Dining Dress Code

[wernew2cruising]

I just want to see what the majority thinks on this issue. Seriously, option 5 was added to cover all possible scenarios. I really don't want to see that!!

[wernew2cruising]

Ok everyone. I know EVERYONE has an opinion on this!

[gooch47]

I voted for enforcing but we sometimes just don't feel like dressing up and go to the buffet. We wear our normal Resort Casual stuff, not shorts or tanks or anything like that. Then we sometimes go to the casino or the show. I suppose if you really enforce the dress code, then we would be in violation.

[DougandEric]

I think the dress code should be strictly enforced. There are venues for casual dress and more formal dress. Formal nights are called formal for a reason. If you don't feel like dressing up, go to the causal buffet or eat a burger on deck or order room service. One alternative the lines might provide would be room service that includes the regular dining menu from the main restaurant during the dinner hours. Don't subject the rest of us who enjoy dressing up and know how to dress appropriately for the occasion to the likes of jeans and tank tops! There are lines that allow more casual dress and those that don't - choose the line that fits your style. There is plenty of information about the dress code available online, in brochures and in these boards so that there is NO excuse for anyone to claim ignorance. If any line that I sail on changes to allowing jeans in the restaurant, that is a line I won't travel on any longer and I'll let them know! I believe someone posted that NCL is going to allow jeans in the restaurant - we probably won't be sailing with them again! This country is getting way to sloppy as it is.

 

We have a friend who I'd love to travel with but they refuse to put on anything more fancy than jeans to eat in a restaurant and swore they'd never cruise because they'd have to dress up - oh well - their loss!

 

I may sound like a snob (too bad!) but the old saying still holds true: A place for everything and everything in its place!

[dlp252]

Well, I'm not sure I voted exactly the way I really intend, lol. I voted to loosen the dress code except on formal nights. The friend that I usually travel with and I are not formal people, so we usually choose anytime dining and on formal nights eat at the buffet. I would not like to see "loosen" mean shorts, faded torn jeans, bathing suits or anything like that though.

 

To dinner I usually wear cropped pants with a coordinating twin set. More casual than what most here would like to see I think, but it still looks decent.

[Druke I]

I think the current code is reasonable, and should be enforced.

 

Having said that, we've sailed twice on Oceania, with two more cruises booked, and find that their "country club casual" dress code works very well, and greatly simplifies packing.

[paul929207]

I favor enforcing the current dress code. People who don't want to dress up have other choices.

[Oxo]

What is normal Resort Casual compare to:

Smart Casual

Business Casual

Elegant Casual

Country Club Casual?

 

Other people say: 'I voted to loosen the dress code except on formal nights.'

How can they loosen it any more than it is now? We see everything in the dining rooms, even on formal nights.

[dforeigner]

If people want to wear jeans (cheap or expensive) at dinner, NCL is taking reservations.

[Nutrioso]

You know, I almost don't care what the dress code is as long as 1.)I know in advance what it is, and 2.)It is enforced. Have sailed on O and enjoyed the Country Club Casual, and on HAL which has Formal Nights with dress to the max, and on Princess which is somewhere in between IMHO. Enjoyed them all because the code was known in advance. As for enforcement - nobody seems to be willing to do that for whatever reasons. On the other hand, have never been on a cruise I didn't enjoy. PENNY

[YoPhilly]

My pet peeve is seeing men wearing baseball caps in the dining room.

[Fuzzzy]

My pet peeve is seeing men wearing baseball caps in the dining room.

I agree. Last week during breakfast and lunch (in the dining room) there were several guys with baseball hats on the entire meal. What made it worse for me was they were with their sons. Guess what? They too had their hats on. If dad does it, it must be okay. Well, dad is wrong.

[sradogna]

You know, I almost don't care what the dress code is as long as 1.)I know in advance what it is, and 2.)It is enforced.

 

 

Exactly!! The truth of the matter is there are conflicting published guidelines over whether 'jeans' are disallowed or only 'torn jeans' are disallowed. On all my most recent sailings the patters and the sign at the entrance did not say no jeans and many many people entered on casual nights wearing them. To make matters worse, I personally heard the staff tell a couple jeans were fine on casual night. I did not pack any because I would rather abide by the rules but I certainly would wear them if they were allowed.

[terrierjohn]

My pet peeve is seeing men wearing baseball caps in the dining room.

I'll second that; perhaps we could bring back keelhauling for offenders?

[GBeret]

I think the dress code should be strictly enforced. There are venues for casual dress and more formal dress. Formal nights are called formal for a reason. If you don't feel like dressing up, go to the causal buffet or eat a burger on deck or order room service. One alternative the lines might provide would be room service that includes the regular dining menu from the main restaurant during the dinner hours. Don't subject the rest of us who enjoy dressing up and know how to dress appropriately for the occasion to the likes of jeans and tank tops! There are lines that allow more casual dress and those that don't - choose the line that fits your style. There is plenty of information about the dress code available online, in brochures and in these boards so that there is NO excuse for anyone to claim ignorance. If any line that I sail on changes to allowing jeans in the restaurant, that is a line I won't travel on any longer and I'll let them know! I believe someone posted that NCL is going to allow jeans in the restaurant - we probably won't be sailing with them again! This country is getting way to sloppy as it is.

