Dress code

Pete, are you saying you think anyone should be allowed into any venue regardless of whether they follow the dress code or not, because they've paid to get on board? Yes

 

There are ships that operate that way. I'm not against it. But what's the point of p&o having a dress code if that's the point?

 

What difference does it make if people are not dressed formally in a bar? None IMHO.

What I find interesting is that there is so much said on forums about this subject which gives people the impression it is a hot subject. On board ship I cannot remember one discussion about it. And on the cruises we have been on the vast majority of people follow the dress code whatever it is.

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What I find interesting is that there is so much said on forums about this subject which gives people the impression it is a hot subject. On board ship I cannot remember one discussion about it. And on the cruises we have been on the vast majority of people follow the dress code whatever it is.

 

 

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Good points​.

What I find interesting is that there is so much said on forums about this subject which gives people the impression it is a hot subject. On board ship I cannot remember one discussion about it.

 

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The point of any cruise line having a dress code is so that there is the ability for people to dress as they wish within guidelines. But denying people access to venues is restrictive and just something I do not agree with.

 

 

 

What difference does it make if people are not dressed formally in a bar? None IMHO.

You seem to be contradicting yourself. You say "there is the ability to dress as they wish within the guidelines" but at the same time seem to be saying they should be able to dress however they want wherever they want.

I'm confused[emoji848]

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What I find interesting is that there is so much said on forums about this subject which gives people the impression it is a hot subject. On board ship I cannot remember one discussion about it. And on the cruises we have been on the vast majority of people follow the dress code whatever it is.

 

 

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Very true

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And that's because the majority on a cruise ship are not part of Cruise Critic thank goodness.

It's because nobody comes up to you on the ship and asks "the dress code says only dark jeans and no trainers in main dining room, is this very strict?" - which is how this thread started.

It's because nobody comes up to you on the ship and asks "the dress code says only dark jeans and no trainers in main dining room, is this very strict?" - which is how this thread started.

True people just stare.

A couple of examples:

Ventura in December formal nights - After 6pm dressed in evening casual I could use

all the deck bars

Buffet

The Beach House

The Glasshouse bar

The main bar Exchange

The Tamarind Club

The theatre

Havana show lounge

The casino

Oceana formal nights before this year

I could use all the venues except the two main dining rooms and Magnums bar. The Yacht and compass main bar is listed on the P&O site as formal but I will have to wait until December to find out if that is correct.

All the main entertainment venues are evening casual and there is a choice of where to get a drink so I am happy.

Now that I've stirred the pot (to quote daiB with regard to my recent embarkation experience on another cruise line ;) I rarely forget daiB), (although really I'm only trying to offer an alternative viewpoint which is rarely allowed on the P&O board :D) I will finish with this conversation with my views.

Now, before you berate me, I adhere to the dress code, I wear formal attire, but not because I want to, but unfortunately because I have to, if I want to eat dinner in a dining room, which is what I paid for (or pay even more for if I want to dine in one of the 2 speciality restaurants), or drink in a lounge of my choosing, access to which, again I paid for in my cruise fare (although I am paying more to P&O to drink in those venues buy purchasing beverages).

However, I really do object to being told that if I do not adhere to the dress code all evening, that I am then restricted to the buffet or the pub. So that would mean being denied access to 5 out of 6 dining venues. Does that seem fair? I think not.

For example, on Black Tie evenings the dress code on Azura applies to the following venues.

Blue Bar, Planet Bar, Meridian, Peninsular, Oriental, Sindhu, The Glass House and The Epicurean restaurants.

The good thing is from the above information from P&O's website, people not in formal attire will be welcomed in Malabar and Brodies, and so cannot be relegated just to the pub (I've just realised how few bars/lounges there are on Azura).

I do not object to formal attire in the dining rooms (although as I have mentioned on numerous occasions, in my experience this is not enforced) but I do object to having to wear formal attire all evening from 6pm until I retire.

Then again of course I could change into my preferred smart casual attire of shirt and black pants and shoes and skulk around the decks to get to the pub so as not to offend my fellow guests dressed in formal attire. Is that acceptable or should I just go back to my cabin and spend the rest of the evening hidden away from view of the rest of the guests on board in case I offend them?

Yes, I know I can choose to cruise on other lines where the dress code is not as restrictive as P&O, and trust me I do, far more frequently than on P&O. But even then if I choose, I wear formal attire, but I am not forced to wear it all night from 6pm, nor am I denied entry to some venues.

The views on this P&O board I know have dissuaded some from sailing on P&O, me included, to the extent we have cancelled cruises with P&O because of the treatment on here but I keep telling myself, the majority on board aren't part of Cruise Critic, and in many cases have never heard of it.

Talk about respect, I would like to suggest that respect is shown to those who have differing opinions.

I would like to suggest that respect is shown to those who have differing opinions.

If showing respect means not hurling abuse, and accepting that views differ, then of course.

However, if their opinion manifests itself by ignoring, or substantially bending, the published dress code because that's what they prefer - and thereby they negatively impact the ambiance that the code is clearly intended to create and which others are entitled to expect, having read the code - then I see no basis for respecting the "I've paid for it, I can do what I want" opinion.

And that's because the majority on a cruise ship are not part of Cruise Critic thank goodness.

A double edged sword is this type of forum.

I have tried not to enter into polar opposite opinions due to the fact that within too long the original issue is lost and then things can get bitter and personal. We all know of people who have been banned for overstepping the mark, so I avoid discussions where there would be no prospect of agreement.

