Princess Formal Nights

A jacket and tie will be fine

Yes, that will be fine. He won't be alone just in a button down shirt (with or without a tie... but they are easy to pack) and slacks either.

I'm wondering if there is the wide range of dress on the formal nights in Europe. My husband doesn't have a suit, but he does have a nice jacket, that he can wear with a shirt and tie. Will that be good enough? He doesn't really like dressing up and I don't want to press the issue.

I think a button down shirt with or without a tie, and slacks are at least 25% of the men.

Amen! I hope this is still the case today --my husband does not own a suit.

My husband no longer packs a jacket for formal nights. button down shirt with or without a tie and slacks are fine. I even saw a man in a pair of dress jeans on formal night. Most wear a jacket and tie. But enough just wear the button down shirt and slacks so my husband wouldn't feel out of place. It's easy enough to pack a tie. So at least it's a option. The biggest minority is probably tuxes. The biggest majority is probably suits.

Heck, I wear the same long black dress for formal nights, so of course you can wear the same suit.

absolutely you can wear the same dress or suit for formal night! My husband wears a button down shirt and slacks. No jacket. We don't even pack a garment bag anymore. :)

It's interesting how these old threads keep resurfacing. This one started on March 31st, 2010, 07:47 PM :D

It's interesting how these old threads keep resurfacing. This one started on March 31st, 2010, 07:47 PM :D

I guess the search fundtion DOES work, sometimes anyway.:D

I guess the search fundtion DOES work, sometimes anyway.:D

Yeah, I guess it does. :D

It would be nice if the search function had a filter so the user could get results within a certain date range. Old threads are interesting and often contain useful information. Then again, sometimes the information is out of date.

Happy cruising!

This will be our first cruise on Princess and just curious about dress coade on formal night. Is a dress shirt and tie acceptable or is a suit / tux required? HELP

Don't be afraid to dress up , I'm sure you will like it, & look great by doing so.

I agree with others, just take clothing that you feel comfortable in. On formal nights, I wear dark suit trousers with a smart casual shirt (not any ordinary casual shirt, but something a bit upmarket, if you know what I mean).

Because of the cruises my wife & I do, we have to fly long distances, and lug around luggage bags, in & out of hotels, to cruise terminals & off cruise terminals, so the less luggage I need to take, the better.

On my last cruise on the Celebrity Millenium out of Hawaii, to Australia, men on our designated dining table in the Main Dining Room looked uncomfortable on formal nights, and I think they were jealous that I was wearing "comfortable" smart casual clothing (one fellow diner mentioned this to me at the table without his wife knowing)

Times are a changing, I wonder what the dress code will be cruise ships in 10 years time??? - I hope its not shorts & t-shirt

This will be our first cruise on Princess and just curious about dress coade on formal night. Is a dress shirt and tie acceptable or is a suit / tux required? HELP

The men should wear a tuxedo. If the ladies have to suffer in their garments, why shouldn't the men? Seriously, on all my cruise experiences, people got all "decked out" (pardon the pun) on formal nights. It's your night to shine and show off a little. Have fun! Isn't that what you paid for -- to have fun! Safe voyages.

The men should wear a tuxedo. If the ladies have to suffer in their garments, why shouldn't the men? Seriously, on all my cruise experiences, people got all "decked out" (pardon the pun) on formal nights. It's your night to shine and show off a little. Have fun! Isn't that what you paid for -- to have fun! Safe voyages.

My idea of "having fun" is not playing dress up!

The men should wear a tuxedo. If the ladies have to suffer in their garments, why shouldn't the men? Seriously, on all my cruise experiences, people got all "decked out" (pardon the pun) on formal nights. It's your night to shine and show off a little. Have fun! Isn't that what you paid for -- to have fun! Safe voyages.

IMO ladies do not suffer in their garments, however IF they get cold they can slip on a shawl. Men however do suffer, it is usually very warm in the MDRs yet we have to stay with a jacket on regardless of temp. I used to wear a tux, but not any more, if it does get too hot I open up my military blazer, or even remove it.

john

:eek:

My idea of "having fun" is not playing dress up!

:eek: I'm not going to touch that one!:rolleyes:

We seldom attend formal nights in the MDR. They are no longer that special for us. And we had plenty of Mr. and Mrs. Dress-up during my working career.

