Formal Nights

We have been disappointed that dress on Seabourn is really getting casual. Many men no longer even wear a tie on formal nights. Is the same thing happening on Silversea?

Our Silversea experience is limited to European itineraries so I don't know if it's different in say the Caribbean or Asia but on our cruises people have dressed accordingly for formal nights. I have seen the staff quietly and politely enforce the dress code de jour.

No.

I couldn't disagree more with the OP. I love that one no longer has to wear a tie or schlepp a tuxedo. Formal nights are now referred to as formal optional on Seabourn so a jacket with no tie is completely appropriate.

I couldn't disagree more with the OP. I love that one no longer has to wear a tie or schlepp a tuxedo. Formal nights are now referred to as formal optional on Seabourn so a jacket with no tie is completely appropriate.

Wish SS would adopt a similar policy. It would make packing so much simpler. No one at home wears Black Tie accept at very formal weddings and Gala events. Dinner on a cruise ship is no Gala IMHO. Formal attire is really becoming passe. Let the flaming begin.

Our Silversea experience is limited to European itineraries so I don't know if it's different in say the Caribbean or Asia but on our cruises people have dressed accordingly for formal nights. I have seen the staff quietly and politely enforce the dress code de jour.

Gourmet Gal: I couldn't disagree more with the OP. I love that one no longer has to wear a tie or schlepp a tuxedo. Formal nights are now referred to as formal optional on Seabourn so a jacket with no tie is completely appropriate. Wish SS would adopt a similar policy. It would make packing so much simpler. No one at home wears Black Tie accept at very formal weddings and Gala events. Dinner on a cruise ship is no Gala IMHO. Formal attire is really becoming passe. Let the flaming begin.

These above mentioned experiences by Randyk47 closely match what we observed and saw done during our 26-day' date=' just-completed Silver Cloud trip. For the 17-day, Barbados to Barbados portion that including many stops along the Amazon River, we had three formal nights. For the nine-day, Barbados to San Juan segment doing the Caribbean, there was just one formal night. I did the dark suit, French cuffs, etc., set-up. It was not too "bad" for me.

The views expressed by Gourmet Gal, however, closely [b']matches my wife's very strong opinions[/b], especially given that we were sailing in the Caribbean heat, etc. For a nine-day cruise with only one formal night, my wife was even stronger in her viewpoint for the challenges in taking those "things" when the usage was fairly limited to just one formal night. From some staff, I got the info/insight that much of the Silversea customer base from the UK works to keep these current policies more likely in place for SS. Not sure where opinion merges and/or diverts between those from the England versus those USA customers on this subject/question.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo back-to-back sailing over 26 days, here is the link below to that series of posts on my live/blog. Lots of great visuals from the Amazon and these various Caribbean Islands, etc. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 17,322 views for these postings.

There were 2 Formal Optional nights on our recent Spirit cruise and I'd guess about half the gentlemen wore black tie or close and all were in at least jacket and tie. The ladies ranged from full evening gown + bling to very elegant cocktail dress/pants. I don't recall seeing anyone who hadn't made an effort.

The key word here is Optional which people can interpret in a number of ways but still understand that a certain standard applies. I can't see how anyone could object to that. It may seem anachronistic in this day and age to have dress codes at all but for us it's part of the cruising experience and a reassuring, if quaint, reminder of the days when dressing for dinner was an everyday event.

I don't mind dressing up, but my husband hates it.

He has all the accoutrements, white dinner jacket, tux, etc.

just isn't his idea of relax.

Anyway he wears a suit and we avoid the MDR.

As for me, I leave my tiara at home. Just too heavy. The mace is considered a weapon, so I leave that behind as well.

We like silversea and so we deal with the rules.

Our Silversea experience is limited to European itineraries so I don't know if it's different in say the Caribbean or Asia but on our cruises people have dressed accordingly for formal nights. I have seen the staff quietly and politely enforce the dress code de jour.

And I hope they continue to do so, is it so much trouble to pack a tuxedo… I don’t think so.

And I hope they continue to do so, is it so much trouble to pack a tuxedo… I don’t think so.

In a word...... YES!!!

it seemed as though the dress code was being nicely followed on our last SS cruise. This is one of the features that I enjoy.

People are dressing a little more casual on Seabourn. On our last cruise an Australian man refused to wear a jacket even though his friends were both wearing them and the wives were in cocktail dresses. The Maitre D asked him to go and get a jacket, he refused again so a spare jacket was offered to the guest, who refused it. He was gently escorted out of the dining room and reminded that a jacket was necessary so he went to his stateroom, returned with his jacket, threw it down, and said a few very rude things to the Maitre D. and continued the night in just a shirt.

If this continues to happen, how Is Seabourn going to maintain standards? We always dress accordingly and we think other guests should too.

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In a word...... YES!!!

Typical of what I excepted from this area!!!!

People are dressing a little more casual on Seabourn. On our last cruise an Australian man refused to wear a jacket even though his friends were both wearing them and the wives were in cocktail dresses. The Maitre D asked him to go and get a jacket, he refused again so a spare jacket was offered to the guest, who refused it. He was gently escorted out of the dining room and reminded that a jacket was necessary so he went to his stateroom, returned with his jacket, threw it down, and said a few very rude things to the Maitre D. and continued the night in just a shirt.

If this continues to happen, how Is Seabourn going to maintain standards? We always dress accordingly and we think other guests should too.

 

 

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I apologise on that man’s behaviour…we are not all like that.

I apologise on that man’s behaviour…we are not all like that.

Boorishness is not restricted to any particular nationality.

