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Dress Code and Theme Schedules for 2023

bluemarble

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in Cunard Line

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bluemarble

bluemarble

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47 minutes ago, SusieAV8R said:

We are newcomers here.  What constitutes "Gala Evening dress code?  Thanks 🙂

 

Here's a long-winded answer to your question.

 

The "What to pack" page on the Cunard website provides this guidance concerning the Gala Evening dress code.

 

"At least twice on each seven-night voyage we’ll host a Gala Evening, where we do ask that you observe an elevated dress code. Again, it’s your choice whether to participate in these evenings or not. Many of our guests choose to sail with us specifically because they look forward to these events.

 

Gala Evenings follow one of a few themes, with voyages of seven nights or more offering a chance to attend more than one. You’ll find many nods to these themes throughout the ship, so you'll want a wardrobe to match. Click below for our advice; whether you want to put on a show or give the theme a more subtle nod with an embellishment or accessory, the choice is yours."
 

Unfortunately that's about all the Cunard US website has to say, leaving a lot of room for interpretation. However, the Cunard UK and Cunard Australia websites do go into more detail with these additional sections not found on the Cunard US website.

 

"Formal dresses

 

Floor-length dresses in sumptuous silks. Ball gowns encrusted with jewels. And off-the-shoulder cocktail dresses that kiss every curve. When it comes to formal nights on board (we call them Gala Evenings) our guests really do dress to impress.

 

We theme these evenings to add even more of a sense of glamour to the occasion. And we always communicate this in advance so you can pack accordingly. Popular themes include Black & White, Roaring Twenties, and Red & Gold. But whether you simply nod to the theme with an accessory or go the full hog is entirely up to you."

 

"Formal suits

 

Formal suits are only required on board a Transatlantic cruise on Gala Evenings and, even then, there’s no pressure to dress-up if you don’t want to. Most of our guests, however, relish the opportunity to put on a Tuxedo for one night and channel their James Bond alter-ego.

 

A formal suit, shirt, and tie of any colour will also do just fine for Gala Evening. And if you want to embrace the theme in your outfit choice, well you’re more than welcome to do that too. We’ve had many gentlemen on board who’ve given their partners a run for their money when it comes to their Gala Evening attire. So feel free to be as lavish as you like."

 

 

Once on board, the daily programmes provide this definition for the Gala Evening dress code. This wording is the same whether it's a transatlantic crossing or another type of cruise.

 

"What to Wear: Gala Evening

From 6:00pm, we encourage you to join in the sense of occasion with eveningwear of dinner jacket, tuxedo, or dark suit with a regular tie or bow tie, or floor length dress, ball gown, cocktail dress, smart trouser suit, or formal separates. Guests are welcome to embellish their Gala Evening attire to fit the applicable theme of the evening."

 

The daily programmes also outline those areas of the ship where casual attire is welcome.

 

"Of course if you prefer to spend tonight in more relaxed attire, a selection of casual dining and entertainment venues are available for your enjoyment. Feel free to dress casually as you visit any of the following venues: Kings Court, Golden Lion, Casino, Carinthia Lounge, and G32.

Please note non-ripped jeans are appropriate, but please refrain from wearing shorts, sports attire, swim wear or sleeveless t-shirts outside of the gym, spa and deck spaces."

 

This quote is from a QM2 daily programme. For QE and QV, the Garden Lounge/Winter Garden and the Yacht Club are also designated casual venues.

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SusieAV8R

SusieAV8R

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On 8/3/2023 at 10:02 PM, bluemarble said:

 

Here's a long-winded answer to your question.

 

The "What to pack" page on the Cunard website provides this guidance concerning the Gala Evening dress code.

 

"At least twice on each seven-night voyage we’ll host a Gala Evening, where we do ask that you observe an elevated dress code. Again, it’s your choice whether to participate in these evenings or not. Many of our guests choose to sail with us specifically because they look forward to these events.

 

Gala Evenings follow one of a few themes, with voyages of seven nights or more offering a chance to attend more than one. You’ll find many nods to these themes throughout the ship, so you'll want a wardrobe to match. Click below for our advice; whether you want to put on a show or give the theme a more subtle nod with an embellishment or accessory, the choice is yours."
 

Unfortunately that's about all the Cunard US website has to say, leaving a lot of room for interpretation. However, the Cunard UK and Cunard Australia websites do go into more detail with these additional sections not found on the Cunard US website.

