Formal nights getting really casual ....

[partybarbie]

When you are the only person dressed formally and every one else is not then it is not as enjoyable. As a matter of fact I would feel ridiculous being so overdressed.

 

Tell me about it.:rolleyes: I'm beginning to feel overdressed when I am following the guidelines.

 

I recall one cruise where DH and I were going to dinner for our wedding anniversary at one of the specialty restaurants. It was a "smart casual" night and I was wearing a knee-length skirt and a sparkly long-sleeved blouse. Another couple walks by, and the woman says to her husband, "Doesn't she know it's not a formal night?". Really?

 

I refrained from responding to her rude comment, even though many equally rude comments came to mind.

 

1) These aren't formal clothes, they're "smart casual".

 

2) It's our anniversary and it's none of your business.

 

3) It's not my fault if your husband is looking at me instead of you. Maybe you should go change out of that ratty outfit that you're wearing.

 

Well, you get the idea.:rolleyes:

[msmoger]

Totally agree here...the dress code is there for a reason, and it's sad how many choose to break the rules over and over. But as long as Princess allows it, it will continue. Like on the last cruise in the Horizon Court an older man came in from the pool area in swim trunks, dripping wet...covered in grey body hair and went straight past staff to the food area...YUCK! Or the guy in the dining room on formal night in board shorts tank top and dirty flip flops...seriously? :confused:

 

I resemble that remark!! :D

 

Tell me about it.:rolleyes: I'm beginning to feel overdressed when I am following the guidelines.

 

I recall one cruise where DH and I were going to dinner for our wedding anniversary at one of the specialty restaurants. It was a "smart casual" night and I was wearing a knee-length skirt and a sparkly long-sleeved blouse. Another couple walks by, and the woman says to her husband, "Doesn't she know it's not a formal night?". Really?

 

I refrained from responding to her rude comment, even though many equally rude comments came to mind.

 

1) These aren't formal clothes, they're "smart casual".

 

2) It's our anniversary and it's none of your business.

 

3) It's not my fault if your husband is looking at me instead of you. Maybe you should go change out of that ratty outfit that you're wearing.

 

Well, you get the idea.:rolleyes:

 

I vote for #3 ;)

[iceleven]

Wow...just wow.:(

[Mom33]

When you are the only person dressed formally and every one else is not then it is not as enjoyable. As a matter of fact I would feel ridiculous being so overdressed.

 

The current system works… irregardless of the opinions of the people on this thread. They may be a majority on the thread but they are not a majority on the ship. There are places to eat for those not wishing to partake in formal night.

 

And when you are one of the minority underdressed around all those dressed up people, you are uncomfortable also. That is the motive for the same few whiners coming to CC and trying to push their agenda. :D

I agree with all you have said on this thread.:D

[Colo Cruiser]

The "dress like that all the time argument" is silly. I could wear my Halloween costume every day if I wanted to, but it's for an occasion. Formal night is a party for those who choose to partake. It's an occasion just like any other festive event. Now that I think about it, I have seen a few getups on formal night that could double as Halloween costumes: the aforementioned pink bedazzled sweat pants would fit the bill. The guy dressed like a plumber (from the rear) in his too-small polo and khakis could qualify, too. Of course, the best are those dressed as a princess and her prince in their beautiful ball gowns and tuxes. Okay, maybe Husky61 is right: the Halloween plumber can dress like that every night if he wants to since it's choice to treat every day like Halloween.

 

 

If formal night falls on Halloween will you still dress as a purist? :p

[JimmyVWine]

If you really believe that, then you'd be adamantly opposed to dress codes as a matter of principle. The current code tells you how you must dress in order to dine in specific venues on specific dates and times. Exactly what is the dress code except the forging of a link prescribing exactly: "when and how people like to dine with how they like to dress when they dine."?

 

This misses the mark entirely. Your suggestion of making the Traditional Dining Room the "Formal Night Dining Room" links the concept of wanting to dine at the same time with the same people to the concept of wanting to wear Formal attire. The two have nothing to do with one another. There are people who want to dine at a set time with tablemates who want nothing to do with Formal attire. And there are people who want the freedom to dine at the time of their choosing with (or without) tablemates who very much want to enjoy the formality of Formal Night. Your suggestion would punish both of these subsets. You have offered the latter group the crumb of dressing formally in the Anytime dining room, but we know that the atmosphere would be entirely different. In the end, you are trying to "coerce" people who want to enjoy Formal Night into becoming Traditional Dining people. I thought you were against coercion.

