Dinner attire question

[PekingeseLady]

Do men have to wear a dinner jacket to the MDR? or Are slacks and a button up, collared shirt good enough? I'm talking about evenings other then formal nite.

And Is a very pretty slack outfit for a Lady OK on formal nite?

[Duck Duck Cruise]

To answer both questions:
Yes.

Oops. Missed the first question about having to wear a dinner jacket on other than formal nights. That answer would be No.

[chipmaster]

Never been on HAL but seen enough of these threads and have enough common sense to say yes. On non formal nights slacks and collared shirt was sure good enough on every ship I sailed, sometimes even seen on formal night :D

Do men have to wear a dinner jacket to the MDR? or Are slacks and a button up, collared shirt good enough? I'm talking about evenings other then formal nite.

And Is a very pretty slack outfit for a Lady OK on formal nite?

[Krazy Kruizers]

on smart casual nights my dh wears slacks and a gold shirt -- and i wear a skirt and blouse -- i rarely wear slacks

your fany pant suit will do fine on formal nights

[Rutland Gate]

Never been on HAL but seen enough of these threads and have enough common sense to say yes. On non formal nights slacks and collared shirt was sure good enough on every ship I sailed, sometimes even seen on formal night :D

Another expert who has never been on HAL.

[HamOp]

your fany pant suit will do fine on formal nights

This I gotta see......

What a difference one missed letter can make. Thanks for the laugh:D

[Hawaiidan]

First a dinner jacket is only worn with black tie and is part of what is called a tuxedo. It can be worn with or without a vest

If you mean a "jacket for dinner" then that is another thing entirely
School of thought 1 ( Manners and consideration of others):o
Holland America ships are more formal and traditional ship. Many or most of the passengers enjoy dressing up not down.
As an example on my last cruise out out of Ft Lauderdale about 90% of the men dressed in coats for dinner, amd most with tie. Many tables at the formal nights were 100% tux and gown.
Suppose ,on your sailing you were seated with such a group that was into formality. Would it not be wise to consider having nice clothes available? Would it not be good manners and considerate to dress in a manner that complimented your fellow dinners rather than "doing your own thing"

I seldom unless in a rural cafe, omit wearing at least a sport coat over a golf shirt. I still prefer however, to wear a collared shirt and tie as well

It has alway been a proper for a gentelman. after 6 pm to wear a jacket when in public. It is etiquette and manners. After all dining is part theater and you are part of the show. Manners are also based on consideration of others feelings and not on you.

School of thought 2... Its your trip do what you want:rolleyes:

Heck you PAID YOU MONEY, and you darn well do as you please. This your cruise not anyone elses Do what ever you want whenever you want
Really cool people can and should dress however the choose.. too bad others are so judgemental as to not appreciate you free thinking. Traditions need to be broken.. if you think they should.

[CtheW0rld]

First a dinner jacket is only worn with black tie and is part of what is called a tuxedo. It can be worn with or without a vest

If you mean a "jacket for dinner" then that is another thing entirely
School of thought 1 ( Manners and consideration of others):o
Holland America ships are more formal and traditional ship. Many or most of the passengers enjoy dressing up not down.
As an example on my last cruise out out of Ft Lauderdale about 90% of the men dressed in coats for dinner, amd most with tie. Many tables at the formal nights were 100% tux and gown.
Suppose ,on your sailing you were seated with such a group that was into formality. Would it not be wise to consider having nice clothes available? Would it not be good manners and considerate to dress in a manner that complimented your fellow dinners rather than "doing your own thing"

I seldom unless in a rural cafe, omit wearing at least a sport coat over a golf shirt. I still prefer however, to wear a collared shirt and tie as well

It has alway been a proper for a gentelman. after 6 pm to wear a jacket when in public. It is etiquette and manners. After all dining is part theater and you are part of the show. Manners are also based on consideration of others feelings and not on you.

School of thought 2... Its your trip do what you want:rolleyes:

Heck you PAID YOU MONEY, and you darn well do as you please. This your cruise not anyone elses Do what ever you want whenever you want
Really cool people can and should dress however the choose.. too bad others are so judgemental as to not appreciate you free thinking. Traditions need to be broken.. if you think they should.

april fools day was over 2 days ago.

[sail7seas]

What you describe is fine for smart casual nights in the MDR and what you will find many people wearing.

