My observations on my last several cruises show me that most guests change back into casual clothes after dinner, so what is the point? To impress my waiter or the people at my table that I'll never see again?
Also, it is difficult to accept how serious a cruise line is about formal nights when the waiters parade around the dining room in a conga line with the more talented ones balancing ketchup bottles on their heads. Sort of ruins the effect to me.
Dave you make some very good points. But I still prefer formal nights.
Just think, as the Country Club casual people force the lines to do away with formal nights, what will be next? Will the cutoff shorts & muscle shirt crowd then want change from casual attire?
In polls & discussions like this, I always express myself as favoring formal to prolong the inevitable.
O F C'er
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Experiences over the years enabled me to have all the answers, but not necessarily corresponding with your questions.
Dave you make some very good points. But I still prefer formal nights.
Just think, as the Country Club casual people force the lines to do away with formal nights, what will be next? Will the cutoff shorts & muscle shirt crowd then want change from casual attire?
In polls & discussions like this, I always express myself as favoring formal to prolong the inevitable.
O F C'er
Agree 100%..Besides the waiters on Luxury lines dont dance around the MDR with food on their heads. You might see that on Carnival, NCL, Royal Carribean but I'm pretty sure you won't see that on Crystal, Silversea or the other high end lines.
As far back as our first cruise in 1992, on Holland America no less, I saw a drunk man admitted to the dining room in a muscle shirt and shorts, and on a formal night.
It was easy to grow accustomed to Regent's "elegant casual" every night. On some cruises longer than 16 nights, they will have a "formal optional" night wherein I would wear a tux so that I fit in with those that enjoy the more formal atmosphere. I do take a couple of sports coats and a tie for Seven Seas Society dinner but otherwise just wear slacks and long sleeve shirt.
You shouldn't mix formality up with luxury. You can have luxury and formality together (e.g., SIlversea) but they aren't the same thing.
Marc
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Marc
"The test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function."
F Scott Fitzgerald
Seven Seas Navigator (12nts) - San Francisco - Vancouver - May13
Silversea Silver Explorer (23nts) - Kangerlussuaq, Greenland - Nome, Alaska - Aug 14
You are in Huntsville? I am in East Limestone county.
I am just over the county line by Balch and Capshaw; we need to get together for a drink.
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Marc
"The test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function."
F Scott Fitzgerald
Seven Seas Navigator (12nts) - San Francisco - Vancouver - May13
Silversea Silver Explorer (23nts) - Kangerlussuaq, Greenland - Nome, Alaska - Aug 14
For many long time cruisers, we have seen things change so drastically with the lines themselves, and the airlines that take us to the ship. In the begiining wide eyed crusiers, read every word about what to bring and how to dress. We browsed the stores for just the right "look" for our formal nights.
We dressed to the nines, and did so gladly. Then, as years went on, the airlines started to charge for baggage,and it became harder to justify for many, the tux, the cocktail dresses,and all the ecoutremonts of dressing to the nines.
The cruise lines have diluted the formal nights, by allowing improperly dressed passengers in the dr,and by doing this, passengers who used to look with excitment about dressing, just decided it's easier to not partake, the way they used to.
I was one of those cruisers, who used to do exactly what they were supposed to do as far as dress codes. With age, comes my decision, to be well dressed, with nice dressy seperates, easy to pack, but not overly overdone. I am not willing to shlep the things I used to, and pay the airlines for baggage, that used to be at no charge.
Are we dressed appropriately, yes, and if we decide to do away with even bringing that type of clothing, we would eat in other venues, or sail with NCL exclusively. Things have changed in the cruise world, no matter how many of us don't want to admt it. I was one. I think the main complaint of many, is the fact, people who don't follow the dress code, still will flaunt the dress suggestions, and, dine in the main DR. anyway, with the, "my vaction" attitude.
These dress code threads have dwindled over the years, with more and more people coming over to the dark side
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Trip, with her book & tea!
