Formal Night on Golden - Dinner in Horizon

[MBMiner]

We're sailing on the Golden Princess next month and I wanted to be sure I understand formal nights on the ship. We have elected Personal Choice dining. On formal nights, is it possible to eat in the Horizon Court in casual clothing, and remain dressed in this manner for the evening? Also, is Horizon Court waiter service or is it buffet? Are there any other dining options with casual dress on the formal evenings? Thanks!

Bruce

[coiran]

The Horizon Court is a buffet - serve yourself - the menu will not be the same as in the dining rooms - The only other option is to eat in your room. The casual dress can stay for the evening if you eat in the Horizon Court - but, if your casual is shorts and tank top you might feel a little out of place.

 

Ron

[lesharona]

I spoke to two different Princess Reps who said it would be perfectly fine

to eat in the diningroom. Just wear long pants and a button down shirt for

a guy. long Pants and nice blouse for the ladies, and you will be fine.

Call Princess yourself if you want to verify what was said to me.

[cynbar]

I think we've established from lots of threads on this subject that the adherence to the formal dress code varies from ship to ship --- possible even from DR to DR on the same ship. Some passengers apparently have been turned away if not dressed appropriately. I haven't seen this myself, but I also haven't seen many men come into the DR on formal night who didn't have on at least a sport coat.

[MBMiner]

I'm a believer in adhering to the requested dress code and I, therefore, wouldn't care to enter the dining room in casual clothing. On Celebrity the buffet area on the Lido Deck is converted into a casual dining area served by waiters. This is available if one doesn't care to dress formally. Is it correct that the Horizon Court is essentially the same except it is a buffet and not waiter-served?

Bruce

[coiran]

I'm a believer in adhering to the requested dress code and I, therefore, wouldn't care to enter the dining room in casual clothing. On Celebrity the buffet area on the Lido Deck is converted into a casual dining area served by waiters. This is available if one doesn't care to dress formally. Is it correct that the Horizon Court is essentially the same except it is a buffet and not waiter-served?

Bruce

 

Similar, however, the menu will not be the same as in the dining room. Some of the ships have a "late night bistro" which is a served dining place adjacent to the Horizon Court which starts at !! PM.

 

Ron

[whale-watcher]

We found the Horizon Court menu to be identical to the main dining room menu for the second formal night on the Dawn Princess last winter, with the exception of no lobster, which we don't care for anyways.

[coiran]

We found the Horizon Court menu to be identical to the main dining room menu for the second formal night on the Dawn Princess last winter, with the exception of no lobster, which we don't care for anyways.

 

Lobster tail is the big attraction for most folk. I'll get dressed up for Lobster tail anyday - they also have good tenderloin steak the same night - I get both.

 

Ron

[whale-watcher]

We would prefer to eat in the dining room as well, especially on a sea day, but the vegetarian selections are usually better at Horizon court...the boys and I would be just as happy to not schlep suits, but DW and DD don't feel the same way.

[MBMiner]

What about going to the shows, casino or other public areas on a formal night? Is it acceptable to go to these in slacks and a sport shirt for example, even though most others will have their formal attire from dinner?

Bruce

[MichTraveler]

I have noticed that some of the formal dressers even change into more comforable clothing for the evening entertainment. You will find a mix of format and dress-casual after dinner. Others like to dress-up for the entire evening.

[Host CJSKIDS]

What about going to the shows, casino or other public areas on a formal night? Is it acceptable to go to these in slacks and a sport shirt for example, even though most others will have their formal attire from dinner?

Bruce

 

Bruce, you will see people in all kinds of dress afterward on formal night. We were on The Golden in 10/24/04 for the Southern Caribbean and then again in Europe for the 7/11/05 sailing. People were a lot dressier in Europe than they were in the Caribbean but you did see people in their formal wear, jeans and pants and shorts at night. Many people go back to their cabin and quickly change when they're done. The funniest thing is that we didn't do one of the formal nights on this cruise and ate dinner in the horizen court and the funny thing is there were people (a few different parties) in there eating in their formal wear!

[MBMiner]

Celebrity stresses that the dress for dinner is the dress throughout the ship for the entire evening. From the comments, I assume that's not the case with Princess, and one can be in casual clothing during the evening on nights when it was formal in the dining room. Am I correct? Thanks for the replies.

Bruce

[crusdiva]

Celebrity stresses that the dress for dinner is the dress throughout the ship for the entire evening. From the comments, I assume that's not the case with Princess, and one can be in casual clothing during the evening on nights when it was formal in the dining room. Am I correct? Thanks for the replies. Bruce

Bruce,

Princess notes in the daily Patter that the "dress for the evening is...."

It sounds very similar to what you are used to on Celebrity.