[DeepWaterMariner]

As an example on my last cruise out out of Ft Lauderdale about 90% of the men dressed in coats for dinner, amd most with tie. Many tables at the formal nights were 100% tux and gown.

I would suggest that your cruise was an exception. My recently completed Noordam cruise certainly had a few sport coats, maybe more than other mainstream lines, but my guess would be the jacketed men were less than 10% of the male diners. There were far more tropical shirts, polo shirts, etc...but no t-shirts.

[Rutland Gate]

I like chosing what I value as being appropriate, and I like being wealthy. HAL accepts my money, and I don't have to embrace everybody who wants to cheapen my experiance.

[CtheW0rld]

I like chosing what I value as being appropriate, and I like being wealthy. HAL accepts my money, and I don't have to embrace everybody who wants to cheapen my experiance.

buffy? is that you? i haven't seen you since the polo match at the club. how have you and skippy been?

[serendipity1499]

I would suggest that your cruise was an exception.

Or his cruise was many years ago..On all five of our HAL cruises in the past three years I too only observed approx 10% of the Gentlemen wearing jackets & ties on a Smart casual night in the MDR..However in the Pinnacle Grill, most men wore a jacket sans tie on smart casual night..

My recently completed Noordam cruise certainly had a few sport coats, maybe more than other mainstream lines, but my guess would be the jacketed men were less than 10% of the male diners. There were far more tropical shirts, polo shirts, etc...but no t-shirts.

It was the same on my recently completed Noordam Cruise..

cheers.....:)Betty

[Plnrboy]

Are people less cultured if they don’t follow the obsolete rules for dress that have been handed down for years? Dinner as theater??? Really? People really need to lighten up here. Judging people (and stereotyping them) by what they wear is very pretentious and rude. Famous quote from a great movie, “Lighten up Francis”,, yes I am less cultured. :eek:

[SabreSailor]

The OP didn't say where they were cruising. We've found that around North America (Caribbean, Mexico, etc.), the dress pushes the limit toward the casual. Things seem to be a lot more formal on the transatlantic and European cruises we've been on....

[PekingeseLady]

So I am happy to see that cruising on HAL should pretty much be the same as the rest of my previous cruises. We are always cool and dressed well, Just not the TUX type is DH. On smart casual he likes the silk tropical shirt and slacks. He wears a suit and tie on formal nites, so we should fit in just fine. Thanks for all your advice. Hoping for better food.;)

[LH25]

First a dinner jacket is only worn with black tie and is part of what is called a tuxedo. It can be worn with or without a vest

If you mean a "jacket for dinner" then that is another thing entirely
School of thought 1 ( Manners and consideration of others):o
Holland America ships are more formal and traditional ship. Many or most of the passengers enjoy dressing up not down.
As an example on my last cruise out out of Ft Lauderdale about 90% of the men dressed in coats for dinner, amd most with tie. Many tables at the formal nights were 100% tux and gown.
Suppose ,on your sailing you were seated with such a group that was into formality. Would it not be wise to consider having nice clothes available? Would it not be good manners and considerate to dress in a manner that complimented your fellow dinners rather than "doing your own thing"

I seldom unless in a rural cafe, omit wearing at least a sport coat over a golf shirt. I still prefer however, to wear a collared shirt and tie as well

It has alway been a proper for a gentelman. after 6 pm to wear a jacket when in public. It is etiquette and manners. After all dining is part theater and you are part of the show. Manners are also based on consideration of others feelings and not on you.

School of thought 2... Its your trip do what you want:rolleyes:

Heck you PAID YOU MONEY, and you darn well do as you please. This your cruise not anyone elses Do what ever you want whenever you want
Really cool people can and should dress however the choose.. too bad others are so judgemental as to not appreciate you free thinking. Traditions need to be broken.. if you think they should.


Or the middle ground school of thought. Where it is your vacation, and you want to relax from the clothes you wear every day at work. But you also realize that there is a dress code and follow it. By dressing nice, but not in a suit and tie if it's not formal night for example.

[cruzingmissy]

The OP didn't say where they were cruising. We've found that around North America (Caribbean, Mexico, etc.), the dress pushes the limit toward the casual. Things seem to be a lot more formal on the transatlantic and European cruises we've been on....

You know, this is such a hotly debated subject. There are many threads debating dress code. I think what you described is perfectly acceptable. We are cruising the Med in three weeks and DH will take a suit and I will have dressy pants outfit for formal nights. For non formal nights he will wear collared shirts with pants and I will wear pants and a nice top. I have never cruised with HAL before, but dont think we will be the only ones without a tux and gown.

