions, something we all learn as we grow up.

 

It's up to you and your family to decide what is appropriate; just be aware that on Gala nights, the rules are different and you always have the choice of the Lido restaurant, specialty restaurants or room service if you feel that there is a burning reason why he should wear a t shirt that night.

[*Miss G*]

This is my first cruise and I was really looking forward to gala night, I even bought a new long evening dress for it. Now I'm wondering if it is even worth packing it!

 

Take it! You will look and feel great. Especially if you are doing a sailing in Europe. The passengers tend to be a bit more dressy over there. Don't pay too much attention to what people say on CC. Most cruisers don't even read this board.

[taxmantoo]

No one will ever be considered overdressed when wearing slacks and a button down shirt unless acting in a porn movie. ;p;p;p

 

A classic example of the 'fashion police'... I rest my case..:rolleyes:

 

What case ??? And what does this have to do with the fashion police ???

[DLUT]

Uncalled for comment..:rolleyes:

 

Just stating the facts as personally experienced on several occasions on different Holland cruises. I don't let it bother me because I paid the cruise fare too.

[bagpuss68]

If that is what you were planning to do take it. Much depends on where you are going. I am going to Alaska and it sounds as if not as many people dress up real fancy. Go for it. Even where I live, casual Maui, we see all types in fine dining places. Some dress really fancy, and others look like they just came off of the beach. Lol

 

That's the cruise I'm doing. 2 June from Seattle. I will be celebrating my 50th during the cruise. First cruise, first time out of Europe and travelling alone! I'm hoping that I will meet lots of people and enjoy the Gala night!

[bagpuss68]

Take it! You will look and feel great. Especially if you are doing a sailing in Europe. The passengers tend to be a bit more dressy over there. Don't pay too much attention to what people say on CC. Most cruisers don't even read this board.

 

 

I'm actually doing an Alaskan cruise and getting very mixed opinions on the dress code for the Gala night. I think my rule of thumb will be that I always dress smartly when going out to dinner or in the evenings when on holiday elsewhere so I will do the same on the cruise.

[bEwAbG]

I'm actually doing an Alaskan cruise and getting very mixed opinions on the dress code for the Gala night. I think my rule of thumb will be that I always dress smartly when going out to dinner or in the evenings when on holiday elsewhere so I will do the same on the cruise.

 

Just got back from Alaska this past weekend. I took a sport jacket and tie and felt way overdressed on the first night. Pants/jacket were both black so it looked like a black suit. Most men in the area around us were just in long sleeves and slacks with a few others in sport jackets as well. On the second Gala night, I kept the jacket on but didn't wear a tie & had on lighter-colored pants. I saw no more than a handful of tuxedos around the ship on either night. And 1 of those looked like a theatrical costume (ridiculous lapel & very old style).

 

There was a larger range of attire on the women. Saw a smattering of gowns but most were not that formal. Lots of cocktail dresses. Even more "dressy" tops matched with skirts or pants. Everyone looked nice.

 

I had a great vantage point on both nights. Table on an aisle facing the door on the first night, so anyone entering one side of the anytime dining section walked past our table for the hour or so we were there. On the second, I was seated in the set dining time level about 15 minutes before everyone else arrived (not sure why they were putting anytime diners in the set dining time section, but they did). So that means I got to see the parade of practically everyone coming in for the late set dining time. I was only paying attention because I like to see how people interpret the various dress codes, but it didn't change the taste of the food.

 

I only dined in the main dining room on the two Gala nights and went to specialty restaurants the rest of the time. Dress around the ship tended towards the casual.

[bagpuss68]

Just got back from Alaska this past weekend. I took a sport jacket and tie and felt way overdressed on the first night. Pants/jacket were both black so it looked like a black suit. Most men in the area around us were just in long sleeves and slacks with a few others in sport jackets as well. On the second Gala night, I kept the jacket on but didn't wear a tie & had on lighter-colored pants. I saw no more than a handful of tuxedos around the ship on either night. And 1 of those looked like a theatrical costume (ridiculous lapel & very old style).

 

There was a larger range of attire on the women. Saw a smattering of gowns but most were not that formal. Lots of cocktail dresses. Even more "dressy" tops matched with skirts or pants. Everyone looked nice.

