Spoiled by NCL's "Freestyle"

[RevNeal]

Rev,

 

Sounds a little like "legalism" to me!! But that's for another place and another time......

 

How am I being legalistic?

I WANT them in church NO MATTER WHAT.

They don't have to dress up to come.

They can come as they ARE.

Nor do they have to dress to meet anyone's approval (certainly not mine, and most especially not God's).

What one wears has nothing to do with how one dresses ... hence my remark about an interesting visual juxtaposition relative to the youth who was dressed in his generation's "uniform" and probably didn't even realize the sharp contradiction that his shirt had with the passage of Scripture he was reading.

 

I just like it see people dressed nicely and feel that such reflects a measure of respect.

[fcorey]

Sometimes I wear my Tuxedo:

 

 

And other times I like to be decked out in what we call "clerics":

 

 

Most often it depends upon my status aboard ship: if I'm serving as chaplain on that particular cruise I almost always dress in clerics for formal and informal nights. If I'm aboard as just a passenger, then I can go either way ... it frequently depends upon if I'm trying to be "incognito" or am I with a group of people that knows I'm clergy and/or I don't mind them knowing. I will sometimes wear clerics on formal and informal nights that fall on Sundays even if I'm not serving as chaplain. When I'm just a passenger I will often wear a Tuxedo on formal nights, but on informal nights I'll wear suit and clerics (though, usually not formal clerics, just a tab or neckband clergy shirt without a formal vest).

 

The Tux is very James Bond and is a nice photo of you RevNeal.

 

It never ceases to amaze me how many times the dress code discussion has flared tempers here. I was wondering how it would be on our first HAL cruise in October, I had a tux for formal nights, it was also our aniversary, and I was surprised to see about 50% of the men in tuxedos, about 40% nicely dressed in suits or sportcoats with tie on the formal nights. All the men at our dinner table were in tuxedos (we didnt know any of our dining companions prior to the cruise) so I was glad that I did rent one. I didnt want to pack mine as I rarely travel light as it is.

 

We didnt chose HAL for a dress code but for other reasons and I just accept it as it is. I work from home 80% of the time so as I sit here I am wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I think I brought 1 pair on the vacation as I spent most of my time in khakis and polo shirts. I dont dress up very often so when I do its kind of fun to get all dressed and take the wife out for the evening. I like at least one formal night as its a "special" evening but I do understand why many would not.

For that reason its nice that there are cruise lines that give you other options. I just dont understand why so many people rail against the dress code HAL has published? If its really that much of an imposition I guess you could choose another line, but I wouldnt go as far as to criticize someone not dressed as I do not know them or their circumstances.

[cruisnfool]

Dressing up does not have to be for the rich.

 

When we took our first cruise with our 3 boys I thought I might have to pay more to outfit them than the cost of the cruise.

They had never had an occasion to own a suit and we were living a meager existance.

 

Someone suggested the Goodwill and I found a siut for each of them for $5.00.

Shoes at Kmart and extra shirts and socks from Dad.

I continue to watch store sales and bridal shops and bridal rental shops for bargains.

I have accumulated about 15 formals that I use back and forth as well as lend out to other cruisers. The other day somebody gave me a formal to add to the formal closet.

 

In the last 2 years I have purchased Tuxedos for all 3 boys who are men now as birthday gifts....$99

 

Dressing does not have to break people.

But as someone else said its fun. We do not have opportunities at home to dress up and go out so doing it on a cruise is an adventure.

[babyher]

RevNeal,

 

First off you look very "James Bond Like " :)

 

And I mean Sean Connery "James Bond " (the good one) Not the yutz thats playing him in Casino Royale that nobody likes *LOL*

 

 

Seriously though, I loved your last post about you rather seeing people in church than not in church .

 

The young boy you spoke of made me think. So many people here have made remarks attributing the way people are raised or what type of person they are to the way they dress. they would never sit next to a person in shorts (EEEEEEEEWWW!!!) :)

 

Granted the boy could have made a better wardrobe choice *LOL* But in this day and age , a 17 year old who not only goes to church with his family, but actively participates in the mass, and does a beautiful job and shows every respect and reverence for the occasion is a pretty special young man . IMHO.

