I'm going on an inside passage cruise on the Westerdam in May and wondered what is appropriate/acceptable dress for non-formal nights. I've found mention regarding formal nights (possibly tux etc) but what about all other nights? I don't really want to pack too much stuff that I have to iron or keep looking smart just for a few nights on ship. (The cruise is just part of our holiday.)<BR><BR>--&gt; what type of shirts?<BR>--&gt; suit-type pants vs. a little more casual?<BR>--&gt; ties required?<BR>--&gt; jackets required?<BR><BR>Any thoughts...?

It might make a difference which cruise line you're on.<BR><BR>Most of the cruises I've been on 'country-club casual' seems to be the norm on non-formal nights.

Probably the most common thing you will see is something like khakis and a golf type shirt. You can wear the same pants more than once and the knit shirts travel easy and look nice. You can wear a bit dressier if you like but you will be in the minority. Lay your slacks and shirts out in a plastic cleaner bag (or trash bags)and then fold up and you'll be surprised how few wrinkles you have.

Michael - check what the HAL brochure says. They tend to be more "dressy" than other lines. Also, they may have three levels of dress: formal (meaning tux) "informal" (meaning sportcoat and tie) and no dress code, meaning country-club casual. HAL isn't Carnival!

I always wear a jacket and tie to dinner on informal nights. Remember, informal does not mean casual. A jacket (and certainly a few neckties) does not take up that much space in your luggage and you can never go wrong being properly dressed as an adult male (unlike so many of today's travellers both at sea, in the air, and on the train). I know this is going to iritate some, but here goes: I find it somewhat appalling that adults (I assume posters here are adults since they have the money for a cruise) have to ask questions about what to wear AND they are always trying to find out if they can get away with out wearing a necktie. Grow up and dress resectfully. I'm tired of sitting next to YOU on a plane in your wearing a RUNNING SUIT, and I am most tired of seeing YOU in the public rooms on ships after 6pm in a T-shirt!

I must add ..... the appropriate dress for teenagers ..... any night ... is grunge.<BR><BR>Paul

John Doe: Thanks for your insight - very helpful...

Michael, Just got off the Westerdam Sunday (Eastern Caribbean, however) and I wanted to let you know that their laundry service is quite reasonable and speedy. I find that it is worthwhile to pack less and let the laundry service do up the dressier outfits from one formal/informal night until the next. My own husband had a dark business suit for the 2 formal nights, a sport coat (with tie!) for the 2 informal nights, and knit shirts WITH a collar and chinos for casual nights. I think the suit cost us $5.50 to have pressed, the sport coat $3.50 and the shirts laundered for $3.00. You just leave them on your bed for the cabin steward and he will have them back the next afternoon. (There is also an EXPRESS same day service, but don't know the cost there.) I think next cruise I'm even going to pack LESS. I'll plan on taking only two or three pairs of chinos. Hre's a laugh for you...There was one woman onboard - for this 8 day cruise - who had brought 32 PAIRS of shoes!

John Doe, your adolescent rant demonstrates you could not be one of the "adults" whose taste and civility you admire. If you're looking for someone to lecture about appropriate public decorum, you might check the mirror.