What will we miss if we choose not to attend formal nights?

[Havingfun2010]

Cruise ships now cater to everyone. For example, Windjammer: if you don't want to dress up, and want to serve youself, and not be waited on, than that's the place for you. MDR: for those that want to socialize, enjoy others company, have a relaxing dinner, while being served and better than buffet food, and get dressed appropriately, than that's the place for you.

 

Each place has their own set of rules, made just for you, so not wearing a jacket on formal night, than stay in windjammer. That is why that option was made.

 

What will you miss: The opportunity to teach your kids, the finer things in life, like how to act, eat, and behave while wearing a jacket or dress. How to socialize with you table mates. How to have proper use of tablewear. Heck, maybe even how to escort the lovely wife to a table, while pulling out the chair!!!

 

My 14 yo loves doing all this in more. He can go to a buffet anytime at home, but when is the last time, he learned how to treat mom, or any lady right? When was the last time, you daughter had their chair held for them, while they sat down?

 

My opinion is that it's not about what food you will miss, or whether your kids might be uncomfortable, but about the life lesson, the atmosphere, and yes, even how slow the service is, so you can socialize between bites, and not be rushed. Dinner is not meant to be fast.

[Love and Joy]

Shocking to hear ppl say that there are rules for whatever dining experience you want to use. I personally think if i'm paying for my cruise and if the cruise line doesnt have a problem with it i should be allowed to wear semi formal wear on formal nights. My husband and are professional and we enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of cruises and it is all about our vacation not about impressing the ppl at the next table.

[Debde]

What will you miss: The opportunity to teach your kids, the finer things in life, like how to act, eat, and behave while wearing a jacket or dress. How to socialize with you table mates. How to have proper use of tablewear. Heck, maybe even how to escort the lovely wife to a table, while pulling out the chair!!!

 

My 14 yo loves doing all this in more. He can go to a buffet anytime at home, but when is the last time, he learned how to treat mom, or any lady right? When was the last time, you daughter had their chair held for them, while they sat down?

 

Many of us do not need a cruise to introduce our children to proper dining behavior. Also-a true fine dining experience is nothing like what you experience in the MDR.

[Ocean Boy]

Cruise ships now cater to everyone. For example, Windjammer: if you don't want to dress up, and want to serve youself, and not be waited on, than that's the place for you. MDR: for those that want to socialize, enjoy others company, have a relaxing dinner, while being served and better than buffet food, and get dressed appropriately, than that's the place for you.

 

Each place has their own set of rules, made just for you, so not wearing a jacket on formal night, than stay in windjammer. That is why that option was made.

 

What will you miss: The opportunity to teach your kids, the finer things in life, like how to act, eat, and behave while wearing a jacket or dress. How to socialize with you table mates. How to have proper use of tablewear. Heck, maybe even how to escort the lovely wife to a table, while pulling out the chair!!!

 

My 14 yo loves doing all this in more. He can go to a buffet anytime at home, but when is the last time, he learned how to treat mom, or any lady right? When was the last time, you daughter had their chair held for them, while they sat down?

 

My opinion is that it's not about what food you will miss, or whether your kids might be uncomfortable, but about the life lesson, the atmosphere, and yes, even how slow the service is, so you can socialize between bites, and not be rushed. Dinner is not meant to be fast.

 

Fine. YOU use the MDR to teach your kids social graces. I use the Windjammer to give my family one week of not having to share me with people that they don't know, not having to put up with my pager going off, the phone interuptions, and leaving in the middle of dinner to go to the hospital.

 

You cruise for your reasons and the rest of us will cruise for our own.

[octagonmike]

Cruise ships now cater to everyone. For example, Windjammer: if you don't want to dress up, and want to serve youself, and not be waited on, than that's the place for you. MDR: for those that want to socialize, enjoy others company, have a relaxing dinner, while being served and better than buffet food, and get dressed appropriately, than that's the place for you.

