Not dressing up on formal nights?

[molaurie]

If one chooses not to dress up for formal nights, does one look or feel awkward or out of place walking around the ship, going to the buffet or pizza restaurant, etc., in just "normal" clothes? Like, shorts, a sundress, or other casual outfit? Should I plan to just stay in my cabin and order room service if I don't dress up?

[Puffinater]

Not everyone dresses up. It is your vacation and your choice to dress as you want. Enjoy yourself and don't concern yourself with what others might think. Have fun!!

[Liv4cruzin]

I think that greatly depends on what ship/cruise line you're sailing. The daily program on some lines states that "you must follow the suggested dress code in all public areas of the ship after 6 pm".

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

If one chooses not to dress up for formal nights, does one look or feel awkward or out of place walking around the ship, going to the buffet or pizza restaurant, etc., in just "normal" clothes? Like, shorts, a sundress, or other casual outfit? Should I plan to just stay in my cabin and order room service if I don't dress up?

 

On Royal Caribbean ships you will not look out of place in the Windjammer in casual attire. Now that said, remember that you will be using the elevators, walking down corridors, and in many places be passing people who are dressed to the nines, such as lounges, the theater, the casino and so on.

 

If you don't mind being in casual attire when the vast majority of passengers are dressed in formal or cocktail attire, by all means wear casual cothing in the Windjammer (or buffet on other ships.) Many passengers there will be in such clothing. In fact, that is where you should eat or other casual venues if you prefer not to participate in formal night activities.

[45014]

We always go back to the cabin and change into more comfy clothes after dinner. So, no, I don't think you will look out of place at all.

[katier825]

If one chooses not to dress up for formal nights, does one look or feel awkward or out of place walking around the ship, going to the buffet or pizza restaurant, etc., in just "normal" clothes? Like, shorts, a sundress, or other casual outfit? Should I plan to just stay in my cabin and order room service if I don't dress up?

 

On most cruiselines, there would be no need to stay in your room! We've been on Princess, NCL and Carnival and we don't dress up on the formal nights, and we don't feel out of place. We don't go to the clubs in shorts, more like the resort casual of the rest of the cruise. I do try to avoid the areas that people are having their formal pictures taken. I was really surprised how many people didn't do the formal nights...you won't be alone! :)

[sgttami]

No, you do not have to feel like a peasant if you choose not to dress up on the "suggested' formal nights and you certainly don't have to sit in your cabin and order room service.!!!

 

We've run the gamut...done formal and stayed dressed all night, did formal for dinner and changed, skipped formal, even though we brought the clothes..

Throughout the night you will see various stages of dress. One night we didn't feel like eating dinner at all and spent the evening at the pool bar/hot tubs. People walked by in gowns and tuxes and we were in bathing suits!!

 

My sister took me on a cruise for my birthday one year and on formal night we had dinner in the dining room and then changed clothes. We wanted a picture so we "posed" for the portraits in our casual outfits after dinner...toasting with a glass of champagne!!

[Jane110]

If one chooses not to dress up for formal nights, does one look or feel awkward or out of place walking around the ship, going to the buffet or pizza restaurant, etc., in just "normal" clothes? Like, shorts, a sundress, or other casual outfit? Should I plan to just stay in my cabin and order room service if I don't dress up?

 

 

I see that you're new to the cruise critic board. So welcome and let me tell you you've asked the most controversial question there is.

I suggest that you look through the threads and read some of the opinions from others to get a feeling about this topic.

 

My opinion on this subject is the following:

 

Which cruiseline are you on? Lines are Carnival, RCCL are more lax and there will be more passengers who can't afford it or simply won't dress up even though the ship asks that passengers do. NCL offers "freestyle" cruising so the option is open.

 

Lines like Princess, Celebrity and HAL have passengers that for the most part, dress formally for the evening. Though tuxedo's are getting less popular than in the past, there are still plenty of men that wear them. If not in a tuxedo, most men are in a dark suit and elegant tie. Women are generally in long dresses/gowns and some are in dressy cocktail dresses or evening pant outfits.

 

BTW, all ships have dinner available in the buffet for those who choose not to partake in the formalness of the evening.

 

So the great debate forms three groups:

 

1. People who love to dress up formally and feel it's part of the allure of cruising.

 

2. People who might not love to dress up but feel that since the cruiseline requests it, it's the classy thing to do. They make it a very special night with a Captain's party, more formal dining room, staff dressed formally and enhanced menu.

 

3. Those who have a "it's my cruise" and I'll dress how I darn well please. I don't care what the others think, I've paid my money.

