Help with Dress

[bobbie_81348]

I know the subject of dress code have been beat to death. But I have a simple question. We do not enjoy going to the dining room for dinner. I am such a picky eater and hubby hates wearing a tie. We always go to the lido deck for dinner each night. My question is on formal nights when we go to the buffet on the lido deck can we later walk through the ship or go to the theater without being frowned upon? I have never felt I was looked down on, on any cruise except HAL. I do not want to intrude on your formal experience and just want to not be confined to my room that night. How do fellow cruisers on Princess Cruise lines look at people who elect not to go to the formal dining? We are planning an Alaskan cruise and are eager to know.

[boop3]

I have done the formal night and then gone and changed. Later on in the evening many change. I don not think it is a big deal.

No one ever said any thing or acted like they were put out by my informal dress.

[willysgrandma]

I have never looked down on people not in formal wear - in the dining room or anywhere else on the ship.

 

When we dress formally, as soon as I finish my coffee I am back in the room getting those clothes off. If someone doesn't like it - too bad. As long as I am dressed properly for dinner, I couldn't care less what anyone thinks of how I dress after.

 

And we have also skipped formal nights and eaten in the buffets as you plan to do.

 

Wear what you want on the ship and don't worry about what anyone else thinks.

[sultan_sfo]

A purely personal viewpoint -- when we are in the theater dressed formally, I only feel uncomfortable if a person wearing "shorts" sits next to me. I just move if there are seats available. /Sultan

 

...

go to the theater without being frowned upon? I have never felt I was looked down on, on any cruise except HAL.

...

[willysgrandma]

A purely personal viewpoint -- when we are in the theater dressed formally, I only feel uncomfortable if a person wearing "shorts" sits next to me. I just move if there are seats available. /Sultan

 

Why?

[Jacqueline]

Just look presentable. In all honesty, I wouldn't wear shorts at night unless I was on open decks. The aircondiioning is really at full blast in most venues.

Enjoy and don't worry. The fact that you are asking the question at all means that you are on the right track.

[Toto2Kansas]

To the OP- If you decide to go to a show that evening, just make sure you don't sit in the first few rows if there is a comedian performing. They love to poke fun at those on formal night not dressed properly. We have seen this happen on several cruises. So, unless you have a GREAT sense of humor, sit towards the back where they can't see you. ;)

[Eric95403]

You'll be fine in whatever you chose to wear after dinner. Don't let some of these people make you feel bad for chosing to wear what you feel comfortable in. One of "those people" told me I'd have to stay in my cabin if I changed into more comfortable clothes (shorts). In all honesty, some people like to stay dressed up for the evening, some don't. You'll be on a ship with maybe a couple thousand people. They'll be plenty just like you. If someone gives you a look, that's their own fault.

[bobbie_81348]

Thank you so much for your response. We have never been on Princess before and having sailed mostly on Carnival, everyone just did their own thing and never looked at you. I like some of you have gone in the pass on formal nights (when traveling with family, for the experience) and rushed back to my room to get on slacks, top and sweater. We would NEVER think of going to the dining room casually as I said. We were put down on HAL and we were just leaving the movie and walking through the ship. A very rude lady ask us if we didn't know it was formal night. I was hopeing Princess cruisers were not as rude as that HAL cruiser. Sounds like everything will be ok. Thanks again.

[ldoc31]

Thank you so much for your response. We have never been on Princess before and having sailed mostly on Carnival, everyone just did their own thing and never looked at you. I like some of you have gone in the pass on formal nights (when traveling with family, for the experience) and rushed back to my room to get on slacks, top and sweater. We would NEVER think of going to the dining room casually as I said. We were put down on HAL and we were just leaving the movie and walking through the ship. A very rude lady ask us if we didn't know it was formal night. I was hopeing Princess cruisers were not as rude as that HAL cruiser. Sounds like everything will be ok. Thanks again.

 

 

There will always be someone who believes that by sitting next to them dressed in shorts you have the plague. Let them do the moving and be glad you don't have to talk to them.

[Jacqueline]

You will have no problem on Princess. I have seen (unfortunately) as one example, an overweight men wearing a muscle shirt and shorts in the atruim on formal night. It would be bad enough to see him dressed like that anywhere.... But its a big ship with all sorts of people so I certainly don't let others dress effect my evening. But some things you just can't miss.

Ok if he were buff and handsome, I would not be complaining ! I'd even try and sit next to him in the theater.....

[Julia’s Journey’s]

I always change after dinner on formal nights especially if I am going to be where people are smoking as I don't want everything to stink of it. JMO:eek: :eek:

[Casshew]

You might get a couple of looks from ignorant people, but don't worry about it.

[pmshirl]

There is no place that says you must be dressed in formal clothes to WALK the SHIP, or attend the THEATER, on Formal night. The Dining room is where Formal attire is requested. This person has no intension on eatting in the Dining room, and many pax who do dress formal change into something more casual after diner, so why is it any different for someone to be in casual dress on foraml night if not in the Dining room? Clothes do not make a PERSON! You should be just fine , with walking on the ship at night in your casual attire. You find pax on all Cruiselines who feel they are above others, just try to enjoy your cruise and don't let others reflect on your vacation!

[dosi]

As long as you keep your tiara on it will all be good!!!

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Just look presentable. In all honesty, I wouldn't wear shorts at night unless I was on open decks. The aircondiioning is really at full blast in most venues.

Enjoy and don't worry. The fact that you are asking the question at all means that you are on the right track.

 

and if the cruise is in Alaska I doubt shorts would be in order anyway.

 

Bill

[Cruisin Oma]

I always change after dinner on formal nights especially if I am going to be where people are smoking as I don't want everything to stink of it. JMO:eek: :eek:

 

I do the same thing after formal nights if we are going to the casino. Don't want my clothes to stink. (Oh wait, that is another thread :) )

[Starbright]

The thing with HAL is that the formal dress code relates to the whole ship for the whole evening. Having said that, it was very rude of another passenger to make such a remark to the OP. I don't think there would be any problem on Princess. In my experience the whole dress thing is more relaxed.