 

Each place has their own set of rules, made just for you, so not wearing a jacket on formal night, than stay in windjammer. That is why that option was made.

 

What will you miss: The opportunity to teach your kids, the finer things in life, like how to act, eat, and behave while wearing a jacket or dress. How to socialize with you table mates. How to have proper use of tablewear. Heck, maybe even how to escort the lovely wife to a table, while pulling out the chair!!!

 

My 14 yo loves doing all this in more. He can go to a buffet anytime at home, but when is the last time, he learned how to treat mom, or any lady right? When was the last time, you daughter had their chair held for them, while they sat down?

 

My opinion is that it's not about what food you will miss, or whether your kids might be uncomfortable, but about the life lesson, the atmosphere, and yes, even how slow the service is, so you can socialize between bites, and not be rushed. Dinner is not meant to be fast.

 

My kids are in their early 20s and are able to eat, socially interact and know which knife and fork to use when and yet they have never been on a cruise. We taught them ourselves at home from a young age, it's what good parents do.

 

The fact that you take cruising and eating in the MDR as a "life lesson" says it all, I am definitely steering clear of the MDR if it's full of pompous people like you.

[wayne_trisha]

[quote name='BecciBoo'][quote name='wayne_trisha']The main dining room has become no better than a McDonald’s lobby. The slow degradation of coming to a formal dinner properly dressed has been cheered and jeered by many here. Makes me wonder if the service has become McDonladesque because no one feels like dressing properly for the occasion. quote]

[SIZE=3]McDonaldesque:confused:[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][/SIZE]
[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/25ily1g.jpg[/IMG]

[SIZE=3]Not hardly:cool:[/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/6ezm14.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

Don't be confused. I was referring to the service in the MDR. I would never compare the design and decoration to McDonalds.

[enjoymylife1]

till next time see you right here " inside the octagon" !!! lol

well said

not sure if i want pack the extra formal wear clothes, might be a last minute decision, casual night khakis and collared shirt fine, just not into packing the added suit weight and extra shoes if not i will just hit the jammer on formal night. none of this is worth stressing out over . catching the ship before embarking is another issue!!!

[Paul65]

[quote name='emeraldcity']If you've got great tablemates, like we did, you'll be missing a very pleasurable dining experience with your new friends. You'll be missing the treat of being waited on by a friendly attentive staff that is learning your preferences.[/quote]

I agree. We dressed up on our cruise a couple weeks ago; a nice, black dress for my wife and rented tuxes for myself and the 12 yo son. (We were going to just bring a jacket and tie for him, but he wanted to wear the tux.) We had a larger table with two other families that we enjoyed getting to know. They did not dress formally, and we didn't really care.

I might have preferred that they dress up for the formal night, because it's fun to see people all gussied up once in a while, but if that wasn't for them, I'd rather have them there, sharing dinner with us, than have been a party of three at a table for ten on those nights.

[Kathykins56]

I agree that you won't miss much. My boyfriend & I on our first cruise had to bring an extra suitcase to fit all of our dress clothes since we assumed we would get the boot if we weren't dressed up enough. After 2 nights in the dining room, discovering we had awful rude tablemates and that we couldn't get a table switch we ate in the WJ the remaining days of the cruise. No one wants to sit at a table where your tablemates roll their eyes at you when you're talking.

[bigasufan]

[quote name='Havingfun2010']Cruise ships now cater to everyone. For example, Windjammer: if you don't want to dress up, and want to serve youself, and not be waited on, than that's the place for you. MDR: for those that want to socialize, enjoy others company, have a relaxing dinner, while being served and better than buffet food, and get dressed appropriately, than that's the place for you.

Each place has their own set of rules, made just for you, so not wearing a jacket on formal night, than stay in windjammer. That is why that option was made.

What will you miss: The opportunity to teach your kids, the finer things in life, like how to act, eat, and behave while wearing a jacket or dress. How to socialize with you table mates. How to have proper use of tablewear. Heck, maybe even how to escort the lovely wife to a table, while pulling out the chair!!!

