Hal's New Dress Codes

[Lynne Myrna]

I may have to go shopping. :( My wardrobe doesn't include clothes that are so, hummm, basic. A suit is formal? :confused:

I have lots of pretty clothes left from my working days. They are in good condition and I don't get much chance to wear them. Maybe that's why I take so many cruises!

Fortunately, I'm my own woman and don't mind dressing up even when others don't. I shall continue to sparkle at night. :)

 

Thank you Kakalina.....

 

RuthC.....exactly....if that makes you happy, then continue to dress the way you want to, I just can't see wearing jeans....& i'm not a fuddie duddy.

[bepsf]

But men's clothes are heavier and bulkier, and the men won't have to bother with packing an extra jacket and possibly coordinating pants....unless they choose to....which should lighten the load. With the airlines being so stringent on weight these days, maybe it will free up a few pounds in the luggage.

 

I don't see weight for luggage being an issue...

For Noordam recently, I packed 2 Tuxedo pants and 3 Dinner Jackets with 2 tuxedo shirts, formalwear accessories, etc. I then included 4 blazers, 5 dress pants, 3 pair of jeans, a dozen or more dress/casual shirts, a half-dozen t-shirts, 3 pair of shorts, 2 pair of dress shoes, 2 pair of sandals, enough underwear for 2 weeks, pajamas, swimwear, toiletries, etc, etc. (In other words, I don't pack light...)

The weight for my two checked bags (according to the scales at the airport) was less than 80 lbs.

I like the new rules in that they are clearer, and give us more leeway as to what is appropriate on a given (Casual) night - but are also more enforcable for Formal nights. Like RuthC - this won't change the way I dress a bit.

[RevNeal]

I don't see weight for luggage being an issue...

For Noordam recently, I packed 2 Tuxedo pants and 3 Dinner Jackets with 2 tuxedo shirts, formalwear accessories, etc. I then included 4 blazers, 5 dress pants, 3 pair of jeans, a dozen or more dress/casual shirts, a half-dozen t-shirts, 3 pair of shorts, 2 pair of dress shoes, 2 pair of sandals, enough underwear for 2 weeks, pajamas, swimwear, toiletries, etc, etc. (In other words, I don't pack light...)

The weight for my two checked bags (according to the scales at the airport) was less than 80 lbs.

I like the new rules in that they are clearer, and give us more leeway as to what is appropriate on a given (Casual) night - but are also more enforcable for Formal nights. Like RuthC - this won't change the way I dress a bit.

 

Brian, dear ... you're a little guy. :D Your clothing weighs less and takes up less space than some of us men who are more ... uh ... substantial (so to speak). ;)

 

But ... like you ... this won't change how I pack one whit. My two bags weighed in at 95 pounds, distributed between them in order to keep each under 50. So ... I did pretty good, considering that I brought enough clothing to dress an army (though not nearly as much as you).

[serendipity1499]

RuthC....there were several women on our Veendam Amazon cruise that dressed formally EVERY night....for 30+ days. One woman in particular wore the most lavish beaded, embellished, feathered, sparkling gowns every evening....red, purple, blue, pink....with matching shoes, handbags, and even some boas. Think Hollywood of the 50s. And....I never saw her wear the same thing twice! I can't even begin to imagine how much luggage she must have hauled onboard with her.

 

It got so we looked forward to seeing her every evening, and she never disappointed. I'm sure she had a good 10 years on me, and even though she walked with a cane and shuffled along, she wore the most beautiful shoes I've ever seen....high heels, strappy embellished shoes. I looked down at my basic black pumps and felt like throwing them overboard. And she danced up a storm. I don't imagine she will give a fig what HAL does to the dress code....she'll dress up.

 

I hope everyone who enjoys dressing up will continue to do so. It would be a sad thing if eventually the waiters are the best dressed people in the dining room.

 

Tricia..this beautiful Lady was also on Our 25 day Prinsendam Cruise to the Amazon Last April..You have described her to a "T"..Very elegant, probably in her 80's with beautifully coiffed grey hair, walked with a cane (she had several of them), wore some very low cut sparkly dresses (all colors) with Boas at times, & also danced up a storm..Several times she was escorted into dinner (late seating) on the arm of one of her table mates & she had a very charming & infectious laugh..We enjoyed seeing her every night as she came to dinner or into the theater...As you said she wore those high heels that I wore in the 60's & 70's while I had on my much lower little black pumps & sandals..We thought that she had to board with trunks of clothes..Not one of her dresses was ever wrinkled & all were quite theatrical & beautiful..We figured she might have been in the theater many years ago..Next time I see her, will have to ask our Steward about her as she intrigues me..Betty

[Len3]

Maybe we'll just order room service and forget the whole thing.

[bankerbabe]

One way to clear up some of the dress code confusion: take the nudist cruises :D I'll bet they never worry about what constitutes formal!

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

One way to clear up some of the dress code confusion: take the nudist cruises :D I'll bet they never worry about what constitutes formal!

 

An embroidered towel to sit on! LOL

[sail7seas]

And I really, really want to confirm how fantastic both Brian and Greg looked every evening.

 

Formal nights they were the stars of the Ocean Bar.....Handsome gents both!!!

 

I looked forward each evening to seeing Brian's handsome jackets. One was more wonderful than the last!!!

 

And Greg sure does his tux proud!!

