Poll: Would changes to the dress code prevent you cruising hal?

[fann1sh]

There are a lot of threads and posts on dress codes on this board. I'm curious how many here are passionate enough about this subject to change their cruising habits over it.


Current dress code (in case you don't have it memorized):


“Evening dress falls into two distinct categories: Formal or Smart Casual. Smart Casual can be defined as slacks and collared shirts for men and casual dresses, slacks and informal evening wear for women. T-shirts, swimsuits, tank tops and shorts are not allowed in the restaurants or public areas during the evening hours. On festive Formal evenings, ladies usually wear a suit, cocktail dress or gown and gentlemen wear a jacket and tie, dark suit or tuxedo. There are approximately two formal nights per week.
In order to complement your fellow guests, Holland America Line asks that you observe the suggested dress code throughout the entire evening.”


For this poll, I'm going to assume something a real, scientific poll wouldn't: you can live with the status quo.


I'm also going to do something a proper poll wouldn't....define my terms.


Answer “NO, dress code changes won't affect whether I book HAL” if you expect to book HAL in future with the same regularity as you do now, no matter what happens to the dress code. It could be because you're a HAL loyalist, or because dress codes don't matter a darn to you, or some other reason. (I really wanted to give “don't matter a darn” it's own button. People exhausted by dress codes deserve a chance to vent. However.....trying to keep the numbers simple, if not scientific.)


Answer “YES, a more casual dress code would prevent me from cruising HAL”, if you would not cruise HAL at all, or would cruise less frequently if:




smart casual dress code was relaxed to allow shorts, etc, and/or;
formal nights were eliminated or cut back in number, and/or;
dress code for formal nights was relaxed further.



Answer “YES, a stricter dress code would prevent me from cruising HAL”, if you would not cruise HAL at all, or would cruise less frequently if:




the existing smart casual dress code was made mandatory and enforced in the main dining room, show lounge and casino, and/or:
the existing formal dress code was made mandatory and enforced in the main dining room, show lounge, and casino; however I'm also assuming the Lido/Canaletto would still be open and casual for dinner, and you could go on deck, get a drink in the bars, go out in the halls, etc. dressed casually on formal night....just not to the public “events” I've mentioned.



To those who ask “How would HAL enforce dress code in those places?” please just assume for this survey they could and would.


I've also left a “Something else, which I'll post” option.


Survey open for 5 days, results displayed, but who posted what answer will be anonymous.

[Randyk47]

We like the formal nights. We actually like them a lot. Would doing away with formal nights keep us from cruising with HAL? Probably not. Would it make HAL less attractive to us? Yes. We think it would degrade our cruising experience.

[oliverbc]

Hi Patrica, We love formal nights and look forward to getting dressed up. If there were no formal nights we may change to another line.

[fridayeyes]

I like the dress code the way it is. I enjoy dressing for dinner, but wouldn't want to do it every night. HAL cruisers are still dressed, on the average, at a higher level of formality than the average Carnival cruiser, and that suits me just fine. Please note that this is not a slap at Carnival. When we cruise as an extended family, we go Carnival and we enjoy it. But when I'm solo or with my cruise pal, I prefer HAL.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We love the formal nights!! Having had to attend several formal dinners while we worked -- we are used to them.

I want HAL to enforce the rules for formal nights.

I don't want to see people dressed in slacks and polo shirts and ball caps in the dining room on formal nights like we saw on our last cruise.

[TucsonRick]

Haven't we beaten this subject to death? Why do we have to revisit it over and over and over and over again? Let's talk about smoking!

[fann1sh]

We love the formal nights!! Having had to attend several formal dinners while we worked -- we are used to them.

I want HAL to enforce the rules for formal nights.

I don't want to see people dressed in slacks and polo shirts and ball caps in the dining room on formal nights like we saw on our last cruise.

Thanks for voting "something else", and letting us know what that is, KK!

[TucsonRick]

And now I see you have posted this three times in two days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[IRL_Joanie]

And now I see you have posted this three times in two days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes this has been posted 3 times now over the last 2-3 days, BUT there were problems and Fannish has finally been able to do what she first attempted 2 days ago.

AND NO, this subject has not been discussed in a poll form the same as alcohol smuggling has been as well as many other subjects.

Might I suggest that if you are unhappy with the subject, that you bypass the thread entirely??

Joanie

[serendipity1499]

Haven't we beaten this subject to death? Why do we have to revisit it over and over and over and over again? Let's talk about smoking!