[SabreSailor]

You know, this is such a hotly debated subject. There are many threads debating dress code. I think what you described is perfectly acceptable. We are cruising the Med in three weeks and DH will take a suit and I will have dressy pants outfit for formal nights. For non formal nights he will wear collared shirts with pants and I will wear pants and a nice top. I have never cruised with HAL before, but dont think we will be the only ones without a tux and gown.

Your choices seem just fine. HAL softened its dress code a bit a few years back - there used to be formal, informal, and casual as I recall. Formal is still the same (tux, business suit, or jacket and tie at the least). Informal was at least a jacket. Casual was what Smart Casual is today.

When we first sailed with HAL back in 1998, I think there were six ships, with the largest being the S-Class with 1266 passengers. There are now 15 ships with over 2000 pax on several. When you have to fill that many staterooms, perhaps you can't find that many folks who still enjoy dressing up. But, as I have read here more times than I can count, if you don't like the profile of the ship with regard to formality, why do you choose to cruise on it and fight the system? Wouldn't it be more pleasant to sail on a line that matches your formality? There are countless ships out there that cater to very casual attire - it would seem that it would help if more travel agents did a better job of matching clients and cruise lines.... or for those who use the Internet as their travel agent, perhaps the cruise lines need to better job of defining their niche in the business....

[Boytjie]

on smart casual nights my dh wears slacks and a gold shirt

Oh my! :D

[Boytjie]

Another expert who has never been on HAL.

But was the advice wrong?

[Boytjie]

As an example on my last cruise out out of Ft Lauderdale about 90% of the men dressed in coats for dinner

Was the MDR that cold?

[marvin]

I used to take a Tux,Dinner Jacket,Vests and patten leather shoes. While I used to enjoy dressing up with my wife dressing in one of her long gowns; weight restrictions and limitations on luggage when flying to port, for cruise, prohibits my doing so now. I take one jacket for formal nights. When we can drive to the port we do take the more formal wear. Marvin

[ookpik]

Was the MDR that cold?

Actually it was on the Maasdam in November.Apart from the four formal nights,my husband wore his blazer every night.

[Hawaiidan]

Judging people bu what by what they wear and how they look... oh so rude. ? really

Get real... you do it and we all do it every day of our life and you will continue to do it too ... You just dont want to admit that it is a fact of life and human nature. Every job or realtion you ever held began with the eveluation of how you looked to the other person.

And yes a formal dinner like on a ship is theater and an experience many cherish....even if you don't.
I just guess I think it is rude not to respect tradition on a ship that promotes tradition and the height of selfish, self absorbed behaviour.

O girss I think more of others than myself..... character flaw to some today

[Plnrboy]

H-Dan, while you say that judging people by their cover is “what we all do”, I hope you mean only with superficial things such as food, or clothes, etc...NOT relationships, jobs, etc (unless you are twenty and do not know better)… if not I hope your significant other can be comfortable with that type of judgment and vice a versa. I just remember my mom saying something about not judging lest I be judged. Just my 2 cents on that.
The other problem I have with your assessment is your assumptions. I think we all know what happens when we assume? I never said I don’t respect tradition or that I myself would not dress. It was with your statement that it is a show or that everyone must relish what you think is a tradition. Just because someone thinks it has been done this way, it should be done this way. Who says? If someone comes to my table on formal night in jeans and shirt do I care? NO. Does that make them horrible? Uncouth? Self absorbed? Selfish??? Once again, really? They don’t fit into your judgment so they are those things? Wow! Live and let live.

[serendipity1499]

Judging people bu what by what they wear and how they look... oh so rude. ? really

<SNIP>.

I just guess I think it is rude not to respect tradition on a ship that promotes tradition and the height of selfish, self absorbed behaviour.

O girss I think more of others than myself..... character flaw to some today

Since when did the OP suggest that she was not respecting tradition..

The OP asked if it was OK for her DH to wear a buttoned up collared shirt on non=formal nights & she specifically stated "I'm talking about evenings other than formal nights"

Also you never answered the OP's question at all..

