Surprising to me

[Barbara60]

We have booked our first Oceania cruise this fall on Insignia. I am not upset about the price including wine and beer at lunch and dinner, although I drink neither of those refreshments. But DH does and will enjoy. I will most likely upgrade to the package which includes cocktails as that is what I enjoy drinking. As another cruise line was going to charge me $70 per day for a drink package on our Alaskan cruise in May 2023, it feels like a great deal to only have to pay $30 for my daily cocktails. And that is for as many as I want (or can drink).

 

I do enjoy dressing in cocktail dresses for dinner each evening. Will I feel overdressed in the MDR in a cocktail dress every evening? I hope not as I just went out and bought another one. Not overly fancy but a little fancy in my books. It is one of the things I enjoy most about cruising.

 

Starting to get excited for our cruise.

[DOJO466]

22 minutes ago, Barbara60 said:

We have booked our first Oceania cruise this fall on Insignia. I am not upset about the price including wine and beer at lunch and dinner, although I drink neither of those refreshments. But DH does and will enjoy. I will most likely upgrade to the package which includes cocktails as that is what I enjoy drinking. As another cruise line was going to charge me $70 per day for a drink package on our Alaskan cruise in May 2023, it feels like a great deal to only have to pay $30 for my daily cocktails. And that is for as many as I want (or can drink).

 

I do enjoy dressing in cocktail dresses for dinner each evening. Will I feel overdressed in the MDR in a cocktail dress every evening? I hope not as I just went out and bought another one. Not overly fancy but a little fancy in my books. It is one of the things I enjoy most about cruising.

 

Starting to get excited for our cruise.

you will be just fine in your cocktail dresses and yes, I totally agree with purchasing the premium package. Go to reception as soon as you board and they will give you a new card, then go up to the Terrace to enjoy a lovely cocktail outside on the terrace with your lunch. ENJOY

[Hambagahle]

You can wear whatever you like for dinner...  no one will pay any attention.  Most people dress "nicely" though I would imagine this is not "cocktail dress".  But you wear what you like...

 

For the drinks packages - my husband and I like to have a Bloody Mary or Margarita at lunch on occasion.  We drink wine too.  We will be in a suite for our cruise with 6 bottles of "liquor" of our choice in the suite courtesy of Oceania.   Nonetheless we are going to upgrade our "drinks package" to the full one at $30 pp per day.   I just do not like to be "nickled and dimed" (as you Americans say I think?) and prefer to pay whatever so I can drink whatever whenever I wish.

[Pandazoo]

@Barbara60

[Pandazoo]

My wife and I also get dressed for dinner not formal but dressy.  We also have upgraded to the Premium as we enjoy cocktails at different times.  Like Hambagahle when on vacation we like to relax and have a drink if we please during the cruise.  Alaska is spectacular enjoy your trip! 

[babysteps]

Cocktail dress will be fine. Some days that is what I wear, other days a top and slacks or skirt. Depending on itinerary, you may be slightly dressier than average but still well within the norm. 

[jackdeb]

Barbara60 you may also consider bringing on board wine & beer and bottle(s) of your favourite liquor for drinks in your cabin. Your room steward will replenish the mixes as needed. 
 

[MEFIowa]

Wear what you want. Nothing wrong with being a little bit fancier or dressing "up" a bit in relation to others. My wife wanted to wear a sexy bright red dress with plunging neckline on our first cruise, Riviera (12/2021). She looked stunning in Jacques. Sometimes the point is to dress up for yourself.

[pinotlover]

The OP will undoubtedly look great and appropriate in her cocktail dresses. While some strive and thrive on always being the lcd, many of us don’t choose that path in life. Dazzle away! 🥂

[bbwex]

I agree with what's been said.  The majority do just comply with the "country club casual," but then there are those that dress up more, which is more than fine, and then there are those that come in in jeans, despite the rules, and most people do have a negative comment about that.  Nobody has ever said a negative thing about dressing above the minimum required.

[EJL2023]

27 minutes ago, bbwex said:

I agree with what's been said.  The majority do just comply with the "country club casual," but then there are those that dress up more, which is more than fine, and then there are those that come in in jeans, despite the rules, and most people do have a negative comment about that.  Nobody has ever said a negative thing about dressing above the minimum required.

Well technically non casual type jeans are now allowed. 

[WayneLaR]

I've shared this before.  I always follow the advice my father gave me "a man (or woman!) can never be overdressed, but he can definitely be under-dressed". 

 

That advice has always served me well over the years. 

[cruisr]

22 minutes ago, WayneLaR said:

I've shared this before.  I always follow the advice my father gave me "a man (or woman!) can never be overdressed, but he can definitely be under-dressed". 

 

That advice has always served me well over the years. 

Then I know I will never see you in a baseball cap at dinner in Polo which is what I witnessed on the Riviera last month.

[WayneLaR]

No, sir, you will not. 

[Pandazoo]

I will never understand the reason why people want to go into a nice dinner venue in jeans, tees, caps…especially on vacation where they may be dressed casual all day.  To me it shows a lack of etiquette and is inappropriate.  

[Mareblu]

On 8/24/2023 at 5:31 AM, Hambagahle said:

You can wear whatever you like for dinner...  no one will pay any attention.  Most people dress "nicely" though I would imagine this is not "cocktail dress".  But you wear what you like...

