Suggestion to End Formal Night Bickering

[harry]

I believe thats why there are so many cruise lines. Choice

 

If you want to where T-shirts to dinner and dont care about a "formal" night well then NCL is your Line. Freestyle.

 

If You want 2 nights of "formal" and for Gods sake we arent talking about tuxedos as the norm...Celebrity or Princess or maybe Royal.

 

QM2 for more fancy snobby dress. Crystal and so on

 

If there are people that dont own a jacket well let them stick out but I sure hope these cruiselines dont all give in to bringing all minimum standards down.

 

Must it seem like a big floating party barge

 

Im no snob...trust me on that....but there are some simple etiquette rules that should always apply

 

Ball caps in dining rooms. t shirts in the dining rooms. Argh I hope these arent the same people hogging the deck chairs:)

[vince_g]

I think it makes for a nice formal evening when everyone is dressed and the activities on board have a notch more quality than the Not So Newlywed Game. So the night is one of the more special of the cruise. Diluting that atmosphere with formal/non-formal as you like on the same evening would ruin the ambience.

Besides, you can get that on NCL when they have their “optional” formal evenings in certain restaurants.

 

 

We know how you feel about diluting the ambience... but you don't seem to care that other's might not share your opinion.

[stoneharborlady]

I would respectfully disagree. If you don't want to dress formally as defined by Princess (EVENING GOWNS FOR WOMEN, TUXEDO OR DARK SUIT FOR MEN), then consider other options. NCL has cruises with NO formal nights. You know these recommendations prior to boarding the ship, why should there be any questions about what to wear on FORMAL EVENING other than the color of the GOWN.

 

Rob

 

 

I think you would be disappointing alot of ladies here, who adore seeing men in a dress uniform, or a Scot in his kilt.

 

Karen

[stoneharborlady]

you don't think kilts for the scots and barongs for the filipinos and.. whatever other formal dress in other cultures are named.. I'm sorry, those are the only male ones come to mind this late at night.. but you don't think that qualifies as formal? not fancy dress by your standards?

 

ok..

 

they can dine with me then. :) I can understand ME not living up to your standards of formal (although I will be pretty fancy and it won't much bother me, at that point, that you're offended) but I think whatever attire is the most formal of formal in anyone's personal culture should be substitutable for a tuxedo in any formal situation. It would at any international political gala..

 

anno

 

 

 

Make room for me at your table please anno. You are 100 percent correct. I think there is quite a mix at a formal dinner at the White House.

Karen

[mii]

I assume everybody knew that this is an old thread? As alot of people have said on this thread this subject has been beaten to death.

 

Marilyn

[crusinpeg]

I agree..just bury it!! Everyone is going to do whatever they want anyway so why keep bringing it up????

 

Peggy

[stoneharborlady]

I assume everybody knew that this is an old thread? As alot of people have said on this thread this subject has been beaten to death.

 

Marilyn

 

 

Nope, to be honest Marilyn, I didnt even look at the date of the original post. It was on the first page, and I just jumped in!! Of course it has been beaten to death, and will be back, I am sure. :eek:

Karen

[vince_g]

I agree..just bury it!! Everyone is going to do whatever they want anyway so why keep bringing it up????

 

Peggy

 

AMEN!!!! I'll get the shovel and dig a grave for it!

[flamomo]

Sorry Tom, but I have to add my 2 cents and side with those who say "Don't change anything". Leave the formal night just the way they are.

Why should the cruiseline cave in to those who don't want to "dress" for formal nights. Just because some don't agree with formal attire doesn't mean there aren't even more who do like to get gussied up at least once per cruise.

So let those who don't want to participate do as they currently do - go to a casual dining venue (ie. buffet) where they can wear their everyday shorts and t-shirts. They're not gonna starve if they cannot go to the dining rooms. Or they can choose to cruise on a "casual cruiseline" where there are no dress-up nights.

The rest of us can continue the cruising tradition and participate in formal night(s) activities. Please stop pushing changes that don't need to be made.

[fti]

Sorry Tom, but I have to add my 2 cents and side with those who say "Don't change anything". Leave the formal night just the way they are.

Why should the cruiseline cave in to those who don't want to "dress" for formal nights. Just because some don't agree with formal attire doesn't mean there aren't even more who do like to get gussied up at least once per cruise.

So let those who don't want to participate do as they currently do - go to a casual dining venue (ie. buffet) where they can wear their everyday shorts and t-shirts. They're not gonna starve if they cannot go to the dining rooms. Or they can choose to cruise on a "casual cruiseline" where there are no dress-up nights.

