Changing from suit and tie to casual wear after dining in MDR on Formal Night? Do you

I have been asked by my DW to dress up and wear a suit and tie when dining in the MDR on Formal Night on our next cruise. 15 day Panama Canal Cruise Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. It’s been years since I’ve worn a suit and tie to dinner in MDR on Formal Night. On recent cruises, I’ve worn a Guayabera shirt for dining in the MDR on Formal Night. But pressure to wear a suit and tie prevails. :( FWIW, I just feel more comfortable dining without wearing a suit and tie. That’s just me, YMMV. :)

So my question is: Do many of you change out of your suit and tie after dinner in MDR on Formal Night to casual wear to enjoy the entertainment and walking around the ship? Is it appropriate to change into a tee shirt and shorts?

I will be sailing on the Coral next week for 15 day Panama Canal cruise. I anticipate it will be very warm weather to wear a suit and tie all evening.

Thanks for guidance re: after dinner Formal Night dress rules.

Yes, husband and I usually change after dinner. He gets out of his tux, into something more comfy and I take off my gown and put on a dress that’s more comfy to lounge in.

We usually stay out a few hours after dinner, gambling or hanging at a bar but we’d rather be comfortable than all dressed up

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In having read this thread so far, I kept bumping into the word ‘comfortable’, as in changing after dinner to be more comfortable.

Why not start out in comfort?

Formal night or not, I wear a light-colored shirt with banded collar, which does not lend itself to be worn with a tie. Since I am usually a bit cool, I wear a light weight sweater over it. Pants: freshly pressed chinos or dockers. It’s a nice-looking outfit and I feel comfortable in any setting. I am relaxed and it shows. Do I select my own outfit? No-ho, my sweetheart does, she has a keen sense of color and style.

If my husband asked me to dress up for a dinner I would because he asked me to. I try to compromise a little. And then I stay that way for the evening so he gets to enjoy it. I like dressing up now and then. Other than that give me my jammies. lol. So maybe you can compromise one night and not dress up the next one.

Why compromise to make someone you do know feel good. I dress for my wife and myself and we are happy with it. All others do not matter as long as the venue permits it.

come on guys, keep your coat and tie on, you all look so handsome!

no.

A tux or suit that has been properly fitted will not be uncomfortable. If, however, like me you have put on a few pounds since buying the tux/suit it can quickly become uncomfortable-- just sayin' [emoji1]

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I have been asked by my DW to dress up and wear a suit and tie when dining in the MDR on Formal Night on our next cruise.

.

King, how long have you and the queen been married? Do you want to stay married?

I think it it perfectly fine to change after dinner.

HOWEVER, if my wife made a point of making this request, I would not consider changing, for even one millisecond, before she indicated that she was ready to change. I can't discount the possibility that she may want to feel elegant after dinner in the theater or in one of the lounges or in the casino or on a dance floor or, even, on our balcony for a few more hours. My guess is that if she's in her fancies being seen with me, she would like for me to be in my fancies, also.

Of course that is easy for me to say. Being the manly man that I am, I find nothing at all uncomfortable about wearing a suit or a tuxedo. I do draw the line, though, when it comes to a kilt.:eek:

The theatre is air-conditioned, so it is not uncomfortably hot. You do have a lot of options for formal night.

 

Not when it filled to capacity, it isn't.

 

After dinner, just remove your sportcoat and tie, then you could go to the theatre in your dress shirt and slacks. That's what my husband did, and he was fine with that.

 

 

Or, wear an open-necked Guayabera shirt that has a straight hem and doesn't need to be tucked in. That's considered dressy wear all over the tropics.

 

That sounds about right for me.

Or, on formal night, just order dinner from room service in your cabin, at no extra charge and remain in shorts and t-shirt.

 

Or, remain in shorts and t-shirt and have burgers or pizza at Trident Grill upstairs.

 

Or, remain in shorts and t-shirt and have many choices of dinner entrees upstairs at Horizon Court.

As soon as they statr serving the same menu as the DR.

Or, simply book another cruise line with the same itinerary.

 

But Princess is where we've built up all our perks.

 

Dinners in the MDR last about 90 minutes and about 75 minutes if you skip dessert.

 

No idea why people are so terribly resistant to dressing up for 75-90 minutes and why they insist on booking Princess.:confused:

Simply because dressing formall isn't a "requirement" any longer on Princess.

A tux or suit that has been properly fitted will not be uncomfortable. If, however, like me you have put on a few pounds since buying the tux/suit it can quickly become uncomfortable-- just sayin' [emoji1]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

If that were true why do 80% of the guys that do dress up ditch the jacket & tie immediately after dinner? :confused:

You should do what makes you happy

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I like to get dressed up...so I do; however, menopause and hot flashes makes me change after dinner if going to the theater...getting comfy and enjoying. Hubby after head and neck cancer can't wear tie anymore or shirt buttoned up around the neck, but does wear a nice long sleeve shirt and dress slacks now. Before that, he used to wear the suit and tie. I usually slip off my formal gown and put on a cotton sun dress. Most shows we have seen over the years so we only go to the ones that are good.

