Clothing on the Summit---Live Report

[wrl001]

I guess that my wife and I should have done more research on this subject. Having cruised only one other time on RCCL, we did the Formal and then changed to enjoy the trivia, shows or whatever.

 

Is this really this big an issue that you cannot enjoy the evening if I go to the show in slacks and a golf shirt?

[CajunLiner]

The plain and simple fact of the matter is that,. yes, they are not following the guidelines. Whether or not they are following the suggested dress is not really debateable is it? they either are, or they are not following it. How much 'harm' does it do, or what the impact is, yes that can be debated, but if someone goes back and changes to their casuals on a formal night, then wanders about the ship, you can't debate that they are not following the guideline. It is what it is.

 

It would appear that you are mistaken.

 

From the celebrity website:

Evening dress codes apply to main restaurant dining. Specialty restaurant dining*, requires a jacket for gentlemen and a dress or pants and a blouse for ladies every night.

 

And:

On a Celebrity ship, casual dining is just as special and enjoyable as formal dining. While casual dining may include a relaxing poolside grill, the Sushi café or complimentary 24-hour room service, the experience, flavor and attention to detail remain unmatched.

 

When you opt for a casual-dining setting, a casual dress code applies.

 

To suggest that those who opt for alternative or casual dining venues are breaking the dress code for the other pulbic rooms (since they aren't going to the main dining room) by adhering to the suggestions for those venues is absurd.

 

My question remains: are they breaking rules by enjoying the rest of the ship?

[CajunLiner]

Question two: Unless you are a busybody, how can you know where a given individual has dined when you see them in causal clothes after dinner?

 

Should poeple go to the alternative or casual dining venue in the suggested attire, then run to their cabin and change into formalwear for the show?

[turtlemichael]

I follow the dress code, because I do not want to offend anyone, but similarly will not lose any sleep over what others are wearing. In no way does it diminish my pleasure.

[BB5953]

There are so many different cruise lines, it seems to me that if the dress standards on one aren't what a person likes, then they can try another line that is more to their liking. If the passengers on Celebrity are no longer dressy enough, there's got to be another more traditional line somewhere, right? And if they're too dressy, then there are more freestyle-oriented lines out there. Seems that everyone can find a place to their liking rather than arguing about it all the time?

 

I think for most the style of dress doesn't even get a second thought when deciding on a cruise. It is so insignificant.

[Karynanne]

To Dress or Not To Dress...We enjoy Celebrity because it is a bit more formal than many other cruise lines. If we want a laid back "only" vacation, we usually opt for a land vacation...but X offers us the best of both worlds. To argue phasing and verbage is just plain exhausting...Geez Louise!! It's a vacation!!! Enjoy it...

 

I vented....and now I feel better...

 

Karyn

[flagger]

We chose our cruise simply based on price. The dress code was not a factor in our decision. Celebrity has been the CHEAPEST cruise for the ports we want to visit for both our 2004 cruise as well as our upcoming 2006 cruise.

[venicecruiser]

Benjamins - Well done!

 

Claudia

[cruiseyguy]

"Clothing Optional" should appeal to all tastes and styles.

[Leela]

I think for most the style of dress doesn't even get a second thought when deciding on a cruise. It is so insignificant.

 

Then why do these unending threads on dressing up versus not dressing up that devolve into "you can't tell me what to do on my vacation" versus "you should show some respect" keep popping up? If it were truly insignificant, then people wouldn't talk about it on these boards week in and week out. Granted I've only been here a month, but I check the boards every day for new posts and there have been a lot of "what does formal really mean" and "is [insert outfit description here] formal enough for formal night" kinds of posts.

