Jump to content

A poll on the dress code changes


Host Hattie
 Share

What do you think about the dress code changes ?  

155 members have voted

  1. 1. What do you think about the dress code changes ?

    • I'll never sail Cunard again
      4
    • The changes don't bother me enough to change cruise lines, I'll continue to sail
      80
    • I'll wait until the changes are introduced before deciding
      59
    • I wouldn't have sailed Cunard before, I might consider it now.
      9
    • What dress code changes ?
      4


Recommended Posts

Yes, here is the new code.

 

During the day, feel free to relax and dress as you please in all areas of the ship. Then as the sun goes down, the style goes up. Every night on board, we ask that you wear smart attire in most of our bars, restaurants and entertainment venues. On our much-anticipated Gala evenings, we invite you to dress to impress and celebrate with us. There are two or three of these special Gala evenings for every seven days of your voyage.

Of course, if you prefer to spend your evenings in more relaxed attire, a selection of casual dining and entertainment venues is always available for your enjoyment.

A full break down of dress codes, the number of Gala nights and any themed balls can be viewed via the following question with the suggested attire for each type of evening: What will the dress code be whilst I am on board?

 

During the day

 

Casual shirts, shorts, trousers and beachwear are ideal. The main restaurants require a casual wear dress code for breakfast and lunch, however you may wear shorts in either the Kings Court (Queen Mary 2) or Lido Restaurant (Queen Victoria & Queen Elizabeth).

 

Evenings

 

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.

 

For those who want some further help and guidance, or wish to view some examples of evening and day wear, please visit our What To Pack page on our website.

 

Please note that after 6:00pm, shorts and blue or worn denim (for men and women); sandals and sleeveless tops (for men) are not considered appropriate within the ship.

Of course, if you prefer to spend your evenings in more relaxed attire, a selection of casual dining and entertainment venues is always available for your enjoyment. Feel free to dress casually as you visit any of the following venues: Kings Court, Lido Buffet, Golden Lion, Casino, Carinthia Lounge, Winter Garden, Garden Lounge, Yacht Club, and G32. Non-ripped, jeans are appropriate, but please refrain from wearing shorts, sports attire, swim wear or sleeveless t-shirts outside of the gym, spa and deck spaces.

 

Children

 

Children under 18 do not have a dress code but should adhere to the daily dress code where possible.

 

National/Religious dress

 

National and Religious dress including headdress' are allowed on board. Depending on the amount of the face covered by the headdress, guests may be asked to unveil for a security photo at check in and passing through security check points ashore and on board during the voyage.

Some items of national dress such as ceremonial blades or swords are not permitted and guests should check our list of prohibited items under the question What am I not allowed to take on board?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, so far, the results are interesting. Where are all those that said they would not sail again due to these changes?

 

To be fair, the poll has not been up long, we know of at least 2 who would choose the first option based on their posts on the previous discussion.

 

But I agree, interesting so far.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still trying to obtain a written confirmation from Cunard that all dress codes and "dress suggestions" will be fully enforced in the Theatre and all areas outside those now dumbed down.

It has been some time. Obviously, writing is proving difficult to some in Cunard.

Last reply gave a Cunard time band of 28 days. Diarised.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, here is the new code.
As my way to protest this dress change on the first and last night out aboard the QM2 I will dress with a sport jacket, shirt, neck tie and smart trousers which I assume is dress pants not jeans. For the nights in between the first and last nights aboard the QM2 I will dress with a dark suit with a white shirt and a neck tie and I really don't care what the casually dressed people aboard ship think. What is next? Would it be that the passengers then can walk into the ship's dinning room only wearing their underwear? (sarcasm) And then after that it will be changed to the Adam & Eve night for the passengers who want to bare it all (again sarcasm) Believe me that I don't want to see any passengers in their birthday suit. LOL Regards,Jerry
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I took option 3. I'm not ready to say never again, but if staff won't enforce the dress code in the formal areas, I may be done cruising with Cunard and will only do TAs. I can cruise on other lines for a lot less. Now that HAL has Lincoln Center on some of their ships, their entertainment is better than it was. I think their MDR food is a little better than we've experience on QM2 in Britannia Restaurant. Cunard does offer more to do during the day, but I'll have to think about whether the price difference is worth it.

 

I used to think of HAL as "Cunard Lite." Then they dumbed down the dress code and decreased the entertainment and the difference was greater. But the fact that a former HAL exec is in charge of Cunard, and HAL-lingo like "gala night" and "dress to impress" is showing up, I fear that Cunard may be on its way to "Cunard Lite."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

According to the code I cannot wear blue denim anywhere in the ship after 6pm but I can wear non ripped jeans in the golden lion,the buffet and certain lounges.......can anyone make sense of that ??

 

Yes, that's an obvious contradiction and no I can't explain it other than to say the wording that states "Please note that after 6:00pm, shorts and blue or worn denim (for men and women); sandals and sleeveless tops (for men) are not considered appropriate within the ship." was part of the previous dress code. My view is that Cunard simply altered parts of the previous dress code statement to revise the definitions for "Informal" and "Formal" into "Smart Attire" and "Gala Evenings" while leaving other parts intact that should have been removed or revised.

 

Another problem in my view is that Cunard has retained this statement from the old dress code as well.

 

"The main restaurants require a casual wear dress code for breakfast and lunch, however you may wear shorts in either the Kings Court (Queen Mary 2) or Lido Restaurant (Queen Victoria & Queen Elizabeth)."