My 14 yo loves doing all this in more. He can go to a buffet anytime at home, but when is the last time, he learned how to treat mom, or any lady right? When was the last time, you daughter had their chair held for them, while they sat down?

My opinion is that it's not about what food you will miss, or whether your kids might be uncomfortable, but about the life lesson, the atmosphere, and yes, even how slow the service is, so you can socialize between bites, and not be rushed. Dinner is not meant to be fast.[/quote]

I cannot believe what I am reading. I enjoy the MDR, and someone missing the fun atmosphere of being there because of a decision about clothes is absurd. Havingfun2010, if you want to wear a tux, go for it. We have as much right as you do to be there. My money is as good as yours. I'm sick and tired of "rules"! There are no rules! You can enjoy a fine meal without getting dressed up. I will be there in my coat and tie and my wife will have on a dress, but they come from Belk's, not Neiman Marcus! I'm going to eat in the WJ and/or Johnny Rockets for lunch, but you will see me in the MDR EVERY night, and I hope havingfun2010 is at my table because if I knew it was you, I would slurp my soup!

[RUBBER DUCK]

1 of the 4 couples seated at our table missed something on formal night. The rest of us were asked to dine with the captain that night, and since they had not been there the previous 2 nights, they weren't asked. They DID show up for thier scheduled table on formal night, only to sit as the only couple at a table for 8 while the rest of us sat only 2 tables away dining on caviar, eating from a personalized menu, and drinking free wine. They didn't come back again until the final night.

if you don't want to be part of formal night(s), that's perfectly fine. Please have the courtesy of telling your tablemates so they don't wait for you. Wether you dress up for my behalf or not, I don't care. I will still dress nicer than I normally do, and have fun either way.

[Teamv]

[quote name='Havingfun2010']Cruise ships now cater to everyone. For example, Windjammer: if you don't want to dress up, and want to serve youself, and not be waited on, than that's the place for you. MDR: for those that want to socialize, enjoy others company, have a relaxing dinner, while being served and better than buffet food, and get dressed appropriately, than that's the place for you.

Each place has their own set of rules, made just for you, so not wearing a jacket on formal night, than stay in windjammer. That is why that option was made.

What will you miss: The opportunity to teach your kids, the finer things in life, like how to act, eat, and behave while wearing a jacket or dress. How to socialize with you table mates. How to have proper use of tablewear. Heck, maybe even how to escort the lovely wife to a table, while pulling out the chair!!!

My 14 yo loves doing all this in more. He can go to a buffet anytime at home, [COLOR=red]but when is the last time, he learned how to treat mom, or any lady right?[/COLOR] When was the last time, you daughter had their chair held for them, while they sat down?

My opinion is that it's not about what food you will miss, or whether your kids might be uncomfortable, but about the life lesson, the atmosphere, and yes, even how slow the service is, so you can socialize between bites, and not be rushed. Dinner is not meant to be fast.[/quote]

Sorry, I tried really hard to stay out of the parenting discussions, just really wanted to know about MDR and formal night food, atmosphere, experiences, etc. But I have to say to the above comment that my boys learn this every day of the week, by the example of their father, teachers, family, neighbours, etc. I don't think this can be accomplished by 7 dinners on a cruise ship.

Any I would be happy to have my family share a dinner table with Ocean Boy and family any time!!:

[I]"Fine. YOU use the MDR to teach your kids social graces. I use the Windjammer to give my family one week of not having to share me with people that they don't know, not having to put up with my pager going off, the phone interuptions, and leaving in the middle of dinner to go to the hospital."[/I]

( I hope you work at the hospital and aren't just clumsy with a steak knife!! haha)

[Teamv]

[quote name='RUBBER DUCK']1 of the 4 couples seated at our table missed something on formal night. The rest of us were asked to dine with the captain that night, and since they had not been there the previous 2 nights, they weren't asked. They DID show up for thier scheduled table on formal night, only to sit as the only couple at a table for 8 while the rest of us sat only 2 tables away dining on caviar, eating from a personalized menu, and drinking free wine. They didn't come back again until the final night.