[partybarbie]

I resemble that remark!! :D

 

 

 

I vote for #3 ;)

 

That's my vote too!:D

[Colo Cruiser]

That's my vote too!:D

 

Too bad he didn't trip or run into something/one as she was saying that too him. :D

[shepp]

I personally think that those who want to drag things down to their level should either just grow up or cruise a different line.

 

But Mommmmm…I don't wanna dress up just to go to Aunt Bertha's for Thanksgiving.

[partybarbie]

Too bad he didn't trip or run into something/one as she was saying that too him. :D

 

LOL, that has happened a time or two. It's better when the wife slugs her husband in the arm.;)

[Pushka]

Direct cut and paste from the (US) Princess FAQ:

 

Clothing Recommendations

 

You should dress for a cruise with Princess the same way you would for any stylish land-based resort.

Casual sportswear, including shorts, lightweight pants and jogging suits, is the order of the day both at sea and ashore in hotter climates.

We recommend you bring a sweater, a jacket or an all-weather coat for cool evenings, and for shore excursions, depending on your destination. Due to unpredictable weather, don't forget a hat or visor and a collapsible umbrella. Please be sure to bring proper clothing for visits to religious sites. You'll also want low-heeled, rubbersoled shoes for strolling on deck, as well as comfortable walking shoes or sandals to wear.

 

 

Princess makes it easy to know what to pack and what to wear when you’re dining onboard our spectacular ships. There are two designations for dress codes: Smart Casual and Formal.

 

Smart Casual

Guest attire should be in keeping with what they would wear to a nice restaurant at home.

 

• Skirts/dresses, slacks, and sweaters for ladies
  
• Pants and open-neck shirts for men
  

Inappropriate dinner wear such as pool or beach attire, shorts, ball caps and casual jeans (with fraying and/or holes) are not permitted in the dining rooms. Shoes must be worn.

 

Formal

When formal nights are held, please observe the dress code in the Traditional Dining and Anytime Dining venues for the enjoyment of all our guests.

 

• Evening gowns and cocktail dresses for women
  
• Tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits with a tie for men
  

========================================================

 

Obviously the part that is in red above isn't really in red on the web site. I just find it funny that Princess states they make it "easy to know what to pack and what to wear" but the people here on CC seem to have so much difficulty understanding it. :eek:

 

 

Except the Princess websites for the same cruises vary with the information. Not so much for formal night but according to Princess Australia site men are required to wear jackets for Smart Casual nights.

 

So in reality if we strictly followed Princess rules, Australians should be getting antsy with men following USA/UK rules because they are not wearing jackets. And who knows what Princess websites say in European countries.

[RocketMan275]

This misses the mark entirely. Your suggestion of making the Traditional Dining Room the "Formal Night Dining Room" links the concept of wanting to dine at the same time with the same people to the concept of wanting to wear Formal attire. The two have nothing to do with one another. There are people who want to dine at a set time with tablemates who want nothing to do with Formal attire. And there are people who want the freedom to dine at the time of their choosing with (or without) tablemates who very much want to enjoy the formality of Formal Night. Your suggestion would punish both of these subsets. You have offered the latter group the crumb of dressing formally in the Anytime dining room, but we know that the atmosphere would be entirely different. In the end, you are trying to "coerce" people who want to enjoy Formal Night into becoming Traditional Dining people. I thought you were against coercion.

 

There are multiple ways to allocate the dining rooms. Divide them any way you wish. One dining room could be formal for early dining and then be formal anytime dining after 730. The other could be smart casual for an early seating and smart casual anytime dining after 730. Not every one will be pleased but the only ones being pleased with the current situation are those who like formal dining. I do not believe their preferences should over-ride the preferences of those who do not. I don't expect you to agree since you see nothing wrong with the current situation.

 

I believe there is room for compromise. It appears to me that those who prefer formal dining are afraid to allow their fellow passengers the freedom to choose between a formal MDR experience and a casual MDR experience. I suspect they know that given a choice, the majority would choose a more casual experience.

[iceleven]

There are multiple ways to allocate the dining rooms. Divide them any way you wish. One dining room could be formal for early dining and then be formal anytime dining after 730. The other could be smart casual for an early seating and smart casual anytime dining after 730. Not every one will be pleased but the only ones being pleased with the current situation are those who like formal dining. I do not believe their preferences should over-ride the preferences of those who do not. I don't expect you to agree since you see nothing wrong with the current situation.

 

I believe there is room for compromise. It appears to me that those who prefer formal dining are afraid to allow their fellow passengers the freedom to choose between a formal MDR experience and a casual MDR experience. I suspect they know that given a choice, the majority would choose a more casual experience.