Seems to me, and maybe I'm being a bit simple here, but if one goes on a cruise that asks for a certain level of dress code respect then the onus lies on the customer to select another line if they have such an antipathy to the dress code. Mind you, some people are such egoistic attention-seekers that they will use such occasions to have their little self-indulgent tantrums.

The formal dress code applies maybe once a week-ish. How hard is it to either conform or to use one of the many non-formal areas on these nights? It's only a problem if one chooses to make it so.

Boorishness is not restricted to any particular nationality.

 

Seems to me, and maybe I'm being a bit simple here, but if one goes on a cruise that asks for a certain level of dress code respect then the onus lies on the customer to select another line if they have such an antipathy to the dress code. Mind you, some people are such egoistic attention-seekers that they will use such occasions to have their little self-indulgent tantrums.

 

The formal dress code applies maybe once a week-ish. How hard is it to either conform or to use one of the many non-formal areas on these nights? It's only a problem if one chooses to make it so.

I was quite taken by the sensibleness of your post.

Bad behaviour totally unnecessary. There are several other options for people (like me) who do not wish to get dressed up.

I found myself wishing that SS staff would respond in the more strident way that airline cabin crew might respond on a plane.

"Sir .... you seem to be intoxicated and overly anxious. I am concerned about safety. Are you refusing to comply with a lawful instruction given by a member of staff whilst on the High Seas sir?"

A large group of staff appear menacingly behind the offender, one carrying manacles, the other a straight jacket, the other a stun gun .....

People may not like the rules as you say but either shouldn't choose the line or simply respect others who do.

Next case. :D

:)

Boorishness is not restricted to any particular nationality.

 

Seems to me, and maybe I'm being a bit simple here, but if one goes on a cruise that asks for a certain level of dress code respect then the onus lies on the customer to select another line if they have such an antipathy to the dress code. Mind you, some people are such egoistic attention-seekers that they will use such occasions to have their little self-indulgent tantrums.

 

The formal dress code applies maybe once a week-ish. How hard is it to either conform or to use one of the many non-formal areas on these nights? It's only a problem if one chooses to make it so.

Thank You.. My point exactly.

People are dressing a little more casual on Seabourn. On our last cruise an Australian man refused to wear a jacket even though his friends were both wearing them and the wives were in cocktail dresses. The Maitre D asked him to go and get a jacket, he refused again so a spare jacket was offered to the guest, who refused it. He was gently escorted out of the dining room and reminded that a jacket was necessary so he went to his stateroom, returned with his jacket, threw it down, and said a few very rude things to the Maitre D. and continued the night in just a shirt.

If this continues to happen, how Is Seabourn going to maintain standards? We always dress accordingly and we think other guests should too.

 

 

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Rather than play that game with the inevitable outcome and hopefully with the backing of his superiors, the Maitre D should have instructed the man that he had to eat elsewhere on the night in question. Someone has to have the power to stop the brat behavior. It would seem that his friends were just as stupid for letting it get to that point.

I have to admit I've made a slight, at least I think it's slight, adjustment to my "formal" wear. Last year I was faced with having to replace my trusty tux. Outside of cruising the opportunities to wear a tux have virtually gone to zero and, in fact, our last non-cruise formal event was four years ago. So looking at our 2014 Silver Wind cruise I saw there were only two formal nights. Long story short I opted for a new black suit to replace the tux for at least last year and most probably this coming year. It worked well and I could and did wear it other nights so I got more use out of it than just the tux.

I agree with Travelcat2. It is hard to pack a tuxedo especially if, like me, you do significant travel before and after most cruises. A tuxedo requires different shoes, shirts, ties etc, all of which are cumbersome. A black suit is a good alternative as you can wear the jacket as a blazer on other nights though some will say only a blazer is a blazer.

The bottom line is everyone needs to get used to a less formal atmosphere aboard ships because the demographic they are seeking is younger and will never wear a tuxedo. In five years time I predict they'll be gone completely.

Boorishness is not restricted to any particular nationality.

 

Seems to me, and maybe I'm being a bit simple here, but if one goes on a cruise that asks for a certain level of dress code respect then the onus lies on the customer to select another line if they have such an antipathy to the dress code. Mind you, some people are such egoistic attention-seekers that they will use such occasions to have their little self-indulgent tantrums.

 

The formal dress code applies maybe once a week-ish. How hard is it to either conform or to use one of the many non-formal areas on these nights? It's only a problem if one chooses to make it so.

Said well.

Enjoy your crossing.

Said well.

 

Enjoy your crossing.

Oh, we shall. Particularly the formal nights.;)

Your comment that a jacket with open neck shirt and no tie is appropriate on Seabourn formal nights is ok is not quite accurate. That code of dress is for informal nights. Open neck shirts and no jacket is for casual nights and a tux or suit is appropriate for formal nights.

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Your comment that a jacket with open neck shirt and no tie is appropriate on Seabourn formal nights is ok is not quite accurate. That code of dress is for informal nights. Open neck shirts and no jacket is for casual nights and a tux or suit is appropriate for formal nights.

 

 

 

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But the "devil is in the details" and looking at Seabourn's site while it indeed says tux or suit is appropriate for formal nights it leaves out any mention of ties. Now I personally don't give wearing a tux or suit without a tie much thought. After 40+ years of wearing a tie to work it's just part of me and the way I dress.

Your comment that a jacket with open neck shirt and no tie is appropriate on Seabourn formal nights is ok is not quite accurate. That code of dress is for informal nights. Open neck shirts and no jacket is for casual nights and a tux or suit is appropriate for formal nights.

 

 

 

 

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You are mistaken. A jacket with not tie is now acceptable on Seabourn on formal optional nights.