formal night question

[Folgy]

DaveL QUOTE:

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I just got off the Splendour and it was my first cruise. I was prepared for Formal night with a suit and tie, On the first night of the cruise our waiter advised us that tomorrow was formal night but that we should dress how we want as the cruise was for us, "if you want to dress formal or casual it does not matter just come and enjoy the food and service" was all he said. The majority of people did dress but no one was treated like a sore thumb.

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If this is what the waiter was saying to you:

 

"if you want to dress formal or casual it does not matter just come and enjoy the food and service"

 

....It sends the signal, The days of Formal dining (the old code) are over . The waiter is speaking on behalf of RCCL.(I feel)

Basicaly dress how ever you feel!

[daytrippertm]

I am going on my first cruise with my 7 year old son on the Monarch 05-10. I have heard that these 4 night cruises are not that formal but I would like to dress up. Would it be ridiculous for me to rent a tux for my son from the ship? I have long formal dresses and since he is my "date", I would like his attire to maintain the same formal look.

 

5/10 Monarch of the Seas

 

[mdeane]

My bet is that he would love it. There were several "young gentlemen" in tuxes on our cruise. Plus you are teaching him how enjoy a formal occassion which may stick with him for many years, hopefully. My grown boys (men) love to dress up in a tux any time a need arises.

[F5Loar]

I am just apalled at the number of people here who think it's okay to totally avoid what is suggested wear on formal night. For a TA to say forget it they are saying it is okay to be disrespective of not only the cruise line who are in reality our hosts but to your fellow cruisers you will dine with. Sure you are going to have those "dress code busters" on every cruise. Some cruise lines do still monitor the door and will turn you away. Others like the waiter's comments above could care less what you wear so long as they get their tip. They told you it is a "formal" night and then tell you what they consider formal attire for the evening dinner in the main dining room. They tell you this before you go so you know how to pack then again they remind you in the daily paper given to you the night before. Sorry, but if you didn't get it by this time you are just being: disrepectful on purpose, stupid,a jerk,too poor to afford the cruise but not the clothes, rude, out of touch with society, classless or just plain honory. When you walk into a room with anything less than a coat and tie some emotion should kick in when you see that 90% of the people are dressed different than you. Me, I would kindly and quickly remove myself to either go back and change into the proper attire or just go to the alternate dining that my host has so generously provided for those that do not want to participate in the formal affair. Until the cruise line removes the formal night for good it's still a formal night. To say a coat and no tie is formal is just plain wrong! Remember Ward Cleaver told his son Beaver: Wrong is always wrong even if someone tells you it's right, and right is always right even if some say it's wrong. To dress less than asked from your host is wrong in anybody's manners book.

 

Till we sail on the Zuiderdam

 

Til we sail on the Mariner of The Seas RCL

until we sail on the Disney Wonder

til we sail the ms Maasdam

[Ohunion Cruzers]

A waiter who tells you to "do what you want", is only making sure they do not piss anyone off. They will tell you anything to make sure they get their tips, AND no bad reviews on the comment card. If they get bad reviews, they get demoted.

[JacDro]

Daytrippertm - I have taken my grandson on three cruises and he wore a tux to dinner on all formal nights. What a wonderful memory for me!! When all four of my girls, their husbands or significant others and my grandchildren go, we all dress up for formal night -- long dresses and tuxedos. I can picture it now and it makes me smile!! Have a wonderful cruise.

 

Jacki

 

Sovereign July 2000

Sovereign August 2000

Imagination July 2001

Sovereign August 2001

Paradies June 2002

Pride August 2002

Sensation March 2003

Enchantment May 2003

Sovereign October 2003

Sensation January 2004

Mariner May 2004

 

[Michuck]

I find it interesting that Gisi and her co-worker (both TAs), have only 2 posts each.

 

"Formal nite" is called "formal nite" for a reason. Even on the 3 nite cruises, the majority dress up on that nite (although on the 3-niters it's rarer to see tuxedos). The longer cruises (5 nites and more), you see more tuxes, but the women are always dressed to the nine's, no matter the length of the cruise. I agree that many change into more casual attire after dinner for the shows, midnite buffets, casino, strolling, etc. (I'm among that group), but the great majority are dressed up for dinner and the preceding Captain's gala.

