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Formal Night

LibbyLang

By LibbyLang,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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crewsweeper "Live from...." Rare

crewsweeper

Posted
Posted (edited)

Read the information on the Carnival site:

 

 

Cruise Elegant Dress Code

Men: dress slacks, dress shirts, and we also suggest a sport coat; men may also wish to wear a suit and tie or tuxedo

Women: Cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses; ladies may also wish to wear an evening gown

Not permitted: Jeans, men’s sleeveless shirts, shorts, tee-shirts, sportswear, gym or basketball shorts, baseball hats, flip-flops and bathing suit attire

 

However, you might get by with this slightly modified Casual Dress Code:

 

Men: sport slacks, khakis, dress shirts, and collared polo shirts

Women: summer dresses, casual skirts, pants, capris, blouses and tops

Not permitted: Jeans, Cut-off Jeans, men’s sleeveless shirts, tee-shirts, gym or basketball shorts, baseball hats, flip-flops and bathing suit attire

, dress shorts,

Edited by crewsweeper
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NightOne

NightOne

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I wouldn't be comfortable in anything less than business casual, which is what I typically wear on non-elegant night.

 

I am the same but people certainly wear less than that.

 

Personally, I don't care what other people wear even if I may comment on it. We were in line to get in the dining room on elegant night on our last cruise and a guy ahead of us was wearing shorts, tank top, and flip flops. The doors opened and I did not see him get turned away. We joked about it at with our table mates but honestly I did not care.

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Jamericannn

Jamericannn

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I will say this. I don't like when people come to the MDR dress in shorts or something that is not casual. I understand that people want to be comfortable on vacation so if anyone does not feel like "dressing up" they should eat at the buffet. It doesn't have to be a ballroom gown or a jacket suit. It just have to look presentable. No shorts and flip flops.

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JMAE

JMAE

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Posted

Formal Night has been replaced by Elegant Night, you will see gowns and tuxedos to what the maitre'd will let into the MDR. We have seen dress shorts and sometimes tee shirts. We have been cruising a long time and when we started it was formal nights and a dress and suite was required. Most cruise lines have softened enforcement but we still dress up for elegant nights, I would recommend for you to wear what you will feel comfortable in.

 

Enjoy your cruise and don't sweat the small things!!!

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Kudos2Fly

Kudos2Fly

Posted
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I would say at least "dress pants" and "nice Polo shirt". Someone above posted the "requirements". If my husband and I are not in the mood to fully dress up he at least wears nice dress pants and a good Polo shirt. Me, I were a black shirt/pants with a very nice dress shirt. If we "REALLY" are not in the mood to dress up, we go to the Lido Deck to eat.

 

But keep in mind, if you are wearing less then what is asked for that night you may be turn away. We did see this one time. Not even for the formal night. It was for lunch. An couple came up to eat in the dinning room for lunch and they were turned away because the man had on a tank top.

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Gallivanting Souls

Gallivanting Souls

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For the year and a half leading up to our recent cruise I keep reading how informal people dressed on Carnival. Prior to that we only had sailed on Princess where they do dress up. I was all ready to be the only one dressed up. Let me just say this, I was pleasantly surprises that people did choose to dress up for elegant nights. Could it have been that it was the Christmas sailing? Possibly, but I'm glad that I followed my instinct and did dress up. I wasn't disappointed. Yes, some did not dress up, but they did stick out. -just saying.

If I was able to upload the picture of my DH and I, it is of the 2nd elegant night. Not a fancy dress. Just a maxi dress and a nice sweater.

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flutepilot

flutepilot

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I wear 'business casual' on all non-elegant nights. On my 'Journeys' cruise to Hawaii this week I will wear a tux with different colored vests for the several Elegant nights. I am a musician and a Mason and am completely comfortable in a tux.

 

Dan

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S.S.Oceanlover

S.S.Oceanlover

Posted
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I will say this. I don't like when people come to the MDR dress in shorts or something that is not casual. I understand that people want to be comfortable on vacation so if anyone does not feel like "dressing up" they should eat at the buffet. It doesn't have to be a ballroom gown or a jacket suit. It just have to look presentable. No shorts and flip flops.

