What is Dress Code in MDR (Viking Sea)?

[Geosez]

Well, Molly, I had actually been trying to come up with just that sort of imaginary outfit (your real experience is much better) but couldn’t think of enough designer names to attach to the various pieces of clothing. These kinds of threads are pretty entertaining - or sometimes maddening! - no matter what forum. “What to wear in Paris” used to be a hoot!

As I said in another place - ageeeing with you - there are jeans and there are jeans. Or there are jeans and there are denim pants. And then there are dungarees!

I’d just like us all to be respectful of each other whether we’re choosing our wardrobe or playing the fashion police game. Then we could talk about something more uplifting! Having rules for the demographic that travels at this level is just plain silly.

[lackcreativity]

Well, Molly, I had actually been trying to come up with just that sort of imaginary outfit (your real experience is much better) but couldn’t think of enough designer names to attach to the various pieces of clothing. These kinds of threads are pretty entertaining - or sometimes maddening! - no matter what forum. “What to wear in Paris” used to be a hoot!

As I said in another place - ageeeing with you - there are jeans and there are jeans. Or there are jeans and there are denim pants. And then there are dungarees!

I’d just like us all to be respectful of each other whether we’re choosing our wardrobe or playing the fashion police game. Then we could talk about something more uplifting! Having rules for the demographic that travels at this level is just plain silly.

 

I taught high school many years ago, at a girl's private high school with uniforms. They were allowed to wear their own brown, beige, or white sweaters. One thing I learned quickly was that no matter what the rules were regarding dress code, there were always going to be a few whose mission in life was to push the envelope. Whether it was the length of the skirt, or the definition of brown (when exactly does brown become rust become orange?), it was always something with certain people.

 

Some people never grow out of that tendency.;)

[Georgiapeach19]

My DH has been wearing these (narrowly tailored with a nice collared shirt and sweater) to various restaurants without problem. They’re extremely dark and probably read as black or deep navy. Frankly, they look dressier than the khakis most men seem to be wearing.

 

 

 

 

My husband was asked to change his slacks one night at MDR, a bit embarrassing. They were what I would call ‘dress jeans’, having been sent to the cleaners, dark denim, with a a nice crease..then on other nights, we observed the staff allowing such to go thru...even saw cargo pants in Manfredis. People should know better.

 

Viking should have given my husband some slack, then politely and quietly made him aware for the future.

We had no clue of the new rules about jeans.

How would you like your BF to be embarrassed like that? As I waited patiently at a table by myself for him to return. [emoji13][emoji107][emoji25]

 

 

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[Georgiapeach19]

As another has said, don’t want public shame[emoji107] NO!

 

 

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[Vineyard View]

We are not of the mind set that a nice pair of dress ‘jeans’ can’t possibly look sharper than some khakis. That said, as long as we know a restaurant or company dress code, on land or sea, we are going to honor that as long as we know this up front. Their business their rules, and our choice to financially engage with them or not. If it is no jeans in the evenings except at World Cafe, then Viking is allowing the flexibility to wear them if we or anyone chooses to do so in that venue.

The issue I keep reading here has been the inconsistency in Viking written communications across all of their platforms, as well as onboard. I want to think that if the message is clear and upfront in all formats prior to sailing as well as booking, then a lot of these issues will just resolve. It sounds like Viking has heard this message and recently is beginning to respond in their written formats.

[dln929]

On the Sky we saw a clearly posted placard that spelled out the dress requirements for the dining room. It was displayed at the entrance where there wasn't much chance of missing it.

 

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[philw1776]

On the Sky we saw a clearly posted placard that spelled out the dress requirements for the dining room. It was displayed at the entrance where there wasn't much chance of missing it.

 

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Props to Viking for finally getting a handle on their schizoid dress policies. If they post the same language online, job done. I'm good as long as they don't go Silversea, etc. and require a dinner jacket.

[Peregrina651]

Props to Viking for finally getting a handle on their schizoid dress policies. If they post the same language online, job done. I'm good as long as they don't go Silversea, etc. and require a dinner jacket.