 

For the drinks packages - my husband and I like to have a Bloody Mary or Margarita at lunch on occasion.  We drink wine too.  We will be in a suite for our cruise with 6 bottles of "liquor" of our choice in the suite courtesy of Oceania.   Nonetheless we are going to upgrade our "drinks package" to the full one at $30 pp per day.   I just do not like to be "nickled and dimed" (as you Americans say I think?) and prefer to pay whatever so I can drink whatever whenever I wish.

I concur.  We were in a Vista Suite last September, and although we were also provided with the in-suite bottles, we rarely touched them.  We also upgraded to the premium package, because we enjoy wine with dinner, and a cocktail prior.  We rarely imbibe in our suite, as we prefer to be out and about aboard, enjoying a drink in company.

[Mura]

On 8/23/2023 at 3:31 PM, Hambagahle said:

You can wear whatever you like for dinner...  no one will pay any attention.  Most people dress "nicely" though I would imagine this is not "cocktail dress".  But you wear what you like...

 

For the drinks packages - my husband and I like to have a Bloody Mary or Margarita at lunch on occasion.  We drink wine too.  We will be in a suite for our cruise with 6 bottles of "liquor" of our choice in the suite courtesy of Oceania.   Nonetheless we are going to upgrade our "drinks package" to the full one at $30 pp per day.   I just do not like to be "nickled and dimed" (as you Americans say I think?) and prefer to pay whatever so I can drink whatever whenever I wish.

I am going back in memory MANY YEARS to an early cruise -- I think it was on Renaissance, but it could have been a very early Oceania cruise.  We saw a group of two or three couples, all dressed to the nines.  They were having a great time and we enjoyed watching them.  You shouldn't worry about feeling "overdressed" whatever you wear.  There's more of a problem when people are UNDER-dressed! 

 

A few years ago we were in a specialty restaurant where another foursome were wearing torn jeans with holes in them ... they weren't thrown out but if I had been the Maitre D', they would have been!  Of course, once they were seated you didn't see the condition of their clothing ... we happened to be at a nearby table so we did.

 

Not that we complained to anybody!

 

[Hambagahle]

4 hours ago, Mura said:

I am going back in memory MANY YEARS to an early cruise -- I think it was on Renaissance, but it could have been a very early Oceania cruise.  We saw a group of two or three couples, all dressed to the nines.  They were having a great time and we enjoyed watching them.  You shouldn't worry about feeling "overdressed" whatever you wear.  There's more of a problem when people are UNDER-dressed! 

 

A few years ago we were in a specialty restaurant where another foursome were wearing torn jeans with holes in them ... they weren't thrown out but if I had been the Maitre D', they would have been!  Of course, once they were seated you didn't see the condition of their clothing ... we happened to be at a nearby table so we did.

 

Not that we complained to anybody!

 

You probably should have...at least made a comment on leaving to the Maître d'Hôtel.

[Mura]

On 8/25/2023 at 3:34 AM, Hambagahle said:

You probably should have...at least made a comment on leaving to the Maître d'Hôtel.

Yes, we probably should have!  But we did not,

[Sabbycat]

On 8/23/2023 at 3:03 PM, Barbara60 said:

We have booked our first Oceania cruise this fall on Insignia. I am not upset about the price including wine and beer at lunch and dinner, although I drink neither of those refreshments. But DH does and will enjoy. I will most likely upgrade to the package which includes cocktails as that is what I enjoy drinking. As another cruise line was going to charge me $70 per day for a drink package on our Alaskan cruise in May 2023, it feels like a great deal to only have to pay $30 for my daily cocktails. And that is for as many as I want (or can drink).

 

I do enjoy dressing in cocktail dresses for dinner each evening. Will I feel overdressed in the MDR in a cocktail dress every evening? I hope not as I just went out and bought another one. Not overly fancy but a little fancy in my books. It is one of the things I enjoy most about cruising.

 

Starting to get excited for our cruise.

 

I wear pretty cocktail like dresses and never feel out of place. I have seen others do so too. Not to worry. We are in the minority, but there are some of us that like dressing like this. You will find that ppl will dress up more for the specialty restaurants, rather than main dining. But dress how you want, it is your cruise. 

[basor]

40 minutes ago, Sabbycat said:

 

I wear pretty cocktail like dresses and never feel out of place. I have seen others do so too. Not to worry. We are in the minority, but there are some of us that like dressing like this. You will find that ppl will dress up more for the specialty restaurants, rather than main dining. But dress how you want, it is your cruise. 

And I, for one, love seeing people dressed up when enjoying dinner....it makes my dinner even nicer!

[ORV]

1 hour ago, Sabbycat said:

But dress how you want, it is your cruise. 

Well, no. 

[DOJO466]

22 hours ago, basor said:

And I, for one, love seeing people dressed up when enjoying dinner....it makes my dinner even nicer!

I enjoy sitting in the grand hall watching folks go to dining room.

[EJL2023]

Just now, DOJO466 said:

I enjoy sitting in the grand hall watching folks go to dining room.

Speaking of the Grand Hall…I always find it so awkward when the string quartet is playing but people have little choice sometimes but to walk between them and those enjoying the music. Sort of like the walk of shame. Of course you could wait until a song ends but you never know and you could be late to a reservation. Oh well…..

[LHT28]

1 minute ago, EJL2023 said:

Speaking of the Grand Hall…I always find it so awkward when the string quartet is playing but people have little choice sometimes but to walk between them and those enjoying the music. Sort of like the walk of shame. Of course you could wait until a song ends but you never know and you could be late to a reservation. Oh well…..

no reservations required in the GDR 

if worried  just take  walk through the casino to the elevators

 

What bugs me is people stopping in front of you to listen to the music ...just keep moving little doggie 😉