 

"Formal dresses

 

Floor-length dresses in sumptuous silks. Ball gowns encrusted with jewels. And off-the-shoulder cocktail dresses that kiss every curve. When it comes to formal nights on board (we call them Gala Evenings) our guests really do dress to impress.

 

We theme these evenings to add even more of a sense of glamour to the occasion. And we always communicate this in advance so you can pack accordingly. Popular themes include Black & White, Roaring Twenties, and Red & Gold. But whether you simply nod to the theme with an accessory or go the full hog is entirely up to you."

 

"Formal suits

 

Formal suits are only required on board a Transatlantic cruise on Gala Evenings and, even then, there’s no pressure to dress-up if you don’t want to. Most of our guests, however, relish the opportunity to put on a Tuxedo for one night and channel their James Bond alter-ego.

 

A formal suit, shirt, and tie of any colour will also do just fine for Gala Evening. And if you want to embrace the theme in your outfit choice, well you’re more than welcome to do that too. We’ve had many gentlemen on board who’ve given their partners a run for their money when it comes to their Gala Evening attire. So feel free to be as lavish as you like."

 

 

Once on board, the daily programmes provide this definition for the Gala Evening dress code. This wording is the same whether it's a transatlantic crossing or another type of cruise.

 

"What to Wear: Gala Evening

From 6:00pm, we encourage you to join in the sense of occasion with eveningwear of dinner jacket, tuxedo, or dark suit with a regular tie or bow tie, or floor length dress, ball gown, cocktail dress, smart trouser suit, or formal separates. Guests are welcome to embellish their Gala Evening attire to fit the applicable theme of the evening."

 

The daily programmes also outline those areas of the ship where casual attire is welcome.

 

"Of course if you prefer to spend tonight in more relaxed attire, a selection of casual dining and entertainment venues are available for your enjoyment. Feel free to dress casually as you visit any of the following venues: Kings Court, Golden Lion, Casino, Carinthia Lounge, and G32.

Please note non-ripped jeans are appropriate, but please refrain from wearing shorts, sports attire, swim wear or sleeveless t-shirts outside of the gym, spa and deck spaces."

 

This quote is from a QM2 daily programme. For QE and QV, the Garden Lounge/Winter Garden and the Yacht Club are also designated casual venues.

 

On 8/3/2023 at 10:02 PM, bluemarble said:

 

Here's a long-winded answer to your question.

 

The "What to pack" page on the Cunard website provides this guidance concerning the Gala Evening dress code.

 

"At least twice on each seven-night voyage we’ll host a Gala Evening, where we do ask that you observe an elevated dress code. Again, it’s your choice whether to participate in these evenings or not. Many of our guests choose to sail with us specifically because they look forward to these events.

 

Gala Evenings follow one of a few themes, with voyages of seven nights or more offering a chance to attend more than one. You’ll find many nods to these themes throughout the ship, so you'll want a wardrobe to match. Click below for our advice; whether you want to put on a show or give the theme a more subtle nod with an embellishment or accessory, the choice is yours."
 

Unfortunately that's about all the Cunard US website has to say, leaving a lot of room for interpretation. However, the Cunard UK and Cunard Australia websites do go into more detail with these additional sections not found on the Cunard US website.

 

"Formal dresses

 

Floor-length dresses in sumptuous silks. Ball gowns encrusted with jewels. And off-the-shoulder cocktail dresses that kiss every curve. When it comes to formal nights on board (we call them Gala Evenings) our guests really do dress to impress.

 

We theme these evenings to add even more of a sense of glamour to the occasion. And we always communicate this in advance so you can pack accordingly. Popular themes include Black & White, Roaring Twenties, and Red & Gold. But whether you simply nod to the theme with an accessory or go the full hog is entirely up to you."

 

"Formal suits

 

Formal suits are only required on board a Transatlantic cruise on Gala Evenings and, even then, there’s no pressure to dress-up if you don’t want to. Most of our guests, however, relish the opportunity to put on a Tuxedo for one night and channel their James Bond alter-ego.

 

A formal suit, shirt, and tie of any colour will also do just fine for Gala Evening. And if you want to embrace the theme in your outfit choice, well you’re more than welcome to do that too. We’ve had many gentlemen on board who’ve given their partners a run for their money when it comes to their Gala Evening attire. So feel free to be as lavish as you like."

