Formal night on Oceana

We are new to P&O having just booked our first cruise with them. My husband isn't keen on dressing up for formal night so can anyone please recommend other options? Are the for fee restaurants formal on these nights or could we dine in the Beachhouse in Evening casual wear?

Far as I remember, the MDR and upcharge venues do have the dress code applied. I think (although not certain) that the buffet does not. Hopefully someone can clairfy that.

Thanks Monorail Orange, I'm not a fan of Buffets in the evening so was hoping to avoid that if possible.

Should be OK in the Beach house although it is likely that others will be in there dressed formally..

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Should be OK in the Beach house although it is likely that others will be in there dressed formally.

I ate in the Beach House every formal night a few cruises back - because I forgot my dinner suit!! I didn't see anybody dressed formally (on Oriana).

Thank you DaiB

I ate in the Beach House every formal night a few cruises back - because I forgot my dinner suit!! I didn't see anybody dressed formally (on Oriana).

On Arcadia my wife was not well so we did not go for dinner, a formal night. I did not dress formally and went to the buffet. First of all there were very few people there and secondly more than half were formally dressed. It happens.

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On Oceana the two main dining rooms have the black tie dress code on formal nights. The Plaza buffet and the two cover charge restaurants, Café Jardin and the Beach House, are evening casual. The Beach House has additional outdoor seating as well.

edit - you will see some people dressed formally in Café Jardin and the Beach House, don't worry about it just tuck in!

Your husband does not have to wear formal, a suit and tie is acceptable.What about having late afternoon tea or room service.

Most of the ship will be dressed formally - long dresses and Black Tie.

Most areas of the ship will only allow you in if you are dressed as per the evening dress code.

The self-serve restaurant and the Beach House are some of areas that do not have this stipulation.

One of the joys of a P&O ship is the fact that they still have formal nights and most adhere to the dress code of the evening. There are very few formal nights compared to what there used to be, and there are plenty of cruise lines that do not have strict dress codes like P&O do. Would they not suit you better if you do not like dressing up?:)

Most areas of the ship will only allow you in if you are dressed as per the evening dress code.

Some people may wish that to be the case, but it isn't.

You are perfectly allowed to use most of the ship if you are not dressed in formal wear.

That includes all the common areas such as the lobby and atrium, the theatre, the buffet, and most of the bars.

You cannot use the main dining rooms (and possibly the pay restaurants but that is variable) and there will be usually one bar you cannot use, but that is it.

Here we go

On Oceana the normal dress code after 6pm is evening casual. On black tie evenings some parts of the ship require formal dress.

On a black tie evening:

Adriatic main dining room - formal

Ligurian main dining room - formal

Plaza buffet - evening casual

Café Jardin - evening casual

The Beach House - evening casual

Footlights Theatre - evening casual

Starlights show lounge - evening casual

Casino - evening casual

All deck bars - evening casual

Explorers bar - evening casual

Tiffany's - evening casual

Le Club - evening casual

Winners - evening casual

Magnums - formal

Yacht and Compass - formal - maybe ???

Oceana is the most informal P&O ship and most of the ship is evening casual.

It is interesting that the P&O website lists the Yacht and Compass as formal. This is the main bar and on my 8 Oceana cruises it has always been evening casual. Imagine the bar on formal nights, people going to and from the theatre, promenade deck, forward lifts/ staircase and public toilets, all walking through the bar!. I will find out in December, meanwhile has anyone been on Oceana recently?

I take what P&O have on their site with a pinch of salt. They list the Glasshouse on Ventura as formal. When I was aboard at xmas it was evening casual and according to staff was always so!. I wonder what the glasshouse on Azura will be next month.

Thanks for all the info and advice everyone. As you'll see from my signature we've tried a few different cruise lines and have enjoyed them all. We have always participated in formal evenings in the past but this time we just want to relax. We chose this sailing as there's only one formal evening, I would like to be pre-prepared so as not to cause embarrassment or offence.

I always thought that the formal dress code did not apply to the Glass House, although a lot of people might be wearing formal attire whilst having a drink before or after their dinner in the MDR. I thought that the ethos of the Glass House was more Smart Casual and in line with Olly Smith's theme of smart casual dress appearance. Have never seen a piccie of Olly in full tux.

I always thought that the formal dress code did not apply to the Glass House, although a lot of people might be wearing formal attire whilst having a drink before or after their dinner in the MDR. I thought that the ethos of the Glass House was more Smart Casual and in line with Olly Smith's theme of smart casual dress appearance. Have never seen a piccie of Olly in full tux.

I agree with you about the concept being a relaxed bar that serves food yet the P&O lists the glass house as formal on all ships. It was not on Ventura and hopefully also Azura. It had a poor atmosphere on Aurora and no atmosphere on Britannia, probably because on those two ships they have attempted to change it into a restaurant with a bar.

Last July the Glass House on Azura was not formal, but it was a Food Heroes cruise and OIlly was on board!! I particularly love The Glass house on Azura, so would like it to continue just as it is.

A little off topic, as I was catching up with this thread I've just remembered hearing someone as we sailed past one of the Queens...

"That's one of them Cunards. I hear you have to do formal night every night on them"

A little off topic, as I was catching up with this thread I've just remembered hearing someone as we sailed past one of the Queens...

 

"That's one of them Cunards. I hear you have to do formal night every night on them"

Dear Lord. Words fail me. :')

We are new to P&O having just booked our first cruise with them. My husband isn't keen on dressing up for formal night so can anyone please recommend other options? Are the for fee restaurants formal on these nights or could we dine in the Beachhouse in Evening casual wear?

You may find this helpful...

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/02/17/oceana-35-night-caribbean-round-trip/

....And this....

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/02/24/life-on-board-oceanas-35-night-cruise/

....And this....

 

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2017/02/24/life-on-board-oceanas-35-night-cruise/

 

 

New I should have asked you first. Are the speciality restaurants on oceana smart casual on formal nights and are there any 'jacket required' nights?

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New I should have asked you first. Are the speciality restaurants on oceana smart casual on formal nights and are there any 'jacket required' nights?

 

 

 

 

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Have just replied to this one in another thread?

Have just replied to this one in another thread?

Thanks - just seen it and responded 😀

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