If Only HAL Would Stop the Formal Nights

[Lizzie68]

It is not necessary to dump all over or to ridicule someone with a differing opinion. This is a forum which welcomes all opinions and we can say we disagree without getting tied up in knots. I do disagree with the poster and I enjoy formal nights. We know the expectations when we book. Having said that the number of formal nights have been reduced, I hope they do not disappear altogether.

[visagrunt]

In my family, we dress for dinner. On formal nights that means black tie. On casual nights, that means a clean pair of trousers, a fresh shirt and a polished pair of shoes. (Not to mention well groomed). Dinner is a social occasion, and part of making a social events work is to provide the right environment.

 

Now if a couple at a table for two chooses not to dress, that doesn't impose on my table. But if a couple at my table chooses not to dress, that's a very different thing. And if a couple chooses not to dress and let's the entire dining room know it, that's even worse.

 

Fortunately, I have never one had to cope with either the second or the third type on any of my cruises to date.

[rafinmd]

Threads like this prove the wisdom of Cruise Critic's "ignore list".

 

Roy

[igraf]

Other side of the coin:

 

What if HAL decides that they don't need to offer the extra special dinners associated with formal night? They certainly are not obligated to serve me lobster and NY steak. I for one am glad that they do and am quite happy to bring along my lightweight summer suit as my part of the bargain.

 

Seems to me that the OP wants the formal dinner but doesn't want to do anything on his part to help make it a special event.

 

igraf

Edited April 16, 2015 by igraf

[UPNYGuy]

DW and I cruise on both HAL and NCL. HAL is in NO WAY is poor as OP makes it out to be. We had *one* very bad experience on Statendam (and 2 other not so hot cruises). But by and large, we have found HAL to be a good line. Do I prefer NCL to HAL? Yes. Is it difficult to find steamer chairs on the promenade desk on NCL??? YES!!!!

Edited April 16, 2015 by UPNYGuy

[Susie51]

We cruise with a variety of cruise lines and if there is a formal night we dress accordingly.

[summersigh]

I thought I smelled a troll :D

[POA1]

Does wine taste different from crystal goblet compared to a Styrofoam cup?

 

=== Snip ===

 

... bring your red solo cup to dinner to drink your chateauneuf du pape.

 

Yes, but it tastes best out of a wine glass.

 

The red Solo cup is for the red Rhones. White Styrofoam is for the white Rhone blends. I thought that was common knowledge.

[UPNYGuy]

We cruise with a variety of cruise lines and if there is a formal night we dress accordingly.

 

 

Exactly. DW and I have thought about trying Oceania for a certain itinerary, and the version of cruise casual would be what I wear to work every day. What I wear on Norwegian is not any different than I wear on HAL (slacks, polo shirt, belt and shined shoes) depending on time of year.

[Wakepatrol]

He posts this as if we care?:confused:

[George C]

I like traveling on a cruise line that has dress codes and enforces them, there is no way I would ever cruise on NCL again for many reasons, I think people should pick a line that fits them

[IndyDenise]

Yes, but it tastes best out of a wine glass.

 

The red Solo cup is for the red Rhones. White Styrofoam is for the white Rhone blends. I thought that was common knowledge.

 

 

Yup! And my Mega Bubba Mug is for Coors!

[agabbymama]

There are plenty of cruiselines to choose from. I don't like the attitude that it's my cruise, I paid $$$$ for it and I'll do what I want. Do you go through life that way? Why should a cruise be that way?

 

I'm a 69 year old that has seen a drastic change over the years. Travel on a highway for any distance, and you will see the attitude of drivers. The posted speed limit in most places is 65 mph, but folks rarely drive that. They go whatever speed they want, when they want, then cry like babies if they happen to get a ticket. FOLLOW THE RULES/LAWS folks. You are not the center of this World.

 

HAL is a little more sophisticated than some other cruiselines in the Carnival family. That's what people want. If it's not what you want, don't sail them.

 

Choose your cruise because the line fits what you want. Follow the dress code whatever line you are one. Don't try to change it and make it what you want. There are a couple thousand other folks on the cruise, if you want it your way, rent a yacht and do your thing.

[lambcom]

Agreed. Troll attack!

[summer slope]

Cruise Critic really needs to install like buttons. Just saying.......

[Blue Mudshark]

I also hate wearing clothes that are uncomfortable. That's why I make sure that my clothes; including shirts, ties, suits, jackets, tuxedo suit, dress pants, jeans, shoes, parkas, even baseball caps; are all selected so they fit properly (and altered if necessary).

 

They are all quite comfortable.

[sail7seas]

Just returned from a Hawaii cruise on NCL and loved that I could wear comfortable (and suitable) clothes every night of the cruise. We stayed in the largest suite on the ship and loved that we could dress casually. We saw there who were dressed to the nines and thought-- good for them.