 

 

Once on board, the daily programmes provide this definition for the Gala Evening dress code. This wording is the same whether it's a transatlantic crossing or another type of cruise.

 

"What to Wear: Gala Evening

From 6:00pm, we encourage you to join in the sense of occasion with eveningwear of dinner jacket, tuxedo, or dark suit with a regular tie or bow tie, or floor length dress, ball gown, cocktail dress, smart trouser suit, or formal separates. Guests are welcome to embellish their Gala Evening attire to fit the applicable theme of the evening."

 

The daily programmes also outline those areas of the ship where casual attire is welcome.

 

"Of course if you prefer to spend tonight in more relaxed attire, a selection of casual dining and entertainment venues are available for your enjoyment. Feel free to dress casually as you visit any of the following venues: Kings Court, Golden Lion, Casino, Carinthia Lounge, and G32.

Please note non-ripped jeans are appropriate, but please refrain from wearing shorts, sports attire, swim wear or sleeveless t-shirts outside of the gym, spa and deck spaces."

 

This quote is from a QM2 daily programme. For QE and QV, the Garden Lounge/Winter Garden and the Yacht Club are also designated casual venues.

Thanks bluemarble for going to all this trouble to put this info together!!  (DH and I love formal attire and what you posted makes Cunard the cruise line we definitely want to book in 2025/2026 😁   What fun!!!

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bluemarble

bluemarble

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Thanks to @babs135 providing the schedule for the QV Christmas cruise, the Queen Victoria 2023 Dress Code and Theme Schedule is now complete!

 

There is only one 2023 voyage remaining for which I do not yet have the dress code and theme schedule:

Queen Elizabeth Voyage Q335 (New Zealand)

December 3-17, 2023 (14 nights)

 

If anyone is on that voyage, I would be most grateful if you could let me know the dress code and theme schedule listed in the Day Calendar section of your booking in My Cunard.

 

A hearty thank you to everyone who has contributed to this project to get us this far.

 

Now that we are on a new browser page, I'll copy the links to the documents forward here for easy access.

 

QM2: QM2 2023 Dress Code and Theme Schedule

QE: QE 2023 Dress Code and Theme Schedule

QV: QV 2023 Dress Code and Theme Schedule

Edited by bluemarble
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D&N "Live from...." Rare

D&N

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5 hours ago, cawindt said:

How far in advance are the themes posted? We're doing a crossing next July (2024) and wondered when we may find out what type of clothing to plan for. 

In each direction you are likely to have two Gala Evenings on nights 2 and 6. Normally the themes are Black & White and Masquerade westbound and Red & Gold and Roaring Twenties eastbound.

It's highly unlikely that will change.

Besides there is no obligation to follow the themes. You can simply follow general gala evening guidance.

And you can exceed the dress code. There's nothing to stop you dressing formally every night if you want.

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NE John Great Review Rare

NE John

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Posted (edited)

The Dress Code on Alaska cruises doesn’t even mention Tuxes/DJ. Just “Dress to Impress”. Yet the pictures show men fully dressed in tuxes. The marketing material is confusing as to what we should expect for onboard dress. 
For those who have taken Alaska cruises, what percentage of men wear tuxes and what’s the overall “dressiness” of an Alaskan voyage?

Edited by NE John
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D&N "Live from...." Rare

D&N

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It was 25 years ago past July that we sailed 7 nights northbound Vancouver to Seward on Sun Princess.

I wore my black dinner suit on one formal and my ivory tux on the other. My wife wore gowns. I varied between a suit and tie and open necked shirt on other nights. There may have been a semi-formal option back then.

We also did about 7 nights of land tours. We had two huge bags, and probably far more luggage than we really needed if we had planned properly.

Our table companions were another couple and two single ladies travelling together. The other guy wore dark suit and tie on formal nights.

Formal night compliance was probably 90%+ tuxes. But we did spot one family group threading through the throng, presumably to the buffet, in shell suits and trainers.

In talking to some of the crew; they said that on the odd occasion they were able to get off ship for an evening and visited clubs and bars in Alaska, they felt overdressed in jeans!

The region does appear to have a reputation for casual dress.

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bluemarble

bluemarble

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On 9/29/2023 at 10:40 AM, cawindt said:

How far in advance are the themes posted? We're doing a crossing next July (2024) and wondered when we may find out what type of clothing to plan for. 