Chat Hostess & Board Moderator
I have to agree with Trip. We use to look forward to Formal night and I would shop for days looking for the right 'formal' wear that could fit into a suitcase. Then my husband would have to pack his slakes, ties, special shirts AND a tux. It was fun and exciting.
But now...you have to pay for any extra luggage on the airlines. You put all this effort into dressing up and in the dining room are passengers in JEANS, sundresses with flip-flops. The last time we cruise we were sooooooo put out because we had lugged these extra clothes around in heavy suitcases and felt it was mostly useless. (although we were seated at the captain's table, and everyone was well dressed at every meal) Passengers just didn't dress up!
We've decided to go light weight from now on. Light weight luggage, clothes etc. If we want to go to formal night, I'll bring an easy care dressy dress (plenty of choices) and my husband will rent a tux. More than that...we're not!...Times have certainly changed. It may not be what we like or prefer, but changed they have.
...Times have certainly changed. It may not be what we like or prefer, but changed they have.
As I implied in an earlier post, it is inevitable formal nights will eventually be history. The only reason cruiselines still have them; it’s a moneymaker. Picture taking and some Pax like specialty restaurants on format (non lobster) nights with wine.
But, I will be a holdout until I am out of place in my tux on formal nights or there isn't any format nights.
O F C'er
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Experiences over the years enabled me to have all the answers, but not necessarily corresponding with your questions.
Prior to our first cruise 20+ years ago my wife and I went out and bought two formal outfits each. I bought a tuxedo and a white dinner jacket, along with two different cummerbund sets. I still have them although they don't come close to fitting anymore.
I think we had the usual two formal nights on that cruise, along with two semi-formal, and I want to say there was at least one 'informal' night which still meant jacket and tie. Semi-formal was a suit. This was with HAL, and I think just about every man wore a tux or dinner jacket on the formal nights. Very few in suits.
Prior to our first cruise 20+ years ago my wife and I went out and bought two formal outfits each. I bought a tuxedo and a white dinner jacket, along with two different cummerbund sets. I still have them although they don't come close to fitting anymore.
I think we had the usual two formal nights on that cruise, along with two semi-formal, and I want to say there was at least one 'informal' night which still meant jacket and tie. Semi-formal was a suit. This was with HAL, and I think just about every man wore a tux or dinner jacket on the formal nights. Very few in suits.
Definitely! When we started cruising I wouldn't have dreamt of skipping formal night. Not sure when it started to change, maybe we were jaded and they weren't special anymore or we just preferred to eat less formally. Can't put my finger on it, but it definitely changed for us. Still have all the gowns and my DH's Tux, but the haven't been on a cruise with us in about 4 or 5 years.
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Paris and German Christmas Markets
I actually used to like wearing the tux and dinner jacket, but then as I got older my personal comfort took priority and I got to where I hated being hot and trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey, and started asking myself why I was doing this. I couldn't enjoy the meal as much, and strutting around looking like an extra in a James Bond movie casino scene was no longer appealing to me.
As I implied in an earlier post, it is inevitable formal nights will eventually be history. The only reason cruiselines still have them; it’s a moneymaker. Picture taking and some Pax like specialty restaurants on format (non lobster) nights with wine.
But, I will be a holdout until I am out of place in my tux on formal nights or there isn't any format nights.
O F C'er
Thank you O F C'er, that has been my argument - Formal Nights is a moneymaker and that is all.
Am I alone in not liking photographers harassing you at meal-time?
My answer is..It depends!! I always pack the appropriate attire to attend formal nights..and always go to at least one of them. However, I have been on a 7 night cruise and skipped one of the formal nights as I was in the mood to go to one of them, but not in the mood to go to the second. Some of my decision is based on menu, some of it is based on how long my day was in port and how tired I am!!
I loved to get dressed up and feel oh so feminine. Hence, I have to go at least once. I love the old fashioned feeling formal nights lend. I guess in the end..I'm FOR formal nights.