The rest of us can continue the cruising tradition and participate in formal night(s) activities. Please stop pushing changes that don't need to be made.

 

The changes are already being made. Why? Celebrity's bottom line. They don't want to alienate a significant segment of the cruiser population and Celebrity wants their money. Plain and simple.

[pris993]

We don't always go to the specialty restaurants when we cruise, therefore we would miss the formal night.

 

We don't generally go to the specialty restraurants either. The food is not significantly different and the added expense is something we don't need. We don't even eat all the courses in the diningroom but we do like the formal nights. I would not be in favor of this proposal. My husband loves to wear his tux and white jacket which we always take on every trip along with several sports jackets. But we can't afford to pay extra to eat in the specialty restraurants. This could add up quickly for us. :mad:

[kruisey]

I love dressing up for dinner and on formal nites wearing something special.

I am not long back from the UK and on my last day shopping found this wonderful evening top.Hum I thought that will be great for a formal nite on the cruise.

Usually when I go to a restuarant I like to be smartly dressed. Its on those great formal nites on the ship that I can wear my evening tops with my black long skirt.........Do hope Princess keeps this traditiol.:D ...as long as I cruise anyway.;)

[captainron]

Some like it...some don't... Princess won't come up with a solution and neither will any of us as the cruiseline doesn't listen anyway.

 

All that said I'd like to make a motion that we retire this thread (sorry Tom)...looking for a seconder?

 

Ciao for now!!!

[donaldsc]

I have a better idea - the ship should either enforce the rules for formal night or drop them completely. Everyone knows what formal means - a tux or dark suit for the men and a fancy dress for the women. If you can't follow these rules or you think that rules apply to everyone but you, go eat at the pizza bar where you belong.

 

DON

 

DON

[jay44]

I've only been on one cruise, with my second coming up in 8 weeks, and my third booked for June next year.

 

The one thing I love is dressing up for the evening. I never get a chance to do this at home, so formal nights were brilliant for me.

 

I'm arranging a shopping trip in the next couple of weeks to look for an evening dress for my next cruise.

 

I can't imagine going on a cruise, and not dressing up.

[flamomo]

The changes are already being made. Why? Celebrity's bottom line. They don't want to alienate a significant segment of the cruiser population and Celebrity wants their money. Plain and simple.

 

Okay, so Celebrity changed. That doesn't mean ALL mainstream cruiselines need to change. (I'm not talking about Cunard, as they are an entirely different "animal".)

Let the casual style (no dressing up) folks go to casual style (no formal nights) cruiselines, and leave the rest of the cruiselines for the rest of us.

We are part of "the bottom line" too, and I think at this point we are a bigger part than the "casual cruisers".

Everyone posting here knows that these type of discussions go nowhere, just like smoking/anti-smoking threads. There is no, and never will be, ageement on these topics. Too bad people even start them. And even worse, posters like me finally cave in and respond to them. Argh-h-h-h!:o

[1cats1]

My plan would do away with formal night in the regular dining rooms. Instead, the specialty restaurants (extra cost) would have a formal wear requirement every night. And, I would make the formal requirement in these specialty restaurants "black tie" (tuxedo required). This would eliminate some strange things I have seen in the dining room on formal nights trying to pass as a suit.

 

Tom, I don't like this idea at all. First and foremost, because I don't go to the specialty restaurants onboard. It's not that I am a cheapskate, but once these "extra pay" restaurants become widely endorsed, regular dining will become sub par or totally obsolete. This gives the cruise lines a license to "charge" for food. Can't you recognize where this is headed? I enjoy dining rooms just as they are.

 

I like to do formal nights and I think I pay enough to have that opportunity.

[mii]

Tom, I don't like this idea at all. First and foremost, because I don't go to the specialty restaurants onboard. It's not that I am a cheapskate, but once these "extra pay" restaurants become widely endorsed, regular dining will become sub par or totally obsolete. This gives the cruise lines a license to "charge" for food. Can't you recognize where this is headed? I enjoy dining rooms just as they are.

 

I like to do formal nights and I think I pay enough to have that opportunity.

 

Thought you should know that Tom had posted this last July of 2006. He may not be on anymore.

 

marilyn

[737NG]

I am sorry, but this is a hot button for me. I agree with Largin (for a change). People already know the rules. If you don't want to dress formal 2 nights on a 7 or 10 day cruise you have options including NCL.