 

I first learned the dress code and theme schedules for 2022 were being posted in My Cunard sometime in late September 2021.

 

I first heard most of the schedules for 2023 were being posted in My Cunard on November 24, 2022. If they follow that schedule again this year, perhaps we'll start seeing dress code and theme schedules for 2024 voyages in a bit under two months.

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bluemarble

bluemarble

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The 2023 dress code and theme schedules are now complete! I have learned the schedule for one of the voyages in December which had been missing from the QE document until now.

 

Thank you so much to everyone who helped contribute to this project by letting me know the schedules you were seeing in My Cunard. My only resource for these documents is the information provided by guests booked on each voyage who let me know the schedules they see posted. I appreciate the help of everyone who took the time to respond to my requests for this information.

 

For easy reference, here are the links to the 2023 Dress Code and Theme Schedule documents once again.

 

QM2: QM2 2023 Dress Code and Theme Schedule

QE: QE 2023 Dress Code and Theme Schedule

QV: QV 2023 Dress Code and Theme Schedule

 

Here are stats on the number of gala evenings per week for each ship derived from these completed 2023 schedules.

 

QM2: 1.80 Gala Evenings per week (down from 1.87 last year)

QE: 1.72 Gala Evenings per week (up from 1.68 last year)

QV: 1.71 Gala Evenings per week (down from 1.75 last year)

Edited by bluemarble
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Mudhen

Mudhen

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We are on the QM2's "Christmas/New Years cruise ('23) I find it odd that a "gala night" is planned for the evening of Jan 1st. I would've thought that it would be Dec. 31st, New Year's Eve. 

We'll of course, follow what ever they'd like, but I find this a little suprising. 

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D&N "Live from...." Rare

D&N

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7 hours ago, Mudhen said:

We are on the QM2's "Christmas/New Years cruise ('23) I find it odd that a "gala night" is planned for the evening of Jan 1st. I would've thought that it would be Dec. 31st, New Year's Eve. 

We'll of course, follow what ever they'd like, but I find this a little suprising. 

I suppose they don't want to schedule two in a row.

 

Originating from Scotland; we would attend an evening party/dancing dinner event running through all evening and into the early hours, then having recovered would have a formal meal at home in the early evening of New Years Day.

 

The French aren't so big on parties. St Sylvestre is a multi course feast at a local restaurant from about 8pm to 1am, followed by meal at home on 1st. We'll dress to the nines for both as usual.

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Millieloulou

Millieloulou

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We have been checking those dates as well.Seems strange that the Gala night is not on New Years Eve ? That will be the evening that most people will want to “push the boat out “ and get ready to party.New Years day will be a time to relax after getting to bed in the early hours.

Counting the days!

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bluemarble

bluemarble

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On 10/11/2023 at 6:08 AM, Mudhen said:

We are on the QM2's "Christmas/New Years cruise ('23) I find it odd that a "gala night" is planned for the evening of Jan 1st. I would've thought that it would be Dec. 31st, New Year's Eve. 

We'll of course, follow what ever they'd like, but I find this a little suprising. 

 

Looking back through the dress code and theme schedules I have from the past, I'm seeing where both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were often designated "Formal" or "Gala Evening". That seems to have disappeared with the reduction of the number of formal/gala evenings after the restart of operations.

 

For example on the 2019 QM2 Christmas cruise, December 31, 2019 was a gala evening with a theme of "New Year's Eve Ball" and January 1, 2020 was also a gala evening with a "Roaring Twenties" theme.

 

They've eliminated the "New Year's Eve Ball" theme. According to my QM2 2021-22 Dress Code and Theme Schedule document, last year New Year's Eve was a non-themed gala evening and New Year's Day was a smart attire evening. For whatever reason they've switched that around this year with New Year's Eve being a smart attire evening and New Year's Day being a gala evening with the "Roaring Twenties" theme.

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SusanLINY

SusanLINY

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Posted (edited)
On 10/11/2023 at 7:08 AM, Mudhen said:

We are on the QM2's "Christmas/New Years cruise ('23) I find it odd that a "gala night" is planned for the evening of Jan 1st. I would've thought that it would be Dec. 31st, New Year's Eve. 

We'll of course, follow what ever they'd like, but I find this a little suprising. 

 

I was so surprised by this! I would much rather dress up for the holiday. I'm on this cruise, too.

Edited by SusanLINY
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