Newbie - First Night MDR Attire?

[CunucuMom]

First cruise since the 1980s coming up in a few weeks.  Assuming your luggage is delivered to your room on embarkation day, do you typically wear your embarkation outfit to dinner in the MDR the first night or do you freshen up and change into a dressier outfit?  I'm tentatively planning on wearing a casual dress on e-day and we're driving to port.  I'm sure I'll be tired and windblown by the time dinner rolls around and I hadn't necessarily planned to totally redo hair and makeup but I don't want to look like a mess either.  Any thoughts/helpful tips appreciated! 

[shipgeeks]

Assuming you will be on a mainstream line, guidelines are pretty wide on the first night.

Personally, I board in slacks, sneakers, nice jersey; then for dinner and evening I freshen up and change my shoes to a pair of flats.  Many are more casual than me, including shorts; however, I think the line would occur somewhere above sweaty gym shorts and tank top. (We did see a young man in a tank told to change, on a casual night.)  

Your idea of a casual dress sounds perfect.

The only time I boarded and then realized I better upgrade my outfit for dinner was on a Cunard cruise. I boarded in a silk pantsuit and flat shoes.  When I saw people going to early dinner, I was convinced to change to a dress and heels.  It was the right call....but that was Cunard.
 

[Mary229]

For most of the mainstream cruise lines it is casual the first night in the MDR to accommodate the busy day and the late arrival luggage.  

[mrgabriel]

I always freshen up and change into something new. It’s never anything dressy (usually a casual dress), just fresh. 

[SoloAlaska]

If I’ve been traveling all day I just want to change into something clean and comfy that looks effortless. My boarding bag for my cruise in a few days has two outfits each. This is just in case our luggage gets lost since we have tight connecting flights. For our first evening at MDR it’s a little black dress and I brought a large silk scarf (Alaska trip) and my mom has a cute cardigan with hers. 
 

a quick application of gloss or lipstick and mascara is all I’m doing for makeup. 

[awhfy]

We never travel day of cruise any longer. We usually cruise Celebrity. Their first & last nights are casual & we wear what we boarded on the first  night & usually what  we plan to fly on the next day on the last night

[SoloAlaska]

21 minutes ago, awhfy said:

We never travel day of cruise any longer. We usually cruise Celebrity. Their first & last nights are casual & we wear what we boarded on the first  night & usually what  we plan to fly on the next day on the last night

We are flying in the day before for our southbound Alaska this week but taking the train from Anchorage to Seward then a 5 hour tour before boarding. I’ll be happy to be getting changed into something fresh for dinner after such a full day.

[2BACRUISER]

First night in MDR on most cruise lines is casual erring on the side of smart. I put a clean top, underwear and sandals in a packing cube into my hand luggage (carryon) so if my main luggage hasnt appeared at least i have something clean to go to dinner in. This top a firm favourite is a polyester mix doesnt crease and goes lovely with whatever trousers (pants) i travel in. HTH

 

[CunucuMom]

3 hours ago, 2BACRUISER said:

First night in MDR on most cruise lines is casual erring on the side of smart. I put a clean top, underwear and sandals in a packing cube into my hand luggage (carryon) so if my main luggage hasnt appeared at least i have something clean to go to dinner in. This top a firm favourite is a polyester mix doesnt crease and goes lovely with whatever trousers (pants) i travel in. HTH

 

Cute top - love it!  Looks like it can be dressed up or down depending on how you accessorize. 

[BklynBoy8]

All should agree to be presentable on the first evening in either in the Main Dining Room,  Buffet and even Casino to start the sailing off right.

 

We all are coming on board for one reason, to enjoy each other's company.

 

 

 

 

[Mary229]

2 hours ago, BklynBoy8 said:

We all are coming on board for one reason, to enjoy each other's company.

 

We sail for very different reasons ….

[Mum2Mercury]

Luggage gets to your room super-fast.  You can count on having your hair brush and a change of clothing.  

 

Most women wear sundresses or casual pants /casual tops to dinner. 

Most men wear nice jeans /khakis and a polo /Hawaiian type top to dinner. 

First night's dinner is no different than other nights.

[awhfy]

2 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

Luggage gets to your room super-fast.  You can count on having your hair brush and a change of clothing.  

 

Most women wear sundresses or casual pants /casual tops to dinner. 

Most men wear nice jeans /khakis and a polo /Hawaiian type top to dinner. 

First night's dinner is no different than other nights.

We’ve sailed several times since the restart on different cruise lines. We haven’t had our luggage (or all of it) before early traditional dinner on any of them. 

[SoloAlaska]

29 minutes ago, awhfy said:

We’ve sailed several times since the restart on different cruise lines. We haven’t had our luggage (or all of it) before early traditional dinner on any of them. 

On Celebrity last year we had it before 4. I’ll see this week if I get it by the time I board, the luggage should be transferred to the ship while we are on a tour.

[Mum2Mercury]

1 hour ago, awhfy said:

We’ve sailed several times since the restart on different cruise lines. We haven’t had our luggage (or all of it) before early traditional dinner on any of them. 

I'm surprised.  We tend to board early, and our luggage (in the last year) has never failed to be in the hallway as soon as the doors open /people are allowed in to the rooms.  Perhaps it's the benefit of boarding early? 

[awhfy]

1 hour ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I'm surprised.  We tend to board early, and our luggage (in the last year) has never failed to be in the hallway as soon as the doors open /people are allowed in to the rooms.  Perhaps it's the benefit of boarding early? 

We usually get all except my suitcase (I’m sure it’s my hair flat iron that delays it