 

I agree. Not once did anyone here say that formal wear on formal nights should be discontinued. I believe that most were only saying that perhaps the time has come where it should become an option and with better policing by the staff to prevent overtly casual clothing, i.e., clothing that is not approved on ANY night in the dining rooms. HAL has chosen this concept. I guess we would need to peruse HAL's threads to see how well it has been accepted by the passengers. What I found disheartening were the insults made by a few here who find it necessary to judge others simply by what others chose to wear elsewhere on the ship. What's that all about?

[Cruise Junky]

Money is going to ultimately decide this not regulars on CC. What will attract more passengers that will spend money? Do the AI group that go to Sandals every year want tuxes and gowns? It's unheard of on vacation except on cruises. Growing the brand will determine the dress code going forward and if the feedback is cruises are too stuffy because of formal nights then they'll be gone. Premium brands have dropped them a long time ago. Time for mainstream to catch up

[MGnut]

[quote

 

i vote for #3 ;)

 

+1 :)

[jgpdx]

Money is going to ultimately decide this not regulars on CC. What will attract more passengers that will spend money? Do the AI group that go to Sandals every year want tuxes and gowns? It's unheard of on vacation except on cruises. Growing the brand will determine the dress code going forward and if the feedback is cruises are too stuffy because of formal nights then they'll be gone. Premium brands have dropped them a long time ago. Time for mainstream to catch up

 

The executives at Princess, not to mention the board members of Carnival Corp./PLC are not fashionistas. The formal nights bring in extra revenue via the photographers, and possibly people ordering more expensive libations. The moment the accountants notice that people are voting with their feet regarding the dress code, it would be gone tomorrow.

 

I can only speak for myself and my DH, but when shopping for a cruise, I look at price, itinerary, food quality, cabin size and features and maybe entertainment. MDR dress code is towards the bottom in our consideration. Each cruise line has a different demographic, which is why some have dropped the formal nights. If the ships stay full, the status quo will continue.

 

These threads make Presidential campaigning look sedate!

[Steelers36]

 

These threads make Presidential campaigning look sedate!

 

It's always good to being some nice humor that isn't insulting to the conversation. Good one.:)

[Cruise Junky]

The executives at Princess, not to mention the board members of Carnival Corp./PLC are not fashionistas. The formal nights bring in extra revenue via the photographers, and possibly people ordering more expensive libations. The moment the accountants notice that people are voting with their feet regarding the dress code, it would be gone tomorrow.

 

I can only speak for myself and my DH, but when shopping for a cruise, I look at price, itinerary, food quality, cabin size and features and maybe entertainment. MDR dress code is towards the bottom in our consideration. Each cruise line has a different demographic, which is why some have dropped the formal nights. If the ships stay full, the status quo will continue.

 

These threads make Presidential campaigning look sedate!

 

$50 on a dinner or $25 on a photo is peanuts compared to the potential cruiser that drops $1,000s in the casino or shore excursions or drink packages, spa treatments...the list goes on. The old guard that love the tradition of formal nights aren't the $$$$$ that the cruise lines are looking at for growth. And you may think they're a different demographic but I'm pretty sure when you look at HAL, Oceania, Azamara and Princess, they're not that different.

Edited September 2, 2015 by Cruise Junky

[UpcountryTravelers]

....But, I find the blue jeans to be .....yes, more comfortable than formal wear.

 

.....

 

My kilt is FAR, FAR more comfortable than any jeans.

Edited September 2, 2015 by UpcountryTravelers

[Steelers36]

I agree. Not once did anyone here say that formal wear on formal nights should be discontinued. I believe that most were only saying that perhaps the time has come where it should become an option and with better policing by the staff to prevent overtly casual clothing, i.e., clothing that is not approved on ANY night in the dining rooms. HAL has chosen this concept. I guess we would need to peruse HAL's threads to see how well it has been accepted by the passengers. What I found disheartening were the insults made by a few here who find it necessary to judge others simply by what others chose to wear elsewhere on the ship. What's that all about?

 

I just did spend some time looking at threads and trying searches and all I found were posts that pre-date the recent policy change. So, it's hard to tell. Certainly, I found no recent long threads about it. But I did find similar threads and posts as we have here at Princess debating the situation as it was and the previous policy (lots of questions as to what is acceptable and others insisting on the letter of the policy, etc).

 

And what is interesting about all the debate is that much of the insistence on policy flew in the face of HAL's former policy, per their own admission.

 

Some quotes from HAL's new dress code page:

 

To many, the “Formal” term was misleading as it implies a specific type of dress (black tie or tuxedo) that has never been a requirement. “Gala” still implies festive or dressy without misleading guests to bring attire the majority of guests don’t wear.