If you don't like a subject, then why post at all?:confused:

Please don't decide for other posters what subjects should or should not be revisited...That is the Host's decision to make...

Suggest you just ignore those subjects & go on to subjects you wish to participate in.. :)

Happy Easter every one..Betty

[serendipity1499]

Yes this has been posted 3 times now over the last 2-3 days, BUT there were problems and Fannish has finally been able to do what she first attempted 2 days ago.

AND NO, this subject has not been discussed in a poll form the same as alcohol smuggling has been as well as many other subjects.

Might I suggest that if you are unhappy with the subject, that you bypass the thread entirely??

Joanie

Sorry Joanie, we were posting at the same time!

[serendipity1499]

And now I see you have posted this three times in two days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you had read those threads, you would have seen that Host Walt closed the other posts in order for Fannish to re-post & rephrase some of the questions, which many of us are actually interested in..

He did not close them for any other reason..So as Joanie so diplomatically said, If you are unhappy with the subject we suggest you by pass the thread entirely..

Cheers...:)Betty



Betty

[European_CruiseGirl]

I voted "YES, a more casual dress code would prevent me from cruising HAL ". The main reason for this is that IMHO HAL would not be HAL if they changed their dress code to let's say NCL's "dress however you like whenever you like". Most likely if the dress code would change to a more NCL type of dress code the demographics of the HAL cruises would change also and with that the whole ambiance. Now this doesn't mean that I think that only certain kind of people should sail HAL. No. But I'm saying that the sophisticated environment HAL has onboard would change if every night was "wear whatever you like" night. And one thing I really love about HAL is that sophisticated feeling.

Somehow I seem to be unable to write my thoughts very clearly now. I hope someone gets the point nonetheless... :o

[jtl513]

As you've defined the choices, I voted NO, a change wouldn't affect my plans. However, if “YES, a stricter dress code would prevent me from cruising HAL” meant going to a stricter definition of formal (tuxes and gowns, period) then I would say YES, a stricter code would prevent me from cruising HAL.
Haven't we beaten this subject to death? Why do we have to revisit it over and over and over and over again? Let's talk about smoking!You're not required to participate in any thread. If fact, you're not required to participate in this forum at all.

[IRL_Joanie]

I voted "YES, a more casual dress code would prevent me from cruising HAL ". The main reason for this is that IMHO HAL would not be HAL if they changed their dress code to let's say NCL's "dress however you like whenever you like". Most likely if the dress code would change to a more NCL type of dress code the demographics of the HAL cruises would change also and with that the whole ambiance. Now this doesn't mean that I think that only certain kind of people should sail HAL. No. But I'm saying that the sophisticated environment HAL has onboard would change if every night was "wear whatever you like" night. And one thing I really love about HAL is that sophisticated feeling.

Somehow I seem to be unable to write my thoughts very clearly now. I hope someone gets the point nonetheless... :o

I disagree with you European_CruiseGirl!! I think you have put in writing my thoughts exactly!!

I also voted "YES, a more casual dress code would prevent me from cruising HAL ", for the exact same reason.

I cruise not only for the itinerary, but also the Ambiance. I do not want to see people dressed in jeans and tees 24/7 on a cruise. I want the "Cruise Ambiance" that HAL has.

If people do not like to dress as if they have some sort of decency, let them go to another cruise line and they can dress down as much as they wish. I want people/fellow cruisers who know that they have booked a cruise on a ship with some dignity and to dress accordingly.

Yo me, dressing in jeans/shorts and tees while on a cruise of HAL's caliber would be as much an insult as going to Princess Diane's wedding dressed like that would have been.:eek::eek::eek:

Joanie

[chrispb]

I voted "YES, a more casual dress code would prevent me from cruising HAL ". The main reason for this is that IMHO HAL would not be HAL if they changed their dress code to let's say NCL's "dress however you like whenever you like". Most likely if the dress code would change to a more NCL type of dress code the demographics of the HAL cruises would change also and with that the whole ambiance. Now this doesn't mean that I think that only certain kind of people should sail HAL. No. But I'm saying that the sophisticated environment HAL has onboard would change if every night was "wear whatever you like" night. And one thing I really love about HAL is that sophisticated feeling.

