traveller1959

Usually, I know the dresscode on cruise ships. However, I have been told that on Alaska cruises the dresscode is more relaxed. In fact, due to our extensive after-cruise tour through Alaska, our baggage is somewhat restricted. So, please tell me:

1) On a 7-day-cruise, when will the formal nights happen on a HAL ship?
2) Do I need a tuxedo on an Alaska cruise? If not, what will be the alternative?
3) Will it be possible to take just one jacket? Or will it even be possible with no jacket at all?

Usually, I love to wear a tux. But this time, we have to pack as small as possible. And I do not want to be overdressed.

Eschew

1) 2 formal nights
2) no tux needed
3) one jacket is enough

Reme

Wear a blazer on the plane and you have your formal night. A tie is good also. But be sure to take a warm jacket for viewing glaciers etc. from the deck. Alaska can be cold in July. Not always but on the water .

traveller1959

Thank you for your helful comments.

tower

I was on a solo cruise, Quebec to PEI, NS, Bar Habor and Boston last October. Loved it. Here are some pics which may give you some ideas or familiarization. Solo cruising (and cruising in general) are new to me, having traveled the world over with my now-incapacitated spouse. I had only taken three cruises (Alaska, River Cruise in Russia, and a "working" cruise to Mexico...I was a guest-lecturer at the time). But I did love this cruise. And therapeutically, it was great for me. I had been to Quebec before , but PEI and NS were new to me. Maine was an old stomping ground when I lived in Mass. over 50 years ago.

Dress code...don't ask, don't tell..just show up. I noticed every type of dress imaginable. I noticed some dudes in tuxedos and long gowns like some old alums at a High School fancy reunion...but this octogenarian solo-er paid no mind. I did wear slacks, no jeans.No one is going to tell me how to dress on a ship after paying 1000's of dollare for passage.
That's absurd.

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...ianCruise2013#

Will post my Alaska pix, too. Had my dear wife with me on that one..turned out it would be her last trip.

marg

Hi tower. Loved your reply - my attitude exactly. Why should we be treated as second class passengers when we've paid the same (and sometimes more) than other passengers just because we refuse to carry formal wear which will only be worn once or twice.
Sorry that your wife is no longer with you - we're trying to do as much as we can whilst we have our health and each other.

tower

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...AndGlacierBay#

tower

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...10AlaskaSitka#

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...askaKetchikan#

kayd

On our Alaska cruise on HAL last year, formal night was indeed very relaxed. My husband did not pack a sport jacket because we needed the luggage space for post-cruise gear and clothing (e.g., hiking boots). We decided to give the dining room a try on "formal" night--black slacks, plain top, and bright silk scarf for me, khakis and collared button shirt for him. The ship keeps a few jackets on hand so the maître d' provided a jacket for my husband, which he wore for the minute it took to walk to our table, then hung it in the back of his chair.

Why haul a jacket if the ship will lend you one for the few minutes you need it?.

utahtea

We just did a two week Alaska Cruise on HAL this June and there were 4 formal nights. The 7 night cruise will only have two formal nights. Formal nights did not look relaxed to me. You don't need a tux but at the very least a shirt and tie and one jacket would be better.

On smart casual nights I did see jeans and less than smart casual a LOT! On formal nights I was very impressed since everyone keeps saying Alaska is more casual.

Utahtea

ira

>Formal nights did not look relaxed to me. You don't need a tux but at the very least a shirt and tie and one jacket ...<

A jacket and tie is everyday wear at dinner for those of us "of a certain age".

Formal is a dinner jacket and black tie.


My grandmother thought that black tie was semi-formal.

traveller1959

We are back from our cruise. Yes, I packed my tailored black silk suit and wore a most elegant tie with a native pattern that I bought in Vancouver and I belonged for certain to the 2% best dressed men in the dining room!

On the formal nights, we saw not more than two or three gentlemen wearing tuxedos. Even dark suits were in the minority. About 20% did not wear a tie. We saw even one guy wearing a checkered flannel shirt at the formal night.

And the general impression was that the gents dressed better than the ladies!

So, after all, very relaxed and absolutely no enforcement of dresscodes.

I can understand that Alaska is special because you do not wear a jacket before and after the cruise.

For those who are interested, I have written a trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-land-tour.cfm

tower

<i>A jacket and tie is everyday wear at dinner for those of us "of a certain age".</i>

Ira, when we see someone of a certain age wearing jacket and tie at dinner, we figure he's from Madison, GA.

tower

I should have added.."here in California"

annw

Great pics, Tower, and fun to read thread, thanks.

We have a 40th anniv this August and have booked the HAL 7 day cruise. DH will bring his navy blue blazer (purchased second hand for $10 for a trip a while ago and now his go-to travel outfit!) -- and a tie doesn't take up much room. I'll do the black pants with dressy top thing.

First cruise for us, and we heard Alaska is a good one for cruise newbies.

Dyer

tower - I enjoyed your photo's of your N/E coast cruise to QC. My 31 yr. old DD and I are taking that cruise next month. DH and I took our first cruise (7 day) one yr. ago to AK and we really enjoyed it. The dress code comments on here have been very helpful. This will be our daughter's first cruise.