if you don't want to be part of formal night(s), that's perfectly fine. Please have the courtesy of telling your tablemates so they don't wait for you. Wether you dress up for my behalf or not, I don't care. I will still dress nicer than I normally do, and have fun either way.[/quote]

How nice for you - I'm sure that was a real highlight of your cruise! This is really interesting to me. Why do you think that you were asked (don't get me wrong, I'm sure you are very nice people!) But does it depend on which type of cabin / suite you book? Just seeed like a nice table of folks? Did you receive an invitation ahead of time, or were you invited once you were at the dining room?

I can't imagine though that a family with 2 teenage boys would be invited to the Captain's table! Are children ever invited?

[BecciBoo]

[quote name='wayne_trisha'][quote name='BecciBoo']

Don't be confused. I was referring to the service in the MDR. I would never compare the design and decoration to McDonalds.[/quote]

[SIZE=3]The service:confused: I have had nothing but impeccable service on all of my 11 RCCL cruises. To my knowledge there IS no service at MickeyD's![/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i40.tinypic.com/jsds8w.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/25euxzp.jpg[/IMG]2nd Formal night and Bday for our cruise mate and we wore our Tommy Bahama smart casual gear that night, yes, it's my vacation, not yours.:cool:

[IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/29fw8k3.jpg[/IMG]

P.T. Barnum quote...'You can please some of the people all of the time and all the of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time.' Move on people.

[BecciBoo]

[quote name='Paul65']
I might have preferred that they dress up for the formal night, because it's fun to see people all gussied up once in a while, but if that wasn't for them, I'd rather have them there, sharing dinner with us, than have been a party of three at a table for ten on those nights.[/quote]

[SIZE=3]Paul...you rock! Has anyone ever contemplated that after we all sit down, you don't see much except your top!;)[/SIZE]

[Ocean Boy]

[quote name='Teamv']Sorry, I tried really hard to stay out of the parenting discussions, just really wanted to know about MDR and formal night food, atmosphere, experiences, etc. But I have to say to the above comment that my boys learn this every day of the week, by the example of their father, teachers, family, neighbours, etc. I don't think this can be accomplished by 7 dinners on a cruise ship.

[COLOR="red"]Any I would be happy to have my family share a dinner table with Ocean Boy and family any time[/COLOR]!!:

[I]"Fine. YOU use the MDR to teach your kids social graces. I use the Windjammer to give my family one week of not having to share me with people that they don't know, not having to put up with my pager going off, the phone interuptions, and leaving in the middle of dinner to go to the hospital."[/I]

([COLOR="Red"] I hope you work at the hospital and aren't just clumsy with a steak knife!! haha[/COLOR])[/QUOTE]

Thank you for the compliment. Maybe some day it will happen. It would be my pleasure.

....and.... thank you for the laugh!!:D

[WOWJr1]

[quote name='JustUs275']May I ask, how did your server know you were not going to be dining in the MDR on those 2 nights? Are you supposed to notify someone ahead of time if you won't be dining there?[/quote]

Per another poster, it's a courtesy to your tablemates (if you have any) to at least let [B]them[/B] know you won't be there on a particular night. We were with 1 other couple in traditional dining so we did that.

In addition, our server, at the end of each dinner prior to a formal night, previewed the formal menu and activities. We let him know we would not be participating. That might not happen with open seating. I don't know because our cruise was just prior to RCI offering open seating so everything was traditional, WJ or specialty.

[Havingfun2010]

Wow, just loved the answers, and the best part is that they were so predictable. For example, the it's my money answer, so I will wear what I want, and the ones, who defend that they taught their kids the social graces, but yet tell them its ok to wear a polo shirt to a "formal night". The whole purpose of my post was to actually see, if I could get a "unpredictable" answer. However, I do see alot of hope, because despite all the, "I'm going to do what I want crowd", I have not yet onced dined in the MDR on formal night with kids, other than my own, dressed in anything less than a tie, or a nice dress.

