Teen dress for formal nights

[kmloder]

I'm bringing 3 teenage boys on the cruise. Should they bring suits for the formal nights, or are nice slacks with shirt and ties ok? Any info would help. Thanks

[Princess Di]

Hi, KM,
My Grandson (now 15) has had his own Tux since he was 12. However, this year on the Caribbean Princess - he met some teenage girls on this website and has been e-mailing them - he told Mom that he wants some Bling-Bling cufflinks. After taking Cotillion, he is a very good ballroom dancer. A nice, dark suit is perfectly fine. You can go on E-Bay to look for a tux. Mom bought it at the Men's Warehouse and they do free alterations (letting hems out of pants and sleeves). Just take it back every year. This is the third cruise on which Steven will wear his tux. He feels very grown up and sophisticated wearing it and it does a lot for the manners. Look for some used suits or tuxes in the newspapers or up-scale neighborhood yard sales, or Salvation Army. My daughter donates lovely, expensive clothes away to Salvation Army. Your teens will learn a lot from this special experience.
The reason for the jackets is that it is Cold in the dining rooms (the waiters are all dressed up in jackets & are working hard - I guess that is why they keep it cool). I always take a jacket with my formal.
There are a lot of fun activities for Teens on Princess, and they always find the other Kids on the Ship with similar interests - basketball, tennis, ping-pong, etc. Have a Wonderful Cruise. You are a good Mom.

A Smile is just a little curve that sets a lot of things Straight.
Fair Winds and Following Seas!

[CruiseFever]

Nice slacks with a shirt and tie will do but a suit would be better.
(IMHO)

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05
Carnival Valor 10/30/05

[woodspines]

A suit is always fitting, but nice dress pants, shirt and tie are very appropriate for teens. They grow so quickly and wear suits so rarely, I can't see making the investment for 2 nights. I'm sure most passengers understand, especially those who have had children.

[kmloder]

Thanks, getting the Tux is not the issue, one of my son's has a tux. (Which he is bringing) The other two do not want to get that dressed up. So I was hoping that it was not manditory to wear a suit.

[GandGinSoCalif]

We took teens with us to Alaska last summer, so I know what you're going through. My advice: make them dress up, even if they're resisting now. You'll get some great family pictures, and they'll come to realize that it's "cool" to dress up on occasion.

[Green4me]

This Dad agrees, make them wear a tux, my 15yr old has the last two cruises, Disney and Grand Princess, and will on hte next cruise in December. He enjoys it now http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Also the photos, as reported abpove, are much better if everyone is dressed to the 9's.

Christmas on the Caribbean Princess begins in...
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[kmloder]

Thanks, but I guess I'm in for a battle! As anyone with teens knows!

[Bob & Barb]

What is appropriate for the little ones to wear to dinner -- say 6 to 12 years? I mean every night -- as well as formal night.

Until Caribbean Princess Sails November 13, 2004

[Beryl]

Oh my, I wish we could get off these what/what not to wear discussions. I have cruised over a dozen times, mostly on Princess! I have never seen or heard of anyone being turned away from the dining room during the dinner hours on my cruises. From reading here I know it does happen from time to time but I don't think it is often and I believe the "dress codes" were flagrantly (is that a word?) disregarded. If you don't wear shorts, torn jeans, "muscle" shirts etc. to the dining room and if you are clean and tidy I don't think you will have any problems. Same rules apply to the little kids as well as the big ones!! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Cruising! It's like being in the Garden of Eatin'!

[pengu1n]

I checked with my 18 year old son regarding this. He was 16 on our last cruise. He said most guys this age and older wore at least suits on the formal nights. Younger teens might be OK with shirt and tie. He has a tux which was let out earlier in the year, hope it still fits. His came from Men's Warehouse and cost about the same as a suit, but then you still need cufflinks and vest. Shirt, too, but you would need that for a suit anyway. On carnival, you could rent a tux but it seemed kind of hit & miss with sizes (we had to borrow cufflinks as they some how didn't make it into the suitcase).

KM, I think we're on the same sailing, so if the tux is too small, maybe it will fit one of yours!

Golden Princess 6/13/04
Carnival Paradise 2002
Carnival Inspiration 2001
American Hawaii 1996
American Family 1990
Holland America Monarch Sun 1977