<Gee, I never knew that about HAL - never sailed them, but never would have guessed that - thought a full suit was the minimum for formal>

 

Jacket and tie is the preferred attire in all fine dining restaurants on Gala Nights, though it is not required. Guests without a jacket and tie were allowed in the fine dining restaurants before the new wording so this is not a policy change.

I wouldn't have guessed that about HAL either.

 

Although we have all read that there is some variance in Princess' DR enforcement, it seems they basically follow a relaxed definition of the recommendations (not rules) in practice, similar to what HAL did.

 

Interesting times we live in. I'm sure someday we'll try HAL (but I was thinking of that before learning of the dress code changes this summer). But I'm still happy with Princess and can live with the present recommendations. Even if they relaxed to HAL's recommendations, probably wouldn't change anything much we do.

 

PS - The OP did suggest cancelling the night, but most of the rest of us desiring change have simply been advocating relaxing the dress code recommendations and not doing away with the nights.

Edited September 2, 2015 by steelers36

[RocketMan275]

I agree. Not once did anyone here say that formal wear on formal nights should be discontinued. I believe that most were only saying that perhaps the time has come where it should become an option and with better policing by the staff to prevent overtly casual clothing, i.e., clothing that is not approved on ANY night in the dining rooms. HAL has chosen this concept. I guess we would need to peruse HAL's threads to see how well it has been accepted by the passengers. What I found disheartening were the insults made by a few here who find it necessary to judge others simply by what others chose to wear elsewhere on the ship. What's that all about?

 

I've been surprised by the reaction towards Gala Nights on the HAL threads. I honestly expected to see exploding heads but the reaction has been very calm. I honestly think that most there saw this coming and were fairly well resigned that something like Gala Nights was to be expected.

 

Ignore the insults.

[pris993]

Not another thread on formal nights!!!:eek::roll eyes:

 

People, especially Americans, are sinking to the lowest common dominator. Oh, they will tell you "we're on vacation" and "it's hard to carry formal clothes anymore", but the reality is that they don't care about dressing or formality. They go to weddings and funerals in shorts and t shirts.

 

There may be people who do not feel obligated to wear anything but pajamas and underwear out in public. There are others who do not agree with that and will still dress-because it looks good and it helps serrate one from the pajamas and underwear crowd.

 

As you will see, though the pajamas and underwear crowd really don't care what they look like as long as they are comfortable. (Note, I am comfortable in real clothes so I am not sure what "I just want to be comfortable" means).

 

FWIW

 

You hit the nail on the head... "I want to be comfortable, what does that mean?" By observation, I would say it means let me be sloppy.

 

The Op referred to an Alaska cruise, for some reason these cruises are especially casual. We have done one many years ago, we still dressed for formal nights.

 

We are long time cruisers, elite with Princess, have done Princess cruises all over, including many out of San Francisco down to Mexico and back, while these cruises are more casual than say Cunard, they not as bad as the Alaska cruises when it comes casual dress.

 

Folks who prefer to maintain some standards, which we do, need to just ignore the rest and enjoy dressing up for formal nights.

 

It is no more difficult to pack formal clothes, it just a matter of priorities. We do it all the time, flying from San Francisco to Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

 

We are leaving on a 14 day Queen Mary 2 cruise the end of September, has 4 formal nights and even on Cunard there are those who question the high standards. In December we are doing a New Years cruise on the Grand out of San Francisco... we will enjoy dressing up the holiday.

 

We typically cruise Princess, HAL, Cunard and Celebrity.

[shredie]

I agree. Not once did anyone here say that formal wear on formal nights should be discontinued.

 

Apparently you have not read the first post in this thread.

[Cancun01]

In reality I like formal nights as I like to see the men and women in their lovely gowns and tuxes. On QM2 I participated fully in five formals with long dress and heels. But when on land trips with my husband I just cant justify the extra weight as something else would have to go and I seem to use everything I currently take. Multiple times.

 

I dress smart casual every night - never wear jeans to MDR and usually a dress or black tailored pants. Sad to think that some think such dressing looks like an unmade bed and such value judgements.

 

Its interesting to see that the most expensive cruiselines don't offer formal dressing.

 

The most expensive cruise lines do offer formal dressing but I am not sure of the relevance on a Princess thread. You will find that passengers are very turned out on Crystal on Black Tie Optional nights and although it is subjective, very well dressed during the day.

Edited September 2, 2015 by Cancun01

[PhoneGoddess]

no. I think the "point" of this thread is that too many people whine about the dress code. No wonder other countries think americans are crass. We can't even agree to adhere to the dress code that is specifically stated by princess.

 

I personally think that those who want to drag things down to their level should either just grow up or cruise a different line.

 

like!!!