wait, what, formal night is back?

[John&LaLa]

20 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

OMG....just way too cool!!  Enjoy your time on Jewel!  Great way to celebrate the NY!!  🥂

 

We board for B2B on Friday.  

 

Parking is crazy. We left from T5, but return to T6. Wouldn't let us park in T5 garage. Directed to surface lot in front of T6 after dropping bags at T5. Paid in advance, so would have gotten free days if we were B2B

 

YMMV

[orville99]

1 minute ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Parking is crazy. We left from T5, but return to T6. Wouldn't let us park in T5 garage. Directed to surface lot in front of T6 after dropping bags at T5. Paid in advance, so would have gotten free days if we were B2B

 

YMMV

Similar thing happened to us on our 12/9 Jewel. They wouldn't let us park in the T5 garage, and the surface lot was full as well, so we followed someone in a golf cart to a roadway between the T6 garage and T6, and he parked us on the grass between the sidewalk and the street. Long walk back to T5 for DW and her walker, but they never charged us for parking.😇

[island lady]

1 minute ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Parking is crazy. We left from T5, but return to T6. Wouldn't let us park in T5 garage. Directed to surface lot in front of T6 after dropping bags at T5. Paid in advance, so would have gotten free days if we were B2B

 

YMMV

 

I just caught that change a few days ago.  Was surprised to have 3 RCI ships in on Friday.  Indy at #1, Mariner #5, and you at #6.   At least those two Terminals are side by side.  

 

Hoping to prepay as we enter as well.   Not familiar with T#6.   Had no problem in Tampa couple weeks ago doing our usual prepay as we entered the surface lot...which is oh so convenient there as well, but still hoping for an inside garage parking when we get to T#6 on Friday.  Will arrive early to snag one...hopefully.  

 

Drats...no Grills to walk over to for Bloody Marys prior to cruise.  😞 

[orville99]

5 minutes ago, island lady said:

Had no problem in Tampa couple weeks ago doing our usual prepay as we entered the surface lot...which is oh so convenient there as well,

True, if you are able to walk up hill while dragging luggage and avoiding the potholes with your walker as you dodge the traffic that seems to have no idea that there is anyone else on the planet who might be in the same lot...😱😇

[island lady]

37 minutes ago, orville99 said:

True, if you are able to walk up hill while dragging luggage and avoiding the potholes with your walker as you dodge the traffic that seems to have no idea that there is anyone else on the planet who might be in the same lot...😱😇

 

Yup, we did that.   And frustratingly enough, they opened up the "drop your check bag" at the porters at  the terminal just 10 minutes after we self parked in lot.   Uggh...Oh well, was a bit bumpy, but we did it.  Probably the adrenalin of getting check in helped.  😄 

 

Actually ended up drag/rolling them to the vehicle when we departed as well.  

[shipgeeks]

1 hour ago, mandyleighflies said:

We LOVE formal night, well my mother, my daughter and I do but my the men in our lives are more casual in nature all around to be fair. 😆 In fact, on our next cruise my mom, daughter and myself purchased the dining package so we can dress up and have a leisurely dinner with conversation and fine dining while my Dad and my son enjoy themselves in the quick eat Windjammer. My husband is also a Windjammer fan and more business casual in his "formal" attire. He will be missing the next cruise yet again due to work though. 

My husband's insistence on taking his tuxedo on every cruise is what keeps me upping my game!  No chance I could get away with any kind of casual on those nights.  And I do enjoy it.

[billslowsky]

1 hour ago, Husky1987 said:

90% of people on a Royal cruise dressing formal???

 

Yeeeah...  doesn't happen.  

[ZoeyVictoria]

13 hours ago, molsonschooner said:

she can dress up if she wants to. You don't have to.

You are not married, are you 😂

[Mum2Mercury]

I'd estimate on our recent cruises, 30% of passengers went "all out" for formal night ... of that 30%, I'd say half of the ladies were in floor-length gowns, while the others were in knee-length dresses.  Most of the dressed-up group were not young, so we didn't see a great deal of the mini-skirts that are popular now.  I literally saw no men in tuxedos, but many were in suits. 

