How many nights are 'formal' nights on this cruise line? What are the options for those of us that don't want to go the trouble of dressing up a lot?<BR><BR>Also, does Princess use the same port facilities as NCL and RCCL near Old Town San Juan?<BR><BR>This is for a 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise out of San Juan.

On a 7-day cruise, Princess has two formal nights.<BR><BR>Major option would be the buffet if you don't want to dress up. However, "dress up" may not be as scary as you think. Only 1/4 to 1/3 of men wear tuxes (more the longer the cruise), and a dark suit or even a nice sport coat and tie will do.<BR><BR>Pat.

Opps, I just realized that a "Melanie" may not be the kind whose interested in wearing a jacket and tie! <BR><BR>I do think women tend to dress up more than the men do, but the classic "little black dress" would do fine.<BR><BR>Pat.

Melanie, we took this same cruise last November. As Patrick mentioned there are 2 formal nites although there are several other options. The Steak House is a very good alternative.<BR>The Princess does dock in the Old San Juan area althought they have a seperate facility just down the street.<BR>One word of advice, if you have booked the Princess transfer back to the airport, reconsider. Getting off the ship was fine but the mob scene getting on the buses was unreal. In retrospect, we would have been better off grabbing a cab. There were plenty available and pretty much the same price as the transfer. As the last experince of the cruise, it was really a downer.

<BR>Patrick - no offense taken. I know that on RCCL and on NCL, there are all degrees of 'formal'. The more cruises I take the less I feel like packing an extra outfit for formal nights - my dress isn't too much, but a suit and suitable shoes for DH are just getting too hard to tote around.<BR><BR>BJ - I've always found getting kicked off the ship and sent to the airport to be the worst part of the trip. But thanks for the warning! I am considering doing my own thing to get to and from the airport.<BR><BR>Thanks everyone!