 

Michele

[cruzinpsycharnp]

Folgy is correct. Formal night is a lot of fun just watching what everyone is wearing. 98% dress formally and look great. It's a good time to have portraits done at a reasonable rate.

 

till Mariner

Queen Elizabeth 1963

Florida 1966

Mardi Gras 1980

Holiday 1982

Tropicale 1999

Pride 2002

Grand Princess 2003

Mariner 2004

[Serious Cruisers]

wow, if everyone followed the formal dress code as well as they followed the do not bring alcohol on board......

[hdawson]

Not sure how experienced this TA is, regardless of their Certified TA status. In my 14 cruises, the average of those dressed appropriately is probably 95%. Maybe only 90% on Carnival. The lines I've been on are Celebrity 4 times, Royal Caribbean 4 times, Carnival 4 times and a couple of others. These observations include some 4 niters. Dining on cruise ships is not like a visit to MacDonalds.

[gisi102]

just for the record I am not a TA. This will be my first cruise. Tracy my co-worker is certified as a TA but currently does not work in the field. I am glad I posted this because I am getting different opinions on cruisers. Now I know I'm not in the extremities and I am somewhere in the middle.

Thanks for all your advice

Gisi

[T.Seago]

I have a Travel Agent Certification. I have been out of the business for a year...we do NOT work in an agency...

 

I brought in all of my cruise pictures from my cruises to show her. She saw my formal night pictures and could see the people in the background too. They were all casual.

 

 

 

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Michuck:

I find it interesting that Gisi and her co-worker (both TAs), have only 2 posts each.

 

"Formal nite" is called "formal nite" for a reason. Even on the 3 nite cruises, the majority dress up on that nite (although on the 3-niters it's rarer to see tuxedos). The longer cruises (5 nites and more), you see more tuxes, but the women are always dressed to the nine's, no matter the length of the cruise. I agree that many change into more casual attire after dinner for the shows, midnite buffets, casino, strolling, etc. (I'm among that group), but the great majority are dressed up for dinner and the preceding Captain's gala.

 

Michele<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[T.Seago]

THANK YOU!!!! Someone that enjoys vacationing!

 

One time our "formal night" fell on a day we spent diving with sharks/sting rays in Belize....

 

Now I ask you...who want to rush back and take forever getting ready afer an exhausting day??? Not me!

 

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Serious Cruisers:

I have take 12 RCCL cruises in the past 5 years AND DO NOT dress formal for formal nights.

 

The thought of dressing up for dinner does not excite me on vacation. This is something I do for work (business dinners, etc), charity events, etc. Getting my hair and nails done is a weekly ritual. The great think about cruising.....you don't have to. It is just a suggestion. You will see about 25% - 30% who do not participate, but don't let that stop you!!

 

Enjoy your formal nights if you so choose!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[rthiebes]

Speaking of tuxes..how do you go about renting tuxes on the ship? Prices? Limited supply? Do you get fitted when you first arrive? How does this work?

 

Due to sail on Mariner of the Seas 7/4/04

La Palma - sometime in Spring 1993

MS Romanza - 8/8/87-8/16/87

 

[ducklite]

Forever getting ready?

 

I can get ready in half an hour from the time I step into the shower until the time I leave the cabin in a gown. It doesn't take any longer to get dressed for dinner in formal wear than it does to get dressed for dinner in resort wear.

 

That is unless you normally go to dinner directly from a shore excursion, in which case, I hop I"m not sitting at or near your table. YUCK!

 

Anne

[hdawson]

I suggest that all cruisers research and choose the cruiseline that meets their personal standards and comfort level. There are lines that offer a more casual cruise experience including Windjammer, NCL, etc. Why would anyone choose a line that is not their "cup of tea"? In fact I think all lines offer alternative dining options for those that prefer not dressing appropriately for the dining room plus free room service.

[ducklite]

hdawson--I so agree with your comments! As much as we think that Crystal would be an excellent fit for us otherwise, my husband doesn't want to dress formally/semi-fornally dinner as often as Crystal dictates (and they won't seat those improperly dressed!)

Anne

[hdawson]

Anne. I think there might be another luxury line that promotes resort casual dress all the time rather than formal. Not sure which one but it is big bucks. It may include drinks and wine with meals and gratuities.