[cruzaddict]

Well....I will dress formal on formal evenings....as I usually do,but if I choose to go back to my room and change so that I may relax in the casino or just hang out somewhere on the ship,I will do that. I just hope that everyone else on this ship will be tending to their own vacation and not worrying about what I'm wearing! Also, if I choose not to go to the dining room for dinner,then I don't have to follow the dress code to wander around the rest of the ship.....what are they gonna do "arrest me"???? Just my opinion. I really wish people wouldn't keep making Celebrity sound like such a "stuffy" cruise line......it's very dissapointing to hear from us first timers on Celebrity.I understand it may be a little more upper class then Princess or RCCL,but you make it sound like I'm gonna be constantly watched and "policed" by everyone....what kind of a "relaxing" vacation is that??? Just my opinion!

[teedee]

It would appear that you are mistaken.

 

From the celebrity website:

 

And:

 

To suggest that those who opt for alternative or casual dining venues are breaking the dress code for the other pulbic rooms (since they aren't going to the main dining room) by adhering to the suggestions for those venues is absurd.

 

My question remains: are they breaking rules by enjoying the rest of the ship?

 

Actually she is not mistaken, here is a quote from the ships daily: "Following are the required modes of attire for evening dress (after 6:00pm nightly) throughout the ship.

Formal: Ladies: A dressy outfit,formal gown or cocktail dress.

Gentlemen: Dark suit and tie, dinner jacket or tuxedo."

 

Now, I think it would be nice if everybody would adhere to the dress code, it doesn't ruin my vacation if they don't. However the rules are clearly stated in the ship's dailies, it's up to the individual to decide if they will follow them.

 

Terri

[hajekfam]

We chose our cruise simply based on price. The dress code was not a factor in our decision. Celebrity has been the CHEAPEST cruise for the ports we want to visit for both our 2004 cruise as well as our upcoming 2006 cruise.

And there are also those of us that choose our cruise based on the ship - to us ports if any are gravy. Celebrity with their more formal atmosphere is a good match for us. We would be happy with a 14 night cruise to nowhere - to us the ship is our destination.

Why should Celebrity change to be like other lines?

[cruzaddict]

so,if I choose to not go to the dining room and maybe just have pizza or maybe even have dinner in my cabin.....what do I do if I want to go out later say maybe to the casino or to read a book on deck,etc......do I have to put on a formal dress to do that??????? just curious.

[Ma Bell]

For those who want to do what's requested, you should be in formal dress for the evening if you are going to dinner in the main dining room, the specialty restaurant, the shows, casino and lounges with the exception of the deck where the pools and alternative dining are located.

 

That deck is accessible from all the cabins without going through the public areas.

 

Obviously not everyone will do what's requested. As Phil said, I don't spend my time worrying what others are doing...I just think it's common courtesy to follow the guidelines. The dailies actually say the formal dress is required on those evenings.

 

For those who don't want to do what's requested, nothing anyone says here will matter.

[kmks1]

I agree with the addict. The dress codes are suggested dress, many people get dressed up then change later in the evening. The cruiselines want you to be comfortable and have a great time, not be bound by stuffy rules and regulations. Loosen up and have a good time...you wont have to walk the plank if you have on casual clothing.

[benjamins]

Well....I will dress formal on formal evenings....as I usually do,but if I choose to go back to my room and change so that I may relax in the casino or just hang out somewhere on the ship,I will do that. I just hope that everyone else on this ship will be tending to their own vacation and not worrying about what I'm wearing!

 

I understand it may be a little more upper class then Princess or RCCL,but you make it sound like I'm gonna be constantly watched and "policed" by everyone....what kind of a "relaxing" vacation is that??? Just my opinion!

 

Some of us are concerned with an overall shipboard ambiance, not any particular individual passenger's choices. We don't care what excursion anyone picks for example. A big resistance is shown to wear formal or informal wear as defined by the line. But if you are invited to a Halloween party and asked to wear a costume, a masquerade party and asked to wear a mask, a country and Western themed party and asked to wear country wear like jeans/boots/hats etc., doesn't it rather spoil the atmosphere when someone dresses in something that doesn't fit the theme? Why should some be invited to the party yet not be part of what's requested?

 

The relaxing aspect of Celebrity is the aqua spa, the service style, the not hearing constant announcements, the higher space ratio on the ship, the turned down volume in public rooms compared to some other lines.