Somehow I seem to be unable to write my thoughts very clearly now. I hope someone gets the point nonetheless... :o

Nice to see the word "sophisticated" used instead of "elegant" or elegance" which has been sooo over-used in previous threads about formal-wear. :D

[fann1sh]

As you've defined the choices, I voted NO, a change wouldn't affect my plans. However, if “YES, a stricter dress code would prevent me from cruising HAL” meant going to a stricter definition of formal (tuxes and gowns, period) then I would say YES, a stricter code would prevent me from cruising HAL.
You're not required to participate in any thread. If fact, you're not required to participate in this forum at all.

I don't think any line is ever going back to tuxes and gowns exclusively.

[jtl513]

I don't think any line is ever going back to tuxes and gowns exclusively.If any did, it would certainly have a very limited client base! But even if HAL upped it to the level of Cunard, we would choose to try another line.

[foodsvcmgr]

The current dress code is a reasonable compromise, but should be enforced, particularly on formal nights, at least to the degree that men
would need a tie & jacket.

[rjm1cc]

I checked other. We are trying to cut down on what we have to pack. Thus I would drop the formal nights and leave the rest alone.

Shorts would also be ok.

[Himself]

I have my own unique dress code and even it "it" changes, mine does not.

[jtl513]

I have my own unique dress code and even it "it" changes, mine does not.Kinda like uniform-al? :)

[Lady Chew]

we've just booked our first cruise on HAL, we have 6 on RCL, going on Oasis later this week (hooray!!)

We booked the HAL cruise for the itinerary. We really don't see there will be major differences in the "ambience" of the ship ... we'll dress about the same for formal night - sports jacket & tie for Mr Chew, black dressy pants w/ nice tops for me.

If the dress code was more strict, and highly enforced, we still would have booked this cruise for the itinerary, and would eat elsewhere on formal nights.

We're looking forward to branching out to a new cruise line.

[Himself]

The unique dress is a clerical shirt and collar.

[AlexandNessa]

I don't want to see the dress code relaxed. Many people's definition of "smart casual" seems to forget the word "smart" as it is. I've seen too many people wearing on a ship at dinner what they'd sooner be wearing to do yard work on a Saturday afternoon.

Personally, I would rather HAL simply ENFORCE the dress code they ALREADY have. I'm fine with it the way it is; just step up and enforce it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

And now I see you have posted this three times in two days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not Really -- the first time Fann1sh tried to do the poll -- the choices did not show so she asked the administers to close it.

The next time the "poll" choices wouldn't take for voting -- but people talked anyway.

SO -- this time it took as she planned it.

There were not 3 polls done by her.

[lorekauf]

I don't want to see the dress code relaxed. Many people's definition of "smart casual" seems to forget the word "smart" as it is. I've seen too many people wearing on a ship at dinner what they'd sooner be wearing to do yard work on a Saturday afternoon.

Personally, I would rather HAL simply ENFORCE the dress code they ALREADY have. I'm fine with it the way it is; just step up and enforce it.
That's it in a nut shell.....simply enforce it. Seem like it something HAL doesn't want to do. In that case they should get rid of it. I always dress for the occasion...it's really not that difficult. I like to look nice. For others, I guess that's not something that interests them.

[DRWhit]

I checked "Something Else". I have not yet cruised with HAL, having not been on that many cruises. We recently cruised with RCL and Celebrity, and enjoyed both tremendously. HAL's turn is coming up this summer.

So right now I would say we are still trying out the different cruise lines, and date/cost/itenerary drive our cruise selection.

But I would also say that I would not have a problem with whatever dress code requirements any given line would impose. Being a guy, its pretty easy to dress to any given level. I personally do not find wearing a tie and a jacket uncomfortable. As long as the shirt and jacket you are wearing fit properly, there should be no problem. So I am just as happy dressed in suit or tux as I am in a golf shirt. Just let me know, and as long as the food shows up I will be happy.

[RevNeal]

I checked "Something Else" because, while I wouldn't be at all happy with a more casual dress code and while dress code changes would impact my HAL bookings, such probably wouldn't completely "prevent me from cruising HAL." If HAL did away with Formal Nights I would probably cruise HAL a great deal LESS than I currently do, and spend at least some time on Cunard or a similar Line where Formal Nights were still held and respected by the Line and its passengers, but I'm not certain that I'd quit HAL altogether. Formal Nights -- the genteel atmosphere which they help generate and the joy of dressing up which helps make such evenings special -- are an important part of cruising for me. HAL might not be HAL without the elegant sophistication of formal Nights, however HAL would still have such an incredible product, with wonderful ships and an extensive collection of itineraries, I just can't conceive of not trying to "make do" even with a HAL that is more casual than I would like. Indeed, in many ways I already have to tolerate a more casual environment than I would like and yet I continue to cruise on HAL.

