Princess “Formal” Nights

[Bemidji Ty]

Within the last 8 months, I've witnessed a middle-aged man seated at our table on 'Formal Night' wearing a super-hero t-shirt and exercise pants.  Neither one gave evidence of recent laundering.  Except for the assault on my First Cranial Nerve, I wouldn't have minded.  (Maybe a little bit.  I'm trying to be more tolerant).  I did wish he'd learned to chew with his mouth closed and give a break or two in his long monolog about his favorite subject.

 

More recently, I witnessed a man being turned away at the receptionist stand for wearing nice shorts on a non-formal night.  As we were being escorted to our table, I overheard him say, "But I read on Cruise Critic that..."

 

Cheers

 

 

Edited June 2 by Bemidji Ty
Federal Regulations

[Torfamm]

24 minutes ago, doghog said:

Not for us. The longest cruises we've taken has been 20 days (RC and Celebrity at different times) and the shortest 7 days (with Holland, Princess, RC and Celebrity at different times) and other combination of days. The longest on Princess was 16 days. March we were on the Enchanted for 11 days, no tier level laundry perk and never walked in the self service laundry room. Addimatley we are over packers but always stay below the airline weight allowances. 

I think a lot depends on weather and activities. Some itineraries see everything from 90 degrees to 30 degrees with snow falling, and include a need to pack scuba gear, hiking boots, warm jackets, etc.  

 

The Caribbean is pretty easy but Asia, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand have been packing challenges for us. The next one is calculating how many diapers need to fit in a suitcase when we head off with the kids and our littlest family member on our next cruise! 

[memoak]

34 minutes ago, doghog said:

Not for us. The longest cruises we've taken has been 20 days (RC and Celebrity at different times) and the shortest 7 days (with Holland, Princess, RC and Celebrity at different times) and other combination of days. The longest on Princess was 16 days. March we were on the Enchanted for 11 days, no tier level laundry perk and never walked in the self service laundry room. Addimatley we are over packers but always stay below the airline weight allowances. 

We pack 7-9 days worth of t shirts, socks and underwear regardless of length of cruise and most of our cruises are 14-21 day cruises. The only short ones are an occasional 10 day Mexico getaway 

[doghog]

1 minute ago, Torfamm said:

I think a lot depends on weather and activities. Some itineraries see everything from 90 degrees to 30 degrees with snow falling, and include a need to pack scuba gear, hiking boots, warm jackets, etc.  

 

The Caribbean is pretty easy but Asia, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand have been packing challenges for us. The next one is calculating how many diapers need to fit in a suitcase when we head off with the kids and our littlest family member on our next cruise! 

Again, everyone is different. Depending on the itinerary is how we pack. We've done hot to cold and in between. We are RDINKs. 

[ecs66]

2 hours ago, doghog said:

We could never do carry on as one of our 3 pieces of luggage

My sis and her BIL just returned from a 14-day TA cruise, and then 14 days in England, each one with only a carry-on and a personal item.  I'm pretty sure I couldn't do that.  Our elderly neighbors take long cruises often, and each one only takes a carry-on and a personal item.  They only go on Disney.  Once I asked them to explain their packing tips, but have forgotten them.

 

I watched  a YouTube of some chick making a video of her packing in a carry-on for a 10-day cruise.  It was like the opposite of a clown car.  Her bed was covered with all she was going to pack, and I'm thinking, "No way!"  Then she did her thing, and she packed it all into her carry-on.  

 

For myself, I would not want anyone but me doing my laundry.  Dry cleaning ... OK, but not laundry.

[Rick&Jeannie]

3 hours ago, Torfamm said:

That is what Princess requests in the What to Pack section of this page. Many are unable or unwilling to comply though. Reports show that fewer than half of American men own a suit of any kind, much less a tuxedo.

 

https://www.princess.com/en-us/faq/pre-cruise

 

I *strongly* suspect that the info shown above has been "forgotten about" by whoever is maintaining the website. Is that actually a "live" page that you can access by clicking a link via princess.com or did it result from a Google search? Many times Google will find "dead" pages that have never been deleted from the live site. That type of dress code has not been recommended for a very long time.

[ldubs]

Since this is a dress code thread.....  