 

Only you know which group you fit into.

I'm in group 2.

 

Jane

[caribbean dreams]

We only attend the first formal night, on the second formal night, we do not feel out of place walking around the ship in resort casual wear but like the other poster stated, some cruiselines require you to be in formal wear when in public areas on formal night.

[Dick & Linda]

On a Royal Caribbean cruise, our table partners on the second formal night came in wearing sweatshirts, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. The staff did not ask them to go to the causal dining in the Windjammer. We don't think this is what formal night cruising is all about. We have had 15 cruises with Royal Carbbean and that is why we are going on a Princess cruise this month.

[caviargal]

Jane, your post should be saved as a "sticky"; it says it all.

 

Dick and Linda, I agree with you about RCI and hope you have better luck on Princess. I will be curious as the Princess boards seem to have as many hotly debated dress code threads with similar complaints as the RCI board. Seems the bigger the ship, the bigger the issue.

[Lois R]

Jane, great post:) but I have to make a correction to one

of your items.

 

Quote:

"BTW, all ships have dinner available in the buffet for those who choose not to partake in the formalness of the evening."

 

Jane, Celebrity does not offer a buffet for dinner on any of their

ships.

They do offer "alternative dining" which is set up AFT on the same

deck as the buffet......but...you sit down and are served. And

the dinner is "casual dress". Just didn't want anyone cofused;)

about dinner buffets on X..they don't have them.

[Jane110]

Jane, great post:) but I have to make a correction to one

of your items.

 

Quote:

"BTW, all ships have dinner available in the buffet for those who choose not to partake in the formalness of the evening."

 

Jane, Celebrity does not offer a buffet for dinner on any of their

ships.

They do offer "alternative dining" which is set up AFT on the same

deck as the buffet......but...you sit down and are served. And

the dinner is "casual dress". Just didn't want anyone cofused;)

about dinner buffets on X..they don't have them.

 

 

Thanks Lois! That's even better a better choice for those who prefer to dress casual.

 

I haven't been on Celebrity for quite a few years, so I knew they had a casual alternative, but obviously didn't recall that is was not buffet.

 

Thanks for setting the record straight. When it comes to Celebrity, you're certainly the expert!

 

Jane

[MilliesMom]

If one chooses not to dress up for formal nights, does one look or feel awkward or out of place walking around the ship, going to the buffet or pizza restaurant, etc., in just "normal" clothes? Like, shorts, a sundress, or other casual outfit? Should I plan to just stay in my cabin and order room service if I don't dress up?

 

You will be fine. Don't stay in your room. Eat at the buffet or the pizza place. Some formal nights we go back to the cabin after dinner and formal photos and change and then return to head to the clubs to dance the night away. You will see a good "mix" of fashions in the theatre/show rooms, dance areas.

 

Have a wonderful cruise.

[cruise.freak]

We only eat the formal once and eat the buffet the rest of the time and have never felt out of place.

[aprildream]

I think everyone defines "formal" a little differently. Some think that "formal" means you wear a "formal" and tuxedos for guys. I think of formal as anything from "Sunday best" to "formals". To me formal is something I would be comfortable wearing to a party or as a wedding guest, etc. That doesn't mean a long dress necessarily. If I wear a dress and dressy shoes then I am "formal" however some people would say I am not "formal". Confused?? Me too.:rolleyes:

[happysinglemom]

I think everyone defines "formal" a little differently. Some think that "formal" means you wear a "formal" and tuxedos for guys. I think of formal as anything from "Sunday best" to "formals". To me formal is something I would be comfortable wearing to a party or as a wedding guest, etc. That doesn't mean a long dress necessarily. If I wear a dress and dressy shoes then I am "formal" however some people would say I am not "formal". Confused?? Me too.:rolleyes:

 

Now you are getting into another hotly debated issue in the formal dress area. :eek: Formal attire is, think, a fairly constant standard, and I've never understood how anyone can not know what it means, but I guess if you were not exposed to that sort of thing growing up, then that makes sense. For me, even though I never went to any of my high school dances, we all knew exactly what formal wear was, since that was what we had, (and wanted!) to wear. It may be different today though - that was quite a few years ago. You can find plenty of info on the net to give you some clarification on the issue...here is one.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formal_attire

[AlohaPride]

I think the major question is, "What cruise line will you be on?" This makes a big difference in the answer you will get...

 

 

btw, I think Jane summed it up best :) (I'm in category #1 and DH is in category #2) :D