 

That statement would seem to contradict the statement "During the day, feel free to relax and dress as you please in all areas of the ship." by implying that shorts are not allowed in the main dining rooms for breakfast and lunch, but as has been discussed, shorts are actually allowed for breakfast and lunch even under the previous dress code.

 

So, yes in my view Cunard really ought to take another look at their dress code statement and clear up some of these areas that are cause for some confusion.

Edited by bluemarble
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I answered I will never sail again, though I did not say that on the other thread. I was ready to give it a chance until my husband showed me the new pics of what Cunard considers "Smart" and "Gala". No.

 

I don't sail Cunard to go on a "cruise" and I don't sail the QM2 as transport. I sail them to step back in time. If that is gone, I am gone. I just want to be on the ship. If I happen to like the itinerary, all the better. The ambience and dress code were a huge part of the ship. Anyway I guess Cunard does not mind losing us. My Grills cabin to Alaska next year was a small fortune but I was completely okay with the hard work it takes to afford Cunard. Since we are still fairly young, we both still work, and heck most of the reason I work is just to go on vacation. Since my voyage is next summer I don't have to do anything yet, but if this is the future, Alaska is being cancelled, and I will just use my OBC and my future cruise which I was using for that voyage, to take a short hop on July 4th instead, and thereafter end my dalliance with Cunard. It just won't be worth it to me anymore. It's too bad, since we probably would have had another 3 decades of sailing. When I visited the original Queen Mary a few years back, the saddest thing for me was the loss of the ambience which must have made her spectacular in her day.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I answered I will never sail again, though I did not say that on the other thread. I was ready to give it a chance until my husband showed me the new pics of what Cunard considers "Smart" and "Gala". No.

 

I don't sail Cunard to go on a "cruise" and I don't sail the QM2 as transport. I sail them to step back in time. If that is gone, I am gone. I just want to be on the ship. If I happen to like the itinerary, all the better. The ambience and dress code were a huge part of the ship. Anyway I guess Cunard does not mind losing us. My Grills cabin to Alaska next year was a small fortune but I was completely okay with the hard work it takes to afford Cunard. Since we are still fairly young, we both still work, and heck most of the reason I work is just to go on vacation. Since my voyage is next summer I don't have to do anything yet, but if this is the future, Alaska is being cancelled, and I will just use my OBC and my future cruise which I was using for that voyage, to take a short hop on July 4th instead, and thereafter end my dalliance with Cunard. It just won't be worth it to me anymore. It's too bad, since we probably would have had another 3 decades of sailing. When I visited the original Queen Mary a few years back, the saddest thing for me was the loss of the ambience which must have made her spectacular in her day.

 

If the short cruise is only for 5 days, you need to be aware that OBC given through a Future Cruise Deposit can only be used on cruises of 6 days or more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If the short cruise is only for 5 days, you need to be aware that OBC given through a Future Cruise Deposit can only be used on cruises of 6 days or more.

 

I think axelskater will be ok with her contingency plans since it sounds like she is talking about 2019. The QM2 "Independence Day Celebration" cruise next year has been extended to seven days (June 30-July 7, 2019).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As someone who is eagerly awaiting our first cruise on the QM2 this fall, it was difficult for me to find a poll choice that fit. I am happily anticipating dressing up. We are looking forward to the itinerary, ballroom dancing, bridge and interesting conversations with those we may meet on the cruise. It will be fun to dress more formally than we used to, but my future cruising decisions will not be based on attire.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have moved our cruise dollars from Celebrity to Cunard for the remainder of this year, in part because Celebrity does not care to enforce their dress code. The last straw was when on a recent Celebrity cruise, two men were allowed into the MDR on "evening chic" night in shorts and T-shirts. After their meal, they started arm wrestling at the table while the waiter and assistant maitre d looked on with smiles. As I left the MDR, I showed my cellphone pic of the arm wrestlers to the maitre d and received a shrug of indifference.

 

At that point, we became more than indifferent about cruising with Celebrity and after we finished our bookings with them we started looking elsewhere.

 

We are trying Cunard for its reputation for elegant cruising for people with a sense of decorum. If they also dumb down their dress code and stop enforcing it, we may continue to look elsewhere to spend our cruise dollars.

 

We are looking forward to a crossing on the QM2 this fall.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I voted. I've never sailed Cunard (or any other cruise company) before. I booked on Cunard for 3 reasons:

1. QM2 is the ONLY ocean liner

2. QM2 is the only regularly scheduled TA (NY > Southampton) crossing, and that appealed to me

3. Cunard's formal dress code - I like the idea of getting dressed up at night.

 

Since I haven't yet tried Cunard, I can't really make an informed decision, but I'm reserving judgment until after my crossing in August. Accordingly, I voted #3.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If the short cruise is only for 5 days, you need to be aware that OBC given through a Future Cruise Deposit can only be used on cruises of 6 days or more.

 

 

When I called they said OBC is given to Grills cabins on the 5 day voyage - just substantially less so. But I still would not spend the fortune on Alaska if the product is slipping. I guess we will see this summer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think axelskater will be ok with her contingency plans since it sounds like she is talking about 2019. The QM2 "Independence Day Celebration" cruise next year has been extended to seven days (June 30-July 7, 2019).

 

Yes - that is right it would be then. But this credit expires in Fall 2019. We bought it 3 years ago and the Cunard rep said it would be less credit for under 6 day voyages but we would still receive the credit. Of course it could be the same reps saying there is no dress code change :confused:!

I am going to wait and see. But there are a few other spots where we can go near our home for a weekend where there is old school dining with a dance trio and dance floor, flambe desserts and such. A little mini Cunard on land. Every one dressed up - it is lovely.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...