 

I also have problems with people who think that they only have to dress formal for dinner. The Patter says "evening attire" not dinner attire. It is the evening "atmosphere" that makes formal nights special. The evening is ruined when we walk into the princess theatre after traditional late dinner, order an after dinner cordial and have some idiot in jeans shorts and a tank top sit down in front of us with his Miller Light beer can.

 

And then go to the casino and have to stand next to the same idiot at the craps table.

 

 

 

FORMAL NIGHT IS FORMAL NIGHT. If they don't want to participate, send them to STEARAGE.

 

JMHO

 

Rob

 

So now just because people choose not to dress up they should be forced to sail on other cruise lines? I am one of those who enjoy to get dressed up on formal night, but my night is not ruined by someone who choose's not to. Have a good time and worry about your own vacation not others. If the cruise lines really cared they would not offer other options for dining on formal nights such as the buffet.....hey I rather have a good time with the folks in stearage then have to put up with smart remarks, certain attitudes and dirty looks from the "first class" passengers...:cool:

[Travelrd]

I don't dress up anywhere, ever. And when I went on my first cruise, I thought I would have to eat in my room on formal night. I don't do buffets either.

Well, I decided to wear something casual and elegant and marched into the dining room and was shown to my usual seat for dinner. The same thing happened on my second cruise on Princess. Some people dress up and I think they look fabulous and elegant but it's not for me. But now I've learned that I can still go the dining room and not be dressed in the formal attire, so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

I don't think people should flaunt their casual attire on formal night or any night. There are sweat suites and more elegant athletic type jogging suits and I don't believe they belong in the dining room. Neither do jeans nor shorts. But none of us will ever agree on what's right and wrong, so let's just do what we want to do and not critisize those that don't agree with our point of view. Life is too short and cruises are for fun, so lighten up.

[MaryAnn261]

Let's look at the reverse of this. Would any of you be offended if someone dressed "formally" on a "smart casual" evening? From what I've been reading lots of people think that the "suggested" dress should be followed by everyone. That should include those "over" dressing. Let the flaming begin.

[737NG]

Let's look at the reverse of this. Would any of you be offended if someone dressed "formally" on a "smart casual" evening? From what I've been reading lots of people think that the "suggested" dress should be followed by everyone. That should include those "over" dressing. Let the flaming begin.

 

Very good point......

[mycruz]

We usually make reservations for the specialty restaurants on formal night anyways. Why not? You're already dressing up, might as well make it even more special. You can dine in the restaurants any night....I like the idea, seems we already do it!

[GBeret]

I am very apprehensive about starting a thread on this subject, but I was tired of reading about the Crown list.

Before I go into it, I should tell you that my wife and I like formal night, it provides us a rare opportunity to dress formal, and it just seems so cool to be part of this tradition.

 

Anyway, I thought of a possible solution that I think would satisfy both sides of the formal night dillema. It would require compromises from both sides of the argument, which is only fair.

My plan would do away with formal night in the regular dining rooms. Instead, the specialty restaurants (extra cost) would have a formal wear requirement every night. And, I would make the formal requirement in these specialty restaurants "black tie" (tuxedo required). This would eliminate some strange things I have seen in the dining room on formal nights trying to pass as a suit.

 

People who don't want to bother with formal wear, will not be bannished to the buffet, and people like me, can still have their formal night out.

 

True, us formals will have to pay extra for that experience, but most people try these specialty cruises at least once on a cruise.

 

Non-formal types will miss out on the specialty restaurants - like I said each side has to compromise.

 

Since formal wear will only be required in these restaurants, the shows, bars, etc. will always be casual.

 

Since the specialty restaurants will be formal every night, there will be plenty of opportunities for everybody to dress up. Each of us will be able to choose which nights are formal.

 

The only problem with this idea, as far as I can see is that I don't think Princess would like it. I don't think they would like the idea of restrictions on who would go to a restaurant where they charge extra for.

 

Anyway there it is, I don't recall ever seeing this suggestion here before, but with so many threads of formal wear, who could ever find it in a search?

 

I hope this doesn't start the age old argument again. I was just trying to think of some way to appease both sides.

 

I do not like this idea one bit!

 

Why not just follow the existing Princess guideline for dress on any given night. I do!

[flhokie]

Let's look at the reverse of this. Would any of you be offended if someone dressed "formally" on a "smart casual" evening? From what I've been reading lots of people think that the "suggested" dress should be followed by everyone. That should include those "over" dressing. Let the flaming begin.

 

Well said!! I find it sad that some people can have their vacations ruined by how others dress. People should stop worrying about what others wear or do (and judging them)--you can't control other people.