Chops/Portofino Restaurants on Formal Night

We are cruising on Brilliance of the Seas out of Dubai in a few weeks time and after asking the question of RCCL, I have been advised that the formal nights are on the Tuesday and Saturday. I had booked Chops for the Tuesay and Portofino for the Saturday before I knew about the formal nights and as such are quite happy to miss the formal night - saves taking extravagant clothing - hubbie would normally take his full kilt outfit for these nights!

Now, the question I want to ask is as per below: Do you have to dress in formal wear in Chops and Portofino on a formal night or can you still go smart casual.

I have asked RCCL this question and they advised that you can go smart casual, however I am concerned as this is what their website states.

Dress Suggestion

We suggest smart casual attire in Chops Grille - jackets for men, dresses or pantsuits for women. On formal evenings onboard, formal attire is also appropriate in the restaurant; which includes suits and ties or tuxedos for men and cocktail dresses for women.

So the question is, has anyone been to the speciality restaurants on formal night and just worn smart casual clothes or have you gone in formal attire?

Many thanks in advance for your assistance - if it is full formal gear that is required, I'm off to buy a bigger case for the kilt, jacket, sporn, shoes - that's the weight allowance in the plane gone!

I wonder if this is a new rule as it was always smart casual in the speciality restaurants - but you could wear formal if you wish - that is how I read it. I have worn formal and seen others in what I wouldn't even class as smart casual......:eek:

We booked the speciality restaurants on formatl night specifically so that we did not need to bring formal wear when on the Freedom. There was a wide variety of dress in both on the nights we went. You will be fine in smart casual in the specialty restaurants on formal night.

I think they are just saying it is OK to wear formal wear to Chops or Portofinos if you want, but the dress code is still smart casual - i.e. you should be fine.

We are cruising on Brilliance of the Seas out of Dubai in a few weeks time and after asking the question of RCCL, I have been advised that the formal nights are on the Tuesday and Saturday. I had booked Chops for the Tuesay and Portofino for the Saturday before I knew about the formal nights and as such are quite happy to miss the formal night - saves taking extravagant clothing - hubbie would normally take his full kilt outfit for these nights!

 

Now, the question I want to ask is as per below: Do you have to dress in formal wear in Chops and Portofino on a formal night or can you still go smart casual.

 

I have asked RCCL this question and they advised that you can go smart casual, however I am concerned as this is what their website states.

 

Dress Suggestion

We suggest smart casual attire in Chops Grille - jackets for men, dresses or pantsuits for women. On formal evenings onboard, formal attire is also appropriate in the restaurant; which includes suits and ties or tuxedos for men and cocktail dresses for women.

 

So the question is, has anyone been to the speciality restaurants on formal night and just worn smart casual clothes or have you gone in formal attire?

 

Many thanks in advance for your assistance - if it is full formal gear that is required, I'm off to buy a bigger case for the kilt, jacket, sporn, shoes - that's the weight allowance in the plane gone!

My OH wears his kilt on the aircraft!

We wore "smart casual" on the Independence of the Seas when we went to Chops on the so-called "formal" night last February. Some wore a tux, but many if not most others were "smart casual". While it very well may have given "The Clothes Police" fits, everyone seemed to be enjoying the food and each other's company. I don't think that most of us were too concerned with what others were wearing.

On Formal Night, We enjoy getting dressed up and meeting the Captain and THEN we go to dinner at one of the Specailty Restuarants. Smart Casual is what is suggested but it depends on what type of 'specail evening' YOU are want to have. For US dressing up 'special' makes the specailty resturant MORE special. :-)

That being said..... this is just my own opinion... but I think the Staff in the Specialty Restuarnts enjoy seeing people 'dressed' as it gives a 'visual' that we know this will be a specail dinner for us.

It's FUN to be at a table in the specailty restuarant, the guys in penquin suits and the ladies dazzling. It's just FUN! Makes for great photo memories.

We have seen men in Hawaian shirts and slacks, and women in capris, BOTH are FINE.

So No, you don't have to get 'dressed' but you may find more people DO in the specialty restuarants on Formal nights.

See you at Chops!

My OH wears his kilt on the aircraft!

Well that is one sure way to beat the airline charges for your case being overweight! The last time he wore his kilt on a Carnival cruise he was mistaken for being "Dutch".