 

(y) DITTO!!! You can't tell me to bring one thing while I am packing and then tell me on board that what you said I can bring isn't allowed. That is simply unfair.

[Cyber Kat]

Props to Viking for finally getting a handle on their schizoid dress policies. If they post the same language online, job done. I'm good as long as they don't go Silversea, etc. and require a dinner jacket.

 

 

 

Not yet

 

This is from our cruise book

 

And this is from our Viking Daily

 

 

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[aquidneck1]

I don't mean to start a controversy but prior to this, I was planning on bringing white "jeans" to wear with a dressy top. Is this now out?

[Peregrina651]

I don't mean to start a controversy but prior to this, I was planning on bringing white "jeans" to wear with a dressy top. Is this now out?

 

I don't want to be the one to make that decision. Maybe it is best to write to tellus@vikingcruises.com and ask them for a ruling.

[LeRenardrouge]

This has really gotten to the point of absurdity!

 

Look in almost any catalog for classy women's apparel and you will see white jeans with fancy tops as elegant casual attire.

 

Even some outfits are also showing denim" jeans with dressy tops. And some designer expensive jeans boast holes in the thigh or knee area. So who on earth at Viking is going to be the fashion police/judge?

 

I think the most annoying issue is their statement that jeans are not allowed in ALL dining venues after 6 pm.

 

Then we stumble on something someone has seen which excludes the World Cafe from the no jeans guidance.

 

It seems to me there should be one venue which is casual enough that clean decent jeans are allowed with clean, collared polo/golf type shirt. I do not like seeing no collared T shirts and sloppy attire so I may be drawing a line that someone else would not agree with.

 

For sure, Viking needs to get this clarified once and for all.

[Richard2]

I don't mean to start a controversy but prior to this, I was planning on bringing white "jeans" to wear with a dressy top. Is this now out?

 

What Viking is posting covers a vast range of possibilities. For example, I bring two kinds of collared shirts - polos and button down oxford cloth. The polos have collars and therefore probably meet the requirements of the MDR, but they are certainly not "elegant casual" and I would not wear them there. If you go to Google Images and look at "mandarin collars," they are considered by some to be very fashionable, and they are on very expensive "elegant" shirts, but to me they don't look like collars at all. Does elegant casual mean that a man's shirt must be tucked in? At some resorts, it does, at others, it does not. The ship wants to maintain a certain decorum, but we are their guests, and they are not going to be unreasonable. I suspect that when they refer to jeans, they are referring to blue jeans, and I would anticipate that 99% of maitre d's would find what you describe to be perfectly acceptable. This is one time in which I might disagree with Peregrina's advice. Based on some previous interactions with tellus@viking, for something like this you could easily get one answer from them and a different answer from a maitre d' on the ship; possibly even different answers from different maitre d's. If you do write, and they do give you an answer that sounds like they have established a consistent policy for the fleet, please let us know. Personally, I think that what you are describing sounds lovely.

[moatenote]

This has really gotten to the point of absurdity!

 

Look in almost any catalog for classy women's apparel and you will see white jeans with fancy tops as elegant casual attire.

 

Even some outfits are also showing denim" jeans with dressy tops. And some designer expensive jeans boast holes in the thigh or knee area. So who on earth at Viking is going to be the fashion police/judge?

 

I think the most annoying issue is their statement that jeans are not allowed in ALL dining venues after 6 pm.

 

 

 

I didn't think the "elegant casual" ever applied to the WC, but after reading this, I checked the documents we just received for our Empires of the Mediterranean in 10 days, and sure enough, the stated policy is exactly as you said! If Viking is determined to enforce this policy in the WC, I'll be doing my future travel some other way.

[LeRenardrouge]

On the Sky we saw a clearly posted placard that spelled out the dress requirements for the dining room. It was displayed at the entrance where there wasn't much chance of missing it.

 

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Was the placard also displayed at the World Cafe? This seems to be where there is so much uncertainty regarding jeans.