 

Not making excuses , but what you described him wearing is "the uniform' these days. To tell you the truth I have seen a lot worse on some of these T shirts than "I'm Gonna Git Ya Sucka ".

 

I have always enjoyed your posts for their information, their humor , and in times their compassion.

 

It proves you are a truly compassionate person to be able to see beneath the less than acceptable clothes, and see a fine young man.

[kryos]

One youth came up to read the Old Testament Lesson last week dressed like an MTV brat ... big, black baggy pants buckled so as to be almost falling off his hips and a black t-shirt that read "I'm gonna get ya, suckka!" It was printed on his shirt's back, and so while the congregation didn't see that while he was reading ... I, my Associate, the organist and the choir did. I thought his mother was gonna have a heart attack! But ... then ... part of me wanted to ask her: "you knew he was appointed to read today ... didn't you pay any attention to what he was wearing when y'all left the house?"

It's funny you should say that. My dad (93) has the exact same "issue" with people in church. Recently we went to a large Christian Center for services because they were having a special music program that Sunday. There were a few kids in the instrumental section who were dressed in baggy jeans, tee-shirts and just looked, as dad said, "unkempt." He couldn't understand why they were permitted up there on the alter dressed in such a manner when they were in "God's house." Fine if they are in the congregation seated in the pews. While dad doesn't like the fact that people no longer seem to dress up for church on Sunday any longer, he is progressive enough to realize that it's good enough that they come to church ... best not to hassle them about their dress. But when one is up on the alter, dad is offended if they are not dressed "decently." Dad even told the pastor on the way out "If they insist on dressing like that, why don't you make them slip a choir robe on over their clothes?" The pastor said he would take that advice under consideration, but I told dad that I doubt he will do anything. After all, those kids ... and the many adults on that praise and worship team ... are giving of their time and talents. They are not getting paid for performing. Thus, I tend to think if they want to wear their "street garb," the pastor, music director, etc., aren't about to hassle them about it.

 

Even at the smaller church where I regularly attend Wednesday night services, the people in the small worship group wear jeans and tee-shirts. Guess it's just the way things are today and the pastor there doesn't seem to mind ... and neither do I since these are Wednesday evening services which I would consider to be an entirely different thing than the more "formal" Sunday services.

 

Guess the modes of dress are changing all over and, as a society, we're moving toward a much more casual form of attire. So, I guess church would be no different, huh?

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[vpoopsy]

How am I being legalistic?

I WANT them in church NO MATTER WHAT.

They don't have to dress up to come.

They can come as they ARE.

Nor do they have to dress to meet anyone's approval (certainly not mine, and most especially not God's).

What one wears has nothing to do with how one dresses ... hence my remark about an interesting visual juxtaposition relative to the youth who was dressed in his generation's "uniform" and probably didn't even realize the sharp contradiction that his shirt had with the passage of Scripture he was reading.

 

I just like it see people dressed nicely and feel that such reflects a measure of respect.

I have a difficult time with dress codes. Yes, I would be offended if someone wore a shirt to church that offensive language on it. Heck, I wouldn't let me kids wear tshirts from an establishment that is known as a "party bar" when they were younger. But my heart has also been broken by folks that tell me that they couldn't come to church because they didn't have the "right clothes" to wear. I'm lucky to go to church where you can wear what you are comfortable in. Our preacher won't even wear a jacket and tie!!

[RevNeal]

Rita,

I agree with you AND your Dad! :) Yes, they look "unkempt" ... but, it's part of their culture. It's how they "fit in" and avoid ridicule. Some don't know any better ... and, for that, I blame their parents, not them. But, like you (and like the pastor and music director you mention) I'm OVERJOYED that I've got some youth and young adults, like Justin, who WANT to be involved in church. Frankly, if it hadn't been for the slogan what he was otherwise wearing might not have registered with me at all ... I'm so used to seeing him and his friends (the goth ones, and otherwise) dressed that way. I would still prefer some more "conventional" casual clothing for the young man, but if that's not to be I'm just thankful that he (1) is in church, (2) believes in God, and (3) wants to participate in worship by more than just sitting on his hands and listening to his iPod while I preach. :D

 

Guess the modes of dress are changing all over and, as a society, we're moving toward a much more casual form of attire. So, I guess church would be no different, huh?

