Spoiled by NCL's "Freestyle"

[gizmo]

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.

 

ROTFLMAO just thinking about what the nuns would have done if they saw a kid with an ipod. :D

[vpoopsy]

Rev,

 

My apologies for taking things in the wrong direction with you. Church and religion are touchy subjects.

 

Back to the freestyle dining. We had that on the Princess and enjoyed meeting other folks every night, but also missed having our own staff that got to know us and our eating habits. We met a great bunch of older ladies from California our first night and made sure we had dinner with them the last night. We always ate early, so we didn't wait long, but if you got there after 7:00, you stood in life for at least 30 to 45 minutes. the ship did have the option of assigned seats and times also.

[Catnip]

ROTFLMAO just thinking about what the nuns would have done if they saw a kid with an ipod. :D

 

 

LMAO!!!!!!! After 12 years of Catholic school, I have a good idea what a nun would have done!!!!! :D :D :D

[Luv4dacruise]

My husband and I have been on several cruise lines but most recently NCL. We have been really spoiled by their Freestyle cruising... dining on your own schedule and in what ever manner preferred. Could someone please tell me just how formal the formal nights on Oosterdam are? Does my husband really need to rent a tux? He usually doesn't bring more than a sport coat to wear with dress pants and I usually just a nice dress. Or how about just a suit? Would that fit in? I really don't like being all stuffy but if that's what everyone else is doing, that's what we'll do too. I haven't ever cruised on Holland and it's been several years since my husband has so we need some updated info. Thanks for your help and opinions. What would I ever do without Cruise Critic!

 

I would just like to point out, you are probably going to get alot of people chiming in here and telling you that yes, you have to dress appropriately, and the formal drees code is for the entire evening and not just for dinner. Well, here is my take. It is 2006, and the entire planet is honestly, a much more casual place, it is only a matter of time before all of the mainstream lines got to formal wear being an option. Dress how you are comfortable, yes, i would at least wear a sport coat and tie if not a dark suit on formal night, but then honestly, feel free to change after dinner, nobody is gonna say anything. If it takes away from the comfort of their vacation, well ya know what, it is also taking away from the comfort of yours, so its 50/50. I have personally after 19 cruises, stopped going to the dining room for dinner on formal nights, i always eat in the buffet area, because, plain and simple i work 60 hours a week, 50 weeks a year back home in a shirt and tie, and certainly not going to wear one when i am on vacation to get away from that lifestyle. That is the choice i make. People go on vacations for different reasons, some like to dress up, and ya know what, some dont. Basically, what i am saying is if you do dine in the dining room on formal night, yes, you need to dress appropriately, but other than that, feel free to wear what you want. Honestly, are you ever gonna see any of these people again in your lifetime?.....Probably not, so just go be comfotable and enjoy your vacation......Happy Cruising.....

[vpoopsy]

AMEN!!!!

[kryos]

LMAO!!!!!!! After 12 years of Catholic school, I have a good idea what a nun would have done!!!!! :D :D :D

Imagine how bad I would have had it.

 

My third grade nun was MOTHER Basil. :(

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

Heck, I wouldn't let me kids wear tshirts from an establishment that is known as a "party bar" when they were younger.

What? No Hooters shirts for your kids? :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[newmexicoNita]

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

agree: I too am not judging or giving my opinion as to what I would or wouldn't like to see, I do feel things are changing. For us< we abide by what the suggested policy is, for others, well, they have to do what is right for them I guess. NMnita

[newmexicoNita]

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:)

Focusing on the good, not the bad is what makes for a pleasant experience. NMNita

[newmexicoNita]

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 !!!

I have never seen 60% or more wearing shorts, etc at night in the casino or anywhere else on any ship, not Celebrity, NCL or any other. Normally most people attempt to follow the dress code to some degree. Will it be changed in the future and relaxed, yes, that is my opinion. I can't imagine what ship you were sailing. NMNita

[newmexicoNita]

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:

We will be on the Amsterdam in 2 weeks and I will report back as soon as we return for our cruise. Without even being on the ship yet, I am inclined to agree with you. NMnita

[caribbeanchickie]

People from CC follow the Dress code. :)

 

 

 

 

 

I have never seen 60% or more wearing shorts, etc at night in the casino or anywhere else on any ship, not Celebrity, NCL or any other. Normally most people attempt to follow the dress code to some degree. Will it be changed in the future and relaxed, yes, that is my opinion. I can't imagine what ship you were sailing. NMNita

[vpoopsy]

What? No Hooters shirts for your kids? :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

Haha, wasn't thinking of them, but a place in a college town here in Oklahoma that has become very famous because of their reputation.

[kryos]

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:

Ouch!

 

Now that would have been some very serious pain. :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[NapTown Jim]

Firstly, I hope the OP isn't being intimidated by HAL over the explosion here over the dress code. I hate dressing up, but I have a suit that fits me well, and dress shoes that are also comfortable to wear, so that's how I comply with the dress code. During our cruise in Canada earlier this year, I felt pressured to change out of my suit and back into casual clotes by my wife of all people! :eek: Seems her formal shoes hurt her feet and she had to get out of them as soon as she could. So we went back to our cabin immediately after dinner to change. If there's such a thing as women's dress shoes that are also comfortable, I'd like to hear about it so I can buy my wife a pair.