 

We have a friend who I'd love to travel with but they refuse to put on anything more fancy than jeans to eat in a restaurant and swore they'd never cruise because they'd have to dress up - oh well - their loss!

 

I may sound like a snob (too bad!) but the old saying still holds true: A place for everything and everything in its place!

 

I agree with you 100% I also voted in the poll that way! ;)

[UT-Volsfan]

Enforce the dress code on the ships consistently! And I wish people would learn to remove their caps anytime they are sitting down to eat (I don't care if it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner) - if I've been on deck and go into the buffet, I'll take my cap off before I sit down. It's not difficult for people to practice having some good manners, unfortunately many parents don't set a good example for their kids (they feel that the rules are for other people but not them).

 

We've been on Princess cruises where teenagers have been asked to go change before they would seat them in the traditional seating dining room. Unfortunately, 15 minutes later the same Head Waiter that turned the teenagers away at the door seated a party at the table next to us - and they had a teenager in shorts. When we mentioned this to our waiter, we were told that the teen's dad had been on the ship before and was known as a good tipper - so I guess the dress code can be relaxed for the right amount of money!

[Jo in AZ]

and ask that they be enforced. Dressing for formal evenings and smart casual for other evenings is why we cruise. Living in the hotbed of the U.S. where hardly anyone "dresses" for dinner, it is a pleasure to be able to adhere to the cruise rules. I agree with others, that sloppiness is becoming the norm and I am sorry to see that happen. What happened to respectability and following rules -- it sure has gone by the wayside -- it's become "my way" to do as I please. How sad. :mad: Let those who don't care to dress accordingly on a cruise go on the lines that will accommodate them.

 

Just my 2 cents...

[wernew2cruising]

Hey Everyone, thanks for responding to my poll. The masses have spoken. I do follow the rules. Formal night I dress formal, other nights I wear appropriate clothing. Formal night stresses me but I do it. I'm not one of those females who loves to dress up. But I see I must be in the minority. Thanks again and keep voting if you want. I am loving this, seeing how people are voting.

[BTfan]

Just throwing out an idea..but what if one of the anytime dining rooms was casual on formal nights?

[tvaud]

and ask that they be enforced. Dressing for formal evenings and smart casual for other evenings is why we cruise. Living in the hotbed of the U.S. where hardly anyone "dresses" for dinner, it is a pleasure to be able to adhere to the cruise rules. I agree with others, that sloppiness is becoming the norm and I am sorry to see that happen. What happened to respectability and following rules -- it sure has gone by the wayside -- it's become "my way" to do as I please. How sad. :mad: Let those who don't care to dress accordingly on a cruise go on the lines that will accommodate them.

 

Just my 2 cents...

 

I agree and will throw some change in along with yours.:)

[wernew2cruising]

Just throwing out an idea..but what if one of the anytime dining rooms was casual on formal nights?

That is a great idea. Then everyone can have what they want.

[Times Prince]

Just throwing out an idea..but what if one of the anytime dining rooms was casual on formal nights?

If the purpose was simply dress for dining, that would work. I believe the purpose of formal night was to create an ambiance throughout the ship, not just dining rooms. Fine dining, fine shows, fine dancing and clubs.

 

That's what I enjoy, and why I prefer the dress code as it is - formal for two nights, casual for the others.

 

Keep in mind around the time of our first cruise, there were formal, semi-formal, and just 3 casual nights. What we have now is a compromise.

[DougandEric]

Just throwing out an idea..but what if one of the anytime dining rooms was casual on formal nights?

 

When we were on NCL, they did just that - on formal night, one dining room was formal, all others were standard casual. If you wanted to dress up, you went to the formal dining room. As it was a 7 day cruise and we were coming from FL, we didn't feel like carting formal clothes for one night. We opted out and ate elsewhere. We didn't try to break the rules and demand to be seated in the formal restaurant when not dressed appropriately! However, this was the adult thing to do - can't expect that of most people these days!

[DrivesLikeMario]

I don't care so much about what the dress code states.

I care more that they don't ENFORCE the dress code that they themselves have written.

 

If they want to allow ultra-casual clothes, then fine. Change the dress code to state that and make sure the passengers comply with it.

[LonghornKJK]

I don't care so much about what the dress code states.

I care more that they don't ENFORCE the dress code that they themselves have written.

 

If they want to allow ultra-casual clothes, then fine. Change the dress code to state that and make sure the passengers comply with it.

 

Exactly! Most of these dress code threads end up with two arguments going on, except some people don't realize it. One argument is about what the dress code should be and the other is about whether people should follow it. Those who would prefer a more relaxed dress code are often accused of being violators. Those who like to dress up are called snobs and belittled for their preferences.

 

I don't think any of us are going to change the others' minds. The bottom line is just as you state: Princess should be clear and consistent in what the code is and then enforce it.