 

Funny ... I suppose I was assuming that, in the mass culture, thing had already moved to a much more casual form of attire and things were now starting to swing back a bit. Oh, well .... :( Thankfully, and for the most part, I'm still allowed the vest the way I'm comfortable on Sundays (and am, generally, expected to dress "appropriately" at other times, even if my people don't make the effort. :D

[kryos]

I think you are right, like so many aspects of cruising or life in general, things do change as people demands change. Just because there are a handful or maybe more out there who love, say, formal and traditional dining, there are more who want change. The cruise lines, like all businesses look for and want to give the consumer what they want. NMnita

Businesses will always bend to the majority ... at least successful businesses will. It's one thing to have dress requirements for such a thing as work. You get paid for going there, and if you want to earn your living, you will follow the rules ... and the dress codes.

 

But when you are spending your money for something such as a cruise, the tables are turned. Now it is you who has a voice. Obviously, if the more traditional cruisers are right, these people are exercising that voice by refusing to abide by the cruise line's "suggested" dress code in many cases, and that's why you are seeing more and more casual clothing in the dining room on formal nights. If this was an action being taken by very few people, then those few people would quickly have their "revolt" quashed as the dining captains denied them access to the dining room so dressed on formal night. But when half or more of the diners walk in the door dressed in what could only be considered casual night attire, what can the dining captains do? Deny half the population on the ship entry to the dining room? So, HAL and other lines do exactly what would be reasonable. They bend and stretch the rules so as to accommodate all those people. End result? Formal night is basically a farce and when I talk about HAL making them optional in the future ... I just mean "officially" making them optional. They are actually optional today. If you don't believe me, just look around the dining room on formal night during your next cruise, and then compare it with a formal affair you may have recently had to attend for your job. Do you honestly think the predominant style of dress at those two events in any way compare? Do you honestly think most people at your job attending the formal function for work would have the guts to dress as many of the people seated at those tables in the main dining room on the cruise ship are dressed? I don't think so. But the difference is that at work you have obligations and if a dinner is designated by the boss as a "formal affair," then people will respect the boss ... and their employer ... enough to honor the dress code request. On the cruise ship they are paying their hard-earned dollars and they sure as heck won't just kotow to the cruise line's "suggested" dress code if it does not suit them.

 

I'm not making any judgments as to whether this sort of thing is right or wrong. I'm just stating that it's the way things are.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[RevNeal]

First off you look very "James Bond Like " :)

 

And I mean Sean Connery "James Bond " (the good one) Not the yutz thats playing him in Casino Royale that nobody likes *LOL*

 

Wow ... Sean Connery!!! I'm honored. Connery is one heck of a sexy man, with a great big plate of "uh-huh" on the side. I wish I looked like him. :D

 

Granted the boy could have made a better wardrobe choice *LOL* But in this day and age , a 17 year old who not only goes to church with his family, but actively participates in the mass, and does a beautiful job and shows every respect and reverence for the occasion is a pretty special young man . IMHO.

 

And that was my point of describing how he participated. Setting the slogan on his shirt aside ... he acted and participated precisely as I have come to expect. He's a good, smart kid ... he just has clothing choices I don't share. :) The t-shirt's slogan was really the only thing "over the top," but it sort of illustrated my point. You CANNOT always "judge a book by it's cover." Sometimes you CAN, but not always.

 

Not making excuses , but what you described him wearing is "the uniform' these days. To tell you the truth I have seen a lot worse on some of these T shirts than "I'm Gonna Git Ya Sucka ".

 

Ditto, and agreed. And THANK YOU for your kind words.

[hammybee]

I wish I could get enthused about NCL and Freestyle, but it scares me. What happens if you are a solo? Also, how is the food on NCL.

