Kids Dinner Attire-What to wear?

Travel2 · #1 (**permalink**) March 9th, 2006, 10:57 AM

We will be cruising on the Elation from Galveston in April. We have two boys ages 3 & 6. What is the appropriate dinner attire for kids on non-formal nights? Can they wear dress shorts (not denim) and a button down shirt or do they have to wear slacks?

I would appreciate any information! Thanks!

Kuki · #2 (**permalink**) March 9th, 2006, 11:42 AM

For kids that young I think that attire sounds fine.

LisaK · #3 (**permalink**) March 9th, 2006, 01:48 PM

hmmmm, that is a really great question. Technically the dress code states no shorts in the dining room during dinner hours. I really don't see a problem with nice shorts, a nice shirt and nice sandals or casual shoes for kids that young. What i would do to be on the safe side is to pack a pair or two of cargo or dockers type pants for your little guys, once aboard i would seek out the Maitre D and ask him if it would be proper for your guys to wear dress shorts/with a nice shirt on casual nights. We have done this in the past if we weren't sure of an outfit, the Maitre D is very appreciative of things like that. He will most likely tell you that the shorts will be just fine.

Mom1977 · #4 (**permalink**) March 9th, 2006, 02:13 PM

The dress code for the dining room at dinner is no shorts, and that is for children also.

I made all mine wear long pants last year. It also helps them start to learn there are certain codes of dress (and conduct) in different places, and they are required to go along, if they want to be included.

Just like here locally, we take them out to eat. If we are going to the local Mexican joint, shorts are fine. But if we are planning a fine dining experience on the Plaza, we will require them to dress accordingly.

Rev22:17 · #5 (**permalink**) March 9th, 2006, 06:12 PM

Travel2,

We will be cruising on the Elation from Galveston in April. We have two boys ages 3 & 6. What is the appropriate dinner attire for kids on non-formal nights? Can they wear dress shorts (not denim) and a button down shirt or do they have to wear slacks? I would appreciate any information! Thanks!

Children should conform to the prescribed standard of dress, regardless of age. Most tuxedo rental shops do rent tuxedos in their sizes (very popular for ring bearers and junior ushers in weddings) and would put together a "cruise package" for your boys to wear the formal nights. They would look dandy in matching outfits! On the casual evenings, they should wear slacks (not bluejeans) and shirts with collars, just like adults. They most assuredly are not too young to learn that certain attire is not appropriate in certain places.

If your children are not accustomed to dining out, you might want to consider taking your children to restaurants a few times before your cruise so they understand how restaurants work. Start with something simple, like Denny's, Perkins, or Big Boy and progress through casual dining (Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, etc.) to a fancier establishment near your home. That way, you'll go on the cruise with confidence that your boys know how to behave and what to expect in the ship's dining room.

Norm.

karessamom · #6 (**permalink**) March 21st, 2006, 03:09 PM

For Formal nite (Monarch of Sea--4-day) what would be appropriate for a 5YO boy? Would just nice slacks, white shirt and tie be ok--I know it's not a tux but frankly he'd have it destroyed!

dina · #7 (**permalink**) March 21st, 2006, 03:41 PM

I saw a little boy dressed like that except he had a little jacket as well. It should be fine

Rev22:17 · #8 (**permalink**) March 21st, 2006, 09:58 PM

karessamom,

For Formal nite (Monarch of Sea--4-day) what would be appropriate for a 5YO boy? Would just nice slacks, white shirt and tie be ok--I know it's not a tux but frankly he'd have it destroyed!

Fitting him to a tux should be no problem. The tuxedo shops all carry tuxedos in his size because they rent them to ring bearers, etc., for weddings. They would gladly put together a "cruise package" for him.

When you get aboard ship, check at the children's center to see what sort of attire they expect after dinner on the formal evenings. IIRC, the young children have a slumber party after 10:00 PM, and they obviously don't wear tuxes for that. Thus, I'm guessing that the youngsters "dress down" after they eat.

Norm.

LisaK · #9 (**permalink**) March 22nd, 2006, 10:41 AM

karessamom- for your 5 year old boy- add a jacket and dress shoes - and you will be fine. You can find suit coats cheaply at your local thrift stores, consignment shop, check out JC Penney and your local discount department stores, some have jackets now for Easter.

karessamom · #10 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2006, 09:01 AM

I just bought son a dark blue suite at Walmart for about $35--They have all their Easter stuff out--suites and fancy dresses for kids! Now is the time to buy if you need to!

Rev22:17 · #11 (**permalink**) March 29th, 2006, 02:23 PM

karessamom,

I just bought son a dark blue suite at Walmart for about $35--They have all their Easter stuff out--suites and fancy dresses for kids! Now is the time to buy if you need to!

While walking through Wal*Mart last night, I noticed a rack of very fancy "Easter" dresses for young girls, all priced under $20, that would be very suitable for formal evenings.

Norm.

lovetocruise2006 · #12 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2006, 09:37 AM

After buying my son new dress shoes for every cruise that he would only wear once because he is growing so fast, I opted to buy him Black Nike sneakers for which he also gets plenty of wear following the cruise.

Fern · #13 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2006, 08:24 PM

I know it's not up to Norm's "standards", (sorry Norm!

) but on our third cruise we saw two little boys dressed in sailor suits (dark blue shorts, white knee socks, clean white tennis shoes, and a white sailor top with a blue "scarf" type tie. (This was on a formal night.)

I thought they were just adorable!

I'm sure this wouldn't work with older boys who know what they want, but these little ones were so cute!

Just another suggestion!

hrcroddick1 · #14 (**permalink**) April 4th, 2006, 09:57 AM

I cruise with another couple and we both have daughters who are now 8-years-old. It took us until the second cruise together to realize that EVERYONE has a better time when we feed the kids first and send them off to the kids program while the adults enjoy their dinner.

The kids would rather have some kid friendly food and be in the kids club than have us asking them to sit quietly while we have dinner and drinks with friends. It may sound mean, but believe me, if you ask the kids what they would rather do, they will probably tell you that they would prefer to sing songs, play games and run around than sit at the dinner table trying to act like little gentlemen

Rev22:17 · #15 (**permalink**) April 4th, 2006, 10:33 PM

hrcroddick1,

I cruise with another couple and we both have daughters who are now 8-years-old. It took us until the second cruise together to realize that EVERYONE has a better time when we feed the kids first and send them off to the kids program while the adults enjoy their dinner. The kids would rather have some kid friendly food and be in the kids club than have us asking them to sit quietly while we have dinner and drinks with friends. It may sound mean, but believe me, if you ask the kids what they would rather do, they will probably tell you that they would prefer to sing songs, play games and run around than sit at the dinner table trying to act like little gentlemen

Perhaps, but the other side of this coin is that experience of sitting at the dinner table and acting like little gentlemen (or ladies) is a wonderful learning experience for all youngsters.

FWIW, I'm also aware of couples who bring the children to dinner in the dining room but have the waiter bring the children their meal served with the early courses of the adult meal, then take their children up to the children's program between courses of the adult meal. This seems to offer the best of both worlds.

Norm.