T
Am I alone in not liking photographers harassing you at meal-time?
Annie
Easily the biggest annoyance of the cruise to me! I can't stand it! "Yes. Let's interrupt their dinner and conversation so we can make them move around at the table and give forced smiles for our lousy photos while their food gets cold." It must be a money maker or they wouldn't do it. I wish they were banished from the dining room.
Am I alone in not liking photographers harassing you at meal-time?
Annie
Annie, I agee 100%. At other locations where they want to take your picture, you can just walk around them. In the dining rooms, you are trapped. You are with table mates you don't know very well so you have to be nice and not tell the photographer to get lost.
O F C'er
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Experiences over the years enabled me to have all the answers, but not necessarily corresponding with your questions.
Am I alone in not liking photographers harassing you at meal-time?
Annie
Annie, I agree 100%. At other locations where they want to take your picture, you can just walk around them. In the dining rooms, you are trapped. You are with table mates you don't know very well so you have to be nice and not tell the photographer to get lost.
O F C'er
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Experiences over the years enabled me to have all the answers, but not necessarily corresponding with your questions.
We tell the photographer to get lost. We just smile and tell them to save their film.
I have never had or wished to have a tux. I have worn a dark suit when necessary, but a tie is like a hangman's noose to me. I do appreciate Carnival's elegant nights and feel comfortable and not out of place wearing a collered sports shirt and dress slacks.
I love formal nights...I also love the big bands and swing bands...I guess I missed the full era being born in the 50's..alittle to late.
It just seems that for the most part a majority of people either don't know what is appropriate to wear, don't care or don't want to be told what to wear since they are paying for their vacation.
I know it makes me feel good to look good and to have some pride in the way I dress...Im not wearing formal attire to impress anybody, Im wearing to feel a sense of pride.
As far as picture taking..The only picture I buy is the portrait picture during formal night, the rest they can toss.
I wear nice slacks and shirt to my place of business even though I don't have to. I wear formal attire to formal events, I would rather dress up then down.
Some peope like to dress nicely and some people don't...because you don't does not mean I hold it against you, Its just that I would rather see people dress formal on formal nights.
Crystal cruise in December.
P.S...hope you eys aint bleding...lolol.
Hey buttons, so are you going on a Crystal cruise in December? (teasing)
As for formal night..i have to dress up during my work week with suits/skirts/etc. Plus i attend many formal events for my company that i am expected to dress to a high level. There is something about getting all "gussied up" that makes you feel good about yourself and puts off a certain aura, so i would not have an issue with formal night. However, if there were multiple formal nights, i would lean towards only doing one full on formal and the rest just dressed nicely...i am on vacation you know! I can't impress everybody!...lol
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NCL Epic 2012
"A painter paints pictures on a canvas, but musicians paint their pictures on silence"
First, I absolutely adore the waiters singing, that is the highlight of my cruise!
As far as "elegant night", I usually wear church clothes, because I'm not going to pack a formal dress to wear for a few hours. But I wouldn't wear jeans either. What is really ironic about this question is, I would have to get my pictures out to see what "I" wore on "Elegant Night" and I have no idea at all what the people across the table wore. But I sure did enjoy their company! That's what matters most to me! Just dress comfortable. Those precious cooks didn't cook all of this great food for nothing.
Loosen up, it's your vacation! Enjoy yourselves and your tablemates.
__________________ the INSPIRATION the CELEBRATION the SENSATION the SENSATION
"Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."
Lest face it, all of the cruise lines continue to have their formal nights just to encourage the passengers to spend a little more than they would any other night- wine, photo's, after dinner drinks. They tolerate the non compliant people who choose not to follow the crowd as long as their within limited bounds. If they were to stop the formal nights altogether they would lose business from lots of folks who really enjoy dressing up. We gave up the formal dressing years ago enjoying our cruise more than ever and continue to eat in their main dining rooms dressed nicely.
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We tell the photographer to get lost. We just smile and tell them to save their film.
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