[jiminyC_fan]

I was told by tellus@vikingcruises.com last week that jeans were allowed at the World Cafe. This is a copy and paste:

Thank you for reaching out to us with your concern; I am happy to offer some clarity on this matter.

 

While evening dress is “elegant casual” for all dining venues, performances and special events, you are free to wear jeans in all other parts of the ship. The evening dress code excludes World Café where it remains casual at all times.

[Richard2]

I don't think it is possible to enforce a dress code for the World Cafe. There is no maitre d'. You walk in and take a table. There are two separate entrances from inside and you could come in from the infinity pool also. They would have to ask you to leave after you are seated. The other dining locations have a single entrance where a maitre d' sees what you are wearing and a waiter escorts you to a table. I've only seen the entrances to the World Cafe staffed during the first day or two, to get people in the habit of washing their hands when they come in, or when there is a bug going around and they are trying to enforce hand washing.

[Azulann]

I don't think it is possible to enforce a dress code for the World Cafe. There is no maitre d'. You walk in and take a table. There are two separate entrances from inside and you could come in from the infinity pool also. They would have to ask you to leave after you are seated. The other dining locations have a single entrance where a maitre d' sees what you are wearing and a waiter escorts you to a table. I've only seen the entrances to the World Cafe staffed during the first day or two, to get people in the habit of washing their hands when they come in, or when there is a bug going around and they are trying to enforce hand washing.

 

 

Very Good points.

People are stressing over the jean/denim pant thing, You wil be just fine. I saw all passegers were well dressed in the elegant casual style on the Viking Sea day and evening. lets talk shoes....:D;p

[Cyber Kat]

I don't mean to start a controversy but prior to this, I was planning on bringing white "jeans" to wear with a dressy top. Is this now out?

 

I did :) Mine have some sparkles and bling on the bottoms. They aren't jeans - they are white twill pants. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

[philw1776]

Not yet

 

This is from our cruise book

 

And this is from our Viking Daily

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Premature *********** of kudos to Viking on my part. :confused:

 

I'm gobsmacked that they now expect no jeans & collared shirts in the World Cafe. The WC is a place to go when you're back from a tour and you just want to eat. Folks wore shorts & Ts there nobody cared on Homelands Viking Sea. I admit that I always shower and dress to slacks & collared shirt before dinner wherever, but the WC is the informal place when folks don't feel the need to dress up.

Viking is talking to Silversea too much where after 6PM there's a dress up code. Viking does not need this.

[OneSixtyToOne]

Cruise mates wearing jeans will not spoil my dinner and anyone wearing them are welcome at my table. It's not what's UNDER the table. It's about meeting new people and great table conversation that's important to us.

 

Living in Southern California has taught me to never judge anyone by dress. The person sitting next to you in jeans and a t-shirt might be one of the most accomplished and entertaining individual you'll ever meet.

[Peregrina651]

Living in Southern California has taught me to never judge anyone by dress. The person sitting next to you in jeans and a t-shirt might be one of the most accomplished and entertaining individual you'll ever meet.

 

(y)

[jiminyC_fan]

Living in Southern California has taught me to never judge anyone by dress. The person sitting next to you in jeans and a t-shirt might be one of the most accomplished and entertaining individual you'll ever meet.

 

Agree!

[jiminyC_fan]

Viking is talking to Silversea too much where after 6PM there's a dress up code. Viking does not need this.

 

I agree. I guess if I am late getting on the ship from an excursion I will have to hide out in my room. I have to admit that I am a bit put off by this.

[lackcreativity]

I agree. I guess if I am late getting on the ship from an excursion I will have to hide out in my room. I have to admit that I am a bit put off by this.

 

Though I did see the photo of the policy provided in this thread, I still must believe that the World Cafe is not intended to be part of this. I think we will see a clarification to that effect. The Viking website FAQ still specifically states that:

 

The evening dress excludes World Café where the dress remains casual after 6:00 PM.

Though I am a great Viking fan, I recognize that consistent communication is still an area for improvement.