A question for the ladies from my wife (fashion questions)

[Joe_Antonelli]

This one is for the ladies on the board. My wife asked me to post the following questions regarding fashion:

1.) We're on a 9 night holiday sailing in December on the Connie. We already know that we will have 3 formal nights. What my wife would like to know is how "dressy" are informal and casual nights. (Oh I can see my poor credit card bill now [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]) [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

We know casual nights are described as country club attire but that is still too broad - would a polo shirt and khakis for me and a sweater set and nice dress pants be acceptable? On informal nights, do I need a jacket and tie and should my wife wear a dress or pant suits? We're fairly well traveled, our "regular" cruise line is Princess but, we're giving Celebrity for the first time - so your advice is needed.

2.) This one actually comes from my daughter-in-law, frankly I say wear what you want but, I have to ask: Is it tacky to wear white in the Caribbean in the winter?

3.) We're assuming the formal nights will be held on Christmas and New Year's Eve with the third formal somewhere in between...do people tend to dress up a little extra special for holiday formal nights on board?

4.) Lastly, do you dress for tea time or are shorts acceptable.

I think that's all of them ladies. Thanks for your help on this one!

Joe

[toni1266]

Hi Joe.. A polo shirt and Khakis are fine for casual nights as is a sweater set and nice pants. It is recommended that you wear a tie and jacket on informal but I've seen jackets without a tie before. Your wife can wear either a dress or pantsuit, either is appropriate. I think white is great in the Caribbean any time of year. As to the holiday sailing I think formal is formal any time of year. I've sailed holiday sailings before and have not noticed any difference in formal nights. As to tea time... my favorite meal of the day... It depends on where you have tea time at, if you have it in the islands cafe located on the pool deck aft.. anything is appropriate.. If you're having tea time in the dining room then yes you should probably dress country club casual. Whatever you all decide I hope you have a wonderful time. It's your vacation just enjoy.

Toni

[LovetheSea]

One of the best things about getting ready to cruise is the shopping [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Mostly what you see on Informal nights are cocktail dresses. That means on the dressy side but not full length. Or a nice DRESSY pantsuit. Maybe a pretty beaded blouse with palazzo pants. Jewelry can really dress up an outfit as well. You can have a plain black dress, with the right jewelry you can really dress it up.
I always wear white crop pants in the Caribbean in the winter. I see MANY other women wearing them as well. I don't care what anyone says. When it is 80 degrees out and you have a nice tan they are very flattering. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] They don't have the same fashion rules as we do there. Since it is sunny and warm almost the entire year.
Formal night can be VERY dressy in the Caribbean on Celebrity. But we were on the Mariner of the Seas last Feb. and they were also VERY dressed up as well. I love looking at all the pretty dresses on formal nights. Kind of like the Academy Awards red carpet! My husband and I always pick our favorite dresses. He likes that one or I like that one. I can still remember some of my favorites from cruises over the years. Last cruise there was a pretty butter yellow beaded dress that was worn by and older Asian woman that was just stunning. On our Millie cruise there was a woman in a Sapphire Blue satin gown and her husband was wearing a nice tux with a tie that matched her dress. And don't even get me started on the shoes [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]
Hope you have a fantastic time!

[CarolC]

Joe,
Nice of you to ask for the ladies. We just returned from the Mediterranean on Galaxy so my observations are from that perspective. Most men did not wear ties on informal nights and the daily program indicated jacket, tie not required. On informal nights, ladies wore a variety of dressy pant suits and dresses; outfits you would wear out to a nice restaurant or cocktail party.
Have a great time. This was our first Celebrity cruise and we were very pleased.
Carol

[hebeast]

If you are planning on formal tea in the dining room. You must wear a jacket if you are a man. LOL saw a couple of jackets over polo shirts with sneakers but all they look for is a jacket = by the way they will turn you away at the door if you do not have a jacket.

On informal night, you do not need a tie but most men who wore shirts without tie did so with a nice shirt that was made to compliment a jacket. Guess I am saying not a causal polo.

[Lois R]

Hi...the Elegant Tea? I know they always request no shorts.
I wore black slacks with a nice top. I don't remember if the men at the table wore jackets.
It takes place at "English Tea Time" of 4:00pm.
I don't recall anyone being turned away...but then again, I wasn't looking.