 

What I don't understand it the difference between flip flops and thong style sandals.  Thong style sandals are deemed perfectly alright, even on formal night if silver or gold colors. Flip flops on the other hand are the cause much gasping, head shaking, and mass anxiety.    

 

The two are pretty much the same thing.   I don't get it.  If sandals of any kind are OK, then flip flops should be OK.  

[Rick&Jeannie]

2 minutes ago, ldubs said:

Since this is a dress code thread.....  

 

What I don't understand it the difference between flip flops and thong style sandals.  Thong style sandals are deemed perfectly alright, even on formal night if silver or gold colors. Flip flops on the other hand are the cause much gasping, head shaking, and mass anxiety.    

 

The two are pretty much the same thing.   I don't get it.  If sandals of any kind are OK, then flip flops should be OK.  

Stirring the pot, are we? 😀 

Let me get my popcorn...

[Torfamm]

29 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

I *strongly* suspect that the info shown above has been "forgotten about" by whoever is maintaining the website. Is that actually a "live" page that you can access by clicking a link via princess.com or did it result from a Google search? Many times Google will find "dead" pages that have never been deleted from the live site. That type of dress code has not been recommended for a very long time.

It is live. Look in the Pre-Cruise FAQ’s. It’s a moot point though. Once cruise lines stopped offering opportunities for men to rent formal wear, they closed the door on dress codes for formal night. 

Edited June 2 by Torfamm

[ldubs]

17 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Stirring the pot, are we? 😀 

Let me get my popcorn...

 

I was hoping someone could clue me in.  It is like saying chinos are not allowed but casual pants are OK.   One difference I can think of is that thong style sandals of various designs are pretty much exclusively worn by women.  Whereas your basic flip flops could be worn by men.  Is it about seeing men's feet?  Won't hurt my feeling if that is the reason.  Or is it that they are simply deemed too casual? Safety hazard (men are clumsy)?  

Edited June 2 by ldubs

[ldubs]

52 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Stirring the pot, are we? 😀 

Let me get my popcorn...

 

Never mind. I got the short answer from Mrs Ldubs.   Rubber beach style flip flops are too casual.  

[memoak]

1 hour ago, ldubs said:

 

I was hoping someone could clue me in.  It is like saying chinos are not allowed but casual pants are OK.   One difference I can think of is that thong style sandals of various designs are pretty much exclusively worn by women.  Whereas your basic flip flops could be worn by men.  Is it about seeing men's feet?  Won't hurt my feeling if that is the reason.  Or is it that they are simply deemed too casual? Safety hazard (men are clumsy)?  

Pretty much any long pants are ok on any night

[Earthworm Jim]

5 hours ago, Torfamm said:

Reports show that fewer than half of American men own a suit of any kind, much less a tuxedo.

 

Not disputing the accuracy of that statistic, but it surprises me. I could see most men very rarely wear a suit, but I'd have thought you need to own one for weddings and funerals.

[PR-Texas]

46 minutes ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

Not disputing the accuracy of that statistic, but it surprises me. I could see most men very rarely wear a suit, but I'd have thought you need to own one for weddings and funerals.

Because of our age we've been to more funerals lately than weddings but I've seen fewer and fewer suits on the men and much more casual clothes on the women than in the past.  I'm thinking "formal nights" in Princess are just reflecting the dress that's common in the world.  DH is taking a sportcoat but that's partly so I can borrow it if I get chilly.

[BamaVol]

Serious question: is the “dress code” a little more relaxed for kids? Do I need to insist my 11 year old grandson packs long pants for dinner or can he wear shorts to the MDR?

[eagletwo]

On our first cruise in 2005 on the Diamond Princess, Seattle inside passage, we packed enough clothes for a two month cruise. Tuxedo (we did a renewal of vows on board), suite, ties, shirts and slacks, sweaters,  jeans, enough underwear for a month, jackets, rain coats, 4 pairs of shoes. And this was just me. It was 95 degrees here in SC when we left the last week of July, 80 degrees in Seattle and the rest of our trip in Alaska was cold (low 40's) and rainy some days. We traveled with my parents, in-laws and our two teenagers. We took enough luggage to fill up the back of a full size pick-up truck. 😌

 

16 cruises later, we can pack one suite case each for the week, have nice day wear, swim wear, slacks and polo for me at night and wife wears nice summer dresses. I don't care what other people wear as it dose not make or break my cruise. Seen it all on Princess, Carnival and MSC so far.  49 days until our next cruise.

