What is Country Club Casual?

[BeBeReader]

Gals, Guys, and Whatever,

I don't belong to a country club. So I'm sub par on the issue and somewhat in the rough.

Does country club casual apply 24/7? Will I need to show a Prada, Jimmy Chou, or Judith Leiber label to be allowed into the Polo or Toscana?

I also want to know if my husband's plaid pink and yellow pastel trousers purchased to look country club casual will fit in on the streets of Tallin, Riga, and Gdansk. Is that what the locals there wear? We want to fit in at every port.

This raises the question of whether different wardrobes are required for different ports. What are your thoughts?

Regards from Winged Foot,

BeBe Reader

[spindrift]

I'm somewhat hesitant to answer this for a number of reasons, but I am going to do so anyway.

Country Club Casual is what you would wear as follows:

Ports and daytime: Comfortable, leisure clothing in good taste for travel according to weather. Study the internet for your destinations. If you are visiting some of the religious sites, some of them require special dress, such as headcover, etc. etc.

Dinner: What you would wear for a nice restaurant in your locale. I'm sure you wouldn't wear shorts and a crop top for a nice restaurant. We suggest for the man slacks with a collared-shirt. Ladies with a nice pant suit or dress--similar thereto. We believe that Polo Grill and Toscana are coat and tie for men, but that is our preference.

All in all, the policy of country club casual is an excellent choice for travel, and hooray for Oceania in this regard. We still travel the other lines, and we do enjoy formal, but this is our preference, particularly at our age and the limitations of travel baggage. Enjoy.

Our feeling is never wear plaid with pearls.

[Liv4cruzin]

Don't put too much emphasis on the phrase "country club" casual; think of it as resort casual. What it boils down to is men can wear slacks & button down shirts (& the occasional jacket, especially when dining in the alternative restaurants). You might see a tie in Toscana or Polo. For women this means a nice sun dress, skirt & blouse, pantsuit or slacks & nice blouse/tunic. On my recent Med. cruise on Regatta, women seemed to heavily accessorize w/ jewelry (real & costume), shawls/pashminas & a small clutch/evening type bag. This dress code is to be followed shipwide after 6 pm. The exception would be dining in the Terrace Cafe (or Tapas on the Terrace as it's called in the evenings). There you will see "tasteful" casual (but no shorts). As for daytime attire onboard that might depend on your itinerary & time of year. In the Med. I saw more capris or pants rather than shorts. In the Caribbean in the heat of summer, I'm sure shorts will be visible.

Your husbands plaid pastel pants would be better left at home. Not appropropriate for Mediterranean & Baltic Cruise ports (or onboard ship IMO). If you have not done so, try checking the posts under the "cruise fashion" threads. You'll pick up so general ideas on European ports wardrobe there. But in a nutshell, Europeans dress more conservatively than Americans. First & foremost, be comfortable. Cobblestone streets & lots of walking require comfortable & well broken-in shoes. You will see shorts (in the summer); but they will be of a length best described as walking or Bermuda. Be aware that places of worship request that shoulders be covered (& in rare instances your head). So, if you are visiting churches on a certain day, it would be respectful to wear something that covers the knees if possible. Europeans tend to wear more solid colors & usually in the darker shades. Not that you have to; but since you asked about blending in I felt compelled to bring that up. And in this day & age of security & threats to Americans, it is advised not to advertise your nationality. Avoid logowear emblazoned w/ "USA" or "America". We all walk around w/ guide books in our hands & camera gear hanging from our shoulders. So, it's impossible not to look like a tourist. If you dress conservatively & don't draw undue attention to yourselves, I'm sure you'll have a fun & memorable time in Europe. :)

[BeBeReader]

Thank you for your detailed responses. Appreciated.

[cruisin'cats]

Let me put my 2 cents in since I just jumped ship on Memorial Day--and do I wish I were back onboard? YOU BET!!!