 

I wouldn't be adverse to trying an NCL cruise someday ... especially since NCL sails some Bermuda itineraries right out of the Port of Philadelphia. But the whole Freestyle thing puts me off. Seems like it would only be a good alternative if you were cruising with a friend. Also, NCL doesn't give any break on single supplements whatsoever. I actually had my TA price a five-day Bermuda sailing right out of Philly for me and the cost was double for a solo in the cabin. Blue skies ...--rita

 

To cruise NCL probably means a solo cruiser will be eating alone most of the time and as a result have less opportunity to meet new people. While it sure is convenient to dine when you want, the loss is that of tablemates, good, bad or otherwise. As for the food, this is subjective. I prefer HAL food. The next guy may not.

[kryos]

... but if that's not to be I'm just thankful that he (1) is in church, (2) believes in God, and (3) wants to participate in worship by more than just sitting on his hands and listening to his iPod while I preach. :D

Please ... please don't tell me that some parents allow their children to bring their iPods or personal DVD players to church. Regarding the other thread on this board re the dining room ... I maybe could understand it there for little ones who can get rambunctious over the course of a long meal ... but I would hope parents would have more sense than to allow their kids to be listening to an iPod while you're giving them the Word. Doesn't your church have a special youth program on Sundays ... talks and activities geared to get the Word into the younger ones in a way they can understand and connect with?

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[RevNeal]

Please ... please don't tell me that some parents allow their children to bring their iPods or personal DVD players to church. Regarding the other thread on this board re the dining room ... I maybe could understand it there for little ones who can get rambunctious over the course of a long meal ... but I would hope parents would have more sense than to allow their kids to be listening to an iPod while you're giving them the Word. Doesn't your church have a special youth program on Sundays ... talks and activities geared to get the Word into the younger ones in a way they can understand and connect with?

 

Yes, Rita. He and several of his friends bring their iPods into church. I will say this much ... for the most part they take the earbuds out and listen to the message and participate in the liturgy. At least, when they come forward to commune they're not listening to their iPods. But ... I've noticed that when hymns are being sung they tend to be standing in their pew, listening to their iPod's instead.

[kryos]

To cruise NCL probably means a solo cruiser will be eating alone most of the time and as a result have less opportunity to meet new people. While it sure is convenient to dine when you want, the loss is that of tablemates, good, bad or otherwise. As for the food, this is subjective. I prefer HAL food. The next guy may not.

That's exactly what I am afraid of ... and what puts me off trying a pretty convenient NCL cruise right out of my home city port. I think dinnertime on a cruise ship is a social event unto itself. Using my most recent cruise as an example, one which was rare in that I had a cabin mate, we both had the joy of dining with two delightful couples whom we got to know over the course of the 13-day voyage. Without assigned table dining, we would probably never have met them, and as a result of making their acquaintance, our dinners onboard were an absolute delight. With "freestyle" you're not gonna get that. Even if you are seated with others, they will be different people each night. A solo will lose a great opportunity to meet other people on the cruise ... people who perhaps may be interested in sharing certain shore excursions or other activities onboard the ship with the solo cruiser.

 

Then there is the issue about the food quality. I've heard NCL's food in the main dining rooms is not very good. Perhaps this is because they want to steer diners to the added charge specialty restaurants where the food is much, much better. With HAL, yes, the food in the Pinnacle Grill is exceptional ... at least for someone like me who is a real "meat and potatoes" person ... but the food in the main dining room, and even the Lido, is also very tasty, so one can pretty much go anywhere on the ship and know they're gonna get a good meal.

 

Guess I'll keep flying to the embarcation port and keep sailing HAL ... where I know I'll get the kind of experience I like ... and that my money will be well-spent. And, at least as to the cost of the cruise itself, HAL doesn't come out costing much more than NCL when you consider that HAL's single supplements are very, very reasonable where NCL gives absolutely no break whatsoever to singles traveling alone in a cabin.

 

So, for my money, I'll just stick with HAL. They're a better deal. Wish they'd sail out of Philly occasionally, though. :(

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[RuthC]

Secondly. "Tacky"???? Give us a break, kiddo.

