Formal Dress for Men

On our last QE cruise, two years ago, my husband was required to wear a tux two or three nights a week. It was a World Cruise. Since then I have heard that formal dress was not required. Is this so?

No, formal evenings have been renamed as Gala but the dress code hasn't changed.

From the Cunard website -

"Evenings will be split into*2 different dress codes. You will be notified of the evening's dress code in your Daily Programme. As a guide, these will be:

*

Gala:

On Gala nights it’s dinner jacket, tuxedo, or dark suit for the men with a regular tie or bow tie. Evening or cocktail dress, smart trouser suit, or formal separates for the ladies please.

Smart Attire:

Gentlemen, every night we request you wear smart trousers with a shirt and jacket; tie is optional. Ladies, blouses and skirts or stylish trousers and dresses are welcome."

On our last QE cruise, two years ago, my husband was required to wear a tux two or three nights a week. It was a World Cruise. Since then I have heard that formal dress was not required. Is this so?

Correct, but only in

Would a formal kilt count as formal wear?

Would a formal kilt count as formal wear?

I have seen them worn on formal evenings.

On our last QE cruise, two years ago, my husband was required to wear a tux two or three nights a week. ...

As Hattie has quoted, a dark suit meets the definition of formal or gala as it is now called. My first ocean voyage was 45 years ago and I have never been on a ship of any line where a man was required to wear a tuxedo.

I post this only for the benefit of new members of Cruise Critic who may think that all men will be wearing tuxedos on Cunard. In my experience the majority (usually a vast majority) will, but no-one will be out of place in a dark suit.

Would a formal kilt count as formal wear?

It would under the notion of "National Dress", however a jacket and tie are also required on Gala Nights.

Regards John.

Would a formal kilt count as formal wear?

"Full highland dress" would do the trick methinks. I have worn mine on other cruise lines for formal evenings but not - yet - on Cunard. That's coming up and I need to lose a couple of pounds or it won't fit. My psychiatrist friend would say that was "attention-seeking behaviour". Aye, maybe. It sure is a great conversation opener. And on one occasion I was plied all evening with single malts. That should have put me off right there. Slow learner. I noticed very recently that Cunard bans a number of items which you cannot bring on board. That includes your skean dhu. Peasants!

Would a formal kilt count as formal wear?

Have you seen Sean Connery wearing it on a formal occasion?

On second thought: "What would Sean wear?" is the question that answers all dress code questions.

Possibly. But 007 wasn't a Cunard passenger in the Sean Connery years. Indeed, who can name the one ocean liner that 007 as played by Sean Connery sailed in?

This 007 anorak can! The film was Diamonds are Forever and the ship was the SS Canberra.

Well played, sir.

I'm sure one James Bond film featured Queen Elizabeth (the Cunard vessel) in Hong Kong harbour before it was built over with the construction of the container port section.

Regards John

That would be "The Man With a Golden Gun" (1974) starring Roger Moore with a rather fanciful use of the gutted hulk of RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH as the Hong Kong HQ of MI6.

Have you seen Sean Connery wearing it on a formal occasion?

On second thought: "What would Sean wear?" is the question that answers all dress code questions.

Thank you for that, I will be using that at work.

No, formal evenings have been renamed as Gala but the dress code hasn't changed.

From the Cunard website -

 

"Evenings will be split into*2 different dress codes. You will be notified of the evening's dress code in your Daily Programme. As a guide, these will be:

 

*

 

Gala:

On Gala nights it’s dinner jacket, tuxedo, or dark suit for the men with a regular tie or bow tie. Evening or cocktail dress, smart trouser suit, or formal separates for the ladies please.

 

Smart Attire:

Gentlemen, every night we request you wear smart trousers with a shirt and jacket; tie is optional. Ladies, blouses and skirts or stylish trousers and dresses are welcome."

Hi Hattie,

Thank you for the clarification.

We were on last year and heard of the change made this year.

Looking forward to our next sailing in 2019.

Happy 4th