Yet another dress code question.

We have not sailed on HAL for 8 years. We have been sailing on DCL with the grands and Carnival and have been sailing over 20 years. Many will know how the attire for cruises has become more casual over the years and I am wondering if this has crossed over to HAL.

We too have become more casual since not working any more and living in FL, people even wear shorts to church. So my question is this, Will we feel uncomfortable if my husband wears a collared shirt at every dinner, included formal nights? And I would wear black pants with a fancy, but not cocktail or sparkly, shirt.

I do not wish to purchase formal wear that we will never wear again but I do not want to feel out of place or offend someone. I am looking at HAL again to take a Panama Canal cruise. Thank you for your input.

Here's the scoop. I know where you are coming from. I always had to wear a suit and tie for work but now as I own my own business I only dress up only for weddings and funerals. Most men will wear at least a sports jacket and tie for formal nights. Some a suit. Some a tuxedo. So a collared polo style shirt...Yes..he may feel out of place. Not sure if the DR Manager will make an issue out of it. Probably not. The shorts might be a problem on formal nights.

As soon as dinner is over, I change back into jeans for the rest of the night. So does your husband have at least one sports jacket and a tie or two? I would go with that.

We have not sailed on HAL for 8 years. We have been sailing on DCL with the grands and Carnival and have been sailing over 20 years. Many will know how the attire for cruises has become more casual over the years and I am wondering if this has crossed over to HAL.

 

We too have become more casual since not working any more and living in FL, people even wear shorts to church. So my question is this, Will we feel uncomfortable if my husband wears a collared shirt at every dinner, included formal nights? And I would wear black pants with a fancy, but not cocktail or sparkly, shirt.

 

I do not wish to purchase formal wear that we will never wear again but I do not want to feel out of place or offend someone. I am looking at HAL again to take a Panama Canal cruise. Thank you for your input.

On any night that is NOT a formal night, your plan is perfect.

On formal nights a jacket and tie is suggested for your husband. HAL may not enforce it, but it is their current policy and it does get enforced.

The policy states:

Evening dress falls into two distinct categories: Formal or Smart Casual. Smart Casual can be defined as slacks and sports shirts or sweater for men and skirt or trousers and sweater or blouse for women. Printed T-shirts, swimsuits, tank tops and shorts are not allowed in the restaurants or public areas during the evening hours.

 

On festive Formal evenings, ladies wear a cocktail dress or gown and gentlemen wear a suit and tie or tuxedo. Formal wear for ladies and gentlemen can be pre-ordered for your use during your cruise by calling Cruiseline Formalwear at 1-800-551-5091 or (305) 252-6565. For more information, please visit cruiselineformal.com. Your formal wear will be in your stateroom when you board. In order to complement your fellow guests, Holland America Line asks that you observe the suggested dress code throughout the entire evening. The number of Formal evenings on your cruise will depend upon the duration of the voyage. Please note, if you have booked collector voyages, the number of Formal evenings is based upon the duration of each individual voyage of the ship.

As others have said, for nonformal nights, your plan of some kind of collard shirt is fine. (I'm assuming trousers complete the outfit, as shorts may not be worn in the MDR for dinner)

Formal on HAL does not require the traditional formality of tux for men, gown for ladies, even though they are mentioned in HAL's policy. So don't feel you need to any expensive shopping.

I haven't seen a lot of tuxes, but I have seen a lot of suits or at least sport coats for formal nights. So your husband should plan on packing a jacket and tie for formal nights. Enforcement varies in the dining room. I have seen jacketless men offered loaner jackets at the podium, and I have seen people dressed too casually turned away. To avoid that awkwardness and, as HAL says ,"to complement your fellow guests," pack a jacket and tie for your husband. It's only a little space in the suitcase and it makes sure you'll be OK for dinner.

Some folks opt to have dinner in the Lido on formal nights so they don't have to dress up.

For formal nights MY DH does a sport coat and trousers, and some type of collared or mock turtle neck shirt under the sport coat. I do Chicos Travelers black pants and jacket and a sparkly or other top under it.

For other nights he does golf shirt or Tommy Bahama type shirt over trousers and I do capris and top or sun dress or similar.

DW and I have been on 12 HAL cruises and I have not dressed formally once. I also do not go anywhere near the MDR on formal nights nor where the photos are being taken. I really get it that people enjoy dressing up. I love all kinds of activities while on board and I soak up every minute of life at sea. For me, I do not feel like I am missing out at all by not dressing up. I do respect those that do dress up and like I said I stay away from the areas they go to. However I will go to the showroom, casino,shops etc. In my casual wear. Ever since my first cruise in 2006 I have seen shorts T shirts,sandles etc and actually thought it was totally accepted? I do not want to offend others but I do want to be comfortable for me. I hope this sort of "comprimise" works for most posters. It does seem more of an issue on this forum than it does on the Ship. Cruise 13 in August and 14 in Sept. thanks.

Non-formal dinners in the MDR I go with a collared shirt and dockers. Formal nights I wear a blazer with dark pants, a white shirt and tie. Works for me & I've never felt out of place.

If your DH wears a blazer and tie on formal night, he will totally meet HAL's code.

There is much inconsistency in enforcement of dress code but some Dining Room Managers will (sometimes) refuse seating to someone not dressed to code. There is a good chance he would be seated without either the tie or the jacket but not likely if he is wearing neither.

I'd suggest your dress selections would be fine except on Formal Nights. Why not just go up to the Lido on Formal Night and join the rest of us who got rid of those "once a year" formal things years ago?