We're not country club people either...and I worried about this and read all the posts, all the way down to the whole thing about no capris or short pants on women in the dining room and the bit about men bringing sports jackets to wear on occasion to dinner in either the restaurants or the main dining room. Sorry, despite the fact that someone may express an opinon (IMO, etc.) there is a very LAX dress code that basically amounts to this--no jeans or shorts in the main dining room or restaurants other than the Tapas. You will see EVERYTHING, including one or two men in suits (albeit the suits I saw were on much older men whose women were also on the dressier side of the casual coin). There were a few long dresses at night, even in the dining room. However, and this was a surprise to me having done all that reading of everyone's IMO's--there were women wearing capris (short pants, flood pants, whatever you want to call them--not shorts but not full length pants either) in the dining room. There were men in shirts that were extremely casual but not T-shirts. My husband packed Dockers and Button Down short sleeved casual shirts and that's basically what he wore every night that we ate anywhere other than Tapas. He brought his navy blazer that got all wrinkled in the suit case and got pressed (complimentary for Concierge class passengers) but never wore it. He only wore one long sleeved shirt for our first night in Toscana and it wasn't even necessary to do so. One night we ate in the Grand Dining room and had the table for two right inside the entrance--what a great seat for people watching and for saying hello to all the people you get to know on the cruise! I'm here to tell you that you should know that there were some outfits that even I thought pushed the 'casual' envelope to the limit worn by some of the women but, I thought that it was a good thing in every way--it's VACATION!!! The other point is that you're on an extremely port intensive itinerary and you're tired after touring and being hot, and you just want to shower, change and get comfortable for dinner. There was no elitism or country club mentality that we encountered on this ship. If there were people like that, let's just say that I didn't get to know them because they weren't my cup of tea and wouldn't have made me feel all that comfortable while I was feeling wonderful about being on vacation.

Don't get me wrong--I never minded playing dress up on the other ships we've been on. I think I saw more fancy outfits on Celebrity even on the not so formal nights than I saw on this 12 day Oceania cruise. But I have to say--WHAT A PLEASURE not having to carry a hanging bag, beaded dresses, tuxes and all the gear that guys have to wear with them, and most of all, I had room and weight for souvenirs from all my travels--hurray!!!

As for the American label--believe me, unless you are fluent in the local lingua, the locals KNOW you're an American. As for colors and styles, PULEEZ--while I might consider pastel plaid pants on any man a fashion crime, it doesn't mean that your DH has to abide by my tastes or anyone else's. As if wearing clothing in bad taste is limited to Americans! HA! If you're looking to blend in, leave the guide book home, leave the camera home, speak the local language and don't buy souvenirs. Oh, that might upset the people who got up early to work in the stores because you arrived on an AMERICAN COMPANY (not registered in USA but that's par for the course) CRUISE SHIP with hundreds of other tourists. Who are we pretending to be here? DH and I learn as many local phrases as possible, usually amounting to please, thank you and greetings since we traveled to so many ports--and several different countries--in 12 days. Locals love it if you try to speak something in their language no matter what ugly pants you are wearing and usually reward you with a smile and good service. In most of the cruise ports the locals' English is better than your attempts at their language unless you grew up speaking that language at home. I'm a quick study with languages and people liked that. My DH and I used Russian (DH on the streets of Istanbul when looking for an address) and French (me when I discovered that hello, goodbye and thank you in Turkish wasn't going to help me understand the history of the place we were visiting but worked like a dream when I realized that the woman who didn't know much English spoke French and didn't mind or have much trouble with my rusty High School French so I got to translate French to English for the people with us)--and we were wearing American made blue jeans and sneakers.

Oh, just thinking about that comment about not wearing AMERICAN labels--I have some photos from our recent Istanbul to Athens trip (over 3000 photos as a matter of fact--I don't just wear that camera around my neck, I use it!) and I have photos of Turkish kids and teens wearing USA label clothing items, esp. t-shirts with all the same stuff you'll see at your local mall on Saturday afternoon. What a surprise (IMO as it were)!