 

We were with the majority in casual clothing:  khakis /button shirts or polo shirts for men ... sundresses for women.  I didn't see anyone in athletic-leisure clothing in the MDR on formal night.  Most people were dressed "a step up" for formal night ... but not truly formal.

[CFLRetired]

4 hours ago, island lady said:

 

I just caught that change a few days ago.  Was surprised to have 3 RCI ships in on Friday.  Indy at #1, Mariner #5, and you at #6.   At least those two Terminals are side by side.  

 

Hoping to prepay as we enter as well.   Not familiar with T#6.   Had no problem in Tampa couple weeks ago doing our usual prepay as we entered the surface lot...which is oh so convenient there as well, but still hoping for an inside garage parking when we get to T#6 on Friday.  Will arrive early to snag one...hopefully.  

 

Nice to know.  We'll be arriving early also.

[smokeybandit]

1 hour ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I'd estimate on our recent cruises, 30% of passengers went "all out" for formal night ... of that 30%, I'd say half of the ladies were in floor-length gowns, while the others were in knee-length dresses.  Most of the dressed-up group were not young, so we didn't see a great deal of the mini-skirts that are popular now.  I literally saw no men in tuxedos, but many were in suits. 

 

We were with the majority in casual clothing:  khakis /button shirts or polo shirts for men ... sundresses for women.  I didn't see anyone in athletic-leisure clothing in the MDR on formal night.  Most people were dressed "a step up" for formal night ... but not truly formal.

This has been my observation, too.

[ronandcarla]

2 hours ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

You are not married, are you 😂

I was thinking the same thing; Sometimes you wonder how folks are married or stay as companions.

 

[warburg]

Greetings from South Beach, Everyone. .Believe it or not, the tuxedo was invented in Tuxedo New York to be a comfortable, relaxing garment.. I have noticed  that almost all men look very attractive in one. There is something about them that does that. For women, formal nights are very easy since a long black skirt with a dressy top will do the trick.. I have one so basic I've worn it to a barbecue with a light blue denim shirt and a wide western belt with a Texas toad buckle., It has also attended formal weddings with appropriate additions. I will bring it on my Oasis cruise and wear it more than once. I used to live in NYC and sailed QM2 very often because it was docked in Red Hook, Brooklyn. TransAtlantics has three formal nights. Almost everyone cooperated. Very attractive crowd.  

Mary

[smokeybandit]

8 minutes ago, warburg said:

Believe it or not, the tuxedo was invented in Tuxedo New York to be a comfortable, relaxing garment

That's what it was named after and where it became popular in America, but it was borrowed from the Prince of Wales in England.

[FlGoodShips]

On 1/1/2023 at 12:57 PM, Mum2Mercury said:

I'd estimate on our recent cruises, 30% of passengers went "all out" for formal night ... of that 30%, I'd say half of the ladies were in floor-length gowns, while the others were in knee-length dresses.  Most of the dressed-up group were not young, so we didn't see a great deal of the mini-skirts that are popular now.  I literally saw no men in tuxedos, but many were in suits. 

 

We were with the majority in casual clothing:  khakis /button shirts or polo shirts for men ... sundresses for women.  I didn't see anyone in athletic-leisure clothing in the MDR on formal night.  Most people were dressed "a step up" for formal night ... but not truly formal.

Never been on RCL...could I wear capri pants with dressy blouse in main dining room? Or does it have to be slacks with dressy blouse?

Can you ever wear shorts in main dining room? Sailing on Jan 7th. Could use some help on this issue.

Thank you

[BirdTravels]

On 12/31/2022 at 8:06 PM, mcatmcat said:

 

Hi everyone 

 

My gf just send me a text with a picture of daily activities and one night says" tonight's attire is formal"

is formal night back , maybe im confused now but I think forma is was  behind in the past. 