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[LovetheSea]

I did see an elderly man get turned away at the door during the "Elegant Tea" for wearing shorts. He was NOT happy. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif[/img]
It's easier for women. I just threw on a pretty sundress over my bathing suit with a nice pair of wedgies for the elegant tea. Afterwards I went back to the pool.
It is a very nice. We really enjoyed it.

[mnwildfan2]

Hi,

I found that on our recent cruise that most guests wore considerably less formal attire than what is suggested here. For one informal night my husband wore a pair of dress slacks with a shirt (no tie, no coat). On the second night he wore slacks, tie, sport coat. I would say, on the second night, that very few people were dressed like him. The first night was closer. Of course, on the second night, someone was wearinga jogging suit in the theater. For informal nights I wore a skirt/sweater and a summer dress. Again, I was as dressed up as anyone else. For formal nights Chris wore a dark suit and I wore tea length dresses. We were definately dressed better than a lot of people. We did see some tuxes and gowns, but most people dressed more along the lines of what the Celebrity web page calls "Informal".

Jen

1st Cruise on Celebrity Mercury - Alaska 6/4/2004

[lisiamc]

They also have casual tea time every afternoon in the cafe. Shorts are fine for that, but as others have rightly said, not allowed at the elegant tea in the dining room.

[cfk2439]

As far as formal nights, they usually take place on "at sea days". They don't want to make you worry about javing to dress up when you are ashore taking tours.

Carol

[Joe_Antonelli]

mnwildfan2 - I see that you were in Alaska, now I have just agreed to book our first Alaska cruise for 2005, but, I am under the impression that Alaskan cruises are a bit less formal. If I'm wrong please correct me. Anyhow, from past experiences on other ships I know the holiday sailings do tend to be a bit dressier. So perhaps someone who has experienced both Alaska and the Caribbean can clarify this little mystery for me. Thanks!

BTW- mnwildfan2 - Just read your mini-review, sounds like you had a good time. Your review helped put my mind at ease for agreeing to go to Alaska next year. Thanks.

Joe

[MSBYRDY]

On Celebrity the evening dress is the same no matter where you are. The day wear was much more relaxed in Alaska, but evenings held their own. Hope this helps.
Marilyn

[jezzdogg]

We have cruised Alaska, Caribbean and also Med. In Europe. Found that in Europe they dress up the most(maybe because of the Europeans cruising) with I would say 75% of the mean in Tux's, while in Alaska last year they did not dress as much, with the Caribbean falling into the middle of the two. My friends who did a New Years sailing last year said that was one of the formal nights and people dressed up for it. My dh on the informal nights, wears his nice pants, sportjacket and eith long sleeve shirt(usually no tie) or silk t-shirt). Since he has a tux(boought one to war a both my sons weddings - he takes that on the formal nights, otherwise he would have taken his good black suit) I wear my long gowns on formal night, for informal I have some nice pants outfits and for casual nights I have some nice capri outfits -hope that helps

norm

[MISSYLOU]

I was just going to mention that my cruise attire is pretty much the same where ever we cruise. Pantsuit or dressy slacks and top, or a nice skirt on informal nights, slacks or capris on casual nights. Long black skirt and beaded top or basic black dress with beaded jacket. Hubby always wears jacket on informal nights with nice shirt, Dockers and nice knit shirt on informal nights, and tux on formal nights.

Anyway some of my outfits are becoming my cruise "uniforms". But I have found them so easy to pack and suitable for each occasion. I just don't stress much about what is appropriate.

Karen & Paul
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[mnwildfan2]

Thanks for the nice comments Joe. It was our first cruise so I can't really compare the level of formality, but it seemed just a tad less formal than I read on here. We dressed as we read on here and we felt comfortable though. Sometimes it seemed like we even got more impressive service from the staff because we were following the dress code. Still, with regard to the less formal part, make sure that you have jeans or other very casual things to wear during the day. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] I wore a pair of Dockers on an excursion and was the most dressed up person there. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

You will love Alaska. The scenery is gorgeous, there is lots of daylight and hopefully the weather will be as nice for you as it was for us.

Jen

1st Cruise on Celebrity Mercury - Alaska 6/4/2004

[sueclark]

Having just taken our first Princess cruise, I think you'll find Celebrity to be a little more upscale.

Dockers and polo shirt are fine for casual nights. Similar dress for women

On informal nights you will see most men in jackets with or without ties. Women will be in dressy office-type attire.

Don't over-stress about the attire, it's not that critical if you use common sense, you can probably find everything you need (maybe not everything you WANT) in your closets.

Sue
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