Cathie

We are planning a cruise in Spring of 2003 and am now starting to investigate all possibilities....we like casual, shorts and jeans, and was just wondering what ship and cruiseline would be more appropriate for this type of dress.

Paul Therault

Hi Cathie,<BR><BR>I would choose the masted sailing vessels of Windstar, Star Clippers or the more reasonable Windjammer Barefoot.<BR><BR>Of course you may cruise the regular ships and not ever eat in the dining rooms. But passengers that do this come back and report they hated the food. You eat just about the same thing every day.<BR><BR>Paul

Pam

Run, don't walk, to www.windjammer.com<BR>Dressing for dinner means putting on a clean tshirt. I've sailed a total of 11 weeks with them. Looking forward to weeks 12 and 13 this November. Check out their bulletin board, www.coconutelegraph, for lots of good info or email me.

Cathie

Thanks for your suggestions but I was thinking of the larger ships..most of those are no more than 100 rooms, right? <BR>

Fran

<BR>I've taken numerous cruises and had the most fun on the Windjammer. Talk about casual! However, my advise would be that you take one of the lower end cruises, the cheaper the trip the more casual in my experience. Also, Ren has no formal nites, if that is important. Be aware: Most cruise lines, with large ships, do not allow shorts or jeans in the dining room.

Gail

If you want the larger ships and want it casual, then go NCL. You can do their freestyle dining and don't have to dress up for dinner.

Tony

Hi Gail, <BR> Just returned from an NCL cruise on the Sky. Their policy was "no t-shirts or shorts after 1800hrs" (sorry - 6PM) <BR> <BR>Tony <BR>

sssss

The WIndsurf by Windstar cruise lines is a 4 masted sailing yatcht that carries 300 passengers--it's thelargest ship in the windstar line. Windstar is know for their elegant casual dining--the ships are smaller,the casinos are almost nil,there's only a jazz combo in the bar--no serious evening shows--if --the passenger that wants an upscale relaxed cruise that gets into unusual ports hwre the larger ships can't go.....try it however,if you want a larger ship go with carnival cruise--they are casual and lots of fun

Jeannine

Cathie, <BR> <BR>My husband and I went on a Windstar Cruise and liked it very much because it was informal - but I don't know if I would call it casual. People were very well dressed even at their most casual - silk shirts, crisp linen pants, etc. Hope this helps.

Cathie

Thanks to everyone for all your advice.. <BR>I am glad that I started doing some research now instead of waiting until the last min.