[Storylady]

That's it in a nut shell.....simply enforce it. Seem like it something HAL doesn't want to do. In that case they should get rid of it. I always dress for the occasion...it's really not that difficult. I like to look nice. For others, I guess that's not something that interests them.

They did enforce it on the Statendam when we were on the Panama Canal Cruise in November, 2009. The two people that I saw turned away from the DR were blistering mad. They were definitely overly rude to the DRM who was just doing his job. Maybe that is why some DRM don't enforce the rules. So sad. I really felt for the DRM---certainly not the passenger who was extremely rude.

[bepsf]

If HAL were to discontinue Formal Nights there would be very little reason for me to stay with HAL...
...might as well move to Oceania for Smart Casual (that new Marina is mighty tempting!) or Cunard & Crystal for Formal Nights.

[cruiserking]

As much as we love HAL we would no longer cruise with them if they discontinued formal nights. Those evenings add such special ambience that without that dose of elegance it would be a faux HAL experience; NCL in HAL clothing. We too would opt for Cunard and Celebrity instead.

Jonathan

[lorekauf]

They did enforce it on the Statendam when we were on the Panama Canal Cruise in November, 2009. The two people that I saw turned away from the DR were blistering mad. They were definitely overly rude to the DRM who was just doing his job. Maybe that is why some DRM don't enforce the rules. So sad. I really felt for the DRM---certainly not the passenger who was extremely rude.
I don't know why people would be blistering mad. I guess because it's a me me world. I'm surprised they turned people away. In November 2008 one of the ladies at the table wore a hoodie on formal night and she got in no problem.

[usha]

In November 2008 one of the ladies at the table wore a hoodie on formal night and she got in no problem.
Was it a formal hoodie?;):D

[RevNeal]

I don't know why people would be blistering mad. I guess because it's a me me world. I'm surprised they turned people away. In November 2008 one of the ladies at the table wore a hoodie on formal night and she got in no problem.

They were probably mad because they had been assured, prior to their cruise by friends/family/CC-posters, that it didn't matter what they wore, "just wear whatever makes you feel comfortable" and "the dress code is just suggested, it's not required" etc etc etc.

[buckirj1]

Was it a formal hoodie?;):D


Be careful what you wish for. Cross my heart, I've seen rhinestone-encrusted hoodies:eek:

[PathfinderEss]

Be careful what you wish for. Cross my heart, I've seen rhinestone-encrusted hoodies:eek:
or rhinestone-encrusted baseball caps........................


http://i.ebayimg.com/14/!BN2uwDgBGk~$(KGrHgoH-CUEjlLl1UPiBJrvTVLM4Q~~_35.JPG

[buckirj1]

or rhinestone-encrusted baseball caps........................



http://i.ebayimg.com/14/!BN2uwDgBGk~$(KGrHgoH-CUEjlLl1UPiBJrvTVLM4Q~~_35.JPG


Wheee! Wear 'em together and you'd have an ensemble for formal night. A li'l black, a li'l bling...and you're sorted.

[RedmondCruiser]

Lets all face it, formal is fading fast. I like formal night but am feeling more out of place wearing a tux than in past years. I guess you can't fight the tide. What bothers me is the complete slobs that show up in the MDR. Some look like they just got off their tractor. Baseball caps - tee shirts etc etc. all seem to be showing up more and more. If HAL does anything I wish they would enforce the dress code.

In 35 HAL cruises I have only seen one person turned away in the MDR. He was an older fellow, on formal night, who did look like he just got off his tractor.

My delema is what to do with my three tuxes ? Maybe a ceremonial cremation on my front lawn ?

[lorekauf]

Was it a formal hoodie?;):D

No, it was more a "I'm going to do the yardwork hoodie":D.

[cruiserking]

How is it that people are perfectly comfortable hauling cases of soda, water and bottles of wine aboard but, when it comes to toting a tuxedo it's out of the question. :confused:

Jonathan

[lorekauf]

They were probably mad because they had been assured, prior to their cruise by friends/family/CC-posters, that it didn't matter what they wore, "just wear whatever makes you feel comfortable" and "the dress code is just suggested, it's not required" etc etc etc.
Yes....sad but probably true.