However your diatribe about how people should respect others & dress to your standards is not only incorrect but quite rude & judgmental !:(

Perhaps you should read the FAQ section on HAL's WEB site which states:

Quote 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.Unquote

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Shipboard+Life&contentMenu=Onboard+Policies (http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Shipboard+Life&contentMenu=Onboard+Policies)

So to you & the poster who suggested that some Psgrs. should find another cruise line which meets their needs & respect others who dress more formally, perhaps it's time for you to show respect for the way others dress & dress accordingly....Or if you can't respect HAL's dress code & dress accordingly, then maybe it's time for you to find another cruise line other than HAL, since HAL's dress code is not up to your standards..:rolleyes:

JMO....Betty

P.S. BTW agree with the poster who mentioned that on HAL's Trans=Atlantic's, European, & Round the World cruises Psgrs do seem to dress more formally..

[Rutland Gate]

But was the advice wrong?

Yes.

[Rutland Gate]

buffy? is that you? i haven't seen you since the polo match at the club. how have you and skippy been?

Been just fine. By the way, do you work for me?

[PekingeseLady]

Since when did the OP suggest that she was not respecting tradition..

The OP asked if it was OK for her DH to wear a buttoned up collared shirt on non=formal nights & she specifically stated "I'm talking about evenings other than formal nights"

Also you never answered the OP's question at all..

However your diatribe about how people should respect others & dress to your standards is not only incorrect but quite rude & judgmental !:(

Perhaps you should read the FAQ section on HAL's WEB site which states:

Quote 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.Unquote

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Shipboard+Life&contentMenu=Onboard+Policies (http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-vacation-planning/PlanningAndAdvice.action?tabName=Shipboard+Life&contentMenu=Onboard+Policies)

So to you & the poster who suggested that some Psgrs. should find another cruise line which meets their needs & respect others who dress more formally, perhaps it's time for you to show respect for the way others dress & dress accordingly....Or if you can't respect HAL's dress code & dress accordingly, then maybe it's time for you to find another cruise line other than HAL, since HAL's dress code is not up to your standards..:rolleyes:

JMO....Betty

P.S. BTW agree with the poster who mentioned that on HAL's Trans=Atlantic's, European, & Round the World cruises Psgrs do seem to dress more formally..


Thank you very much for your comments, and HAL's dress code. Guesss I should have looked there first. Answers all my questions. Thank you.:D

[mudscraper]

Been just fine. By the way, do you work for me?
Funny retort.:):)

[startwin]

Betty, thanks for setting it out so clearly! I was still trying to formulate a response when you did all much better than I could:).

[startwin]

Betty, thanks for setting it out so clearly! I was still trying to formulate a response when you did, and said it all much better than I could:).

[birdieboys]

There are people who enjoy getting dressed up. So go for it or not.

[Boytjie]

Yes.

Which part was wrong? The poster was correct with regards to casual nights dress codes and made an observation about he/she has sometimes seen on formal nights.

[cruzingmissy]

Your choices seem just fine. HAL softened its dress code a bit a few years back - there used to be formal, informal, and casual as I recall. Formal is still the same (tux, business suit, or jacket and tie at the least). Informal was at least a jacket. Casual was what Smart Casual is today.

When we first sailed with HAL back in 1998, I think there were six ships, with the largest being the S-Class with 1266 passengers. There are now 15 ships with over 2000 pax on several. When you have to fill that many staterooms, perhaps you can't find that many folks who still enjoy dressing up. But, as I have read here more times than I can count, if you don't like the profile of the ship with regard to formality, why do you choose to cruise on it and fight the system? Wouldn't it be more pleasant to sail on a line that matches your formality? There are countless ships out there that cater to very casual attire - it would seem that it would help if more travel agents did a better job of matching clients and cruise lines.... or for those who use the Internet as their travel agent, perhaps the cruise lines need to better job of defining their niche in the business....

And the answer is, we liked the dates and itinerary of the cruise we booked with HAL. There was nothing comparable on either Princess or Celebrity which are my usual choices. Thought I would give HAL a try.

[CtheW0rld]

And the answer is, we liked the dates and itinerary of the cruise we booked with HAL. There was nothing comparable on either Princess or Celebrity which are my usual choices. Thought I would give HAL a try.

No need to explain. You'll be fine with what you have planned.

[Rutland Gate]

Which part was wrong? The poster was correct with regards to casual nights dress codes and made an observation about he/she has sometimes seen on formal nights.

Nope, nope, nope. The Poster states she has never been on Holland America Line. What she's seen on the Staten Island Ferry doesn't count.

[Mediana]

I don't wanna start a new thread so I'm gonna jump in here and ask: How formal are the formal nights at HAL?