Then on the other hand, this forum is so helpful when people like myself come on asking questions about other travellers experiences. For instance without CC I would have been one of those walking out of Valletta airport without my luggage.

As has been said only a tiny majority of people on board have even heard of this forum let alone contribute to it, certainly when I have mentioned it on the table for 8 which we always have no one has known about it, so why would anyone think of cancelling a booked cruise because of what's been said on here?

On here we are the lunatic fringe :D :eek:

Everyone else on board is concentrating on having a good time ;p

But talking about cruising is the next best thing to doing it!

On here we are the lunatic fringe :D :eek:

 

 

 

Everyone else on board is concentrating on having a good time ;p

Well Dave I am not sure if many of the gentlemen who post on here actually have a fringe, lunatic or not.

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As has been said only a tiny majority of people on board have even heard of this forum let alone contribute to it, certainly when I have mentioned it on the table for 8 which we always have no one has known about it, so why would anyone think of cancelling a booked cruise because of what's been said on here?

Its a shame if a lot of people in the UK haven't heard as it is very helpful.

If you go on the American cruise ship sites they are much more used.

Its a shame if a lot of people in the UK haven't heard as it is very helpful.

If you go on the American cruise ship sites they are much more used.

I think that most UK cruises use other forum e.g. fb. Some threads can generate a couple of hundred posts inside an hour or so and most different people. Much like some of the threads on here on some of the US lines.

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so why would anyone think of cancelling a booked cruise because of what's been said on here?

I can say from experience, that the impression I got when visiting the P&O board for advice when taking our first sailing with P&O (even after 12 years of cruising you don't know everything as each cruise line is different) was so bad we really considered cancelling. I personally set off for that sailing not looking forward to it at all, solely as a result of the comments and chastising I received on here. Every other cruise I've sailed on and have planned, I really look forward to, but sadly not P&O.

So yes, it may be worth considering that people can be influenced by what is said on here.

We have changed one sailing due to comments on here, and the other is not until late 2018 and as this now clashes with the one we have changed to, that will be moved but most likely cancelled.

We have come to the conclusion that P&O is not for us, but the one we do intend to take is for the itinerary and I'm not prepared to lose the future cruise deposit I put down on that first sailing.

So don't worry after that, I won't be stirring the point, well not on this P&O board. :)

But my view is that some should definitely consider how their comments can influence people's decisions.

Because as P&O's passenger make up is primarily British, and the majority on this thread are British who only sail P&O, then for new people coming to this board for advice, they could get the impression that this is representative of those on board.

 

I can say from experience, that the impression I got when visiting the P&O board for advice when taking our first sailing with P&O (even after 12 years of cruising you don't know everything as each cruise line is different) was so bad we really considered cancelling. I personally set off for that sailing not looking forward to it at all, solely as a result of the comments and chastising I received on here. Every other cruise I've sailed on and have planned, I really look forward to, but sadly not P&O.

 

So yes, it may be worth considering that people can be influenced by what is said on here.

 

We have changed one sailing due to comments on here, and the other is not until late 2018 and as this now clashes with the one we have changed to, that will be moved but most likely cancelled.

 

We have come to the conclusion that P&O is not for us, but the one we do intend to take is for the itinerary and I'm not prepared to lose the future cruise deposit I put down on that first sailing.

 

So don't worry after that, I won't be stirring the point, well not on this P&O board. :)

 

But my view is that some should definitely consider how their comments can influence people's decisions.

If the comments are true it helps to give you a balanced view and some are very helpful.

But at the end of the day...remember, tuxedo/dinner suit/black tie, call it what you like, is not mandatory. For males, a dark suit, collar and tie complies with the dress code and is acceptable to the cruise line. I don't care what the fashion police think.:evilsmile: The cruise line makes the rules, not the passengers.

Good to see the 'jacket night' has been dispensed with.

I am perhaps from the 'fringe.' lunatic side perhaps? Must be the sun affects us Colonials.

But at the end of the day...remember, tuxedo/dinner suit/black tie, call it what you like, is not mandatory. For males, a dark suit, collar and tie complies with the dress code and is acceptable to the cruise line. I don't care what the fashion police think.:evilsmile:

 

Good to see the 'jacket night' has been dispensed with.

On P&O i always wear a dark suit on formal night.

On P&O i always wear a dark suit on formal night.

Join the club, me too, flying 12,000 miles has its limitations with clothing.;p

But at the end of the day...remember, tuxedo/dinner suit/black tie, call it what you like, is not mandatory. For males, a dark suit, collar and tie complies with the dress code and is acceptable to the cruise line. I don't care what the fashion police think.:evilsmile: The cruise line makes the rules, not the passengers.

 

Good to see the 'jacket night' has been dispensed with.

 

I am perhaps from the 'fringe.' lunatic side perhaps? Must be the sun affects us Colonials.

That reminds me of my Arcadia Baltic cruise. On jacket required nights the dining room resembled a tramps convention with every sort of bizarre jacket from ancient gravy stained blazers to those striped regatta types. The dining room looked more sophisticated on evening casual nights :D

That reminds me of my Arcadia Baltic cruise. On jacket required nights the dining room resembled a tramps convention with every sort of bizarre jacket from ancient gravy stained blazers to those striped regatta types. The dining room looked more sophisticated on evening casual nights :D

Sounds like QM2 in March, some slackos on there, can you believe I spotted the odd sauce stained windcheater or Adidas tracksuit top in the Britannia Restaurant? One would think one would send their attire to the dry cleaners, precruise, as I do at a cost of AU$35, nearly cheaper to buy another bag of fruit. :rolleyes:

Thanks Dave.:D