[sail7seas]

What about those lime green jackets ? (with the lime green shoes to match) :D

 

 

:D For him or her??? :)

[gizmo]

:D For him or her??? :)

 

Him ! :D

[RuthC]

You wouldn't believe what I have to look at on a daily basis - lingerie straps, cleveage, butt cracks, uncovered protruding stomachs, pierced navals, etc.

ewwww. :eek: I also see that type of (un)dress in my daily travels. Have to say it hurts my eyes.

My fear is that is what we will eventually be seeing about the ship at night. There does not seem to be much in the way of restrictions/definitions of "casual" so the Maitre d' isn't in a solid position to deny entry to passengers (un)dressed that way.

 

There was a very heavy teen on my Maasdam cruise in '05. She was prone to wearing the "fashion" of tops that rode high and bottoms that rode low; a "muffin top" is what I'm told that's called. I expect that will eventually become more the norm. :rolleyes:

[mommybunny21]

Its really sad that HAL has to tell people how to dress appropriately onboard a ship. I remember as a little girl looking at my grandmothers cruise photos-her boarding in a suit with a pillbox hat..her gorgeous sequined gowns..so glamourous..even when i sailed as a child in the 70's my mom always wore a linen suit to board,never daring to sit so it wouldn't wrinkle! Its not that same world anymore! My sons teacher wears jeans..my clients show up in court in jeans to face a judge that will determine their fate-no respect! My DH and I will probably be over dressed on the Noordam and people may criticize my sons eton suit(thats a suit with shorts!!Oh no!!) but thats what we feel is appropriate under the circumstances..i want the glamourous photo too!!!!

[Copper10-8]

I like it! Clears things up for some folks who were apparently in the dark!;)

[hawgwildterry]

As a Harley riding, cigar smoking, tattooed kinda guy I like the 'new' HAL dress code. It just remains to be seen if HAL is actually going to enforce the dress code. Not much of an issue with me other than Formal Nights. For those nights.....dress appropriately.....period.

[herb]

I remember as a little girl looking at my grandmothers cruise photos-her boarding in a suit with a pillbox hat

 

Times have changed. I've seen pictures of my mother wearing that type of outfit to a picnic in the early 60's :D

 

Although we're definitely not big fans of Formal night on a cruise we do go along with it.

 

Proof ;)

 

 

There are those who may not want to adhere to the dress recommendations but those guests are truly a minority and have never in any way ruined our evening.

[caviargal]

herb, you guys look great!

 

It will be interesting to see if I notice any difference in dress codes on the OS in April versus last year on ZUI. I dress up for dinner every evening as that is my preference and DH does as well so for us nothing will change. I do hope that some standards are enforced overall.

 

Other lines have lowered their standards and many passengers really push the envelope; casual too often equates to sloppy and this is a shame. I saw this on my last two cruises with X and lines like RCI and Carnival have no standards left at all. It is a virtual clothing free for all and not a pretty sight.:(

[PathfinderEss]

 

Fortunately, I'm my own woman and don't mind dressing up even when others don't. I shall continue to sparkle at night. :)

 

I agree with RuthC, I sparkle every night and will continue to dress that way, no matter how much they change the "dress codes". I mean how hard is it to put on dress pants and a sparkly top, certainly no harder then putting on jeans and a tee-shirt.

[sail7seas]

What a lovely photo, Herb. Thanks for sharing. You both look wonderful and it's part of what makes cruising special IMO To see folks who made the effort to look good for themselves and for eachother.

 

I'd love to share a glass of that champagne you're both holding on any 'dam' ship. :)

 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Herb, I too agree that you and your wife look wonderful. Like Ruth I will still be wearing by sparkley long dresses. Although I will admit it seems the stores around the Las Vegas area are displaying less and less long dresses. The only formal wear I find are for the teens and their school dances. Certainly not dresses I would wear:o

For Tom, this new dress code means less for him to pack. I am sure he will only be packing his Tux and not the additional suit or sport coat. I will continue to pack the same:)

[RevNeal]

And I really, really want to confirm how fantastic both Brian and Greg looked every evening.

 

Formal nights they were the stars of the Ocean Bar.....Handsome gents both!!!

 

I looked forward each evening to seeing Brian's handsome jackets. One was more wonderful than the last!!!

 

And Greg sure does his tux proud!!

 

Thank you, Sail. You are so kind. :)

[Pete Jackson]

I enjoy wearing a tux or other formal wear. But, I've never liked seeing business uniforms on a cruise. After all, we're on vacation! Guys should figure out how to look formal, without looking like the boardroom. So I'm glad they've stopped the specific term 'business suits'.

[RevNeal]

Herb, thanks for sharing that photo with us!

I've scanned in some of the formal photos from the Noordam, I'll have to post one or two here. :)

[RevNeal]

I enjoy wearing a tux or other formal wear. But, I've never liked seeing business uniforms on a cruise. After all, we're on vacation! Guys should figure out how to look formal, without looking like the boardroom. So I'm glad they've stopped the specific term 'business suits'.

 

Thank you, Pete. I actually agree. I wear my clergy "uniform" on cruises where I serve as Chaplain and, otherwise, on Sunday nights. :) Habit (pun intended). :D

[herb]

thanks to all for those nice comments. I actually thought to post the picture since I do, at times, come off as being one of those people who will have nothing to do with Formal Night and will wear what I please.

 

I'm just one of those who would "prefer" not to, since I need to wear a tux to work :eek:

[emmalbrent]

Husband will be wearing sport coat, slacks, shirt and tie. No way will we be buying a NEW suit every time we cruise. Gravity has hit the old middle. Would need pants in a variety of waist sizes.