Help with dress code.

[Pete1948]

Hi,

Our first cruise with Cunard next month and was wondering if smart, short-sleeved shirts are acceptable in QM2 restaurants in the evening?

 

[exlondoner]

22 minutes ago, Pete1948 said:

Hi,

Our first cruise with Cunard next month and was wondering if smart, short-sleeved shirts are acceptable in QM2 restaurants in the evening?

 

On informal nights, providing they have proper collars. But beware the air conditioning.

[Pushpit]

On Smart Attire evenings this would be OK, but I was also about to make the point about a/c, Britannia is kept to a temperature around people wearing perhaps a layer or two more.  I tend to wear a jacket on Smart Attire nights - if it was a short sleeve shirt under that it wouldn't be so obvious I guess. But I'd probably be a bit chilly without the jacket or something similar, and I am pretty used to the cold given where I live.

 

But the point here isn't really about the details of Smart Attire evenings, it's about the overall impression of being smartly dressed rather than casually dressed.

[Victoria2]

3 minutes ago, Pushpit said:

On Smart Attire evenings this would be OK, but I was also about to make the point about a/c, Britannia is kept to a temperature around people wearing perhaps a layer or two more.  I tend to wear a jacket on Smart Attire nights - if it was a short sleeve shirt under that it wouldn't be so obvious I guess. But I'd probably be a bit chilly without the jacket or something similar, and I am pretty used to the cold given where I live.

 

But the point here isn't really about the details of Smart Attire evenings, it's about the overall impression of being smartly dressed rather than casually dressed.

The o/p has asked if smart short sleeved shirt will be acceptable of an evening, not about giving any impression.

The answer these days is yes on non formal occasions and there are a few ssshirt wearers in QG on Annie which confirms the wearing of such is acceptable.

[Pushpit]

2 minutes ago, Victoria2 said:

The o/p has asked if smart short sleeved shirt will be acceptable of an evening, not about giving any impression.

 

Which is perhaps why I said it would be OK.

[Jack E Dawson]

2 hours ago, Pete1948 said:

Hi,

Our first cruise with Cunard next month and was wondering if smart, short-sleeved shirts are acceptable in QM2 restaurants in the evening?

 

Welcome aboard your first Cunard cruise Pete1948. If you are on the QM2 then I'm guessing that you are doing a Crossing. What a great way to start on Cunard.

On non formal (Gala) evenings, much of the ship, including the Britannia Main Dining Room, has a Smart Attire dress code which I think is what you are asking about. Below is a quote from the Cunard web site defining Smart Attire:

"Smart attire simply means a dress shirt and trousers, skirt and a top, or a cocktail dress. Essentially, choose something along the same vein as you’d wear to a stylish restaurant or the theatre on a special occasion."

The overwhelming majority of men will be wearing a long sleeve dress shirt, often with a sports coat and even a tie. A very small minority will be wearing golf (polo) shirts. 

Hope this helps.

Jack

 

BTW, we are on the June 9th Crossing.

[david63]

5 minutes ago, Jack E Dawson said:

The overwhelming majority of men will be wearing a long sleeve dress shirt, often with a sports coat and even a tie. A very small minority will be wearing golf (polo) shirts. 

But how many will be wearing a cocktail dress?😂

 

Unfortunately the definition of a "dress" shirt has a different meaning in the US to that in the UK where it is one that is worn with an evening/tuxedo suit.

[Jack E Dawson]

1 hour ago, david63 said:

Unfortunately the definition of a "dress" shirt has a different meaning in the US to that in the UK where it is one that is worn with an evening/tuxedo suit.

Very good point david63, we don't know where the OP is located. However, I was on the Cunard US website  which also included this photo.

 

 

Just for fun, I also went to the Harrods website and searched "men's dress shirts" and this was the style of shirt that came up as well.

Jack

[NE John]

1 hour ago, Jack E Dawson said:

Very good point david63, we don't know where the OP is located. However, I was on the Cunard US website  which also included this photo.

 

 

Just for fun, I also went to the Harrods website and searched "men's dress shirts" and this was the style of shirt that came up as well.

Jack

I like the dress code look here, but does this picture really capture the actual demographics onboard a Cunard vessel? Ummm…Well I hope QA does bring in younger pax willing to give Cunard shot with a more traditional cruise experience. 

[Victoria2]

5 minutes ago, NE John said:

I like the dress code look here, but does this picture really capture the actual demographics onboard a Cunard vessel? Ummm…Well I hope QA does bring in younger pax willing to give Cunard shot with a more traditional cruise experience. 