"Kiddo"? Is it possible you really don't know how condescending it sounds when you use that term? Whatever. :rolleyes:

 

Kindly add my name to the list of those who have requested that you not use that term (or any other such appellation) toward me.

[kryos]

Yes, Rita. He and several of his friends bring their iPods into church. I will say this much ... for the most part they take the earbuds out and listen to the message and participate in the liturgy. At least, when they come forward to commune they're not listening to their iPods. But ... I've noticed that when hymns are being sung they tend to be standing in their pew, listening to their iPod's instead.

Oh, my Lord. I'm absolutely speechless.

 

I can only imagine ... when I was a youngster ... trying to take an iPod or the day's equivalent with me to church. I'm not gonna tell you where dad would have placed those earbuds. :(

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[NYJean]

My personal opinion is I perfer traditi onal dining rather than freestyle at least on NCL.. freestyle means standing in long lines and sometimes waiting more than a half hour for a table, questionable food quality even in the pay restaurants, and a system that seems to lead people away from dining rooms and to the buffet (the only place open at most times with little waiting) where the food quality (and probably cost) is much lower.. and as discussed it is difficult to meet people on a 'freestyle" cruise and I am very friendly!

 

I really hope that the formal night doesn't go the way of the do-do bird! it is so much fun and even my 9 year old daughter enjoys formal nights and looks forward to the formal nights on each cruise.. she might not ever had experienced this if she was busy using an I-pod rather than learn polite dinner behaviors.. people do underestimate their kids sometimes!!!

 

On most cruises I have to say people look lovely on formal nights.. my brother was actually sent back to change for not having a collar on his shirt (on a casual night!) even with a nice stylish cotton shirt and khaki pants!! seems to depend on who is working the door on a particular night!!

[newmexicoNita]

My personal opinion is I perfer traditi onal dining rather than freestyle at least on NCL.. freestyle means standing in long lines and sometimes waiting more than a half hour for a table, questionable food quality even in the pay restaurants, and a system that seems to lead people away from dining rooms and to the buffet (the only place open at most times with little waiting) where the food quality (and probably cost) is much lower.. and as discussed it is difficult to meet people on a 'freestyle" cruise and I am very friendly!

 

I really hope that the formal night doesn't go the way of the do-do bird! it is so much fun and even my 9 year old daughter enjoys formal nights and looks forward to the formal nights on each cruise.. she might not ever had experienced this if she was busy using an I-pod rather than learn polite dinner behaviors.. people do underestimate their kids sometimes!!!

 

On most cruises I have to say people look lovely on formal nights.. my brother was actually sent back to change for not having a collar on his shirt (on a casual night!) even with a nice stylish cotton shirt and khaki pants!! seems to depend on who is working the door on a particular night!!

Jean, I am not sure which ship you were on or when, but to wait 1/2 hour is a bit unusual. Of course this can happen, just like your favorite dining places on land if you want to eat between 7pm and say, 7:30. As for questionable food in the specialty restaurants this I find a bit unusual as very seldom does anyone complain about the qualtiy of food in the specialty dining rooms. Of course there are some who do.

 

Formal attire is becoming a thing of the past. We enjoy the tux and formals but don't like the extra weight when we travel. Our granddaughters always enjoyed formal nights on ships.

 

As for meeting people, we have actually met more people doing freestyle as we sit with different people every night, often ending up going to shows with them, meeting them in the casino or running into them the next day at breakfast. We also meet lots of people playing trivia games and just talking to people in the pool.

 

I don't mean to be doubting what you are saying, but remember yours is an opinion only and many have found everything you experienced quite the opposite. As far as the quality of food in the main dining rooms, that is subjective at best plus most lines have really cut back. As I just said I do take exception with your opinion of the specialty dining. NMnita

[michmike]

would perhaps be an appropriate title for all these threads about the dress code..

 

as others have said, those who fail to comply are perhaps 2-3% at most. That has certainly been our experience on 6 cruises on HAL in as many years.

 

Is that worth all the time and energy that's expended every time this topic comes up? Not imho.

[RevNeal]

Oh, my Lord. I'm absolutely speechless.

