Formal dress required?
Jun 30th, 2008, 09:23 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Formal dress required?
Going on an Alaska cruise on Mercury with grown children, none of whom want to dress formally. Does the dining room require formal dress on those formal nights, or does the normal dress code apply? We've been on more upscale cruise lines than Celebrity and none require formal dress.
Jun 30th, 2008, 11:03 AM
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,087
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It depends on what you call formal. A jacket and tie are required for the dining room on formal nights. If they don't want to wear that they can always dine in the lido which is set up in the evening as sit down dining - not buffet.
Jun 30th, 2008, 12:41 PM
#3
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have yet to see anyone actually turned away on a "formal night" and many men wear a dark suit or a jacket and tie or not.
I think if you look closely you'll find the cruise line actually "suggests" a certain sort of attire.
I HAVE seen people turned away from cruise ship dining rooms if they tried to wear a swimsuit to a meal.
I think if you look closely you'll find the cruise line actually "suggests" a certain sort of attire.
I HAVE seen people turned away from cruise ship dining rooms if they tried to wear a swimsuit to a meal.
Jun 30th, 2008, 01:44 PM
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,087
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dukey - actually I have seen on both Princess and HAL men turned away if they didn't have a jacket on. The only time they didn't need one was casual night. These were on longer cruises - so perhaps they are not so strict on the short cruises. It is certainly not necessary to wear a tux or even a dark suit - sports jacket and slacks with tie is fine. It is nicer for the guests who have taken the time to dress up to have at least others at the table in something other than golf tees etc. That is why there is always alternate dining options for those who don't want to be "dressed"
Jun 30th, 2008, 03:15 PM
#5
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I saw 2 young men trying to march into the restaurant in the white fluffy robes provided by the cruise line 
It was on Dawn Princess to Alaska.
If nicely dressed, like no torn jeans, should be fine. Maybe black jeans, nice top - don't think they will be refused a dinner. It's more about "everybody looks formal, and I am not, this makes me feel bad"
It was on Dawn Princess to Alaska.If nicely dressed, like no torn jeans, should be fine. Maybe black jeans, nice top - don't think they will be refused a dinner. It's more about "everybody looks formal, and I am not, this makes me feel bad"
Jun 30th, 2008, 03:20 PM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just sailed Coral Princess - Alaska, with 2 "formal" nights. Saw only a couple of tuxes, about 50% dark suits, 25% sports jackets, ties, nice pants and remainder dress shirt, tie, dress pants. For woman, mostly dresses which would have been considered day wear - not even cocktail dresses. Very few gowns. And this was for later dinner seating.
Sailed Celebrity Caribbean 1 1/2 years ago - people were more formal on formal nights.
However, I suspect it is itinerary rather than cruiseline in this case.
Sailed Celebrity Caribbean 1 1/2 years ago - people were more formal on formal nights.
However, I suspect it is itinerary rather than cruiseline in this case.
Jul 1st, 2008, 04:27 AM
#7
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I cannot understand why they have formal nights, very few seem to actually enjoy them to the rest they are just a nuisance, possibly to take your mind off the food. We will never travel in future unless they have at least one dining room that is casual every night. Problem nowadays is baggage, from Australia we are allowed just 20 Kgs, by the time that you've packed the transformers etc for the cameras, laptops and all that there isn't much room left for clothing and the cost of an extra suitcase is prohibitive.
Jul 3rd, 2008, 03:34 PM
#8
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you hate formal nights like I do, try sailing Oceania or Azamara cruises.
They each have great "small" ships (around 700 passengers) and NEVER have formal nights. They call their dress code "Country club casual" - any nice shirt and slacks will do for men.If you want to wear a jacket/tie - "suit" yourself.
They also have great itineraries.
They each have great "small" ships (around 700 passengers) and NEVER have formal nights. They call their dress code "Country club casual" - any nice shirt and slacks will do for men.If you want to wear a jacket/tie - "suit" yourself.
They also have great itineraries.
Jul 17th, 2008, 04:53 AM
#9
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The minority dress formal on formal nights. WE have done about 7 Celebrity cruises and have dressed up but never formally. Just use good taste and do dressy casual and you will be fine...especially in Alaska.
Jul 17th, 2008, 06:37 AM
#10
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Americans have become a classless, tastless bunch of slugs and slouchers. Wearing jeans and shorts 24/7 has become the uniform of the day. Sitting on floors or slouching against walls are standard waiting area postures. We make our cruises special through elegance: I pop for the least pricey suite with butler service; I order High Tea "in cabin"; I order the best availble wine package; I bring my tux with several different ties & cumerbunds and wear them on formal AND business attire nights. I order champaign with desert and bring the unfinished bottle "in bucket" to the casino and finish the night in the cigar bar with a great cigar and brandy. If others wish to dress and act as 3rd world natives, that's their decision but I see it as civilization regressed.
Jul 17th, 2008, 07:42 AM
#11
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On Holland America Trans Atlantic crossing, our friend's 20 something son was turned away from dinner on several occasions for not having a collared shirt. He tried to go everywhere in a T shirt. On formal night he did wear a suit. Many people were dressed nicely and women in cocktail dresses or gowns! We were pleased to see that the ship was keeping good standards, we did not want to sink to t shirts and jeans for our fine dining experience.
Jul 18th, 2008, 05:06 AM
#12
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I happen to agree very much w/you John. Unfortunately, with advent of modern-day conveniences there is also a meteoric rise in the dumbing down of folks.
Cruises are one of the last bastions wherein one may dress & dine w/aplomb. However, there are the philistines who do detract from the experience.
Cruises are one of the last bastions wherein one may dress & dine w/aplomb. However, there are the philistines who do detract from the experience.
Jul 18th, 2008, 05:58 AM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 738
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I went on a Celebrity Alaska cruise, and they did ask some people to change that were not dressed appropriately. I do like formal nights, and so I tend to go for the more traditional cruise lines that still have them. There are many cruiselines that have Eat where you want, when you want, how you want so there really are options for both kinds of cruisers.... But - that being said, you don't have to wear a tux to formal night - just some nice, simple clothes - suit for the men, dress or nice pants outfit for women....
Jan 7th, 2014, 06:03 PM
#16
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,015
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
John,
I appreciate your attitude. It may be a bit of a nuisance to take extra clothes, but I like dressing up, not fancy, but a little bit. One of my all time favorite pictures of DH was taken in our cabin of him dressed for dinner on the Caribbean Princess! He looks great in a bow tie!
Out of respect for fellow dinners, if we want to be really casual, we eat at another venue besides the main dining room.
On Celebrity Constellation, DH did not wear a jacket to dinner one night. The waiter procured one from somewhere. Lesson learned as DH did not enjoy wearing a multi-worn jacket, but did it because he did not want to hike back to the cabin.
We are taking a cruise soon with little GD. She will dress for dinner. Her manners seem to follow her mode of dress. So guess we will all have to dress up some. It will be fun.
I appreciate your attitude. It may be a bit of a nuisance to take extra clothes, but I like dressing up, not fancy, but a little bit. One of my all time favorite pictures of DH was taken in our cabin of him dressed for dinner on the Caribbean Princess! He looks great in a bow tie!
Out of respect for fellow dinners, if we want to be really casual, we eat at another venue besides the main dining room.
On Celebrity Constellation, DH did not wear a jacket to dinner one night. The waiter procured one from somewhere. Lesson learned as DH did not enjoy wearing a multi-worn jacket, but did it because he did not want to hike back to the cabin.
We are taking a cruise soon with little GD. She will dress for dinner. Her manners seem to follow her mode of dress. So guess we will all have to dress up some. It will be fun.