Do you need a gown or will a coctaildress with a scarf and flats do?
I can skip the formal nights if necessary (but don't really want to), however there is no way I can bring two formal dresses + shoes with me. I'm gonna spend a week in NYC befofe the cruise and I'll only have one suitcase a 50 pounds.

TIA

[RuthC]

I don't wanna start a new thread so I'm gonna jump in here and ask: How formal are the formal nights at HAL?

Do you need a gown or will a coctaildress with a scarf and flats do?
I can skip the formal nights if necessary (but don't really want to), however there is no way I can bring two formal dresses + shoes with me.
On HAL, formal nights aren't very. Yes, there are some gowns and tuxedos seen, but the dress code is much less dressy than that. A cocktail dress, or an evening pants suit meets the code for a woman; a sport coat and tie meet it for a man.

But you don't need two formal dresses, either. You can wear the same dress twice. Maybe change out the jewelry, but that's not necessary, either.

[Rutland Gate]

I don't wanna start a new thread so I'm gonna jump in here and ask: How formal are the formal nights at HAL?

Do you need a gown or will a coctaildress with a scarf and flats do?
I can skip the formal nights if necessary (but don't really want to), however there is no way I can bring two formal dresses + shoes with me. I'm gonna spend a week in NYC befofe the cruise and I'll only have one suitcase a 50 pounds.

TIA

My wife always wears cocktail dresses and fits right in. Enjoy your time in New York!

[Opinions]

Get real... you do it and we all do it every day of our life and you will continue to do it too ... You just dont want to admit that it is a fact of life and human nature. Every job or realtion you ever held began with the eveluation of how you looked to the other person.



I worked in a factory all my life...What we wore mattered to no one...Just how we did the job...

[taxmantoo]

I worked in a factory all my life...What we wore mattered to no one...Just how we did the job...

Not so fast...I bet nobody ever showed up in scrubs or a 3-piece suit. You were in a factory and people dressed factory-like as they should have! They were following the "code" in their own way. Anybody that would have dressed differently would have definitely stood out.

[Opinions]

Not so fast...I bet nobody ever showed up in scrubs or a 3-piece suit. You were in a factory and people dressed factory-like as they should have! They were following the "code" in their own way. Anybody that would have dressed differently would have definitely stood out.

It's obvious you never worked in a factory...There is no "code" to follow...The point you seem to miss is we didn't judge others by what they wore...

[kamfan]

Not so fast...I bet nobody ever showed up in scrubs or a 3-piece suit. You were in a factory and people dressed factory-like as they should have! They were following the "code" in their own way. Anybody that would have dressed differently would have definitely stood out.

I believe your logic might be a bit flawed there taxmantoo. (I am in the tax business in Canada as well). He never showed up in scrubs or 3 piece suit, not because of some outdated fashion code, but because of function. Scrubs would not have been adequate protection in a factory, nor would a 3 piece suit make sense because of the cost involved. Most of our "uniform" evolves because of function first. I will use your mention of scrubs, they work in their environment because of the comfort and clean abiltiy. Unfortuneatly I am in a profession that is a bit of exception to that rule, in that my suit and tie have no function other that to instill confidence in my clients. But once again, I wear it, not to blend in, but to continue that confidence level with my clients. If I am going to a factory, or a sawmill to meet with clients, I change to meet the needs of the day.

Whereas on a cruise, function bears no part of the equation, our attire is strictly to meet some outdated fashion code that continues to be perpetuated. I use the example of tuxedos. Nowadays they are the height of formal wear, but when they were first worn, they were considered bad form in formal occaisions. If we look back in a few decades (if we should be so lucky) those fashion codes will continue to evolve. I urge others, rather than bemoan the fact that things change, embrace that fact, and all will be much happier. ;)

[GORDONCHICK]

By the looks of this thread, I'm wishing we had chosen a different line for our next cruise..... And we are always attired properly - according to the guidelines set by the cruiseline and not someone fondly stroking their fashion police badge (that must have been awarded when the published dress code was different). It's more the attitudes bothering me than the actual dress code.....

[iancal]

We can't be bothered anymore. We'll go to the Lido. No issue whatsoever for us. It just isn't worth getting worked up about on a work day....let alone a vacation day.

[kazu]

By the looks of this thread, I'm wishing we had chosen a different line for our next cruise..... And we are always attired properly - according to the guidelines set by the cruiseline and not someone fondly stroking their fashion police badge (that must have been awarded when the published dress code was different). It's more the attitudes bothering me than the actual dress code.....

