Just how formal is formal night?

[LolaBunny]

I know some rent tuxes and others try to strectch the policy the other direction, but as a norm what are most people wearing?

I mean mostly what are the women wearing? Are the dresses long or knee length? Frilly, beaded, really low cut? Or just a nice cocktail dress?

[jrmende63]

I know some rent tuxes and others try to strectch the policy the other direction, but as a norm what are most people wearing?

I mean mostly what are the women wearing? Are the dresses long or knee length? Frilly, beaded, really low cut? Or just a nice cocktail dress?

I have seen all of the above, from coctail dresses to all out black tie affairs. Most people make some kind of effort to at least look nice. ( I did see sweatpants on one of my formal nights though...I thought maybe she lost her luggage???:eek: )

[irishgirl]

For pictures and dinner, you will see long gowns, cocktail dresses, slacks with nice tops, nice sundresses with wraps, etc.

 

After dinner, you can do whatever you want, I choose to change into shorts and a tee to go to the shows, bars or casino. Some people stay in their formal attire for the entire night. You will see all types of dress throughout the ship.

[DocF]

I picked up a very inexpensive tuxedo online since our last cruise. I will wear it. My DW has several very dressy cocktail length dresses which she wears. She is only 4'10", so she does not like to wear long dresses as they make her look even shorter.;)

 

We enjoy the opportunity to dress up much nicer than we do at home. For us, this is one of the high points of the cruise.

 

Doc:)

[tailor]

Formal nights are our favorite. I have packable floor length gowns and always take one real wow! gown. Hubby wears tux or evening coat (white). It's fun to play Cinderella and Prince Charming for a few evenings per year.

[tnrnchick74]

This is my first cruise, but I don't get a chance to dress up very much being a nurse! I'm bringing nicer clothes and plan on dressing up every night for dinner & to do late nite "things". Now I'm not talking formal every nite. I have a silver sequined cocktail dress for formal nite. But I would MUCH rather be over dressed than under dressed. I don't find it a pain - I find it is nice to look nice!

 

Here's a link to the dress I am wearing for formal nite!

 

 

No its not me in the pic!

[teanbean16]

I always wear a cocktail dress. I have always felt comfortable and not over or under dressed.:) :)

[Payd]

My experience is that most make an effort to wear something special.

 

Long gowns or cocktail dresses are the norm.

 

Payd:)

[Aplmac]

My experience is that most make an effort to wear something special.

 

Long gowns or cocktail dresses are the norm.

Just promise us a few things.

 

1. No slip slops

2. No baseball caps

3. No tacky jeans.

 

...promise?

[DavidandPaula]

Just assume that for the men you start at a business suit and work upwards. Saw less than that but we did have a lot of people who had lost their luggage so possibly they, and others who were a bit opportunistic, had to wear what they had.

 

I saw one family with several young boys and they had matching outfits sort of like a Captains outfit with stripes on the sleeves that started with one strip for the youngest and went up with their age. From the various outfits it is apparent that many people put a lot of thought and effort into their outfits for formal nights.

 

I just had a dark suit which I had bought for my stepsons wedding, never wear a suit normally. Wore it for the wedding and the cruise dining but have continued the weight loss from the holiday and now it just to big for me. Might get a new one for the next wedding in the family in April next year.

 

Paula took along about five outfits for dining on our trip, nothing ultra formal or long, just fashionable.

 

David

[Gingee]

I like the silver short dress. Cute

[tnrnchick74]

I like the silver short dress. Cute

 

Thanks! I will post pics after the cruise of ME in the dress!

[Pegs222]

This is my first cruise, but I don't get a chance to dress up very much being a nurse! I'm bringing nicer clothes and plan on dressing up every night for dinner & to do late nite "things". Now I'm not talking formal every nite. I have a silver sequined cocktail dress for formal nite. But I would MUCH rather be over dressed than under dressed. I don't find it a pain - I find it is nice to look nice!

 

Here's a link to the dress I am wearing for formal nite!

 

 

No its not me in the pic!

 

I love this dress and I would kill to have legs that long. WOW.

[imnance]

Think very nice wedding attire. Nice suit for men or dressier, pretty dress for women. Sparkles are nice if you like them. Plain, but dressy if you don't.

 

Some of the guys in the group we traveled with wore tuxes. They looked great! Most of the men wore beautiful suits and looked just as great.