 

This year, we are doing the 24 day Mediterranean cruise on the N/A and wish there were no formal nights on HAL. This year, however, I'm not taking a jacket or a tie. I wear suits for work and don't want to vacation in one. Why does HAL insist on forcing everyone to wear a suit several times during a 24 day cruise.

 

I've noticed on my last few HAL cruises, that there is growing passive resistance to the dress code. I, for one, am signing up.

 

Gentlemen: Those of you who enjoy wearing tuxedos or have to say you do because your wife insists you do so-- enjoy.

 

Ladies: Those of who you who love to dress to the nines-- enjoy.

 

Live and let live.

 

My wife and I are going to enjoy the splendor of the Med in the Summer without dressing up for dinner and the BB Kings. We plan on dining and dancing in comfort. Please accept my apologies if it offends you but that is your problem, not mine. I'm the one in comfortable slacks and a dress polo shirt. By the way, you are seeing more and more of people like me each year.

 

I will enjoy my Neptune Suite, the Pinnacle, the Tamarind, and every other area of the N/A in comfort.

 

If only HAL (and some of you) could see things differently.

 

Please don't tell me to go to another cruise line if I don't like the dress policy as I'm frankly tired of you telling me something else I should do.

 

I will cruise the way I like on HAL-- just like a Norwegian.

 

 

 

Is there a question in this posting? I missed it if there is.

 

What is it we are to do with this post? :confused:

You have made a statement that you plan to make a statement while aboard.......

 

Okay.

Statement made. :D

 

[Sir PMP]

" We plan on dining and dancing in comfort. Please accept my apologies if it offends you but that is your problem, not mine. I'm the one in comfortable slacks and a dress polo shirt. By the way, you are seeing more and more of people like me each year."

 

As long as you stay in your cabin on formal nights you can dress anyway you want, and NCL is a great line for people dressed up like you..

[Djptcp]

DH and I sailed on the N/A last Thanksgiving week and ate in the main dining room only the first night. We were in a Neptune Suite and decided to order our dinner through the Neptune Lounge concierge the second night and eat in our suite. We absolutely loved it and ordered every dinner that way. We decided we really preferred eating in our suite every night, all breakfasts, too, and I might add some lunches. After 34 cruises, we are tired of having to make small talk with fellow diners and had been getting tables for two lately. However, this was even better because we didn't need to dress up and could eat in our shorts! We'll be sailing on the Westerdam in October and plan on doing the same thing and we won't have to pack any dressy clothes. By the way, DH is a former tuxedo-only dresser on formal nights and used to love to dress up formally on cruises. Retirement, isn't it grand?

[Blue Mudshark]

What the heck is a "dress polo shirt", anyway?

[buckirj1]

What the heck is a "dress polo shirt", anyway?

 

Sequined.

[Topsham]

Back in 1984 I was Chief Officer in a large privately owned yacht. Built 1928... beautiful, old style.

 

We could carry 12 passengers. When a guest came aboard they were give a package of clothes. Only clothes were allowed on board. All guess given several sets of white track suits... with the yacht 'Jezebel' on the front. By day... comfortable. Fine. In the evening... sit in the most beautiful dining room with the best food.... all very formal. Only problem... all those white track suits... even at dinner. Just looked silly. Every evening the track suits were laundered and given to the guest for the next day.

[peaches from georgia]

What the heck is a "dress polo shirt", anyway?

I think he means a 'collared' polo or golf shirt such as Ralph Lauren and others make. Brand doesn't matter, just that there is a collar. A non-dress polo shirt to me is of the t-shirt type, no collar.

[iancal]

The notion that people not dressed to the formal wear code will stay in their cabins all night long on formal nights is well......think about it. Not going to happen.

 

Besides, HAL does NOT want us in our cabins. HAL wants us out and about spending money generously in the bars, in the shops, and in the casino.

 

That is the way it is. Anything else is a pipe dream from an era long past when most people who cruise today could never afford to cruise.

[serendipity1499]

Well I for one am glad that HAL still has Formal Nights...That really is the only time we can dress up in our fanciest clothes!:):)

 

IMO, It would be a shame if HAL did not have Formal Nights, as really love seeing DH dressed formally & I enjoy dressing formally.. Unfortunately, on the shorter cruises DH has decided not to take his TUX, only because many others wear only suits.. However, on our long Antarctica/SA cruise he took both a suit & a TUX which he was happy with.. As we got toward the end of the cruise, we both were becoming a bit tired of the Formal Nights, but that is not the case on our 21 to 30 day cruises..

 

The OP seems to be very opinionated & hopes to garner agreement on this thread, but it looks like many of the posters don't agree.. Maybe a Poll about Formal Nights would give us a better idea of the general feeling of most CC posters..

 

If I ever had to sit at a table with the OP, I might request a change of tables & also tip the Maitre d' :D