cruisecritic.com has lots of posts about this one!

Well I side with those against the jeans for dinner - first, who wears jeans in hot weather? Cruising is not a "dude ranch" experience - it is a "summer resort" experience no matter the time of year. I have a December cruise on NCL planned and I will wear resort casual and ignore the tacky people in the jeans and ball caps. With free style cruising it is not like I have to sit with them (snob alert). Many "dressy" restaurants will seat people with jeans - their money is green - that is the way of the world now. But I dress to feel good for my own experience, not for someone else. Jeans obviously make some people feel more comfortable in their experience. Being from the south, I am used to jeans and ball caps in inappropriate places. But as we say in the south: tacky is just tacky:-)

" a perfect time for parents to teach their children the proper way to dress on different occasions."

Interesting comment - I was brought up by my parents to believe that the host rather than the guest determines what the "proper" attire is for an occasion.
NCL has made it clear that they feel resort casual wear is appropriate dining wear on all evenings on their ships.

Yes Semi, at a party the host does determine or recommend the attire. However in this instance the host is being paid by the guests for a true cruise experience.

Stay Savvy,
Hugs, The Savvy Old Lady(c)

You know Semi your post is about tolerating others dress not matter what so then why can't you tolerate others POV's that differ from yours w/o resorting to sarcasm? In other words practice what you preach and try to be civil.

Uhm - jacketwatch - considering some of the comments you have made about the wardrobe habits of others - I think I can safely say "Pot" and "Kettle".

It is interesting that when I point out things - I am somehow "uncivil" for expressing my opinions but when others make comments about people who simply do not choose to dress the way they do that is just fine. I have just as much right to my opinions as you do. Apparently "looking down your nose" at people is OK but pointing out that that is what someone is doing is somehow wrong.

"Yes Semi, at a party the host does determine or recommend the attire. However in this instance the host is being paid by the guests for a true cruise experience."

Not sure that I agree - since I don't see anywhere in the literature where a "true" cruise experience is defined. And I am sure that that what constitutes a "true" cruise experience would be a matter of personal opinion.
That being said - it is of course your option to sail with those cruiselines that will give you your version of a "true" cruise experience - just as it is my option to sail with NCL and enjoy their version of a cruising experience.

Which I guess is why I truly don't "get" what the fuss is about wardrobe standards - I mean it is not like NCL is hiding the fact that their dress code is casual. If that bothers you, do as one poster did and decide to cruise with another line.

To me this makes a lot more sense than making comments about what people "should" (according to ones's personal dress standards NOT NCL's) be wearing. On NCL cruisers ARE appropriately dressed as long as they follow any standards NCL has given.

As for my personal views, I don't even care if my fellow cruisers are "appropriately dressed by NCL standards" as long as they are clean and don't smell. I don't waste a lot of precious vacation time analyzing the wardrobe habits of fellow cruisers and I don't "get" why anyone would. Although I guess to be fair some people probably wonder why I would rather stare dreamily out to sea rather than at fellow cruisers.

Semi: It was you who looked down your nose on this thread with your sarcasm my friend. "Pot and kettle" indeed. I make no apologies for expressing my preferences and it was you who assumed how others would be treated as persons due to this preference. FYI I don't treat people based on what they wear anymore than you. I simply prefer a different standard of dress for dinner on cruises. Get it?

How long have blue jeans, muscle shirts and flip flops been "resort casual wear"? Must be at a different resort then we usually go to.

Larry, good post :)


Semiramis: Most cruise lines do have posted dress codes. However, there is apparently a new generation of cruiser who finds it a burden to comply for whatever reason. Some of us choose a cruise for the experienced advertised, including a more formal dining experience. One the several reasons I avoid NCL is because of their Freestyle product (been there, done that and have no interest in doing it again).

IME, casual attire breeds casual behavior and I do not like my cruises to feel like a week at the mall, food court and all.

Reisender, you beat me to it. I was thinking exactly the same thing. For me, jeans and sneakers are what I wear to a football game or a concert in the park. I would never consider them to be resort casual.

jacketwatch:
"Pass the pepto"

I still don't "get" it??? If you don't
like the way people dress on NCL - DON'T CRUISE ON NCL - it really is that simple. WHY is it necessary to make remarks like "classless" and "pass the pepto" and "hairy armpits hanging out".

Why not just say - "I don't like NCL's dress code - so I choose to cruise on other cruiselines" WITHOUT making value judgements about other people's wardrobe choices. AND WHY when I quote people's OWN words am I being "uncivil".

Oh I will confess to sarcasm - let's just say that snotty unnecessary comments don't always bring out the best in me!

Well I am done with this - my advice - focus your energies on enjoying your vacations - they are a time to RELAX not to stress out over trivia like who is wearing what. Enjoy the sea, the Sun and your family and friends. Your last thoughts (at least I hope so) are not going to be
"I always dressed appropriately".

Yes, certainly different strokes for different folks. Even if the dress code weren't lowered, NCL just wasn't my type of cruise line so it's a non-issue for us. I have never felt so nickel and dimed in my life as we have on NCL cruises. Never again!

Semiramis: Now just relax. No need to "jump ship" so to speak. In time I hope you will learn to express yourself non-judgementally when you think others are being judgemental. You'll make a better impression that way vs. flying off half-cocked. learn to disagree w/o being so disagreeable in the process. Then we can call you a "fullramis" Just kidding. :D :D Have fun on whatever ship you sail. Larry :-)