 

That doesn't leave a person a lot to pick from.:confused:

 

Bill

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RWolver672

RWolver672

Posted
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I'm with flutepilot. I bought a tux for our second cruise and it's the only time I get to wear it. It has a black vest and bow tie and we just bought a blue vest with a regular tie. So one night I'll wear one and the other night I'll wear the other.

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sparks1093 Great Review Rare

sparks1093

Posted
Posted
Is it mainly for the dining experience that you dress up?

 

Or do you finish the meal, then get back to your room to put something more comfortable on then hit the bars to hit your 15 drink Cheers quota? :-)

 

I can only speak for us but we will change after dinner.

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RWolver672

RWolver672

Posted
Posted
Is it mainly for the dining experience that you dress up?

 

Or do you finish the meal, then get back to your room to put something more comfortable on then hit the bars to hit your 15 drink Cheers quota? :-)

 

Elegant night is also a night to have your pictures taken while dressed up. I have seen a few still dressed elegantly afterwards but I think most people go back to their cabins and change before going to the bars or casino.

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BallFour4

BallFour4

Posted
Posted (edited)

Counting the cruise from last week we've made (30 on Carnival) 8 in 26 months and here's my observation:

 

Wear what you want as long as it's not shorts on Cruise Elegant. I wore a suit and no tie the first night and khakis and a Tommy Bahama shirt the second. All other nights it was khaki shorts and a polo, boat shoes in check.

 

Our dining companions at the next table had a Doobie Brothers t-shirt and cargo shorts on Cruise Elegant night. They saved their hats for the other ones. Their table mates had football attire and flip-flops.

 

Please don't be fooled by posts on here, I saw one exception at dinner on the Triumph where they turned people away in shorts downstairs. This guy went up to deck 4, entered the dining room and then went down the stairs to his table near us on deck 3. The shirt with a collar thing is toast, it has been for a long time. T-shirts from the port we visited from Ron Jon were the norm last week.

 

This isn't from one snapshot, this is 196 days going back to the Mardi Gras. If you want to dress up, go ahead. But you will get passed on the promenade as you walk to dinner by someone with no shirt on and a swimsuit. It happened last Thursday.

 

Formal Night and Cruise Elegant, RIP.

 

.

Edited by BallFour4
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BallFour4

BallFour4

Posted
Posted (edited)
Read the information on the Carnival site:

 

However, you might get by with this slightly modified Casual Dress Code:

 

Men: sport slacks, khakis, dress shirts, and collared polo shirts

Women: summer dresses, casual skirts, pants, capris, blouses and tops

 

It's far past "might." Carnival would jump for joy if all had on pants, and you knew that. Me too. Sounds like we both would like to see it enforced.

 

Not saying I like the who cares attitude they have adopted, but they all want good reviews, and someone sent back to change clothes is going to rip them on the evaluation a few days after the cruise.

 

.

Edited by BallFour4
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dmdiver

dmdiver

Posted
Posted (edited)

We've gone as dressy as tux & evening gown, but most times I wear a maxi dress one night and slacks or capris with a nice top the other nights. Hubby will wear a pair of slacks, black sneakers & button shirt on formal nights, but a more casual shirt on the other nights.

 

I will say that the maitre d has final say over who gets into the dining room. We've seen people turned away. Our friend almost got turned away because he didn't have any pants with him - just nice shorts & collared shirt. Basically, we pleaded with him, explaining that he had been let in every night before & didn't have any pants to change into. None of the other men in our party were the same size, so he couldn't even borrow.

 

Also, what we take to wear many times depends on whether we are driving or flying to port. Airlines have their luggage rules, so we try not to take any more than absolutely necessary. You could also re-wear the same outfit if you are only wearing it to dinner. We typically head back to the cabin & change into more comfortable clothes to go to the shows & wander the ship in.

Edited by dmdiver
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