RenieRaider...I don't think the staff "enjoys" it any more or less..You being part of the "visual" is not going to make my dinner any more enjoyable..I am there to dine, not to be part of the atmosphere for someone else..;) JMHO too....

RenieRaider...I don't think the staff "enjoys" it any more or less..You being part of the "visual" is not going to make my dinner any more enjoyable..I am there to dine, not to be part of the atmosphere for someone else..;) JMHO too....

It may not make it more enjoyable, but I bet there are some that can ruin your atmosphere by what they choose to wear, especially if at your table.

I am not trying to stir the pot, but I have read so damn many of these "dress code" threads it is getting sickening. If you dont want to dress up on "dress code" nights go to the pizza place or better yet, take a cruise that does not "encourage" it.

I am going to take my first cruise, yeah I am a newbie. I am looking forward to dressing up, weather it be in the MDR or at Chop's. I will not dress up every night though, I do like my jeans, and on those nights you will find me in the casual places, or on my balcony with room service. I dont want to rain on anyone's parade. My mom taught me a little respect for others even if it means for me to have to give something up that wont make or break me because of being stubborn.

Flame away, I have nothing better to do then put out the fires, too early to pack. ;)

It may not make it more enjoyable, but I bet there are some that can ruin your atmosphere by what they choose to wear, especially if at your table.

 

I am not trying to stir the pot, but I have read so damn many of these "dress code" threads it is getting sickening. If you dont want to dress up on "dress code" nights go to the pizza place or better yet, take a cruise that does not "encourage" it.

 

I am going to take my first cruise, yeah I am a newbie. I am looking forward to dressing up, weather it be in the MDR or at Chop's. I will not dress up every night though, I do like my jeans, and on those nights you will find me in the casual places, or on my balcony with room service. I dont want to rain on anyone's parade. My mom taught me a little respect for others even if it means for me to have to give something up that wont make or break me because of being stubborn.

 

Flame away, I have nothing better to do then put out the fires, too early to pack. ;)

I think you misunderstood...Smart Casual in the speciality restaurants on the formal night is perfectly fine you don't have to dress formal to dine in there that night...The atmosphere at my table is not going to be ruined by what anyone wears or doesn't wear...and yours shouldn't either..I hope you enjoy your first cruise !!!

We booked the speciality restaurants on formatl night specifically so that we did not need to bring formal wear when on the Freedom. There was a wide variety of dress in both on the nights we went. You will be fine in smart casual in the specialty restaurants on formal night.

ditto

On the Mariner last week -- we wore slacks and shirts to Chops. No one there was dressed up, in fact the restaruant was nearly empty. And we went on the first formal night.

Enjoy Dubai!

On the Mariner last week -- we wore slacks and shirts to Chops. No one there was dressed up, in fact the restaruant was nearly empty. And we went on the first formal night.

 

Enjoy Dubai!

Thanks to all that have posted, just to confirm that we will be dressed up to enjoy the nights ath the specialty restaurants, just not in full kilt outfit for him and long dress for me. Hubbie will wear a smart linen suit and I will have a dress and heels on, just not a dress that will hit the deck!

Counting down the weeks now and as I type, Brilliance is on her first cruise out of Dubai so we are eagerly awaiting the posts from those that set sail on Monday 18th January for their thoughts on it all.

I have been in chops on formal nights , so few people in , i dont think it would matter what you are wearing .However smart casual would be the norm which would be fine on formal nights/s

As usual, there is always a difference between what is written and what is accepted ... but on formal night, the "formal" part has always been an "or" in the speciality restaurants.

Well that is one sure way to beat the airline charges for your case being overweight! The last time he wore his kilt on a Carnival cruise he was mistaken for being "Dutch".

LOL, dutch, that is a new one. If we go from Port Canaveral we will often go for a short visit to Disney. If wearing his kilt he will often get stopped and asked to poss for a photo in Epcot.

We have also used a kilt role as hand luggage on some flights if that helps.

We like to eat at the specialty places on formal nights, and we dress up (tux for DH). The dinners are so nice, we like to make them special!:)

Well our friends at Royal Carribean have confirmed by e-mail to me today that indeed the dress code is smart casual on formal nights in the specialty restaurants and should you chose to go in formal clothing, then feel free to do so. They also noticed that I had posted on the forum and were pleased with the replies back from all their past travellers. Good to see that they keep an eye on everything that is going on here and I'm sure they take away some valuable points that we all make for the better of us all on future cruises.