Formal or Informal

[Jerry and Shelly]

Of all the repeat topics on this board, I believe that people are the most passionate about formal or informal dress codes. I don't know if the ship lines ever read this board for ideas, but I think a good compromise would be to make one of the set dining times as "formal only" and then strictly enforce it. So maybe the first seating could be informal within current standards, and the second seating could be formal. I think that would satisfy most people, with the only concerns being the need to select your dinner time based on your dress preference, and that after dinner, people will be dressed in a variety of ways.

 

Another idea would be to separate upsatirs and downstairs in the MDR, with formal only on the lower level, and informal on the upper level.

 

Just some ideas.

[kitty9]

This would not work within the context that there are a lot of people for many reasons who need to dine early and still love to dress up for dinner, and then you have some who only want late dining and want to wear jeans every night.

[true45]

What about asking for the formal or informal preference when taking the cruise reservation (like asking main or late seating) and then setting aside the correct number of tables for each? This way, Celebrity knows ahead of time if the whole upstairs is needed for formal and down for informal or vice versa.

[Ma Bell]

How about leaving one good cruiseline the way it is rather than making it as mediocre as the rest.

[eandj]

Celebrity recommends the "formal" atmosphere to extend thru out the ship on those nights. With two different dress guidelines, that whole idea is shot down. I think it's really nice to see the high majority dressed up wandering the shops, casino, lounges etc. Makes for a special night.

 

Yes, there are a small group who refuse to put on a tie or a nice dress for formal nights. But now half the ship? That's not what Celebrity's "You're the Star" promotion really portrays. There are other cruiselines out there that do encourage more a beach/resort atmosphere. If that's what I wanted, that's what I'd look for.

[Jerry and Shelly]

How about leaving one good cruiseline the way it is rather than making it as mediocre as the rest.

 

Just sharing ideas. We know nothing will come of this. No need to get angry.

 

Society, in general, is becomming less and less formal every year, whether we like it or not. I was raised in a family that frequents Las Vegas often. 30 years ago or so, everyone would dress in formal wear to go to a show. Now, everyone dresses as they like. I am not saying that this is right or wrong; it's just the way it is.

[tally10]

I just want to say that people choose Celebrity for OTHER REASONS beside the dress code. Those that say, "go on NCL if you don't want the formal nights" are just plain wrong. Celebrity offers a wonderful product and that is probably the main reason that people choose this cruise line. It is not only for the chance to dress up. For us, the dress code on formal nights is a downer, but as I have said on many of these threads, we do comply. I think the OP has a good idea. If you could separate the dining rooms as suggested for those who wish to dress up and those who don't, is an excellent idea and compromise!! You will still have those same posters who object to ANY change and want to carry on the formal wear mantra, but these Celebrity forums just show that there are a lot of posters out there that would like to see some compromise and who do choose Celebrity for the ships, service, itinerary, and smoke free ship, etc. You can have the Celebrity experience without all of the dress up nights. I can't believe that formal nights are the ONLY reason people choose this line which is what some posters would have you believe.

[Ma Bell]

I certainly am not angry but anyone who thinks changing the atmosphere of a ship doesn't have an effect on everything else is just kidding themselves. There's a reason that Celebrity offers a good product, so why not appreciate it rather than trying to change it.

 

I've also been going to Las Vegas for years too and I would think anyone who has would appreciate what Celebrity offers and not want it changed:confused:

 

It seems that it's the people who are new to Celebrity who want to change it. They were attracted to it because of what they have heard and the first thing they want to do is change it to become something different.

 

Tally, you say they can still offer the same product, but I say the more you attract the "I'll do as I please" crowd, the more all the other great things about Celebrity will change. It's just a gradual chipping away at what makes them special.

[CathyCruises]

Well, since formal nights are fairly rare, I think it would be hard to set aside one part of the MDR for 'formal' and change everyone's table just for those 2-3 nights.

 

I wear jeans to work, so I look forward to the chance to doll up a bit for the few nights I year that I have the opportunity.

[Ma Bell]

Celebrity has already created new options for those who don't like to dress up. With the Solstice options being added to the M-Class they will be available on all but Century. They are wonderful options and it's just not necessary to divide the MDR for a couple of nights.

[boogs]

I certainly am not angry but anyone who thinks changing the atmosphere of a ship doesn't have an effect on everything else is just kidding themselves. There's a reason that Celebrity offers a good product, so why not appreciate it rather than trying to change it.

 

I've also been going to Las Vegas for years too and I would think anyone who has would appreciate what Celebrity offers and not want it changed:confused:

 

It seems that it's the people who are new to Celebrity who want to change it. They were attracted to it because of what they have heard and the first thing they want to do is change it to become something different.

 

Tally, you say they can still offer the same product, but I say the more you attract the "I'll do as I please" crowd, the more all the other great things about Celebrity will change. It's just a gradual chipping away at what makes them special.

 

I agree totally. Leave it the way it is. The formal nights are one of the things that drew my wife and I to Celebrity instead of other cruiselines, and I would hate to see it die away just to appease people who want the cruiselines to adjust to their own preferences rather than embrace one of the few things that makes Celebrity special. Just as I wouldn't think of going to a sushi restaurant and then demanding they serve me a steak, I wish people would accept what Celebrity is and not try to change it into something they would rather it become. We've seen that happen to almost all the other cruiselines. Please, let this one be special!

