what are my wardrobe options on formal night

[OB10913]

We just sailed NCL and loved the casual dress at dinner...it is the same atmospheere as Princess casual attire evenings, except formal night is optional. Loved not having to pack formal attire for 5 including a suitcase for shoes!! What are the restrictions for formal night on Princess? No main dining room? No Princess theater? We were on the Golden last year and I don't recall how this worked if someone did not want to dress formaly.
Thanks

[PAULNJILL]

Formal nights seem to be a bit of a mixture, between DJ / cocktail / ballgown to suite and tie / dress , there is no rules on board but it seems the majority are in lounge suits as opposed to DJ . We personally feel it is a shame that everyone does not take advantage of the formal nights , but then again thats the pleasure of having a choice ,

CANBERRA JUNE 97
OCEAN PRINCESS OCT 01
DAWN PRINCESS MARCH 03
STAR PRINCESS AUGUST 04

PAULNJILL

[KAJOKG]

We always go to one Formal night dinner. Husband wears a dark suit, I wear a long black skirt with dressy blouse. The other formal night we dine in the Horizon Court in semi casual attire.

KB

NCL NORWAY - 2000
GOLDEN PRINCESS - 2001
GOLDEN PRINCESS - 2002
HAL NOORDAM - 2002
HAL VOLENDAM - 2003
ISLAND PRINCESS - NOV. 2003
HAL VOLENDAM - JAN. 2004

[jeniceglassman]

Formal nite is a suggestion on attire not a requirement. You will not be shutout of the dining room or the theatre for dressing casual.

Jenice

[West Coast]

We like to dress up as we now have 'casual dress' jobs and don't get a chance to wear suits that often anymore.

[jennew]

oh nooooooo.....not this thread again.....please...EVERYONE behave.:D

[spongerob]

What's with all the threads from April 2004?

[mek]

I'm not sure which Princess ship you are on, but the Caribe Cafe on Carribean Princess and Crown Princess is a wonderful alternative if you want to stay casual. The tables are set with tableloths, cloth napkins and candles for dinner. A beverage cart serves adult beverages. IMHO, it is very nice and I love the food served there. DH and I have opted out of formal night several times recently and you're right, it is a nice change of pace.

[Rustyone]

What's with all the threads from April 2004?


GOT BUMPED!!

[Pam in CA]

We just sailed NCL and loved the casual dress at dinner...it is the same atmospheere as Princess casual attire evenings, except formal night is optional. Loved not having to pack formal attire for 5 including a suitcase for shoes!! What are the restrictions for formal night on Princess? No main dining room? No Princess theater? We were on the Golden last year and I don't recall how this worked if someone did not want to dress formaly. "Formal dress" is the dress code for the evening on the ship and is applicable to all of the dining rooms, including the specialty restaurants. Your options if you want to be casual for the evening is the buffet or room service.

Yes, some people dress relatively casually in the dining room(s) and chances are that you won't be thrown out. But you will be very much out of place and is that the message you want to teach your children, i.e., rules or code only apply to other people?

[Suskies]

I was on the 8/7 Crown and on the first formal night my impression was that more women wore cocktail dresses than long dresses. The great majority of men were in suits, but a good number of the suits were "summer suits," i.e., all khaki or some other light color. Very few tuxes and very few passengers in casual clothes.

On the second formal night, however, I saw a lot more passengers in casual clothes--including a few people in shorts in the dining rooms.

My advice would be dress to be comfortable, and that includes dressing so you don't stand out. A somewhat dressy short dress for women and a jacket and tie for men would be fine.