Not on this trip. I feel positively young at times! 😀

[njpln]

We have noticed that some cruisers dress up a bit more than others.  In QG last September on the QE crossing the were lots of people who seemed a bit more casually dressed. Once we hit Barcelona the crowd dressed up more.  
 

I’m curious to see how folks dress when QE does Caribbean cruises.  Cruisers who typically cruise from Florida don’t dress up as much, on average.  DH has asked if I will pack his tux.  Might only pack a suit….

[NE John]

2 hours ago, njpln said:

We have noticed that some cruisers dress up a bit more than others.  In QG last September on the QE crossing the were lots of people who seemed a bit more casually dressed. Once we hit Barcelona the crowd dressed up more.  
 

I’m curious to see how folks dress when QE does Caribbean cruises.  Cruisers who typically cruise from Florida don’t dress up as much, on average.  DH has asked if I will pack his tux.  Might only pack a suit….

A white dinner jacket in the Caribbean may do the trick. I actually wore one for our Caribbean honeymoon cruise, quite a few many moons ago. It felt really good wearing that DJ and no one mistaken me for a waiter… 

[foodsvcmgr]

Having cruised the Caribbean twice on QM2 from NY I did not notice any dumbing down of evening attire.

I’m curious as you state to see what goes on with QE sailing out of Miami.

We’re booked for February ‘26 so have a couple months to read up on the early season reports and adjust accordingly for the smart evenings, I certainly still intend to wear my tux for formal in any case.

[Pete1948]

Thanks for your comments, everyone. We are indeed on the 9th June crossing, Jack. Will look out for you!

[Clewgarnet]

15 hours ago, NE John said:

A white dinner jacket in the Caribbean may do the trick. I actually wore one for our Caribbean honeymoon cruise, quite a few many moons ago. It felt really good wearing that DJ and no one mistaken me for a waiter… 

I lived in the Caribbean for a number of years and Bermuda shorts were surprisingly common formalwear, complete with knee-length socks. Somehow, I can't see that taking off on Cunard.

[exlondoner]

1 minute ago, Clewgarnet said:

I lived in the Caribbean for a number of years and Bermuda shorts were surprisingly common formalwear, complete with knee-length socks. Somehow, I can't see that taking off on Cunard.

Was there a female equivalent? 😀

[Clewgarnet]

14 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Was there a female equivalent? 😀

Lovely floaty sundresses! (Always with a cosy wrap within easy access in case you were expected to go inside and shiver in the over-enthusiastic air conditioning.)

[NE John]

1 hour ago, Clewgarnet said:

I lived in the Caribbean for a number of years and Bermuda shorts were surprisingly common formalwear, complete with knee-length socks. Somehow, I can't see that taking off on Cunard.

Maybe a linen Scottish kilt? 🫤

[Megabear2]

21 hours ago, Jack E Dawson said:

Very good point david63, we don't know where the OP is located. However, I was on the Cunard US website  which also included this photo.

 

 

Just for fun, I also went to the Harrods website and searched "men's dress shirts" and this was the style of shirt that came up as well.

Jack

A shirt such as the ones in this picture would where I come from be called a "business" shirt. A dress shirt would be worn with evening dress as would a formal one.  

 

Incidentally several leading UK shirt makers refer to "short sleeved" business shirts. These are plain for striped with the same collar styles as long sleeved ones and can be worn with ties.

 

Just another take ...

 

Incidentally I doubt many UK businessmen would buy the work shirts at Harrods as there are specialist business shirt makers who most use. 

[njpln]

18 hours ago, NE John said:

A white dinner jacket in the Caribbean may do the trick. I actually wore one for our Caribbean honeymoon cruise, quite a few many moons ago. It felt really good wearing that DJ and no one mistaken me for a waiter… 

This is coincidental to a discussion DH and I were having the other night.  The white dinner jackets are not so popular in the US, but we see them consistently on our Cunard cruises. It’s something we are considering for his wardrobe!

[NE John]

34 minutes ago, njpln said:

This is coincidental to a discussion DH and I were having the other night.  The white dinner jackets are not so popular in the US, but we see them consistently on our Cunard cruises. It’s something we are considering for his wardrobe!

I like that look for warmer climates. Summer weddings too, if wedding party asks for nicer dress code. 

[Jack E Dawson]

7 hours ago, Pete1948 said:

We are indeed on the 9th June crossing, Jack. Will look out for you!

Pete,

Usually the CC Roll Call groups meet in the Commodore Club on the first sea day at 11:00AM, however the Roll Call for this sailing has been an especially quiet group so we will see but we plan to be there.

Jack