 

I can only imagine ... when I was a youngster ... trying to take an iPod or the day's equivalent with me to church. I'm not gonna tell you where dad would have placed those earbuds. :(

 

LOL ... you don't have to ... it would have been the same place my Dad would have shoved not only my earbuds but also the whole dang iPod!! :eek: :D And, back then it would have been a rather sizeable 8-track tape player!! :eek:

[RevNeal]

would perhaps be an appropriate title for all these threads about the dress code..

 

as others have said, those who fail to comply are perhaps 2-3% at most. That has certainly been our experience on 6 cruises on HAL in as many years.

 

Is that worth all the time and energy that's expended every time this topic comes up? Not imho.

 

Indeed, michmike ... agreed. Nevertheless, sometimes these threads serve a useful purpose. Once, on the Oosterdam, a gentleman came up to me and thanked me for several of my posts on one of these threads where I explained HAL's Dress Code in such a way that he could understand how to painlessly conform to it (per my suggestions he brought a jacket, slacks, and dress shirt and tie and looked just fine on Formal night). He told me that, had he not found one of these threads here on CC and read our posts, he would have taken the advice of his brother -- who claimed that "no one bothered with formal night clothing "-- and would have brought nothing sufficient for formal or informal nights. :eek: As he put it "I would have been utterly embarrassed and would have felt very much left out of all the fun on Formal and informal nights!"

 

So ... sometimes these threads DO serve a purpose.

[tonykj1]

Jean, I am not sure which ship you were on or when, but to wait 1/2 hour is a bit unusual. Of course this can happen, just like your favorite dining places on land if you want to eat between 7pm and say, 7:30. As for questionable food in the specialty restaurants this I find a bit unusual as very seldom does anyone complain about the qualtiy of food in the specialty dining rooms. Of course there are some who do.

 

Formal attire is becoming a thing of the past. We enjoy the tux and formals but don't like the extra weight when we travel. Our granddaughters always enjoyed formal nights on ships.

 

I don't mean to be doubting what you are saying, but remember yours is an opinion only and many have found everything you experienced quite the opposite. As far as the quality of food in the main dining rooms, that is subjective at best plus most lines have really cut back. As I just said I do take exception with your opinion of the specialty dining. NMnita

 

I absolutely agree with you. My wife and I have cruised on NCL. I wonder if everyone who is making negative remarks in this thread about NCL has actually cruised with them to experience Freestyle cruising first hand.

 

When we entered the dining room on NCL, we were always asked if we wanted to sit at a table by ourselves, or at a table with other guests. It was very nice to have that option. Sometimes you can sit with others at a larger table and get to know them, and other times, when you want to have a romantic dinner with just the two of you, you can do that as well.

 

As far as the food in the main restaurant goes, my wife and I both felt that the food in the dining room was served hotter than some of the other lines we have cruised on. I guess it makes sense if they are making the plates up to order, instead of hundreds at a time, you receive the food at your table quicker, hence hotter.

 

Also, I did not see huge amounts of people entering the dining room on NCL inappropriately dressed as some have indicated here. Maybe I was focusing on having a nice time with my wife more than worrying about what everyone else was wearing:)

[caribbeanchickie]

I almost choked when I read that you said 75% wore a tux. What ship was this? Our cruise certainly did not have that high percentage of Tux's. I MIGHT have seen 6- IF THAT!! Guess we cruised the wrong ship.

 

As for 60% wearing shorts, jeans, very casual clothing. Yep, it was probably higher than that but I didn't want to seem to be exaggerating.:)

With that said, my opinion of casual, non casual, formal could very well be different than yours.

When I walked through the casino and saw several in jeans, sorts and swim wraps, to me this is NOT proper attire that HAL states is required. IMHO !!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everytime I read something like this I really wonder what is going on. I am not questioning what you posted by any means, so please don't take my post wrong.

I have never seen this. 60% is a very high percentage to be strolling around in short, jeans, t's on formal night. Is it possible this occurs more on Vista ships?

