Daily "attire" Designation Information Needed...

[debjo]

Greetings to all "seasoned" HAL cruisers!

Being new to HAL and, in my "close to cruise" planning, I'm needing some information about the "daily" attire assignments of our cruise. Our cruise is on the WESTERDAM...7 days, round-trip out of Ft. Lauderdale to the Eastern Caribbean (Grand Turk on Tuesday, Tortola on Wednesday, St. Maarten on Thursday, & HMC on Saturday), with a Sunday departure and return.

In my research, I've discovered that there will be TWO FORMAL NIGHTS being, most likely, on the TWO SEA DAYS (Monday and Friday of our cruise). I've also read of "SEMI-FORMAL" nights and "CASUAL NIGHTS". I think my previous cruises have geared me up enough to choose the correct clothing for each designation. What I'm most interested in learning is what nights of our cruise will be declared as "SEMI-FORMAL" and "CASUAL", so I can determine how many of "which" clothes to take for my husband & myself (along with informing the "new to cruising" folks in our traveling party).

As always, I'm most appreciative of any pearls of wisdom you can drop my way!

Debjo:)

[grannynurse]

DebJo,
You're correct in assuming that Monday and Friday will be formal nights.
There is a blurring of boundaries between casual and informal for women. The men's informal dress is suggested as collared shirt, jacket with tie optional. If you have late departures from any port that would almost assure a casual night. If you have an early departure, say before 4pm that probably would be your informal night. Your cruise documents will give you the final numbers as some 7-day cruises have eliminated the informal night. And, this can be changed onboard at the discretion of the HM and captain. We have had changes on longer trips due to missed ports, bad weather etc.
GN

[debjo]

Thanks grannynurse...
Your answers are always SO helpful! Your information will give me a good guideline into packing...now all I have to fear is not having the "right" clothes in case of an itinerary change-especially as it relates to a "semi-formal" night. According to what you've suggested, it looks like we may have a "semi-formal" night on Tuesday, as we are "scheduled" to leave Grand Turk at 4:00 pm. DH doesn't mind wearing his "tux" for the two "formal" nights, but is really reluctant to have to bring along a sport coat and tie for a "semi-formal" night. Perhaps we'll just have to plan to eat in the "lido" on that night. OR...maybe I'll tell him we'll eat in the Pinnacle Grill that night to celebrate my birthday, and he'll want to bring a sport coat & tie along! [We women have "our ways"! :-) ] In any case, it is good to know I'll find out the "pertinent" information when we receive our tickets & other documents.

Debjo

[papadave]

Semi-formal for men does not mean a dark suit and it does not mean a tie. It does mean a decent pair of shoes and a blazer. If that's too much to pack, the Lido is a good choice. However, don't be surprised if many of the men in the regular dining room appear to only be dressed casually. This is not a health or safety rule, so it may not be virgorously enforced. If your husband puts on a shirt, a belt and decent shoes, you may want to try going to the main dining room.

[debjo]

Thanks papadave...
DH always appreciates a "male" point-of-view when it comes to these things! I think he is more concerned about having his luggage weigh too much with the addition of a sport coat...but then again, a sport coat doesn't add weight like a full suit would. He already has several nice pairs of slacks that he is taking...ones that he was planning to wear with his polo shirts, but would also look smart with a sport coat & tie. I also think that he doesn't like the idea of wearing a sport coat because of the temperatures we'll likely encounter in the Caribbean. At least we still have two months to figure everything out!

Debjo

[papadave]

The dining room is air conditioned. I doubt that they will skimp on the air conditioning on an evening when most men are wearing jackets.

[serendipity1499]

Thanks papadave...
DH always appreciates a "male" point-of-view when it comes to these things! I think he is more concerned about having his luggage weigh too much with the addition of a sport coat...but then again, a sport coat doesn't add weight like a full suit would. He already has several nice pairs of slacks that he is taking...ones that he was planning to wear with his polo shirts, but would also look smart with a sport coat & tie. I also think that he doesn't like the idea of wearing a sport coat because of the temperatures we'll likely encounter in the Caribbean. At least we still have two months to figure everything out! Debjo

Debjo be prepared..The ship is always Cold:cool:..Your DH might want a Jacket or sweater either in the restaurant &/or in the theater every night! After both early & late dinner seatings, you will have a show..When you are in the Caribbean you probably will not be outside after dinner other than to take a walk around the deck..In that case DH can leave his jacket in the cabin..It's can sometimes be cool on deck in the Caribbean after nightfall..

When we travel by Air my DH always wears his Sport Jacket on board...It is never packed..He neatly folds it up & places it in the overhead rack on the plane..Your DH doesn't need a tie for Informal night, but might want to wear one on the night you dine in the Pinnacle, just to please you..;)

But as Grannynurse mentioned, even though your Docs state the number of formal & informal nights your expected to have, often the Captain & Crew will change either the numbers or the days...On our last cruise, one of our formal nights was changed to informal after we boarded..

You can make up a list of outfits (as I do) but be prepared for changes.. It's so much more fun to take it a day at a time...You might also think about calling Ships Services a couple of weeks beforehand & ask if they are planning any theme nights (IE 50's hop or Western dance)..These special theme night dances are usually held in the Crows Nest after the last show..Many ships have a Black & White Ball on Formal night..I save my long black skirt & fancy white sequined top for this night..If it's not in the program, I wear it on the last Formal night..

Like you I make lists up beforehand, but have learned not to over plan each day,;) (IE if it's Tues it's informal & Mon. it's formal)..My friends laugh & consider me to be too well organized..;) Don't get carried away.. I'm sure you all will be very elegantly dressed, whatever you wear & will look very beautiful & handsome!

Enjoy your cruise..:)

Betty

[debjo]

For serendipity1499...
Betty, I chuckled when you stated that your friends think you are "over organized"...I have the same "problem"! The couple that usually cruises with us teases me about "knowing the color of the bed sheets in our cabin" before we get on the ship...which I have to say, I don't really care about (but have seen pictures on the cruiseline's websites that would give that "answer".)
All I have to do, when teased about this, is to remind everyone that my "lists" are just "tentative plans" which are subject to change with only a moment's notice...that's the perogative of being a woman!

Debjo (who usually has everything I "need" to have on a cruise because of my lists!)