 

In all honesty, I didn't see very many long/gown type dresses on the women. Some, but not many. I think if any gals have long bridesmaid attire from a wedding, getting it shortened to tea length or cocktail length would finally make that old saw "You can wear it again" actually come true! LOL

 

Finally, while I'm one of those "Why are you taking a cruise that has a formal night when you don't want to dress properly" people, I think following the spirit of the law is fine. A jacket, tie, and dockers for men and a "church" dress for women is fine.

[KC_fn]

Are the dresses long or knee length? Frilly, beaded, really low cut? Or just a nice cocktail dress?

 

Yes. :D

[BlueJacketsFan1]

My wife and I dress for us, not the others on the ship. She wears a dress everynight and I a shirt and tie. Formal nights she wears a gown and me a tux. What is the norm, well that could change a little from ship to ship and cruise to cruise. Dress as formal as you want.

[mudpievelour]

This is my first cruise, but I don't get a chance to dress up very much being a nurse! I'm bringing nicer clothes and plan on dressing up every night for dinner & to do late nite "things". Now I'm not talking formal every nite. I have a silver sequined cocktail dress for formal nite. But I would MUCH rather be over dressed than under dressed. I don't find it a pain - I find it is nice to look nice!

 

Here's a link to the dress I am wearing for formal nite!

 

 

No its not me in the pic!

 

That will definitely work! Nice dress.

[Anonymous Number]

For my first cruise, I just might go white tie. :D

 

Some circles actually consider black tie to be "semi-formal". :eek:

[volvo99]

I know some rent tuxes and others try to strectch the policy the other direction, but as a norm what are most people wearing?

I mean mostly what are the women wearing? Are the dresses long or knee length? Frilly, beaded, really low cut? Or just a nice cocktail dress?

 

 

 

Formal is formal...enough said.

[Chigirlcruzin]

I'm wearing a long gown for the first formal night and a cocktail dress for the second. I'll be wearing cocktail dresses throughout the rest of the week too - I have so many of them. The one for formal night is just a little fancier than the rest.

[Katy P.]

When it's formal night, are all the restaurants on board the ship for formal night dining or is there at least one restaurant that's for the'casual diner' that night?

[Chigirlcruzin]

When it's formal night, are all the restaurants on board the ship for formal night dining or is there at least one restaurant that's for the'casual diner' that night?

 

You can go to the buffet, pizza, deli, fish n chips (if your ship has one), etc if you don't want to do formal. The dining rooms and supper club are formal.

[LolaBunny]

Formal is formal...enough said.

 

 

Right, well, I would normally agree 100%, but it seems that on the ships formal is not really formal that is why I asked what the "norm" was. Formal to me implies long gowns for ladies and tuxes for men period. But that doesn't seem to be the case on the boat.

I don't want to be over dressed and I know that I won't be underdressed, but I wouldn't want to walk into the dining room in a number to the floor when every other gal is in the perfect little black dress :D

 

I think I am going to take a couple of cocktail dresses and call it a day.

 

BTW, I really like that little silver number, wish I had the figure for it :)

[volvo99]

Right, well, I would normally agree 100%, but it seems that on the ships formal is not really formal that is why I asked what the "norm" was. Formal to me implies long gowns for ladies and tuxes for men period. But that doesn't seem to be the case on the boat.

I don't want to be over dressed and I know that I won't be underdressed, but I wouldn't want to walk into the dining room in a number to the floor when every other gal is in the perfect little black dress :D

 

I think I am going to take a couple of cocktail dresses and call it a day.

 

BTW, I really like that little silver number, wish I had the figure for it :)

 

 

I'm getting the sad but distinct feeling many cruisers haven't dressed formal since high school prom.

 

Are dressing manners so diluted nowadays that we celebrate our ignorance of dressing versus our knowledge of it?

 

Your point is well stated but needs to be elaborated as to why this is the case: formal on a boat does not seem to approximate what is expected on land because the cruise lines allowed it to be.

[tnrnchick74]

Thanks to everyone who said they like my "little silver dress". It was actually a surprise (along with the cruise) from my wonderful fiancee! I think its perfect for a cruise & formal nite. I'm not a person who looks really good in long, flowing ball gowns but I DO want to be formal. I think cocktail dresses are appropriate. I'm getting ready to go one my first cruise though, so I could be wrong!