Since Princess asks for "Smart Casual" after 6:00 PM I don't find shorts appropriate unless spending my evening up on Lido deck watching MUTS or something of that sort. If we are going to be watching MUTS I certainly won't be doing it in my suit. However, if we are not going "up top" and are just hanging around the main parts of the ship I will stay in my suit. If I did change (again, not going up to watch MUTS or hang out near the pool) I would change to smart casual clothing - not shorts.

We don't do formal night anymore. We are always flying to ports and don't want to bring the extra clothing. Also, we live a really casual lifestyle and have no use for formal clothing - I don't even wear dresses anymore:) So we do smart casual and usually stay in our clothes; we wouldn't wear shorts and tee-shirts but have seen people wearing them after dinner. We eat late and stay up late, and noticed more casually dressed people later in the night - usually jeans and golf shirts; jeans and tops for women.

I have been asked by my DW to dress up and wear a suit and tie when dining in the MDR on Formal Night on our next cruise. 15 day Panama Canal Cruise Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. It’s been years since I’ve worn a suit and tie to dinner in MDR on Formal Night. On recent cruises, I’ve worn a Guayabera shirt for dining in the MDR on Formal Night. But pressure to wear a suit and tie prevails. :( FWIW, I just feel more comfortable dining without wearing a suit and tie. That’s just me, YMMV. :)

So my question is: Do many of you change out of your suit and tie after dinner in MDR on Formal Night to casual wear to enjoy the entertainment and walking around the ship? Is it appropriate to change into a tee shirt and shorts?

I will be sailing on the Coral next week for 15 day Panama Canal cruise. I anticipate it will be very warm weather to wear a suit and tie all evening.

Thanks for guidance re: after dinner Formal Night dress rules.

We don't, but some do. It's up to you. I'd recommend at least doing smart casual. Your Guayabera shirt & khakis would be more the norm. The theater, we found to be plenty cool. That was on the Regal. I really can't say on older ships.

No problem changing to casual wear after dinner unless your DW objects. ;)

If that were true why do 80% of the guys that do dress up ditch the jacket & tie immediately after dinner? :confused:

...I thought you were the one who wore Guayabera shirts w/ long pants??? Isn't that you Florida?

I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to the OP, the guy who wants to wear t-shirts and shorts the entire week.:mad:

no, never have, why?

If that were true why do 80% of the guys that do dress up ditch the jacket & tie immediately after dinner? :confused:

I think your percentage is way too high. I am sure a lot depends on the length of cruise and itinerary. My cruises tend to be longer ones and most people seem to stay dressed up. I will soon be going on two 5 day cruises b2b. I am sure that will be a different vibe.

...I thought you were the one who wore Guayabera shirts w/ long pants??? Isn't that you Florida?

 

 

I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to the OP, the guy who wants to wear t-shirts and shorts the entire week.:mad:

Oh I do wear my Guayabera shirt on formal night if we go to the DR but always change out to jeans or shorts & T shirt right after.

I've never found it to cold in the show lounge for shorts.

If that were true why do 80% of the guys that do dress up ditch the jacket & tie immediately after dinner? :confused:

I have been on 52 cruises and never seen 80% of the guys do that sorry.

Tony

I have been on 52 cruises and never seen 80% of the guys do that sorry.

Tony

It's only my guess but just take a look around the show lounge & hardly see anyone dress up similar to the DR.

They all seem to get rid of those uncomfortable clothes.

I put my shorts and t shirt on as soon as I get back to my cabin.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

It's only my guess but just take a look around the show lounge & hardly see anyone dress up similar to the DR.

They all seem to get rid of those uncomfortable clothes.

You may be right about some guys changing. But that is a real bad guess. At 80 % sorry.

My guess is 10% if that.

Tony

Before I got sane, I used to walk around the MDR and count the tuxes on cruises. For a long time I recorded the number to see if men were lowering the standard ever so slightly with dark suits or sports coats.

Now, I just count the number of tuxes at the Champagne (or whatever) Tower of Death. I compare that number to the number of men I see without any type of formal-ish wear. No matter how long the cruise the ratio is getting closer to 1:1. Tuxes to Super Casuals.

Suits and Sports coats now rule the day.

I stopped wearing really formal clothes long ago. Now I wear a black skirt with a "nice" blouse. Have never had a problem in the MDR. Sometimes I go back to the cabin and change into something more comfortable, but I rarely wear tshirts/shorts in the evening. Seems like most people on formal nights stay in their formal clothes for the shows or bars after dinner.

We don't do formal night anymore. We are always flying to ports and don't want to bring the extra clothing. Also, we live a really casual lifestyle and have no use for formal clothing - I don't even wear dresses anymore:) So we do smart casual and usually stay in our clothes; we wouldn't wear shorts and tee-shirts but have seen people wearing them after dinner. We eat late and stay up late, and noticed more casually dressed people later in the night - usually jeans and golf shirts; jeans and tops for women.

We don't do formal nights anymore either and the friends we travel with are not interested in doing it either. We make specialty restaurant reservations on formal nights and we dress nicely but not formal. We stay in our nice clothes for the rest of the evening unless like Thrak, we are going up to watch Muts or there's a deck party and it's a hot night, then we will change into clothes more appropriate and comfortable.

Princess is good about not forcing "formal" dress all evening as Cunard does.

Works for us!

We stay "dressed up". That is, my husband remains in his suit, and I keep on my fancy dress for the evening. It's like a date night.

I like feeling special.