dgs1956

The doors are already open. I've already said that on my recent Britannia cruise that a number of people were allowed in the MDR wearing shorts although not on Formal Nights. Shorts were also allowed in every bar and in the Crystal Room as were t-shirts. That was my point, why have a rule if they are not going to enforce it.

For some people Smart Casual is a bit of a vague concept and some just push the boundaries but when you see an older woman wearing a baggy logo t-shirt, wrinkled 3/4 shorts and rubber flip-flops for a Formal Night then there is little doubt it is taking the proverbial.

I agree entirely and that was that's the point I was making as well. Why have a rule if they are just going to let people ignore them and not enforce them? I don't agree with wearing shorts in the MDR but they were nowhere near as bad as how some, mainly women, were dressed.

That's a fairly accurate comparison but probably best renamed as Club 38-50. We had one woman going about hiding plastic ducks for people to find. The significance of that was lost on me.

Like yourself I don't judge by what people are wearing but sadly my "shorts and flip flops" comment was my attempt at being diplomatic. As I say, we ballroom dance and the Crystal Room is a very good venue and on two Formal evenings we had to watch two different very drunk women dancing about on the floor who completely out of it only for it to be followed up by a quiz and Karaoke. We had the unique of experience of doing a Jive while a woman was dancing with a chair. What amazes me was that she was so beautifully dressed and made up but was out of it by 7.30.

We came home yesterday from our Caribbean cruise on Britannia, and we had a great time. We booked Premium seats and thought them well worth it especially when some passengers were taking almost 2 hours to check in. All in all, the cruise was much as expected with very good food, theatre was good etc etc. I've argued in favour of formal Nights many times but having just got back from our Caribbean cruise on Britanna yesterday I have to admit to a complete change of mind. The majority did appear to be adhering to the dress code but apart from the MDRs only the Crows Nest insisted on Formal Dress and even that was a bit lax. Whilst men were turned away from the Oriental if not wearing Black Tie, the women were a completely different kettle of fish with flip flops, shorts etc. We Ballroom Dance and love the Crystal Room but on Formal Nights the dancing finished at 9.15 to make way for a quiz and Karaoke. Without knocking either activity I really felt overdressed sitting there amongst people wearing shorts and t-shirts and I really question if these are suitable activities for a Formal Night. We thought the food was very good but no different on a Formal Night apart from the addition of an amuse-bouche. For me, it's time Formal Nights are ditched completely. I sound like a bit of a snob but the dress code for some people on Smart Casual Nights was not great and some looked like they'd come straight off the beach. Shorts (Tailored or not) and T-Shirts were allowed in the MDR and also in any bar. Why do P&O have a dress code if they don't adhere to it? I'm not against tailored shorts btw. I've read several comments on this Forum that P&O are aiming for a different market and to be honest I have been annoyed by these comments but again I have to admit to being wrong. P&O are definitely aiming at a different market and there is a substantial change now from even a few years ago. I'm not sure about "Butlins at Sea" but maybe more a "Party Ship". One thing that really did bug me was the sunbed stramash. Look for a sunbed after 8am and you had little chance. The Serenity Pool was all booked up by 7 am. The use of "Blue" towels was out of control with many people using two each and some 3 or 4. A lot of people just left them on the sunbeds and some even left them on the beach when finished with. It is difficult for me to be so negative as I'm a very loyal P&O customer and I've no doubt there will be plenty of people disagree with me and I do appreciate that the majority will have had a great time as we did to, but it is time that P&O stopped portraying these cruises as being upmarket. At the end of the day, would I go on another cruise with P&O? Yes, I definitely would but hopefully by then the Formal Nights will be no more.

Very well said. Excellent post.

Its 2 days before the ship departure according to the P&O website but I think its 2 days before you board. Its Caribbean cruises only.

Its only Caribbean cruises as far as I know,

They are sending emails to everyone booked after 10 November to make a refund. I've done that and re-booked with Lloyds

I was being polite. I choose your post because I was replying to a comment you made to me but sorry for upsetting you.

I agree the tiny minority is now a very small minority.

I've been reading the same stuff on this Forum by a small number of people for years as how things are changing blah! blah! and Formal will be done away with. It's still not happened. I couldn't care less what people wear and I don't understand why people have to make derogatory comments about those that want to dress up. Just accept that Formal isn't going to be done away with and enjoy your cruise.

Thanks. I assume you book a table with a number of other guests rather than a table for one.

Thank you. I'll give it a go.