 

Thanks

Formal has never gone away. But it now means a clean pair of shorts. And,,,, more importantly, why is your gf on a cruise without you?

Edited January 3, 2023 by BirdTravels

[ReneeFLL]

On 12/31/2022 at 8:46 PM, goldfish65 said:

Some of us remember when "formal" meant a tux or dinner jacket, bow tie, cummerbund, patent-leather shoes, and for ladies, floor-length evening gowns. "Semi-formal" was still pretty formal! Those distinctions are pretty much gone now, I believe. 

That’s exactly how we still dress and we aren’t alone.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

On 12/31/2022 at 8:25 PM, Diver2014 said:

I'm looking forward to dressing up in my fancy duds in two weeks.  Only time I get to.  It's fun.

Why?  You can wear your fancy duds wherever/whenever you like (ok, maybe not work depending on what your job is).

[Joseph2017China]

On 12/31/2022 at 10:41 PM, molsonschooner said:

she can dress up if she wants to. You don't have to.

Really don't think that would work out for the guy.......Girlfriend dresses up, does up hair, and make-up, and the boyfriend goes in t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops?  That relationship won't last.

[Rubyfisch]

I was on Enchantment over Christmas, and the first formal night on Christmas Eve was the dressiest formal night I've seen. There were lots of tuxes and sequined dresses. The next two formal nights (yes - we had three in a seven night cruise) were less so. By third one, I think everyone was over it ...

[Diver2014]

12 minutes ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

Why?  You can wear your fancy duds wherever/whenever you like (ok, maybe not work depending on what your job is).

Why?  Because I want to.  And I'm retired and don't get much chance to dress up.  And I'm old enough to remember what it used to be like at dinner time on ships when there were only 2 seatings in the MDR.  Back when it was actually fun to see everyone dressed up and having a good time when manners and morals actually mattered instead of everyone just caring about themselves. I still have all the formal portraits from the ships I've been on and it's fun to reminisce about those times.  Something the younger crowd will never experience since they don't seem to care. 

[Joseph2017China]

On 12/31/2022 at 8:10 PM, smokeybandit said:

It's a suggested attire. 

The word "suggested" usually means to do it, for most of the world but on a cruise ship in the USA, the meaning becomes warped.  I'm sure you will argue with that statement, but dressing nice for dinner is not that bad. 

[smokeybandit]

9 minutes ago, Joseph2017China said:

The word "suggested" usually means to do it, for most of the world but on a cruise ship in the USA, the meaning becomes warped.  I'm sure you will argue with that statement, but dressing nice for dinner is not that bad. 

There's a huge difference between "suggested" and "enforced dress code"

 

Not dressing nice for dinner on an otherwise casual vacation is not that bad.

[sjb317]

9 hours ago, FlGoodShips said:

Never been on RCL...could I wear capri pants with dressy blouse in main dining room? Or does it have to be slacks with dressy blouse?

Can you ever wear shorts in main dining room? Sailing on Jan 7th. Could use some help on this issue.

Thank you

You can wear capris in the MDR, shorts are supposedly not allowed yet I see many wearing them.  
 

Sherri🙂

[S.A.M.J.R.]

28 minutes ago, Diver2014 said:

Why?  Because I want to.  And I'm retired and don't get much chance to dress up.  And I'm old enough to remember what it used to be like at dinner time on ships when there were only 2 seatings in the MDR.  Back when it was actually fun to see everyone dressed up and having a good time when manners and morals actually mattered instead of everyone just caring about themselves. I still have all the formal portraits from the ships I've been on and it's fun to reminisce about those times.  Something the younger crowd will never experience since they don't seem to care. 

I think you misunderstood my question.  The "why" was "Why is on a ship the only time you get to dress up?"  You (and your SO) can get dressed up and go out anytime you like.  Heck, you can put on your tux and go to McDonalds.  Why are you only "allowed" to dress up on a ship?

 

How about the folks who need to dress up to go to work?  Maybe on the ship is their only time to "dress down".