[lorekauf]

How is it that people are perfectly comfortable hauling cases of soda, water and bottles of wine aboard but, when it comes to toting a tuxedo it's out of the question. :confused:

Jonathan
So true.....but hauling liquids is a good heavy...hauling proper clothes is not:D. I remember people saying they were bringing Xmas lights to decorate their blacony. That's not a problem. Dressing formally is.

[PathfinderEss]

Lets all face it, formal is fading fast. I like formal night but am feeling more out of place wearing a tux than in past years. I guess you can't fight the tide. What bothers me is the complete slobs that show up in the MDR. Some look like they just got off their tractor. Baseball caps - tee shirts etc etc. all seem to be showing up more and more. If HAL does anything I wish they would enforce the dress code.

In 35 HAL cruises I have only seen one person turned away in the MDR. He was an older fellow, on formal night, who did look like he just got off his tractor.

My delema is what to do with my three tuxes ? Maybe a ceremonial cremation on my front lawn ?
I don't care what other people do, I like to dress up on cruises and will keep doing so, even if they change the dress codes. It takes nothing to put on some black pants and a sparkle top. I don't understand why that is so hard for some people to do. My DH will keep wearing his tux, he looks so handsome in them. RedmondCruiser don't cremate your tuxes, because there are passengers that choose to look like they just came off the farm, why can't we keep dressing for dinner. We're not going to McDonald's last time I checked, were going to a nice dinning room, so why is it so hard to dress appropriately.

[cq6]

I'm all for feeling comfortable but that does not mean dressing casually all the time. I look forward to planning my outfits and formal wear for cruises. Going on a cruise is not just about the itinerary and the food it's about a special experience that takes you out of your everyday life. Sipping a cocktail in the ocean bar as the passengers stream by on formal night is not the same as watching people troop by in T shirts and jeans. I see that on the subway every day. Don't take away the magic.

[Texas Tillie]

How is it that people are perfectly comfortable hauling cases of soda, water and bottles of wine aboard but, when it comes to toting a tuxedo it's out of the question. :confused:

Jonathan

DING...DING...DING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!We have a winner!!!!!:D:p:D:p

[iancal]

We don't haul cases of soda, cases of anything, or a shoe store full of shoes. We take a 21 inch each, a small backpack, and we buy two or three bottles of the grape in FLL prior to boarding. DW also leaves her 'sunday beads' at home.

[fann1sh]

As OP, I'm a bit surprised by the results so far of this poll.

I frankly expected the "dress code doesn't matter" numbers to be higher. I thought those votes would tally around (or over) two-thirds. As I post this, that view is shared by around 57 percent.

I'm not at all surprised numbers are pretty evenly split between those who don't want the dress code to be any more casual, and those who don't want it any more strict.

I'm not a statistician, and this wasn't a scientific poll.....but it looks to me HAL would be foolish to change the status quo.

[Jemima]

Over 3/4 of the voters either don't care (at least enough to switch cruiselines) or else definitely don't want a stricter dress code. Less than 1/5 said they would switch if the dress code became more casual. I'm guessing a number of those votes were pro a stricter or more enforced dress code rather than a statement that they'd actually switch cruiselines. The results do surprise me as I expected a much higher percentage of HAL CC posters to make the stricter or possibly the "other" choice. It looks like HAL would be wise to reduce formal nights &/or make them venue specific (for example Pinnacle only or upper dining room only) and to make some other changes such as allowing shorts on casual nights.

[fann1sh]

Over 3/4 of the voters either don't care (at least enough to switch cruiselines) or else definitely don't want a stricter dress code. Less than 1/5 said they would switch if the dress code became more casual. I'm guessing a number of those votes were pro a stricter or more enforced dress code rather than a statement that they'd actually switch cruiselines. The results do surprise me as I expected a much higher percentage of HAL CC posters to make the stricter or possibly the "other" choice. It looks like HAL would be wise to reduce formal nights &/or make them venue specific (for example Pinnacle only or upper dining room only) and to make some other changes such as allowing shorts on casual nights.

I don't understand why you think fewer formal nights/ shorts allowed is better statistical choice than a stricter dress code, :confused: , at least if you're looking at these numbers. Those who'd say they'd depart HAL over a change in *either* direction is about even.

The "don't care" voters don't care. Including them in either faction artificially skews things.

[lorekauf]

and to make some other changes such as allowing shorts on casual nights.
I really don't know because I don't care but do any cruise lines allow shorts on casual nights? Where does it end after that? I'm sure people would want to wear their speedos and bikini's to the MDR.....and it's never the ones that look good in them:D.

