Formal Nights

[orchestrapal]

As seasoned Oceania cruisers we wonder if there is anyway around the formal nights on Regent. Is there an informal restaurant one can go to in order to avoid the formal clothes? As far as we're concerned country club casual is the way to go but we do like one of regent's itineraries... Maybe we'll have to forgo it?:confused:

[crys]

On Mariner and Voyager, I'm told that CCC is acceptable for La Verandah on formal nights. I actually like formal nights, so have never gone there on one, though I do like the dinners there and so always try to get there at least once. But, anyway, I've heard that casual is fine there.

And there's always room service. The formal night dinners in Compass Rose tend to be among the better, so you might want to do this, as you can get the full CR dinner menu through room service. If the weather where you're going allows it, lobster dinner on the balcony can be very nice.

[canadagal]

Unfortunately after 6:00 p.m. on formal night they want you in formal clothes most places once you set foot outside of your cabin. They want you in formal for the other public places like dining rooms, bars, casino shops, theatre etc. If you don't feel like dressing up you can look at the evenings menu for Compass Rose in the Observation lounge. One is placed on the bar every afternoon. Then you can make note of what you would like to have and then call room service during the dinner hour and have it sent to your cabin to enjoy. We've done this a few times when we were just not in the mood for getting dressed up and or were too tired to do so and preferred a quiet night in.
Pat

[ChatKat in Ca.]

While everyone dresses up - and about 50% are in gowns and tuxes, a dark suit for men and a black outfit for women of anykind would suffice. There is usually a party of some kind in the atrium or in the Constellation Theater.

My husband wears the silk t-shirts and no tie with his black suit.

[Jim B]

Yes you can go directly to LaVeranda dressed CCC on formal nights if
you wish to not dress up.
Unfortunatly that is the only place you can go. No bars, casino, etc.
Kind of feel like you are sneeking around the back way to a show or something.
I really think there will be a change in this formal night policy on Regent with the new terrible airline restrictions.

[canadagal]

Oh me too Jim......I sure hope so! Also, for the OP, don't be surprised when you are not dressed formal and other guests may give you the once over look in the halls, elevator etc.....even if you are going to the self serve laundry.
Pat

[leese]

My husband doesn't mind the thought of formal nights, but given the new airline restrictions and the fact that we are combining a Regent cruise with additional time in Europe we just can't seem to afford the luggage space for formal attire. Is it possible to 'rent' men's formal wear? Not an ideal solution I know, but we're having a whole lot of trouble trying to decide what not to pack so we can take formal wear.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Twice we had solved the formal wear/lugguage problem to Europe by planning our pre- and post-cruise itineraries in a way that lets us dump one large "cruisewear" case somewhere--once at Heathrow for a week post-cruise when we flew to Portugal, once in our Athens hotel where we went off to the islands for a week, and once in Istanbul, where we decided to simply stay in one hotel in that city for 6 days, and do any daytripping we wished. the latter of course, is the easiest alternative, but the Athens and Heathrow strategies worked very well.

[orchestrapal]

Thanks to all! With La Verandah and suite room service I think we're good. Since we never go to the shows or bars and don't gamble we'll be just fine. 23 nights from Ft. Lauderdale to Southampton cruise sounds wonderful. It's almost all new ports for us and the possibility of staying in London post cruise makes the small dinning sacrifice worth it. Can't wait...:) :)

[Jim B]

Some e-mails I have been getting from others are telling me
they are going to take one sports coat two pair of slacks two dress shirts
and wear them with a tie for formal night. No tux or dark suit is going this time. This will then cover the in -formal nights too.

[canadagal]

Jim, that's what my husband does now. Just takes his dark navy sports jacket and mixes it with a few dress pants and shirts.....and tie of course.
Pat

[Baker Lady]

I am under the impression that they have done away with formal nights. Informal attire calls for a jacket (for men) and Country Club casual is very casual.

[NCCruzQueen]

Baker Lady, I was just on the Voyager, disembarked on June 19th. We had two formal nights on our cruise, tux worn by some. The two guys in our group wore dark suits and did just fine.