Here's the scoop. I know where you are coming from. I always had to wear a suit and tie for work but now as I own my own business I only dress up only for weddings and funerals. Most men will wear at least a sports jacket and tie for formal nights. Some a suit. Some a tuxedo. So a collared polo style shirt...Yes..he may feel out of place. Not sure if the DR Manager will make an issue out of it. Probably not. The shorts might be a problem on formal nights.

 

As soon as dinner is over, I change back into jeans for the rest of the night. So does your husband have at least one sports jacket and a tie or two? I would go with that.

Alternatively, wear jeans for dinner, dine in the Lido, with no change required after dinner! ;)

Just got back from a HAL cruise. Even if they allow your husband into the dining room on formal night with just a collared shirt, he will be VERY out-of-place. While "formal night" was not all that formal (I saw no tuxes or evening gowns), every man was wearing a tie and jacket.

Another option is to rent formal wear for the cruise. No need to buy it, pack it or store it. It's in the cabin when you embark, and they take it away after the last formal evening.

Although I bring my kilt for formal nights, my partner uses this to rent a tux so that we don't have to pack formal wear for him.

If your husband doesn't want to wear a tux, they also rent casual suits that are perfectly acceptable for formal night.

http://www.cruiselineformal.com/cf_pages/packages.php?c=hal

Alternatively, wear jeans for dinner, dine in the Lido, with no change required after dinner! ;)

Why should I do that? The food in the MDR, especially on formal nights, is pretty good. Why should I miss out on that? I wear a jacket and tie for the MDR on formal nights then change afterwards for the shows, casino, etc. Not a problem. People who miss out on formal nights in the MDR miss out on some pretty good food. So your solution is not a solution at all. Nice try.

this may get some negative comments, but...

I think the people who look the most out of place are those who come to the shows ( on formal nights ) in their sloppiest jeans/ shorts/ tees or tank tops.

Everyone else looks so nice and they stick out like a sore thumb.

sorry, just saying...

After one of our longer cruises that we have done for several times, DH noticed that very men wore tuxedos. So when we got home, he retired his to the back of the closet.

Now he wears either a suite or sports jacket with a tie -- and of course slacks.

People are dressing up as much on HAL any more.

this may get some negative comments, but...

 

I think the people who look the most out of place are those who come to the shows ( on formal nights ) in their sloppiest jeans/ shorts/ tees or tank tops.

Everyone else looks so nice and they stick out like a sore thumb.

 

sorry, just saying...

Nothing negative, but a different perspective on the issue. :)

They are comfortable, not breaking any rules and probably not concerned with the degree to which they may stand out. Nor should they be concerned. While I have never worn anything less that a jacket and tie on formal night, and maintain that level of dress for the duration of the evening, I feel no need to comment on those who have chosen to eat in the Lido in appropriate garb for that venue and to watch a show afterwards.

I can't wait until HAL adopts an Oceania-style dress policy so these circular debates go by the wayside. ;)

I can't wait until HAL adopts an Oceania-style dress policy so these circular debates go by the wayside. ;)

The level of dress on Oceania is much higher than on a HAL "smart casual" night. People take great care of how they dress, and you do see men in a sports coat on an Oceania casual night.

Dress Code? I didn't think HAL has one. :D:D

The level of dress on Oceania is much higher than on a HAL "smart casual" night. People take great care of how they dress, and you do see men in a sports coat on an Oceania casual night.

Agree with you Ruth. Every night on O is very special. :) No jeans, rubber flip flops, "long" shorts etc. When O says casual they are meaning "country club casual" on Oceania.. A different animal than what I see on the other mainstreams on smart casual nights. And I agree we saw many men in sportcoats with a polo and the women wear put together nice outfits. We did a 12 day Caribbean with them a few years ago and even tho it was one of those cruises on other lines people would dress relaxed as possible...on O, come dinner time, people really showed the atmosphere mattered. You don't need to be in gown and tux to look and feel refined...IF that's what one wants.

Agree with you Ruth. Every night on O is very special. :) No jeans, rubber flip flops, "long" shorts etc. When O says casual they are meaning "country club casual" on Oceania.. A different animal than what I see on the other mainstreams on smart casual nights. And I agree we saw many men in sportcoats with a polo and the women wear put together nice outfits. We did a 12 day Caribbean with them a few years ago and even tho it was one of those cruises on other lines people would dress relaxed as possible...on O, come dinner time, people really showed the atmosphere mattered. You don't need to be in gown and tux to look and feel refined...IF that's what one wants.

You and Ruth are scaring me;). I had asked and I was told by O smart casual. Now, mind you on casual nights on HAL we don't wear flip flops, jeans, long shorts, etc. we do like to dress decently, so hopefully we will be ok:eek:

Apologies for the thread drift

The level of dress on Oceania is much higher than on a HAL "smart casual" night. People take great care of how they dress, and you do see men in a sports coat on an Oceania casual night.

Yup. Which is why I'm excited for that day! :)

aww - we do love the formal nights complete with tuxes. Personally hope they stay on HAL cruises as one last bastion of the olden days of cruising without having to pay the cost of the more elite cruise lines. But do understand the dislike of dressing up.

You and Ruth are scaring me;). I had asked and I was told by O smart casual. Now, mind you on casual nights on HAL we don't wear flip flops, jeans, long shorts, etc. we do like to dress decently, so hopefully we will be ok:eek:

 

Apologies for the thread drift

Jacqui, since we've never met I have no idea what your wardrobe looks like. But based on your self-evaluation of "dress decently", you have nothing to worry about on Oceania. Women dress in what could be termed "evening casual", which would be a put-together, coordinated outfit. They look like they took a little care, and time, getting dressed for the evening.

On HAL, I see some women who don't get changed out of what they wore all day.