Formal night...Don't wanna go

[Host CJSKIDS]

HOpefully this doesn't turn into a thread that gets out of control and locked over debating dressing up and not dressing up. The OP simply stated that dressing up is not their cup of tea and they're asking questions on other choices. They're not talking about "bucking the system" and not adhering to the suggested guideliness that PRincess has for formal nights, just what their choices are.

 

You can order the ultimate balcony dinner if it's available on your ship, room service, enjoy the buffet or have pizza and burgers when they're open. There are plenty of other choices for you and I'm sure you enjoy yourselves fully!

[UKLady]

I think everyone should skip formal night and go eat in the horizon court

 

That way my DH and I would be the only ones in the queue for formal photos - what a wonderful thought - we have never had one yet as we cant be bothered to queue

 

I do have a tip for those who like to dress up but get changed afterwards into more comfortable clothes - formal clothes are comfortable, just buy clothes that fit you properly (I even have one dress a size too big, fits perfectly on the second week :D )

 

I love to dress up but thats me, if you want to skip a formal night and go eat at the buffet why does anyone care.

 

In fact if you want to go to a show on formal night in your smart/casual clothes then come sit by me - makes it much easier for me to look amazing :p

[mii]

The thread of all threads: PROPER ATTIRE! :D

 

2 weeks ago Holland America forum had a thread that went on for pages and pages regarding this issue.

 

Last week it was the Celebrity forum that had it's turn, and at times it too got quite heated...

 

Let's see if Princess cruisers can control themselves. ;)

 

Herb, believe you me this is not the first formal wear thread on Princess. This subject has been beaten to death here too. The original poster asked a simple question but somehow it ALWAYS get out of hand and then the thread is pulled.

 

Marilyn

[gvre]

Does anyone remember Reniassance? No kids, No smoking, No formal!:) Glad we got a couple of cruises out of them before they went under!

Debbie

[eellsinoc]

At the all-inclusive resort we stayed at two years ago in Cancun...they had a strict dress code for a few of the restaurants. You could not dine there without the proper clothes.

 

However, you could eat at other restaurants or the buffet in whatever you wanted. I figured this was the case for our Grand Princess cruise leaving march 4th.

 

This is our first cruise so I am a newbie to all of this...but I had assumed the formal nights were optional. My husband and I plan on attending both, however our three kids were only going to do the first one with us and spend the second one with their Grandma eating burgers or pizza. I only packed them one formal night's worth of clothes.

 

Is this going to be okay?

[LARGIN]

Does anyone remember Reniassance? No kids, No smoking, No formal!:) Glad we got a couple of cruises out of them before they went under!

Debbie

 

Do you think the no kids, no smoking, no formal policy is what did them in? :D

[gvre]

;) Nope! I think it was the cheap prices!

[Mmm...coffee!]

however our three kids were only going to do the first one with us and spend the second one with their Grandma eating burgers or pizza. I only packed them one formal night's worth of clothes.

 

Is this going to be okay?

 

No worries. It sounds like a good plan.

[ridleybird]

I am going on my first cruise in September to Europe. The main reason I haven't been on cruise was because of the formal dress code. When I booked my cruise the counselor said there would be 3 formal nights on the Princess. She said that the grill and pizzeria would be open or I could order room service. I think it is fine if people want to dress up, but I have no intention of lugging extra clothes just for dinner. I go on vacation to be comfortable (not sloppy) and sightsee as much as I can. :)

[sradogna]

Ridleybird ... please believe me ... you will be fine. One of my pet peeves with this endless dress code debate is that it sometimes scares people away from cruising. In fact, some over-zealot dress code enforcers even try to scare people away from a particular line over this issue.

 

No where besides these boards does this issue get this kind of attention. The casual dining alternatives will always welcome you and frankly the formal dining rooms don't often enforce the suggestions either.

 

I have been cruising for 20 years and in the last 3 years just decided that I'm done with the whole formal wear thing. I am respectful and eat in the casual dining venues but, I do go to the casino, the shows and everywhere else. I've had some of my best cruises and met the absolute nicest people (like Marilyn (mii) who posted earlier on this thread).

 

Enjoy yourself ... don't worry.

[mii]

Ridleybird ... please believe me ... you will be fine. One of my pet peeves with this endless dress code debate is that it sometimes scares people away from cruising. In fact, some over-zealot dress code enforcers even try to scare people away from a particular line over this issue.

 

No where besides these boards does this issue get this kind of attention. The casual dining alternatives will always welcome you and frankly the formal dining rooms don't often enforce the suggestions either.