Here it is--IN MY HUMBLE BUT LEARNED OPINION--pack what you are comfortable wearing, no matter what your itinerary is (minding the fact that Jeans and shorts are not welcome in the Grand dining room at any time and in the special restarants for dinner) because you are going to be touring while on VACATION. Respect the local cultures, which I am certain you have read up on before leaving home--if you haven't, you WILL now. Religious institutions do have requirements and they are usually well posted in the advance of your trip in your tour guide books but figure that if you wouldn't wear that outfit to your house of worship, don't wear it to someone else's--however as a visitor to the mosques in Istanbul, you can wear jeans and tee shirts as long as the logo isn't offensive and your shoulders are covered but make sure to remove your shoes and carry them with you--and bring a scarf, nothing big or chapel cap like needed, to cover your head if you are a woman. Show respect and you're welcome to be there. On the ship, be YOURSELF and dress as you would at home going to dinner at a casual place for a meal with friends. If you want to carry your Louis Vitton and Coach bags to dinner, be my guest--I didn't carry a bag, I handed my card-key to my hubby to stick in his pocket and I enjoyed the freedom of finally being hands free (no cell, no wallet, no purse). Off ship, I wore a belly bag or fanny pack (depended on which AMERICAN dialect you speak) and while looking like a tourist, I knew that I was not pickpocketed because my bag ran through my belt loops and kept my belongings as safe as possible.

Repeat after me--I am on vacation! I am here to have a wonderful and interesting time. I will respect others' cultures and sensitivity to bad taste as long as it is not insulting to my own sensitivities. I will do my best to leave a good impression on my hosts. I will leave them richer for knowing me (in more ways than one). AND YES, SOME MEN CAN GET AWAY WITH WEARING PASTEL PLAIDS AND NOT BE THROWN OFF THE SHIP!!!

I hope this helps make your vacation one you will ENJOY.

[BeBeReader]

Cruisin' Cats,

Excellent, informative response. Thank you so much. You and I agree. I will come clean. My post was asking for information, but it was quite a bit tongue in cheek. In any event, it was just a joke about my husband's plaid pants. I, as you, am not an elitist. I wouldn't be caught anywhere with anything LV. I think Prada is highly overrated. I do love Judith Leiber because of her quality and artistic handbags. I do wear pearls on occasion - very classic. But at heart I am very casual.

When I travel, I have learned not to advertise the fact that I am an American. I intend to buy one of the new very tiny, slim digital cameras for this trip so that I don't walk around conspicuously with a camera. It invites pickpockets and worse. I think fanny packs are NOT a good idea. I prefer a small shoulder bag that I hang onto.

Thanks again. You have helped alleviate my concerns.

BeBe Reader


I really do appreciate the responses to this post.

[ClaudiaF]

Great post cruisin'cats...
Bebe..I wasn't going to touch that mention of plaid pink and yellow pants with a 10 foot pole....glad you were just pulling our land legs:p

[Jancruz]

Bebe you really are funny!!
My husband NEVER takes a jacket or tie, we are from California and live at the beach..not sure that he even has a tie anymore..so that has never been a problem for us..I wear floods, all the time and I pack a reversible long skirt so I have two different looks..as long as there are no jeans, shorts or T shirts you are fine!!
Jan
*************
Jan
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[Bruin Steve]

The earlier posts in this thread point out the problem with "Country Club Casual"...
Some of you tried to define it in VERY SPECIFIC terms...but YOUR terms...
Oceania themselves NEVER defines it...They NEVER say you must wear a sports coat or tie in Toscana or Polo...

It's really not up to ANYONE to define it for anyone else...

Unless OCEANIA wants to step up and say they require coats for Polo, then it is NOT required...

I would assume that if one wanted to walk into Toscana wearing green polyester pants and a pink LeCoste Golf shirt, they'd have to be served and no one could object...Because I've seen people wearing that sort of silly outfit at "Country Clubs"!!!

You may turn up your nose at it...but...Your definition of Country Club Casual might not be the same as the next guy's...And Oceania really doesn't give a definition, do they?

[Jancruz]

No Steve they dont..check my post above..those are the guidelines
No shorts, no jeans and no T shirts..other than that anything goes..and I have seen it!! LOL
Jan
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[hondorner]

You do realize that in suburban South Florida we wear shorts for almost everything, don't you? Dinner at almost any restaurant, anything outside (like an outdoor concert), even church for some folks. I won't alarm anyone, though, I have enough trousers to fit in as long as no one notices how often I wear them...;)

[Liv4cruzin]

It appears that cruisin' cats strongly disagrees w/ my assessment of country club casual. The OP asked how to blend in both onboard & ashore. As this had been my first time sailing Oceania, I observed what others were wearing. You can argue w/ it all you want; but what I "recommended" is EXACTLY what I saw others wearing. I did see a few a little more dressed; & a few less so. But the majority fell in the middle as I described. As for clothing worn ashore.... I have gone over & over photos taken of several European vacations over the years. It's easy to spot the locals from the tourists in the photographs. If your goal is to blend in, well what else can I say? And on the topic of wearing clothing with "USA" (& the like) printed on the front/back..... I get regular e-mails from the State Dept. (something you can sign up for) when they issue travel warnings, etc. They have for several years advised against openly "advertising" your nationality while traveling abroad for safetly reasons. IMO (like it or not), I'd just as soon not put a bulls-eye target on my back.