Carmen, don't worry I haven't seen anyone stroking their fashion police badge on HAL ;) ever - just on the boards ;) you'll be fine - have a great cruise - we love the line:)

[GORDONCHICK]

Carmen, don't worry I haven't seen anyone stroking their fashion police badge on HAL ;) ever - just on the boards ;) you'll be fine - have a great cruise - we love the line:)


I hope you're right, but I've never been not excited about a cruise like I am about this one. Maybe I should stop reading the HAL board?

[kazu]

I hope you're right, but I've never been not excited about a cruise like I am about this one. Maybe I should stop reading the HAL board?

You know what happens when you're not excited about a trip? You have the best time of your life when it happens :) by all means read the HAL board, there is lots of good info, just avoid threads about smoking, formal nights, MCD and dress codes if the posts bother you. ;)

[GORDONCHICK]

You know what happens when you're not excited about a trip? You have the best time of your life when it happens :) by all means read the HAL board, there is lots of good info, just avoid threads about smoking, formal nights, MCD and dress codes if the posts bother you. ;)


Don't forget the posts about children! Especially since we are bring our DS.

[kazu]

Don't forget the posts about children! Especially since we are bring our DS.

don't take any of this to heart. anonymity does strange things to people :eek: I've always seen children welcomed on HAL. My sister just came back from the Eurodam with her husband and two children and they have cruised on several ships. First HAL cruise and they absolutely loved it :D

Really, really, you'll be fine. :)

[startwin]

By the looks of this thread, I'm wishing we had chosen a different line for our next cruise..... And we are always attired properly - according to the guidelines set by the cruiseline and not someone fondly stroking their fashion police badge (that must have been awarded when the published dress code was different). It's more the attitudes bothering me than the actual dress code.....

Ignore the attitudes on here - you will meet wonderful people onboard, and HAL is a great experience! The crews on all HAL ships are the best.

I've cruised lots and don't get hung up on the dress code. DH has never owned a tux, and I don't wear a gown. He takes a suit, I wear a short dress. And that's formal night. On other nights we dress tidily for dinner. Just like everyone else.

Enjoy your cruise:)

[GORDONCHICK]

I know my DS will have a great time - he always does! I just hate feeling like this (that we should have picked a different line) going into vacation!

[DizzyDallasDi]

I know my DS will have a great time - he always does! I just hate feeling like this (that we should have picked a different line) going into vacation!

You didn't pick the wrong line. You will all have a fabulous cruise!! Please don't let a few snooty responders on an internet board bother you...they won't be on your cruise. :D

[CtheW0rld]

I hope you're right, but I've never been not excited about a cruise like I am about this one. Maybe I should stop reading the HAL board?

nah. don't let other people spoil your fun. just put those on your 'ignore list' - then their posts won't display for you. i have a few on mine.

[babyher]

I know my DS will have a great time - he always does! I just hate feeling like this (that we should have picked a different line) going into vacation!


You let those people get you down , then they have won. And you can't ever let that happen. :)

Piss them off but good .....go on your cruise and have a blast.

ENJOY!!!!!!!

[GORDONCHICK]

You let those people get you down , then they have won. And you can't ever let that happen. :)

Piss them off but good .....go on your cruise and have a blast.

ENJOY!!!!!!!


If I want to really piss them off, I'll wear denim on formal night in the MDR! I'm sure I'll be fine once we fly out. The roll call is DEAD and I got no responses about sharing a private whale watching tour - which is one thing I was looking forward to.

Before anyone has a stroke - I'm not really going to wear jeans on formal night!

[babyher]

If I want to really piss them off, I'll wear denim on formal night in the MDR! I'm sure I'll be fine once we fly out. The roll call is DEAD and I got no responses about sharing a private whale watching tour - which is one thing I was looking forward to.

Before anyone has a stroke - I'm not really going to wear jeans on formal night!



Thats the spirit *LOL*

Have a great time


And go and enjoy your whale watch if that is what you really want to do. Even if you have to go by yourself. You wait around for others to chime in and accomodate you , you won't get too far.

Enjoy Yourself , that is what it is all about:)

[sail7seas]

If I want to really piss them off, I'll wear denim on formal night in the MDR! I'm sure I'll be fine once we fly out. The roll call is DEAD and I got no responses about sharing a private whale watching tour - which is one thing I was looking forward to.