 

I think Brian mentioned it earlier....but before our trip I too fancied myself looking very suave and Bond-like dressed up in my black suit & tie playing blackjack in the casino. Last time I let myself get pressued to change, its not gonna happen the next time.

[michmike]

Our son thought his mother and I were SO unfair when, at the tender age of 13, we refused to buy him a t-shirt at this BBQ restaurant that read "I had my pork pulled at Burbanks"

 

As I often have to explain to the cons I work with, re "want".... I want Jennifer Lopez waiting when I get home tonite.. but that isn't going to happen either.

 

Come to think of it, working with cons WAS good training for raising kids.. and I'll admit that from about 15-22 I'd have opted for Catnip's choice of a dog peeing on the rug.

 

But he's 26 now and actually turned out OK... I bill him for my Grecian Formula as he was the cause of all this gray.

 

 

Here's a shout out to Purr30 - Ed and I were doing our part and wore tuxes on our sailing with you guys.. *S* Even Sal had his on...

[Catnip]

If there's such a thing as women's dress shoes that are also comfortable, I'd like to hear about it so I can buy my wife a pair.

 

.

 

 

 

I'd like to hear about it, too!!!!!!!! :D :D

[inai]

Just to put in my two cents:D,

 

Recently traveled on the 10 day Noordam in Nov., approx. 60% of the men wore tuxes on formal nights and most others wore suits and surprisingly they wore jackets and ties on informal nights. Just a few were dressed casually. However, there were a few men and women that changed after dinner to very casual clothing. Why bother, to dress twice?!! What's the point! How uncomfortable can it be to stay in formal clothes for a few more hours.

I sail with HAL because they keep the tradition alive. I only cruise 1-2 times a year, and it is a very special vacation for me. I look forward to dressing up and it's hard to believe, but my DH does too. I must say we feel like a million bucks when we do it.

 

Looking forward to our 2007 sailing with HAL.

Ina

[Islandbuoy]

We hate freestyle!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NYJean]

I was refering to the NCL spirit... the pay restaurants "shogun" and their Japanese section (forgot the name) ,shogun was an upcharge of I think 15 dollars per person... and the food was poor, and the japanese restaurant was even more expensive and poor-fair. I did wait 20-30 mins each night we went to dinner between 6pm and 730.. very long lines for each of the restaurants were the quality of food was better,but to top it off..quite a few of us became ill on the cruise and were contacted and interviewed by the CDC.. so I am not really exaggerating my experience on that ship. I do agree that everyone's expereince is different on different cruises we do not gamble but I always manage to meet people.. it is IMO easier with traditional dining.

[navybankerteacher]

I have sailed Norwegian four times because their destinations and sailing ports are good - but their heavy single supplement and their lower quality food are disappointing. Free-style is a bother because I usually did have to wait up to half an hour -- I missed the connection with regular table mates -- and found that the level of service suffered somewhat as you had different dining room stewards each meal -- HAL experience is enhanced by the fact that the steward remembers your preferences from the first evening on. Finally, free-style seems to encourage sloppy dress -- sure, people are entitled to wear what they want -- on the other hand, I prefer to sail (and dine) with people who happen to NOT want to wear cut-offs, baseball caps (often backwards) and logo tee shirts in the dining room. I see enough of them slouching around on a day-to-day basis, so finding a slightly more gracious environment is one of the pleasures of cruising. I hope HAL remains the sort of line which offers the sort of experience I prefer.

[RevNeal]

I hadn't realize that this was here and I hadn't responded. So ... here goes! :)

 

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.

 

Thank you very much for the offer, but I've created dozens of Avatars with photoshop, using the "save for internet" feature at 80 x 80 pixels. It's not difficult to do, and I have made MANY avatars that I've used in the past. My point was that it an avatar is small ... so small that you really can't really see that I don't have a "stern" look ... just a serious one. Here's a larger version of the one that I've been using -- these past two months -- as an avatar:

 

 

There ... now THAT's not so scary, is it???? NO! That's not scary at all. If you want scary ... try THIS one!!!!!

 

 

hehehehe

 

Now THAT's stern.

[RevNeal]

Here ... try out a side-by-side comparison of how I looked before I changed my life and the direction I was heading and started to get a handle on my weight issue through proper diet and exercise:

 

 

Not bad, eh?

[babyher]

WOW RevNeal

 

Congratulations!!!!!

 

You look terrific. I could see that you had been losing weight in some of your more recent pics , but I didn't realize how much until the "Before and After " pics :)

 

How much have you lost? Did you do any special diet, or just cut down on the portions and cut out the crap (Thats how I lost 85 lbs)

 

Keep up the great work :)

[AlohaPride]

Greg! You look AWESOME! But I told you that already. . .

 

Ruth, There are two names I would never use for you, well, actually there are three: (1) Ruthie; (2) Ruthless; and (3) Kiddo! :eek: When I read that post I spit my coke (diet black cherry vanilla YUM!) across my office!!