[xpcdoojk]

T Seago

Most women I am betting 95% are pretty dressed up, and most men at least 60% are in a sport coat or suit or tuxedo (probably 30-40% in tuxedos). I am an active shore excursion participant, as I frequently go scuba diving, and we always do something that is on the exotic side. The solution for rushing to get ready is to choose late seating for dinner. The other fact is that the 1st formal night is almost always at the end of the first sea day, so there is zero rushing involved.

jc

PS, I don't think your friend wants to go casual, so let her find out the way she wants to experience the cruise. Everyone is different, and there is no one size fits all, cruise experience.

[ducklite]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by hdawson:
Anne. I think there might be another luxury line that promotes resort casual dress all the time rather than formal. Not sure which one but it is big bucks. It may include drinks and wine with meals and gratuities.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You're thinking of Windjammer, which I'm sure re wonderful, but are a little too casual for us! We prefer something inbetween, and in a few years when our son won't be traveling with us any longer, we'll probably choose Radisson. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] For now, it's RCCL as they seem to offer the most for the late teen/early 20's crowd.

Anne

[T.Seago]

95% is pretty high...I brought her all of my pictures from the 3 cruises I have taken. I want her to do what she want as well...She wanted to make sure she was dressed enough and I told her she would be fine...and overdressed compared to some.

You can see in my formal night pix that a LOT of people are pretty casual. The "dressier" people tend to be in the "older set."

She is 24 (I am 32)and most of the people in our age set do NOT wear sequenced ball gowns/tuxes, etc. Not in the experience I have had.


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by xpcdoojk:
T Seago

Most women I am betting 95% are pretty dressed up, and most men at least 60% are in a sport coat or suit or tuxedo (probably 30-40% in tuxedos). I am an active shore excursion participant, as I frequently go scuba diving, and we always do something that is on the exotic side. The solution for rushing to get ready is to choose late seating for dinner. The other fact is that the 1st formal night is almost always at the end of the first sea day, so there is zero rushing involved.

jc

PS, I don't think your friend wants to go casual, so let her find out the way she wants to experience the cruise. Everyone is different, and there is no one size fits all, cruise experience.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[mafig]

T.Seago = People in the background dressed casually?

Of course this may happen if you were posing for pictures before your seating. Those people in the background may not have gotten dressed yet (for their late seating) or may have gotten changed (if they had early seating).

Thlere are also some cruiselines - for example, Celebrity - that ask you to remain formal for the evening.

[T.Seago]

I always wear a skirt and shirt and nice flat sandals...The people in the background of my pictures are dressed no nicer than me.


Here is an excerpt from an article.....


About Formal Nights on Cruises - By Susan Dunn, The EQ Coach



Much excitement and mystery surrounds the “formal nights” on cruises. It’s customary to have one formal night on a 5-day cruise, more in proportion on longer cruises. On my first cruise, I wondered what it would be like, how dressed-up people got, and what I would feel comfortable in.

Let me fill you in! I speak on cruise lines, and I’ve been on the Royal Caribbean, Costa and Carnival cruise lines lately.

Formal wear is officially defined as a tux or dark suit, white shirt and tie for men, and evening wear, cocktail dresses, fancy pantsuits or evening gowns for women. However, it’s ’03 folks, and I would consider Formal Night an opportunity to go formal, if you like to, but not an obligation.



<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mafig:
T.Seago = People in the background dressed casually?

Of course this may happen if you were posing for pictures before your seating. Those people in the background may not have gotten dressed yet (for their late seating) or may have gotten changed (if they had early seating).

Thlere are also some cruiselines - for example, Celebrity - that ask you to remain formal for the evening.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[xpcdoojk]

T Seago

Are you paying for your co-workers cruise?

nuff said....

jc

[T.Seago]

No...of course not. Our office did pitch in and gave her a really nice onboard credit for excursions. It is her honeymoon afterall. I am just trying to give her good advice.

Nuff? How old are you and who taught you to spell? Writing like that makes me think you might be not-so-bright.

I believe you meant to use the word "enough."



<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by xpcdoojk:
T Seago

Are you paying for your co-workers cruise?

nuff said....

jc<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>