Before anyone has a stroke - I'm not really going to wear jeans on formal night!

I hope you'll post some comments when you return and let us know what you observed people wearing on formal night. ;) I'm sure you'll be fne and certainly hope you have a great cruise.

[GORDONCHICK]

Thats the spirit *LOL*

Have a great time


And go and enjoy your whale watch if that is what you really want to do. Even if you have to go by yourself. You wait around for others to chime in and accomodate you , you won't get too far.

Enjoy Yourself , that is what it is all about:)


DH isn't going to let me charter the whole boat. But I only need -3 people and we're good. I'll give it another week, and then I may have to email Harv & Marv's back to take the hold of that boat/time slot.

[GORDONCHICK]

I hope you'll post some comments when you return and let us know what you observed people wearing on formal night. ;) I'm sure you'll be fne and certainly hope you have a great cruise.


I will always come back and post comments - I just don't do the full reviews.

[brewersfan]

What about 14 and 17 year old teenage boys; will they need a jacket, or will dress shirt and tie be sufficient for them on formal nights?

[LH25]

I know my DS will have a great time - he always does! I just hate feeling like this (that we should have picked a different line) going into vacation!

I felt the same way on our last cruise, esp. since I had talked the rest of the family (mom, brother, SIL and 9 yo niece) into doing their first cruise in the first place, and doing HAL since my only other cruise was with them. Reading here made me really nervous.

We had a great time. No one looked at the niece sideways, she got lots of smiles and people talking to her. And while she's well-behaved, she is nine and likes to move and dance. No one looked funny at us for anything we wore. We did follow the dress code, but were on the casual side.

I do still wonder if another line might have been better for the niece, but we really did have a blast. She wasn't a fan of the HAL club, most kids seem to be. I think it's her personality, the people running it were great. I would have liked a better pool area, bigger and maybe a water slide.

So go. Have a blast. And if any does look at you funny or say something, ignore them.

[GORDONCHICK]

What about 14 and 17 year old teenage boys; will they need a jacket, or will dress shirt and tie be sufficient for them on formal nights?

The dresscode for them is the same as adults so they would need a jacket for formal nights.

[babyher]

DH isn't going to let me charter the whole boat. But I only need -3 people and we're good. I'll give it another week, and then I may have to email Harv & Marv's back to take the hold of that boat/time slot.



*LOL* Yeah that could get a little pricey. Wish I was on that cruise with you . I would love to go on a whale watch.

You'd be good to go hanging around my DW. Anyone gives you a dirty look , my wife will genteely ask them "What the hell are you staring at ?"

[silverado44]

on smart casual nights my dh wears slacks and a gold shirt -- and i wear a skirt and blouse -- i rarely wear slacks

your fany pant suit will do fine on formal nights

Wow, really, a shirt made of gold. Must be a very expensive shirt.

[Plnrboy]

Don't let anybody bum you out on your vacation. I have been on O-dam a few times and had one comment at formal night. Nice lady who thought i needed a jacket, when some were wearing jeans:eek:... anyway have a blast and enjoy life.

[AirGorilla]

Wow, really, a shirt made of gold. Must be a very expensive shirt.

Yeah, and it must get kinda smelly if he wears it every smart casual night!!

AG

[drumcorpsmom]

By the looks of this thread, I'm wishing we had chosen a different line for our next cruise..... And we are always attired properly - according to the guidelines set by the cruiseline and not someone fondly stroking their fashion police badge (that must have been awarded when the published dress code was different). It's more the attitudes bothering me than the actual dress code.....


Don't worry, we have been on 6 weeks in the past 6 months (Noordam & Neiuw Amsterdam) and have had our share of formal nights. We usually change for dinner since they do not allow shorts in the dining room (although I've seen people wearing them). I usually just wear slacks & a dressy jacket on formal nights & my husband a jacket & tie. Sometimes the Maitre 'D offers men a jacket to wear on formal nights if they do not have one. There are enough people on the ship that show up in smart casual dress and those that opt to eat in the Lido do not always change. We have found the food and service awesome & really enjoy HAL. We are really low key people and don't dress up often, but do not find it too stuffy.

[drumcorpsmom]

The dresscode for them is the same as adults so they would need a jacket for formal nights.


Teenage boys? If they wear & shirt & tie that should be sufficient. If they had a jacket, I would bring it, but I would not go out and buy them if they won't wear them again.