SMA9497 Posted August 14, 2010 #1 Share Posted August 14, 2010 I wanted to post this here before I posted on the line specific boards (hoping not to get 10,000 responses as I'm sure I would on there based on other questions). We have only sailed previously on Carnival but are booked on a Celebrity Cruise in January. On Carnival, my husband has always worn his Class A Uniform on the first formal night and something a little less formal the second formal night. There are usually several people in uniform. I know that Celebrity Dress code seems to be a little more formal and wanted to know if any of you who may have been on Celebrity know if it will be ok for him to wear his Dress Uniform (Army Dress Blues). I know it's obviously ok but I wanted to make sure there wouldn't be people who thought it was not appropriate. I can't imagine they would (but I want to enjoy my vacation and don't want anyone acting weird). He has nice pants/sports coat but I really don't want to invest in a suit for him considering in most cases where he would need to wear a suit- he has to wear his dress uniform anyway (and we're having to buy a new one since he still has his same Class A's from Basic 5 years ago and they are getting a little tight!) Thanks for any input you might have! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prototype Posted August 14, 2010 #2 Share Posted August 14, 2010 As a Army veteran I have no problem seeing someone wearing their Class A. so have your husband stand tall and wear them proudly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kunapets Posted August 14, 2010 #3 Share Posted August 14, 2010 Both appropriate and proper. We cruised with a retired General in uniform. Next formal night he was at the Captains table. I, and probably more than a few Vets, would be likely to send over a drink. Make sure to stop by the photographers on formal night. You don't HAVE to buy the pictures, but you may find one that you can't resist. Thanks for serving - Ken S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailingGrace Posted August 14, 2010 #4 Share Posted August 14, 2010 Military dress uniforms are appropriate for formal nights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMA9497 Posted August 14, 2010 Author #5 Share Posted August 14, 2010 Thank you all for your input! I felt they were appropriate(considering he wears it for his Military Ball!) but it seems from the board the formal night dress code is a very sensitive subject for some and wanted to make sure the DH wouldn't feel out of place! Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigque Posted August 14, 2010 #6 Share Posted August 14, 2010 I have been retired from the Air Force since 1997. If I could still fit in it, I would wear it on a formal night, but it can't happen! :( Man wear it proudly, You have earned it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing dragon Posted August 14, 2010 #7 Share Posted August 14, 2010 I always wear mine on the first formal night and usually a tux (since I own one for Mardi Gras Balls) on the second.... He will be greeted proudly... happy cruising... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookwife Posted August 21, 2010 #8 Share Posted August 21, 2010 DH always wears Dinner Mess Dress and on more than one occassion has not had to buy a drink the entire night( mostly anonymous poeple buy his drinks) or gets people walking up to him to thank him for his servioce. of course he alternates and wears the white Jacket on the second formal night and is often mistaken for Crew.. BY crew! :D NEVER feel ashamed or self concious about wearing the uniform. there will ALSO be police officers sad Firefighters wearing their formal unifrom as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utseabee Posted August 24, 2010 #9 Share Posted August 24, 2010 On our cruise, DH (active Navy) wore his whites the first formal night, and his blues the second formal night. Lots of nice comments from people, also his fair share of questions why a Navy man would want to take a cruise. He got a good giggle, as he is a seabee, and after 14 years in, he had to pay to go on the water! Definately get a picture taken! We get pictures taken at the Seabee Ball every year, but this was our first picture together in his whites. Guess what is going on our Christmas cards this year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pluto_fan Posted August 28, 2010 #10 Share Posted August 28, 2010 Just wondering if anyone hesitates to wear their uniform depending on where they are sailing. Or have I just seen too many AFN commercials about Force Protection and "Keeping a Low Profile in Other Countries"? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poohbeck Posted August 31, 2010 #11 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Wow, I would LOVE to see my husband in his dress blues on the cruise!! I never even thought of him wearing them! This is our first cruise and I'm learning so much on these boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CdnMessKit Posted September 18, 2010 #12 Share Posted September 18, 2010 I always wear my Canadian Mess Kit. It really stands out since the army mess kit has a scarlet jacket. I always get asked if I am a mountie... they stole their uniform from the army. I always love wearing it cause you meet brothers and sisters in arms from everywhere... had a US Army Colonel tell me he likes my mess kit more than his... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare WesW Posted September 18, 2010 #13 Share Posted September 18, 2010 (edited) For retired Army personnel, mess dress uniforms are appropriate at certain military functions (alas, not cruises). Army personnel who are retired, in accordance with Army Regulation 670-1, mess dress is approved fo wear for “occasions of ceremony” means occasions essentially of a military character, at which the uniform is more appropriate than civilian clothing. These functions include, but are not limited to: military balls, military parades, weddings, and military funerals; memorial services, meetings and conferences; or functions of associations formed for military purposes, of which the membership is composed largely or entirely of current or honorably discharged veterans of the Armed Forces or reserve components. Now that I am retired from the Army (from 2004-end of 2008 wore mess dress on our cruises) in order, to comply with the Army Regulation uniform regulation cited above, when on normal cruise vacation in general, for formal nights, I no longer wear mess dress but a Dinner Jacket w/my authorized minature medals. Per the Army uniform reg, am authorized to wear wear all categories of medals on appropriate civilian clothin (full size or minature medals) "Personnel who wear medals on civilian clothes should place the medals on the clothing in approximately the same location and in the same manner as for the Army uniform, so they look similar to medals worn on the Army uniform." Thus, on our recent Silversea Spirit maiden transatlantic cruise taken in January our Navy Captain (retired) friend and I agreed to wear our minature medals on our tuxedo/Dinner Jacket for the first of three formal nights on board. Imagine my wife's and my surprise and hearfelt pride we felt, when we saw my Navy colleague wearing the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars (w/Valor device), 3 Purple Hearts and the Air medal...I was in the presence of true American Hero. Doug was a POW in Vietnam, after his A4 was shot down in 1967, he was held for as a POW for 6 1/2 yrs before his release. We enjoyed many wonderful toasts that evening on board. Edited September 18, 2010 by Colonel(Ret.)Wes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CdnMessKit Posted September 18, 2010 #14 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Wow that is a great story. I met a friend of mine from my youth who had joined the Canadian Forces. We hadn't spoke in a couple of years and when we got caught I realised he had been decorated for valour twice in Afg. I was humbled to be in his presence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliaschief Posted September 19, 2010 #15 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Wear your uniform with pride...You have earned it and you will look great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare electro Posted September 27, 2010 #16 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Any women wear their uniform for formal night? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CdnMessKit Posted September 28, 2010 #17 Share Posted September 28, 2010 My wife does... same as mine except for the dress part... and less medals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernstar14 Posted October 10, 2010 #18 Share Posted October 10, 2010 I'm female and I'll be cruising on Feb 27, 2011 and will be proudly wearing my Canadian Forces Army mess kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare electro Posted October 13, 2010 #19 Share Posted October 13, 2010 I'm female and I'll be cruising on Feb 27, 2011 and will be proudly wearing my Canadian Forces Army mess kit. What ship/line are you sailing? I'm also sailing on Feb 27/11 on NCL Pearl. I'm Airforce so mess kit isn't quite as nice. I don't have one anyway, it would be my 1A's. Lois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rutland Gate Posted October 28, 2010 #20 Share Posted October 28, 2010 My brother (retired Army Major General) and I (Army Captain, retired as totally and permanently service connected disabled) have worn Mess Dress on all of our cruises for the last twenty years. We have always met good people and made good conversation. Some of the comments have been touching. Never any disrespect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trainman-2 Posted December 4, 2010 #21 Share Posted December 4, 2010 When my step son was in the 9th grade he joined the USMC Junior ROTC. He became a member of the drill team and was issued a Dress Blue Uniform. When we decided to go on a family cruise the summer after his 9th grade he suggested tyhat he and I both wear our Dress Blue Uniforms on the formal nights. So we did, all four years he was in High School. His Mom, my wife, was so proud of both of us. Today he is a "real" Marine, stationed in Hawaii. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenEricTravelers Posted December 6, 2010 #22 Share Posted December 6, 2010 From the other side of the coin... there is no way you'd get us in our Mess Dress in any way on such a free and relaxing vacation. First you'd have to get us in anything formal and then to convince us of Mess Dress, odds are not. For us, the reason to be on a cruise is to be away from the military and be regular people. USA + USAF = 30 yrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hello_Sailor Posted January 12, 2011 #23 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Great to read all the comments in here...they gave me a heads up on what to wear on our forthcoming cruise. It will definitely be miniatures and tux.. Cheers, ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMG680 Posted January 14, 2011 #24 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Thanks for the info and thoughts on the Mess Dress. My wife wants me in it and I wanted to see what others thought. Now it looks like a go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bare_eyed_cockatoo Posted January 16, 2011 #25 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Please, consider wearing some indication of your military status on formal nights. We just got back from 3 weeks of cruising, and we were honoured to know that serving and former members of the military were our cruising companions. We knew this only because they wore their uniforms/medals on formal nights. On the last formal night, I gave a bottle of champagne to the two fine young men who were seated near us, as my thank you for their military service. This led to a conversation where they learned that my sister works at the Royal Military College of Canada and I learned that they had served in Afghanistan with Canadian troops. It was a wonderful moment of mutual respect. Tara Ballance Montreal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now