 

I had a great vantage point on both nights. Table on an aisle facing the door on the first night, so anyone entering one side of the anytime dining section walked past our table for the hour or so we were there. On the second, I was seated in the set dining time level about 15 minutes before everyone else arrived (not sure why they were putting anytime diners in the set dining time section, but they did). So that means I got to see the parade of practically everyone coming in for the late set dining time. I was only paying attention because I like to see how people interpret the various dress codes, but it didn't change the taste of the food.

 

I only dined in the main dining room on the two Gala nights and went to specialty restaurants the rest of the time. Dress around the ship tended towards the casual.

 

 

Thank you for this, it was very helpful. The rest of the thread has been interesting, to say the least. I'm interested to find out what 'docker pants' are!

[bUU]

Thank you for this, it was very helpful. The rest of the thread has been interesting, to say the least. I'm interested to find out what 'docker pants' are!

"Dockers" is a brand. I think the reference to "dockers" refers to the kind of pants that used to be all that Dockers made - khaki material, a step above jeans, I suppose. However, I should note that Dockers now makes dress pants as well, and quite comfortable dress pants in my opinion.

[Stratheden]

Thank you for this, it was very helpful. The rest of the thread has been interesting, to say the least. I'm interested to find out what 'docker pants' are!

 

If you google 'docker pants' and look at images I think they mean every type of casual pants except jeans. We would call them Chinos or slacks. What would you call them in UK?

[bagpuss68]

If you google 'docker pants' and look at images I think they mean every type of casual pants except jeans. We would call them Chinos or slacks. What would you call them in UK?

 

 

I think we would just call them chinos, or maybe khakis? I'm so looking forward to this trip.

[iancal]

It is really much ado about nothing. Read the cruise line guidelines.

 

Forget about the posters who like to place their own interpretation on those guidelines...to the point of presenting their own opinions in place of those guidelines.

 

Follow your gut, have a great time, and spend your days in anticipation of a wonderful cruise instead of worrying about your attire or your children's attire. Bottom line is that it is only a few hours out of your vacation.

 

Besides, the MDR food on formal/gala night is nothing to write home about.. Many would agree that the food and the choices are better on non formal/gala evenings. We really do not understand what the fuss about gala nights is all about. Can't think of one thing the cruise line currently does to truly make it a gala. event. It is so make believe now that it is really laughable.

Edited May 24, 2018 by iancal

[ithaca gal]

Best advice: Read the cruise guidelines:

 

Collared shirt and trousers for men. That says it all. No interpretation needed. You can't go wrong with that suggestion ......... and certainly can't go wrong with adding to it.

[RocketMan275]

It is really much ado about nothing. Read the cruise line guidelines.

 

Forget about the posters who like to place their own interpretation on those guidelines...to the point of presenting their own opinions in place of those guidelines.

 

Follow your gut, have a great time, and spend your days in anticipation of a wonderful cruise instead of worrying about your attire or your children's attire. Bottom line is that it is only a few hours out of your vacation.

 

Besides, the MDR food on formal/gala night is nothing to write home about.. Many would agree that the food and the choices are better on non formal/gala evenings. We really do not understand what the fuss about gala nights is all about. Can't think of one thing the cruise line currently does to truly make it a gala. event. It is so make believe now that it is really laughable.

On my last two Holland cruises, those 'special items' including the lobster tails, were available on he buffet. Hardly special.

[DallasBiskit]

A few want to see just how far they can lower the bar.

Sandra

 

Seriously? Why would you say something so judgemental, which you know is going to be inflammatory. Honestly, I find poor manners to be far more egregious than jeans or a t-shirt.

[Sea girl 23]

Seriously? Why would you say something so judgemental, which you know is going to be inflammatory. Honestly, I find poor manners to be far more egregious than jeans or a t-shirt.

 

*Totally* inflammatory. Every time a dress code thread is started I start taking over/unders on how long it'll take for one of the "Fashion Police" to post their opinions(and to probably turn a few people who would have cruised Holland America off and consider other cruise lines.

[SetAnOpenCourse]

A few want to see just how far they can lower the bar.

Sandra

Which may mean seeing how far they can lower their jeans.

Just be happy if the full rump isn’t out and the briefs are blue.

:p

I’ve only seen sagging on one HAL cruise, so I’m mostly joking. But I think you’re probably right about a few people; and a few others simply aren’t wired to consider society.

 

I have no problem with the current guidelines. People who dress up help give a nice ambiance for those of us who see a lot of the other end of the spectrum in our daily routines. Hopefully, apreciating that doesn’t make me the bogeyman.