So I welcome the continued discussion, because I am doing a short study on this, and the culture change of the "me generation".

[JustUs275]

[quote name='WOWJr1']Per another poster, it's a courtesy to your tablemates (if you have any) to at least let [B]them[/B] know you won't be there on a particular night. We were with 1 other couple in traditional dining so we did that.

In addition, our server, at the end of each dinner prior to a formal night, previewed the formal menu and activities. We let him know we would not be participating. That might not happen with open seating. I don't know because our cruise was just prior to RCI offering open seating so everything was traditional, WJ or specialty.[/quote]

Thank you - having never cruised before, it's hard for me to imagine that with a ship of 2000+ passengers that anyone would even notice if we were not at dinner! ;) But breaking it down to our actual table of 8-10, it very much makes sense that either our tablemates or server need to know to not wait on us. Thank you for your response. :)

[UandMe4Ever]

Hi: This is just MHO: I think you'll miss the ambiance of the beautiful dining room, the feel you are on a cruise and being catered to, sharing precious time with the ones you love the most and even feeling a special feeling of being lucky to be on a cruise. I also think the dressing for Formal adds to that special feeling. It just seems to complement a wonderful dining experience.

Again, just my opinion...

Be happy whatever your choices and safe sails.

[Ocean Boy]

[quote name='Havingfun2010']Wow, just loved the answers, and the best part is that they were so predictable. For example, the it's my money answer, so I will wear what I want, and the ones, who defend that they taught their kids the social graces, but yet tell them its ok to wear a polo shirt to a "formal night". [COLOR="Red"]The whole purpose of my post was to actually see, if I could get a "unpredictable" answer[/COLOR]. However, I do see alot of hope, because despite all the, "I'm going to do what I want crowd", I have not yet onced dined in the MDR on formal night with kids, other than my own, dressed in anything less than a tie, or a nice dress.

So [COLOR="red"]I welcome the continued discussion, because I am doing a short study on this,[/COLOR] and the culture change of the "me generation".[/QUOTE]

Oh brother...:rolleyes:

[CSloan]

[quote name='Havingfun2010']Wow, just loved the answers, and the best part is that they were so predictable. For example, the it's my money answer, so I will wear what I want, and the ones, who defend that they taught their kids the social graces, but yet tell them its ok to wear a polo shirt to a "formal night". The whole purpose of my post was to actually see, if I could get a "unpredictable" answer. However, I do see alot of hope, because despite all the, "I'm going to do what I want crowd", I have not yet onced dined in the MDR on formal night with kids, other than my own, dressed in anything less than a tie, or a nice dress.

So I welcome the continued discussion, because I am doing a short study on this, and the culture change of the "me generation".[/quote]

Even though it obviously wasn't your intention, your posting still most likely answered some questions that are important to cruisers, especially those who haven't cruised before, or haven't cruised RCL. Maybe the answers are predictable to you - but there are some who haven't yet asked the question, and appreciate the answers.

[mommywholuvstocruise]

[quote name='Havingfun2010']Wow, just loved the answers, and the best part is that they were so predictable. For example, the it's my money answer, so I will wear what I want, and the ones, who defend that they taught their kids the social graces, but yet tell them its ok to wear a polo shirt to a "formal night". [I][B]The whole purpose of my post was to actually see, if I could get a "unpredictable" answer[/B].[/I] However, I do see alot of hope, because despite all the, "I'm going to do what I want crowd", I have not yet onced dined in the MDR on formal night with kids, other than my own, dressed in anything less than a tie, or a nice dress.

So I welcome the continued discussion, because I am doing a short study on this, and the culture change of the "me generation".[/quote]


I think you just described yourself as a [SIZE=6][U]TROLL:eek:[/U][/SIZE]