[BeBeReader]

I agree that some American tourists do look like Americans -- particularly when they are on large bus tours. There should be nothing wrong with looking like an American. However, in a large city, it's not too difficult to blend in if you don't dress conspicuously and are not in a large group, don't haul around a big camera in plain sight, and don't wear a fanny pack. I've been addressed in Spanish on innumerable occasions abroad and here to the point that it doesn't come as a big shock anymore. Maybe they will think I am Russian in St. Petersburg. I kind of hope so.

However, once on a public bus in Paris with our then young daughters, a couple of local women started making what seemed to be derogatory remarks about us as Americans with absolutely no provocation -- we were just sitting there. When they found out we got the their message, they quieted down right away. Maybe they learned we're not so stupid. But then that's France.

[digby]

"I would assume that if one wanted to walk into Toscana wearing green polyester pants and a pink LeCoste Golf shirt, they'd have to be served and no one could object."

Those of you who were on the Nautica Beijing to Hong Kong 3/16 sailing may remember a couple who dressed like that the entire trip. The woman also always had an elaborate flower arrangement on her head. I thought they added lots of 'color' to the ship!

[mike35]

Those of you who were on the Nautica Beijing to Hong Kong 3/16 sailing may remember a couple who dressed like that the entire trip. The woman also always had an elaborate flower arrangement on her head. I thought they added lots of 'color' to the ship!

It's my understanding that the lady in question was an internationally known artist. Her "costumes" were, indeed, outrageous - each more so than the next. I have several "candid" photos I snapped of her. Her head gear kind of reminded me of the old Carmen Miranda fruit arrangements:p

Mike

[F11]

I am 91-can I wear my Speedo?

[ClaudiaF]

It's my understanding that the lady in question was an internationally known artist. Her "costumes" were, indeed, outrageous - each more so than the next. I have several "candid" photos I snapped of her. Her head gear kind of reminded me of the old Carmen Miranda fruit arrangements:p

Mike

for all that may remember her..does that sound a bit like "Zsa Zsa" from Regatta Inaugural cruise or what?:eek:

[ClaudiaF]

I am 91-can I wear my Speedo?

thought you preferred to skinny dip:rolleyes:

[cruisin'cats]

speedo on a 91 year old?
WHY NOT--IMHO--wear it on your head and with a nice string of well matched pearls, making sure that the Speedo label is visible to all who judge these fashion fests. Remember, it must be worn with a dinner jacket in Toscana and with a tie in Polo and with white socks in the Grand Dining room--but only with a (protective) shower cap underneath at Tapas before 6 PM-after 6 PM you must be escorted by the Captain to be found acceptable to mixed company anywhere on the ship! <wink>

[mike35]

Can we just put a condom on F11's head (the one that allegedly sits on his/her/its shoulders) and leave it at that?

Mike

[cruisin'cats]

wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the Speedo's value? I mean, honestly, isn't a condom on there going to keep the Speedo from going ANYWHERE fast? Safe Speedo?

We're gonna get in trouble....I just know it...

they're going to kick us so far off this board that Nejat won't even be able to lead a tour to visit us! ;)

[Rickey 88]

[quote=mikebrill]It's my understanding that the lady in question was an internationally known artist. Her "costumes" were, indeed, outrageous - each more so than the next. I have several "candid" photos I snapped of her. Her head gear kind of reminded me of the old Carmen Miranda fruit arrangements:p

Mike, we would truly love to have a copy. I was going to take some, but thought that it might be a bit obvious. She was from Holland, I was told, but the head-dress was to be believed!!

I was hoping to see her one night with the whole ensemble lit up with a very long extension cord following her....

Dick