My last cruise I would say about 75% of the guys had on a tux. Ladies were dressed nicely. Yes, I saw a couple of people wandering around in shorts and Ts shirts. Maybe 1%.

[RevNeal]

purr_30,

 

On the Zaandam's 15 day cruise to Hawaii in October my best guess would be that ~98% of the passengers dressed according to code. The ~2% that ignored the dress code were exceedingly conspicuous in their failure to even make an attempt to dress appropriately.

 

Of the 98% who abided by the code, based upon my observations on our Formal nights (and a sample count that I made at the request of some of our fellow CC Group members) I would say that ~70% of the men were wearing Tuxedos on one or more of the formal nights. The VAST majority of the rest were dressed in nice business suits, with a tiny remainder wearing slacks, dress shirt, tie, and sports coat.

 

Regardless of the percentage figures assigned (and some have argued that the percentage of men wearing Tuxedos on the evening of the Black and White Ball approached 85%), it really is without question that this cruise of the Zaandam had a huge majority of men dressed formally on formal night. I would also say that I saw more men wearing ties on the informal nights than I've noted in recent years (possibly as high as 35%).

[Seago2]

Thanks, Carla ... but, how "way better??" I like my current avatar, though it IS time to change it again.

 

Firstly, keep in mind that an avatar has a maximum size (80 x 80 pixels).

 

Secondly, I've used a smaller cut of the one of me in clerics as my avatar in the past. That was me about 100 pounds heavier than I am now ... I prefer the shots of me thinner.

 

Thirdly, I've used tux images before ... and had people complain that they wanted RevNeal in his clerics. :) Go figure! ;)

 

I've been meaning to do some cropping of some of the formal photos from last month's cruise so that I can use one or two as Avatars ... perhaps I'll do that tonight.

 

Rev, two things: first of all, your current avatar looks a little stern. Stern + clerics = scary. It's fine. I'm a reasonably good Episcopalian (or Ecopalian after the Spirit cruise in '05) and clerics = ok with me. It's just that the other pics are more colorful and just... friendlier, and Bond-ier somehow. I can tell you how to shrink the picture- I dloaded something that does it.

 

Now, let me describe my 14 year old to you: hair down to his shoulders due to recent hair CUT. T-shirts. Knit hat with various pins stuck in it that he believes are cool, such as a submarine, a John Lennon pin, and my Latitudes pin. Moderate acne and tendency to look at the floor. Now, he is an A student at an honors school, has a job that I don't want to get into here for privacy reasons but would make any parent verklempt, AND goes to Youth Group every Sunday. My point: kids can't dress their way out of a paper bag. My son is the third of five boys- classic middle child trying to be unique. So... hopefully you realize that teenagers should be allowed massive leeway in the clothing faux pas category. I think that is your sentiment but I scrolled back so long that now I'm not sure! I know you said you'd rather have them in church regardless and that is so TRUE. Being an Episcopalian I am always PLEASANTLY SURPRISED when I go into a Catholic church and see people there in jeans. Maybe if my church loosened up just a tad I wouldn't feel stressed out about what to wear starting Saturday afternoon.

 

Ok, later everyone! This is one of about five topics that everyone weighs in on... but think about it: how many topics really exist on cruisecritic? We should have shorthand for:

 

tux

duct tape

freestyle

kids running in halls

tenders

mandatory gratuities

lanyards

 

The end.

[gizmo]

I almost choked when I read that you said 75% wore a tux. What ship was this? Our cruise certainly did not have that high percentage of Tux's. I MIGHT have seen 6- IF THAT!! Guess we cruised the wrong ship.

 

As for 60% wearing shorts, jeans, very casual clothing. Yep, it was probably higher than that but I didn't want to seem to be exaggerating.:)

With that said, my opinion of casual, non casual, formal could very well be different than yours.

When I walked through the casino and saw several in jeans, sorts and swim wraps, to me this is NOT proper attire that HAL states is required. IMHO !!!

 

The ship's were Veendam, Rotterdam, Volendam, Ryndam,Amsterdam, Statendam. I have never seen anything like what you are saying.

 

I almost choked when you said you saw only 6 wearing a tux !!!:eek: