How many formal nights???

[martinimadam]

I'll be on the Maasdam for the Oct 4 - 14 Canada/New England cruise. How many formal nights should I expect? There are 4 sea days, if that makes any difference.

[pms4104]

Typical for a 10-day is three formal nights. However, I believe the captain may have some latitude and reduce that number. Last December on the Amsterdam 10-day, we had only two formal nights.

[dakrewser]

Right, typically a 10-day has 3 formal nights. Your docs will indicate what's scheduled but that could change once you're on board. ;)

[martinimadam]

Thanks for the replies. Just wanted to figure out how much to pack. The first full sea day is our third day on board. So that will probably be a formal night? Then we hit lots of ports, and end up the cruise with three consecutive sea days. Two more formal nights????

 

Did I read somewhere that HAL no longer has a Captain's Welcome Party??? That would be so sad. I thought there was a welcome, farewell, and Mariner's Society party on most cruises. Yes or no???

[Krazy Kruizers]

You are right - 3 formal nights - Monday, Oct should be your first formal night. I would count on a second formal night on one of those evenings where the ship leaves port at 5 PM. The last one will be either the first or second of those sea days. There is never a formal night the last evening before you get off the ship. And I have never seen HAL have 2 formal nights in a row.

There is no longer a Captain's Welcome aboard party. Instead there is a "Toast" where you go into the show lounge, champagne, wine and water is served and then there is a quick ceramony where the captain intoduces a few of the top people, HM, engineer. It doesn't last long. Some ships will have the evening show after this.

Never had a fare well party on HAL.

Depending on how many Mariner's on board depends on whether there will be one or two lunches -- which will be held on the last sea days. Sometimes there is an awards ceremony for medal holders -- pin holders are not invited.

[PathfinderEss]

Typical for a 10-day is three formal nights. However, I believe the captain may have some latitude and reduce that number. Last December on the Amsterdam 10-day, we had only two formal nights.

Camp637 is correct, usually for 10 days it is 3 formal nights but the captain does have some latitude. Last year on the Ryndam, a 10 day cruise, we only had 2 formal nights, but this year same cruise, we had 3 formal nights. Both time it said in our embarkation booklet 3 formal nights. So my recommendation is be prepared for 3 but don't be disappointed if it turns out to only be 2.