 

I think what we need is a description of what lines are, not what some want lines to be because they chose by itinerary, price, or some priority that really didn't consider the line's style. Celebrity doesn't have to be upscale, downscale or anything like this. It is a certain style, or supposed to be. And while it is plenty casual by day, it supposed to allow a certain ambiance and atmosphere half of the evenings and part of this is accomplished by the dress code. For those that don't go along with this reasoning, there are other choices.

 

At this point, Celebrity is sending mixed messages. Casual nights offered on formal nights is a recipe for formal night ambiance being compromised. And, in some places Celebrity says formal nights are for the whole ship and other places it is for dining. If Celebrity isn't sure about the dress code how could the pax. The management on Celebrity really needs to better define the experience.

 

Ships are too big, too many passengers, fleets are too big. The sense of community is being lost as there's a lot of rugged individuals on our own vacation sentiments being expressed.

[barbon2]

Maybe we can resurrect some of the old ships with the class sections, but instead of dividing them by class we can divide them by dress. Let's say steerage could be jeans, shorts, etc., or even those absurd people who choose not to dress at all, and we can work our way up by choice of wardrobe.

All joking aside, as I stated before, I DO follow dress code for the evening, but in all reality if someone chooses to dine in their cabin or opts for casual dining then it is really obsurd to expect them to change into formal attire to attend a show, casino, etc. I do not think it is appropriate for someone to attend dinner in the main dining room in dress other than stated, but again, they should not be banned from the ship for the evening. If Celebritiy or any other line did not want people to have an alternative dress code, then they would not offer alternative dining venues.

More importantly they should ban some of the people from the pool who wear bathing suits that are much to small for their figure size, we have all seen THAT attire on a ship! :)

[steveweese]

Since when was a speedo not acceptable in the dining room? I thought black was formal enough?

[brigittetom]

On all of our cruises I have always seen a few who changed into very casual for the casino later at night. I'm guessing some went to the shows dressed formally and then chose to relax for the casino. We don't do it but in all honesty, in the casino atmosphere late in the evening it really doesn't stand out one way or another. I'm way to busy staring at the slot machine to care what anyone is wearing. :)

[flagger]

As to the casino, who wants their formal wear smelling of smoke especially for the men if they are going to wear their tux on a second formal night?

[eandee]

Since when was a speedo not acceptable in the dining room? I thought black was formal enough?

 

How did we get here?:p

This thread was making sense.

I just got my fiancee into a Tux for the wedding!

Liz;)

[WeBeCruisin']

The cruiselines want you to be comfortable and have a great time, not be bound by stuffy rules and regulations. Loosen up and have a good time....

 

And your knowledge of what the cruise lines want comes from Jack Williams's lips to your ears? The cruise line REQUESTS that you wear formal wear on formal nights and that you adhere to that wear the entire evening while in public places away from the lido and pool deck. This "stuffy" request is by the cruise line itself. It's amazing how people can rationalize their inappropriate behavior and dress. Next, we'll be hearing that God AND the cruiseline want us to wear our thongs and muscle shirts on formal nights, so we can have "loosen up" and have a good time. This mentality is wearying.

 

Allen

[WeBeCruisin']

I really wish people wouldn't keep making Celebrity sound like such a "stuffy" cruise line......it's very dissapointing to hear from us first timers on Celebrity.I understand it may be a little more upper class then Princess or RCCL,but you make it sound like I'm gonna be constantly watched and "policed" by everyone....what kind of a "relaxing" vacation is that??? Just my opinion!

 

It's not at ALL relaxing, cruz...... you will hate it! You should cancel your reservation and book on another cruise line, preferably a 3-day Carnival trip, immediately! You will absolutely love that vacation!

 

Allen

[hdawson]

Allen, actually on my four Carnival cruises, 90%+ did respect the spirit of the dress standards. Very little difference from Royal Caribbean whiich I think is more like 95%. Fact is that on almost any cruiseline the vast majority do respect the expressed dress standard.