[flclsax]

How about leaving one good cruiseline the way it is rather than making it as mediocre as the rest.

 

AMEN! How about those who want to wear their bathing suits to dinner sail Carnival and those of us who want to have a formal experience sail Celebrity.

[travellovers2]

AMEN! How about those who want to wear their bathing suits to dinner sail Carnival and those of us who want to have a formal experience sail Celebrity.

 

On our last cruise on Oasis of the Seas we saw a lot of people in the MDR in shorts and flip flops. It is written on the compass that no shorts were allowed. We asked the head waiter if they did not enforce it and he said no because they dont want to upset the passengers. So do they enforce it on Celebrity? What if women want to wear dress slacks is that forbidden? Do men have to wear a tux or is a suit and tie acceptable? We follow the rules. I agree that those that dont want to follow the rules can sail Carnival. :D:D:D Been there done that, never again.

[tally10]

AMEN! How about those who want to wear their bathing suits to dinner sail Carnival and those of us who want to have a formal experience sail Celebrity.

 

We took a 12 day mediterranean cruise on Carnival and never saw anyone dressed inappropriately either in the dining room or the buffet. Perhaps European cruises are different than the Carribbean This is the same mantra used on this thread about people who have never sailed Celebrity wanting an alternative to formal night and couldn't possibly know what they are talking about. Personally, I would like an alternative other than a pay venue, room service in those tiny S-class cabins, or the evening buffet on the S class ships which on the Eclipse, consisted of sushi, pizza, pasta, and salad. With Celebrity now attracting a younger crowd, things will eventually change. There are some of us who choose Celebrity for the itinerary, the ships, the service, and the smoke free atmosphere and could care less about dressing up for formal nights. As I have said before, we do comply, but do not enjoy it. We have never seen a maitre'd turn anyone away from the MDR on formal night either on X or RCCL, no matter what their definition of formal is.

[Ma Bell]

I, and many others, have seen people turned away at the door many times, in fact I saw one on our last cruise in May.

[travellovers2]

We took a 12 day mediterranean cruise on Carnival and never saw anyone dressed inappropriately either in the dining room or the buffet. Perhaps European cruises are different than the Carribbean This is the same mantra used on this thread about people who have never sailed Celebrity wanting an alternative to formal night and couldn't possibly know what they are talking about. Personally, I would like an alternative other than a pay venue, room service in those tiny S-class cabins, or the evening buffet on the S class ships which on the Eclipse, consisted of sushi, pizza, pasta, and salad. With Celebrity now attracting a younger crowd, things will eventually change. There are some of us who choose Celebrity for the itinerary, the ships, the service, and the smoke free atmosphere and could care less about dressing up for formal nights. As I have said before, we do comply, but do not enjoy it. We have never seen a maitre'd turn anyone away from the MDR on formal night either on X or RCCL, no matter what their definition of formal is.

 

We took Carnival because it was a short cruise and we thought why not? how bad can it be in 4 days. It wasnt the way people dressed, but how the majority behaved that really turned us off to Carnival. We sailed Princess and people were very well dressed. We dont do the tux and long dress affair,but we do dress as you should to go to a nice restaurant, which is what any MDR is on any cruise. So just because someone is on vacation, which we all are, is no reason to break the dress code.

[tally10]

We took Carnival because it was a short cruise and we thought why not? how bad can it be in 4 days. It wasnt the way people dressed, but how the majority behaved that really turned us off to Carnival. We sailed Princess and people were very well dressed. We dont do the tux and long dress affair,but we do dress as you should to go to a nice restaurant, which is what any MDR is on any cruise. So just because someone is on vacation, which we all are, is no reason to break the dress code.

 

I am not advocating that anyone "break the dress code." I am just suggesting that X should have the same evening buffet that their sister line, RCCL, has for those who don't enjoy the formal nights or some other alternative other than eating in the cabin. I have not taken a Carribbean cruise in recent years, so I can't comment about what goes on on a short 7 day cruise. That is more of a party atmosphere on any line. But I do think the demographics and times are changing and as the older generation dies off, I think we will see less people wanting the tux and ball gown and be happy with just a nice sport coat and tie and dressy pant suit. BTW, like I said before with 8 weeks of Celebrity cruises and diamond on RCCL, I have not seen anyone turned away. I would be surprised if they actually did and would risk losing their tips or offending someone.

[Leafpeeper]

We cruise on many different cruiselines--don't have a favorite one. We have noticed over the years that fewer and fewer people are dressing formally on formal night. We see about the same percentage of people in formal attire on each of the cruiselines we've sailed--including NCL. If the dining rooms enforced the formal attire dress code, the dining room would be half empty on formal night. I think that is why cruiselines are getting more lax with dress codes. I see more and more men wearing just a tie and no jacket. DH wore a Hawaiian shirt on our last formal night (RCCL) and left his suit in the cabin because it was too hot.