Besides, all of our cruises now typically include a land portion. We do carry on only. Our Princess cruise in Feb is preceeded by 7 weeks of independent travel in SE Asia. We have absolutely no intention of carrying, or room for, clothes that will only be worn for a few hours on two or three nights. Nor will we bother 'renting' formal wear. As each cruise passes, we see fewer and fewer tuxes. Indeed, we see more and more people dining in the alternative venues.

Princess, like Celebrity, offer very good options for those who prefer not to dress up and dine in the MDR. The dress code in alternate dining venues are not formal. There is also the buffet. So there are lots of options.

So don't sweat the small stuff. Just go and have a wonderful cruise.

After working 50 years in the construction industry, I enjoy the formal nights.

Picked up a tux at a rental store (last years vintage) on the cheap.

Added a white tux jacket, a couple of vests with matching ties and a couple of cuff link, stud sets.

Formal night is my James Bond night in the casino. :D

I don't do it for others. It is just for me and, as the wife also enjoys dressing up in her finery, I need to sorta match the challenge. ;)

Harry

This will be our first cruise on Princess and just curious about dress coade on formal night. Is a dress shirt and tie acceptable or is a suit / tux required? HELP

Unfortunately, it's impossible to predict just how much you'll get away with on a particular night on a particular ship, or exactly what your fellow passengers will actually be wearing -- enforcement really comes down to the whim of whomever is standing at the door at that moment, and as for others' dress, it depends on the passenger mix on your particular cruise. What we can tell you is what each cruise line says you should wear.

Dress up is a good idea is a good idea.

Always a hot topic on these boards for some reason.

We got off the Island princess just yesterday, and for the 2 formal nights I'd say slightly more than half of the men had suits on, there were only a handful of tuxes, and yes, the rest wore dress or polo shirts and enjoyed their dinner in the dining room.

ENJOY your first Princess cruise!!!

"The times, they are a changing!" formal is not what it was at one time. The meals are not served in the old formal way and formal has come to mean clean jeans and a collared shirt for men. Almost anything goes for women.

We have been on several Princess cruises. It's our favorite by far. BY FAR. I swear I remember seeing a man in jeans on formal night. I think I've even seen men in dress shorts (like linen). We are packing now for one of their Mediterranean cruises and my husband is wearing slacks and a button down shirt for the formal nights. He may bring a tie, but I bet he won't wear it. lol Definitely not a jacket. You will see everything on their formal nights. Probably most men in tie and jacket. But you won't feel out of place with just a button down shirt (with or without tie) and slacks. Promise.

DH was denied entrance to the MDR when he wore a long sleeve dress shirt and tie with suit pants on the Emerald Princess in Europe. No jacket, no MDR. We shrugged our shoulders and headed for the Cafe Caribe for lobster claws instead of having the tails in the MDR. It was actually nicer sitting by the big windows at Cafe Caribe than in the MDR. It was a long cruise so we packed light, but we also knew there was a chance of a problem on formal night.

DH was denied entrance to the MDR when he wore a long sleeve dress shirt and tie with suit pants on the Emerald Princess in Europe. No jacket, no MDR. We shrugged our shoulders and headed for the Cafe Caribe for lobster claws instead of having the tails in the MDR. It was actually nicer sitting by the big windows at Cafe Caribe than in the MDR. It was a long cruise so we packed light, but we also knew there was a chance of a problem on formal night.

Coral Princess for one would have out given a 'loaner jacket', I have seen it happen.

john

Coral Princess for one would have out given a 'loaner jacket', I have seen it happen.

 

john

Correction, that was on HAL's Zaandam.:o

john

Thanks for the info! We are going on our first ever cruise to the Caribbean in Dec and as we are travelling from Australia hubby isn't keen on taking a suit all that way lol :( Glad to know he should be fine with just a button down shirt and slacks :)

All these posts about the guys, but what about us ladies? Do I really need something formal? Or can I take some dresses I've worn to weddings and dress them up with accessories? :D

All these posts about the guys, but what about us ladies? Do I really need something formal? Or can I take some dresses I've worn to weddings and dress them up with accessories? :D

Not really. I ended up seeing an older lady in just black pants and a top. I actually thought she was "too" casual but they let her in. This was on the Royal Princess.

I just wore a cocktail dress with heels and accessorised :) Some got really dressed up though. But most were just like me.

Also I can answer my own question about hubby now, he got away with slacks and a button up shirt :D (no tie). Most men wore the same thing so it wasn't an issue like we were dreading! Phew!

I'm so sad that our cruise is over and done with now :( Jealous of you though! Have a great cruise :)