 

I have been cruising for 20 years and in the last 3 years just decided that I'm done with the whole formal wear thing. I am respectful and eat in the casual dining venues but, I do go to the casino, the shows and everywhere else. I've had some of my best cruises and met the absolute nicest people (like Marilyn (mii) who posted earlier on this thread).

 

Enjoy yourself ... don't worry.

 

Sharon(sradogna) thank you and you are a sweety too.;)

 

Marilyn

[thecoop]

My wife and I have decided for our next cruise coming up in May that we will not be doing the "dress up" game. We thoroughly have enjoyed it in the past...but we will be flying across the country to go on this cruise and do not want an extra suitcase just for eveningwear. We will have dress slacks and dress shirts for every evening at dinner, wife will have dresses as well. We just wont be doing the formalwear dining. Will take in room service or the buffet those two nights. After 6 cruises, we have just decided to try something different. If we feel left out, that is our problem. Next time, we will bring the clothes if that happens. I do doubt it will happen though.

[LARGIN]

I am sure you will have a great cruise no matter how you choose to dress.. You have a great attitude..

[m steve]

I find this reoccuring subject a source for all the rullies and the challangers to get thier positions out. Everyone who cruises can see by the info pack that comes weeks before traveling that almost every ship has formal nights and they can pack some dressy clothes or a suit or even a jacket and slacks and if necessary borrow a tie from the farm next door.

I think those who refuse to dress one night are usually choosing to challange the system, make a fool of themselves and try to annoy those passengers who enjoy dressing one or two nights on board. Even non-formal evenings are listed in the Princess book as resort casual, not barnyard or mall appropriate.

Now to take a position that will simplify the situation.

On formal nights, one dining room should be exclusively formal and the others any dress. Why should a passenger be relegated to a buffet if they pay the same as I do and dress for dinner. The dining room captain should enforce the rules and the Patter should list the options. I know some people who eat every night at the buffet thinking that they don't need to tip, can gourge themselves on lots of food or just have no idea how to behave in a dining room and prefer a Denny's atmosphere. Even on Carnival people are expected to dress one night.

The 60's are over flower children and why not see how the other half enjoys themselves? You are paying the same price for your cruise so why not take advantage of all the service and food preparation offered in the dining room? They will even give you a second main course or desert, shrimp cocktail or lobster if you request. But don't try to spoil other diners evenings by making an issue of dressing down.

So there!

[DrD]

I think everyone should skip formal night and go eat in the horizon court

 

That way my DH and I would be the only ones in the queue for formal photos - what a wonderful thought - we have never had one yet as we cant be bothered to queue

 

I do have a tip for those who like to dress up but get changed afterwards into more comfortable clothes - formal clothes are comfortable, just buy clothes that fit you properly (I even have one dress a size too big, fits perfectly on the second week :D )

 

I love to dress up but thats me, if you want to skip a formal night and go eat at the buffet why does anyone care.

 

In fact if you want to go to a show on formal night in your smart/casual clothes then come sit by me - makes it much easier for me to look amazing :p

 

You may be on to something there, I've always heard people say formal clothes were "uncomfortable" and I've never understood that (I mean are you wearing a hair shirt under there???). But now I see a possible explanation, since most adults tend to gain weight each year, and may not wear their formal clothes very often, it's probably true that they're always too tight! Maybe people should rent.

 

For those of you that find formal clothes uncomfortable, here are some tips:

 

Don't forget to wear socks, this greatly cuts down chaffing from shoes

Wear the proper sizes

Underwear go on the INSIDE of your pants

If your face is red loosen your tie

clip-on ties may pinch

although formal pants do not have a flap in the back as you may be used to, they can be dropped in the event of a need to use the bathroom.

Cotton breathes

 

 

Any other tips for our formal-challenged friends to make them more comfortable?

[RevSmith]

the wonderful thing about this country and cruise world is that you can dress as you like as long as you don't interfere with the rights of others. I love to dress up...but I only bring one dress when I go on a cruise and if any one was offended by THAT then they need a life...because they don't have enough to do. I say it's up to you what you wear...you're not going to tell me I can't get dressed up are you?

[LICRUISER2GO]

If they only wear it to dinner, why not just wear it again on the second formal night?:D

 

At the all-inclusive resort we stayed at two years ago in Cancun...they had a strict dress code for a few of the restaurants. You could not dine there without the proper clothes.

 

However, you could eat at other restaurants or the buffet in whatever you wanted. I figured this was the case for our Grand Princess cruise leaving march 4th.

 

This is our first cruise so I am a newbie to all of this...but I had assumed the formal nights were optional. My husband and I plan on attending both, however our three kids were only going to do the first one with us and spend the second one with their Grandma eating burgers or pizza. I only packed them one formal night's worth of clothes.

 

Is this going to be okay?

