It's been many years since I've been on a cruise. I'll be sailing on the Mariner of the Seas later this month. I was wondering, how formal is dining these days. It seems like at most formal events I attend these days formal no longer means dresses for women or dress shirts, ties and jackets for men. Please enlighten me.
Formal night has almost changed to "Formal is in the eyes of the Beholder"...
We had people in tuxs and then some men showed up in jeans on our last cruise on the Voyager of the Seas...I personally wear a sport coat, dress shirt, tie and of course pants:-)...and on the second formal night...I did the same and was WAY overdressed....it has changed....But dress to the nines if you want to....
Hi Bryce, welcome to cruise-chat! 'Tis sad but true, formal nights have changed. I personally love dressing up and make my hubby wear a jacket and tie, but tell him he can go change after dinner. I enjoy getting some pictures taken on formal night, he really looks so handsome dressed up. You definitely will see everything, but I'm surprised that RCI allows jeans. Princess will not allow them in the dining room for formal night at all. Best wishes and have a wonderful cruise, hope you'll let us know how you enjoyed it!
Alas, even just in the last ten years, formal night has degraded to a come as you are event. RCCL and Carnival are very lax in dress code enforcement. It's been a long time since I have witnessed someone being refused entry to a dining room. Their is always a guy wearing flip flops, shorts, and a hawaiian print shirt. Of course I am guilty of wearing Birkenstocks with my tuxedo when I left my dress shoes at home.
Last week on the Liberty I saw many people coming to dinner in shorts and t-shirts on the casual nights and nothing was said to them. On the formal nights I didn't see this.
I used to bring a tux but have stopped doing that and now go with suits and sportcoats with tie. It is mostly a comfort thing for me. I always felt trussed up in a tux and got tired of being miserable just to impress others with my wardrobe.
We are taking our 1st cruise in October. My husband was going to buy a black suit but will his dark grey one be okay?
I think it looks lovely when everyone is dressed up. It's not often we get to do it!
Originally posted by Kentishgirl:
We are taking our 1st cruise in October. My husband was going to buy a black suit but will his dark grey one be okay?
I think it looks lovely when everyone is dressed up. It's not often we get to do it!
The dark grey suit will be more than adequate. He doesn't need to buy the black one unless he just wants it. I, like Dave mentioned, no longer bother bringing a tux onboard. I love to eat and I love to be comfortable when I am eating. Probably the strangest trend that I noticed in Europe last month was men wearing capri pants...
On my first cruise, I brought a Tux and was SEVERELY overdressed for the night. Most commonly, woman will be in dresses and men in suits. There are a couple people that are extreme and wear a Tux, but not many. Just bring something nice and look good, but stay comfortable.
Many thanks to all of you for your input. It sounds like definately a dress shirt and slacks with maybe a sports jacket and tie, for the formal nights and be civil and clean on the other nights. My wife has found a lovely dress which I'm much looking forward to seeing her in, even tho' she looks great dresses, she'll only wear one under duress.
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