 

My personal suggestion is to take reservations for formal night. Since most ships these days have multiple restaurants, they can determine what size dining room they will need based on the reservations. All the other restaurants should be smart casual optional. Then they could easily enforce a formal dress code of tuxes and evening gowns if they want to. On a longer cruise, there could be one formal formal night and one semi formal formal night. I'm guessing that as time goes on, formal night will end up in a smaller specialty restaurant because there just aren't as many who want to wear formal attire on vacation--especially on a caribbean vacation when it is so hot.

 

Cruiselines are finally acknowleding that some people do not like traditional dining at an assigned time, so perhaps there is hope for more change.

 

For those who don't want to wear formal attire, I suggest a specialty restaurant on formal night. They are lax about formal attire on formal night. Generally I only see about half the passengers in formal attire in a specialty restaurant. Glad DH and I will have somewhere besides the buffet to eat on my Celebrity cruise--especially in our smart casual attire.

[jackdiamond]

How about leaving one good cruiseline the way it is rather than making it as mediocre as the rest.

I concur!

[jackdiamond]

Mary, one problem, inter alia, vis-a-vis your suggestion is that substituting a semi-formal night for one formal night increases the packing load since that mode of attire requires slacks, sport coat and tie etc., for the males. Under the present system, a male may comply with the formal suggestion by either a tux etc., or suit etc.

[nusail]

I agree totally. Leave it the way it is. The formal nights are one of the things that drew my wife and I to Celebrity instead of other cruiselines, and I would hate to see it die away just to appease people who want the cruiselines to adjust to their own preferences rather than embrace one of the few things that makes Celebrity special. Just as I wouldn't think of going to a sushi restaurant and then demanding they serve me a steak, I wish people would accept what Celebrity is and not try to change it into something they would rather it become. We've seen that happen to almost all the other cruiselines. Please, let this one be special!

 

But what you and other posters fail to acknowledge is that "the way it is" is apparently different from "the way it was", if comments posted by some recent Celebrity cruisers are to be believed. Increasing numbers of people are adopting more relaxed dress in the dining room and whether or not they are Celebrity "newbies" (as some have suggested) is immaterial. For the most part, the cruise line appears to be turning a blind eye. If and when the more casual dressers outnumber the formal wear crusaders there will most certainly be a change in the official dress code, despite the best efforts of the aficionados of "the good old days".

[Ma Bell]

We cruise on many different cruiselines--don't have a favorite one. We have noticed over the years that fewer and fewer people are dressing formally on formal night. We see about the same percentage of people in formal attire on each of the cruiselines we've sailed--including NCL. If the dining rooms enforced the formal attire dress code, the dining room would be half empty on formal night. I think that is why cruiselines are getting more lax with dress codes. I see more and more men wearing just a tie and no jacket. DH wore a Hawaiian shirt on our last formal night (RCCL) and left his suit in the cabin because it was too hot.

 

My personal suggestion is to take reservations for formal night. Since most ships these days have multiple restaurants, they can determine what size dining room they will need based on the reservations. All the other restaurants should be smart casual optional. Then they could easily enforce a formal dress code of tuxes and evening gowns if they want to. On a longer cruise, there could be one formal formal night and one semi formal formal night. I'm guessing that as time goes on, formal night will end up in a smaller specialty restaurant because there just aren't as many who want to wear formal attire on vacation--especially on a caribbean vacation when it is so hot.

 

Cruiselines are finally acknowleding that some people do not like traditional dining at an assigned time, so perhaps there is hope for more change.

 

For those who don't want to wear formal attire, I suggest a specialty restaurant on formal night. They are lax about formal attire on formal night. Generally I only see about half the passengers in formal attire in a specialty restaurant. Glad DH and I will have somewhere besides the buffet to eat on my Celebrity cruise--especially in our smart casual attire.

 

 

I bet this is another cruiser who has never been on a Celebrity ship but would love to change the cruiseline.

[Leafpeeper]

Just sharing ideas. We know nothing will come of this. No need to get angry.

 

Society, in general, is becomming less and less formal every year, whether we like it or not. I was raised in a family that frequents Las Vegas often. 30 years ago or so, everyone would dress in formal wear to go to a show. Now, everyone dresses as they like. I am not saying that this is right or wrong; it's just the way it is.

 

I agree.

 

I don't understand why so many people who love to wear formal attire get upset with those who don't. Every cruiseline seems to have these same issues.

 

The cruiselines will do what they have to do to make a profit. If the next generation of customers want casual attire, that's what they will offer. It's always about the bottom line.

[Leafpeeper]

I bet this is another cruiser who has never been on a Celebrity ship but would love to change the cruiseline.

 

You are absolutely right.

 

This could be my first and last Celebrity cruise depending on whether they enforce formal dress codes in the specialty restaurant. I'll give the main dining room to those who love their formal dress codes, but the specialty restaurants are usually lax about enforcing dress codes. We'll find out in October.

 

I don't do buffets when I've paid for sit down service.

 

The original poster wanted to see what other cruisers might suggest.

[Texed]

but the specialty restaurants are usually lax about enforcing dress codes.

 

The dress code in the specialty restaurants is the same as the main dining room on formal and/or casual nights.