[LICRUISER2GO]

WOW ....guess you told us:D

I find this reoccuring subject a source for all the rullies and the challangers to get thier positions out. Everyone who cruises can see by the info pack that comes weeks before traveling that almost every ship has formal nights and they can pack some dressy clothes or a suit or even a jacket and slacks and if necessary borrow a tie from the farm next door.

I think those who refuse to dress one night are usually choosing to challange the system, make a fool of themselves and try to annoy those passengers who enjoy dressing one or two nights on board. Even non-formal evenings are listed in the Princess book as resort casual, not barnyard or mall appropriate.

Now to take a position that will simplify the situation.

On formal nights, one dining room should be exclusively formal and the others any dress. Why should a passenger be relegated to a buffet if they pay the same as I do and dress for dinner. The dining room captain should enforce the rules and the Patter should list the options. I know some people who eat every night at the buffet thinking that they don't need to tip, can gourge themselves on lots of food or just have no idea how to behave in a dining room and prefer a Denny's atmosphere. Even on Carnival people are expected to dress one night.

The 60's are over flower children and why not see how the other half enjoys themselves? You are paying the same price for your cruise so why not take advantage of all the service and food preparation offered in the dining room? They will even give you a second main course or desert, shrimp cocktail or lobster if you request. But don't try to spoil other diners evenings by making an issue of dressing down.

So there!

[cezovski]

On my recent cruise, I was very pleasantly surprised that "formal night" was not nearly as formal as I was afraid it might be! There were a few in long formal gowns, etc. but I think the majority were just dressed nicely--a dressy dress, or dressy pants/skirt with a nice top set off by some jewelry, etc.. I wore black silk-type pants and a glittery top and did not feel underdressed at all.

[tumeroll]

All of this constant discusion about dress codes brings to mind the BBC series of Upstairs/Downstairs. If one remembers there were always more members of the downstairs ranks then the upstairs folk and so it goes on all of the mass market cruise ships. There are those who are acustomed to dressing up and there are those who find it a bother because it means doing something they are not very used to. Nothing wrong with this situation just what one finds with the expanding market place the cruise lines have chosen to cultivate.

[Love Boat Dream]

UK Lady: a tip for formal night photos:

 

We always wait until the dining room opens. Most people feel that they have to be there the minute the doors open. We go over to the photographers then and we usually do not have to wait behind more than one or two other couples. then, we go to the dining room. And, we are never more than a few minutes late.

 

I hope you get a formal photo because I am sure you look lovely!

 

About formal night dress:

I have never seen the dining room staff turn anyone away for not being in formal dress. On every cruise I have gone on, there is always one couple or entire table that is not dressed formally (still dressed neatly though like men in sports jacket with open neck shirt, ladies in sundress or casual pant suit) and they are there at their table having dinner.

 

I think whoever said in this thread that people take it more seriously here on the board and get heated about it. I've never seen anyone (passenger or staff) get upset over it on board.

 

Susan

[ridleybird]

It is good to read all of your comments. I don't intend to make a big deal out of this. I just have different priorities.

[CruisinChris]

Where does it say that you can't change after dinner???? Your also wrong about the HC, that's why they have it open, so you can go and eat wearing casual clothes. We've done that on several cruises. Especially after being in port all day, and not wanting to get dressed up.

I quite often will go back to my cabin and put on comfortable clothes for the evening.

 

 

As someone with late traditional this "change after dinner" thing kills me. As Traditional late diners, just as we're out and about to have a glass of champagne before dinner - dressed to the nines - we get to watch the parade of folks in shorts, tshirts, sweats, or whatever head to the evening show "in comfort." It's my recollection that the dress code is in force in the public areas of the ship throughout the evening. I think that may be a quote from a patter. BTW, many land-based resorts also have dress codes in the evening. It's not so difficult to stay in one's formal wear if it has been selected carefully and fits properly. It shouldn't be any more restrictive than a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

[UKLady]

UK Lady: a tip for formal night photos:

 

We always wait until the dining room opens. Most people feel that they have to be there the minute the doors open. We go over to the photographers then and we usually do not have to wait behind more than one or two other couples. then, we go to the dining room. And, we are never more than a few minutes late.

 

I hope you get a formal photo because I am sure you look lovely!

 

 

Susan

 

Thanks for the tip Susan - I will try that on our upcoming cruise. Fingers crossed we manage to get one this time

[julieh]

We love Princess because you do have a choice. Like a previous poster my DH has to wear a shirt and tie everyday and evening dress for quite a lot of functions so doesn't like it on the ship. I do however, so we compromise and dress up for some of the formal nights and go casual the other nights and eat in the Horizon Court - no problem and everyone is happy.

 

Julie