[wander]

I voted other because I am happy with the current dress code but would still cruise if it became more casual. On the other hand, if there were more formal nights I would not like it but IF they were more strict about the current code I would be happy.

[Jemima]

I don't understand why you think fewer formal nights/ shorts allowed is better statistical choice than a stricter dress code, :confused: , at least if you're looking at these numbers. Those who'd say they'd depart HAL over a change in *either* direction is about even.

The "don't care" voters don't care. Including them in either faction artificially skews things.

Wrong. If the "don't care" voters don't care, then they won't care if it is more casual. So the number of people who won't object to more casual, according to the poll, is 77%. Most likely the "don't care" group just considered the status quo or less; both of which are ok with them. I voted "don't care" and didn't even consider the stricter/more enforced because that isn't something the HAL is likely to do.

[fann1sh]

Wrong. If the "don't care" voters don't care, then they won't care if it is more casual. So the number of people who won't object to more casual, according to the poll, is 77%. Most likely the "don't care" group just considered the status quo or less; both of which are ok with them. I voted "don't care" and didn't even consider the stricter/more enforced because that isn't something the HAL is likely to do.

OoooKAY...then flip it.

If the don't care don't care, they won't care if it is more formal. So, the number of people who won't object to more formal, according to the poll, is...guess what - exactly the same! - currently at 75%.

So, by that same logic, they should make the dress code stricter....right?

Well....no.

The same number of people would leave HAL by changing the dress code, no matter which direction it went.

HAL would lose people who currently cruise HAL.

So...better to leave things alone, lose no one, yes?

Of course, for those who feel "I'm going to force the dress code I want down everyone's throat because it's what I want, and I'm always right"....well, fanatics will spin the numbers any way they wish.

[Opinions]

As OP, I'm a bit surprised by the results so far of this poll.

I frankly expected the "dress code doesn't matter" numbers to be higher. I thought those votes would tally around (or over) two-thirds. As I post this, that view is shared by around 57 percent.



No! 57% did not express the view that "dress code doesn't matter"...I don't see that quote anywhere in your poll...They said they would continue to cruise HAL even if the dress code was changed...I am quite confident that many of them do feel feel that dress codes matter but they will continue to cruise HAL for other reasons...Regardless of what side they are on...I am for a more a relaxed code but I certainly don't feel "dress code doesn't matter".

[fann1sh]

Opinions, you're right. I used the wrong words.

I should have said I was surprised that the percentage wasn't higher of people for whom dress code changes would not affect whether they'd book HAL.

I'm surprised 40% of people say they'd not cruise with HAL, or cruise less with HAL, over a dress code change in either direction.

I expected fewer people to care that much.

[Petronillus]

I voted "YES, a more casual dress code would prevent me from cruising HAL ". The main reason for this is that IMHO HAL would not be HAL if they changed their dress code to let's say NCL's "dress however you like whenever you like". Most likely if the dress code would change to a more NCL type of dress code the demographics of the HAL cruises would change also and with that the whole ambiance. Now this doesn't mean that I think that only certain kind of people should sail HAL. No. But I'm saying that the sophisticated environment HAL has onboard would change if every night was "wear whatever you like" night. And one thing I really love about HAL is that sophisticated feeling.

Somehow I seem to be unable to write my thoughts very clearly now. I hope someone gets the point nonetheless... :o

I am a latecomer to this thread. I made the mistake of voting first, and I voted in the "It doesn't matter to me" category. After reading European CruiseGirl's post and Rev. Neal's, I wish I had waited. Based on their reflections in particular, I would now vote "Other" and say that in the end, a more relaxed dress code, one that either reduced the frequency of formal nights or lowered the standards of formal nights, would tend to drive me away from HAL. I think that European CruiseGirl was spot on in her observation: formal night as it currently exists is part of the "special sauce" that makes a HAL cruise what it is. It's not the whole sauce but an important part of it. Tinker with the special sauce too much, and you risk losing your competitive edge.

Thank you, European CruiseGirl, for clarifying my thinking. And enough with the disclaimers already!

BTW, on our recent Oosterdam cruise to the Mexican Riviera, on one of the formal nights, the maitre d' made a young spring breaker, with whom DW and I ultimately shared a table don one of the three "spare" black jackets he had on hand. He was visibly embarrassed and out of place. After we were seated, his girlfriend, who was elegantly attired, leaned toward him and said, "See, I told you you should pack a jacket and tie!"