[memoak]

1 hour ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

Not disputing the accuracy of that statistic, but it surprises me. I could see most men very rarely wear a suit, but I'd have thought you need to own one for weddings and funerals.

Here in Portland jeans and a button down shirt all all you need for these events 

[JamieLogical]

1 hour ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

Not disputing the accuracy of that statistic, but it surprises me. I could see most men very rarely wear a suit, but I'd have thought you need to own one for weddings and funerals.

 

Every wedding I have been to in the past decade plus, men don't wear suits unless they are in the wedding party.

 

I have definitely seen people wearing shorts and jeans to funerals in the past couple of years.....

 

Edited June 3 by JamieLogical

[Torfamm]

2 hours ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

Not disputing the accuracy of that statistic, but it surprises me. I could see most men very rarely wear a suit, but I'd have thought you need to own one for weddings and funerals.

I would agree with you. It appears we’re both wrong though. I think it’s generational as well as about need and opportunity. In my age group, some own tuxedos but almost all own a dark suit. That number gets fewer as you look at those in their 50’s, 40’s, 30’s and finally 20’s.
 

Relatively few 20 something’s wear suits to work and don’t need them, while a lot of 70 and 60 something’s were accustomed to it. Of course, many of them burned their ties at retirement the way women used to burn their bras.

Edited June 3 by Torfamm

[Earthworm Jim]

42 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Every wedding I have been to in the past decade plus, men don't wear suits unless they are in the wedding party.

 

I have definitely seen people wearing shorts and jeans to funerals in the past couple of years.....

 

 

Not to be morbid, but what if you're the deceased? Do they wear a Hawaiian shirt and cutoffs to their own funeral? (Not that it really matters to them at that point)

[suzyed]

On 6/1/2024 at 4:04 PM, Robkat said:

@Wiseask:  We were just on the Apex in February, followed by 2 Princess cruises, and I'd say that the clothes that both DH and I bring on either line are pretty identical.

DH was overjoyed to say bye bye to bringing a tux, and then subsequently to bringing a jacket on a cruise.  He wears dress pants and a long sleeved dress shirts for the dressier nights, on both X and Princess.  As for me, dressy black pants with various dressy tops for "formal" nights.  As most have said, smart casual dress will be appropriate for all nights.  Nothing wrong, though, with being a little dressier if you feel like it.

Makes sense to us and that is what we do!

 

[suzyed]

On 6/1/2024 at 3:19 PM, ecs66 said:

I miss the days of formal wear on formal nights.  I chalk that up to airline policies re luggage, and costs.  But it is what it is.  And it's fine.  Anything goes, basically.

If you really enjoy the gowns and tux you should try Cunard....that is still the standard on formal nights as far as I know. AND you have to stay in the formal attire all evening in all the venues.

[suzyed]

5 hours ago, ldubs said:

Since this is a dress code thread.....  

 

What I don't understand it the difference between flip flops and thong style sandals.  Thong style sandals are deemed perfectly alright, even on formal night if silver or gold colors. Flip flops on the other hand are the cause much gasping, head shaking, and mass anxiety.    

 

The two are pretty much the same thing.   I don't get it.  If sandals of any kind are OK, then flip flops should be OK.  

The flip flop restriction is mostly for men, I think.  If they are dressy they are sandals and not flip flops.
So I imagine if the guys want to wear silver or gold slip flops they would be allowed...LOL....they probably wouldn't bat an eyelash!

Edited June 3 by suzyed

[suzyed]

2 hours ago, BamaVol said:

Serious question: is the “dress code” a little more relaxed for kids? Do I need to insist my 11 year old grandson packs long pants for dinner or can he wear shorts to the MDR?

I would just tell him to only pack one pair of long pants just in case the shorts are not allowed.

[MacMadame]

3 hours ago, Earthworm Jim said:

 

Not to be morbid, but what if you're the deceased? Do they wear a Hawaiian shirt and cutoffs to their own funeral? (Not that it really matters to them at that point)

They wear whatever the person organizing the funeral decides. All the funerals I've been to where there was either a wake or an open casket, the deceased was dressed in a nice dress or a suit. But I've heard stories.