FORMAL Night on the MARINER -- HELP !!

[Aloha Cruiser]

We just received the docs for our trip in May on the Mariner up the Pacific Coast.

We were somewhat surprised to find that there is ONE FORMAL NIGHT on this cruise (we must have thought that being the first part of the "Alaska" season that the entire trip would be Country Club Casual.

So my questions are:

1. What dining options are open to us that evening?

2. Can we go to La Veranda, Latitudes or Signatires?

3. Are the Casino and Show still accessible even if we aren't doing the "formal" thing?

4. Do we need to stay in our cabin?

Any input would be most appreciated.

Thank so much!! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[giustot]

From what I remember from my cruise on the Mariner's sister ship, the Voyager -- La Veranda is always casual dress so you can eat there without any problem. But it is requested that the dress for the evening be followed in other areas of the ship. So technically, the dress for the shows, lounges and casino would be formal.

In reality, no one will ask you to leave if you are not in formal clothes. It's just a question of how comfortable or uncomfortable you'll feel in such an environment.

You don't have to dress super formal for formal night. A woman can get away with anything that's black, and a man with a jacket and tie. Good luck. Tom.

[goodfloat]

Yep, I noticed the formal night in the docs. Do you think it's accurate? Originally, I was told it was country casual and that appealed to me since we're going on this cruise to unwind. Oh well, I guess I'll pack a few more things!

[dwightw]

Aloha Cruiser,

My wife and I are on your cruise and we are really looking forward to it....I believe Goodfloat is also on board with us.

In my previous cruises, a one night formal night for a 7 night cruise is typical. I have normally taken a tux (either one that I owned or rented), however, based upon my experiences of observing others from prior cruises and postings from these very experienced cruisers of RSSC on this board...I have found on one week cruises for formal nights about half of the men wear tuxes and the other half dark suits with ties. This trip I am doing the dark suit with tie.

If you have a dark suit that you can take on the cruise you will be just great!

We should arrange to get those on this board that are on our cruise together for a bon voyage toast just to say hello! Drop us a line!

Dwight & Sharos
Calif.