Thread: What's Your Dress Code Philosophy?

What's your Dress Code Philosophy?

Here's what I think about dress codes. The cruise line sets dress codes in order to create a certain atmosphere for the evening or evenings events. Passengers should comply with the dress codes to the best of their abilities.

Exceptions to dress code compliance are as follows: Anyone with a physical disablity or illness that would make exact complience virtually impossible or an elderly couple who were given a cruise by friends and family for a special gift, but now worry that they don't have the right clothes. In those cases I say "just do the best you can, wear the nicest stuff you have, and don't worry." But I think that's proabably about 2% of cruisers???

So for the rest of us that cruise:

1. Do your research about dress codes before booking your cruise. Know if the line has formals, informals, smart casual or casual nights. Find out if jeans are permitted. A knowledgable travel agent will know, or this information can easily be found on most cruise lines web sites. The dess code goes both ways, NCL permits jeans in the dining room on thier Galeveston departures,, so if dressing up is important, then you might choose another line. The other side is that most cruise lines have a formal night, where men are asked to wear atleast "Coat and Ti" and the ladies a nice pants suit, or a coctail dress, or a gown. I've seen many post from people who claim that they didn't know there was a formal night until after the final payment. A few minutes of research would prevent this situation on help everyone.

2. Incorporate the dress code of a particular line into your decision to cruise on that line or not. Know that there is some give and take. While the line that has your itenerary may not have your prefered dress code, understand that you might have to give up one thing in order to get another.

3. Once you have made your cruise selections, be prepared for that give and take.

Example 1. You really love formal night, but the Raddison Cruise to Alaska dosen't have them. Well just pack your resort casual stuff and enjoy all the other wonderful things about Radisson. You can dress up on your next cruise.

Example 2. You really want to do Celebrity because you've heard such wonderful things about them, but you really don't want to pack a Tux or Formal gown because you'll be traveling in your two weeks prior to your cruise. Celebrity is more than accomodating. You can either dine in your room or make a reservation in the casual dining area. Celebrity does ask you to maintain the dress code through-out most of the ship, so just be prepared to not fit in should you choose to attend a show or get drinks in the martini bar. You could also opt to rent your formal attire through the ship and have your tux, or even a ladies outfit waiting for you when you arrive on board.

4. Be respectful of your fellow passengers, staff and crew. For the most part, and this is "Blazer Boy" I am quoting here, about 90%-95% of passenger will conform to the dress code, so for the most part most people are respectful to the atmosphere that a particular line is trying to creat in setting a dress code. Nobody on a cruise ship "has" to do anything, but just as you would be courteous to your wait staff by saying a thank you, or hold the door for the next passenger to get on the elevator, or not run down the halls at 2:00 in the morning banging on everyone's doors, following the dresscode shows that you respect your other passenger and the vacation that was marketed to them.



For my family, dressing up for the evening has always been my favorite part of the cruise. For the cruises I did as a kid, I was so excited to get a new dress, or fix up my Aunts old prom gown, or whatever to wear on the formla nights.

For my DH, DS, DD, and myself, we have a great time getting ready for the last cruise, and I didn't spend a fortune on the formal wear either. I even got one dress for my DD on sale for $3. I bought a new dress for my self for $37.50. I bought a navy blazer for DS at a thrift shop for $5. Shirt and Tie sets for him at Walmart for $11.50. You don't have to spend a fortune.

Dressing up for dinner is one of my favorite parts of cruising, but one of the nice things about cruising today, is that there are all kinds of alternatives to the traditional cruise experience.

Oceiana (Spelling???) is supposed to be a very nice line and they have no formal nights. NCL has the Freestyle dining which allows passengers to choose a dining experience that matches what they want to wear. Most traditional cruise lines even have an alternative casual dining area, sometimes a buffet, sometimes a sit down, in an effort to accomodate the person who wants to take a vacation from getting dressed up.


Finally, I'll quote the comedian who hosted Karaoke night on the second formal night on my Infinity Hawaii cruise.
"Ok Joe, is going to come up and sing now, Oh, Joe, those must be your formal flip-flops and shorts you're wearing tonight???"


So who would you rather be???

Well written Suzanne! I am one that totally agrees with everything you said! Of course, we choose Celebrity because we too, love the formal nights and we don't do that much at home. I think the suggestion of doing your research & selecting cruiselines & cruises is excellent---all the necessary information is posted there!

Well done Suzanne



Phil

Excellent, great thread!! I agree 100%. There is a cruiseline for everyone, just have to pick your priorities.

On the other side your post would surely draw a lot of comments, controversy and flaming, but I just don't know if all the nice people over here will react any differently than saying that they agree with you Unless MACOP finds out where we went - LOL wiggle:

Very well said!

Great thread Suzanne. I agree with all you've said. I do specifically pick cruises that have formal nights as we really do enjoy it. I just booked my summer cruise with the kids and will be renting tuxes. They are growing too fast to even bother buying suits. And since they get two wears per tux I just divide the cost in half and it's about $40 each. Would spend that on jackets, shirts, pants, shoes anyway. (Suzanne, you sound like the queen of bargains!)

I certainly would select a cruise based on my preferred style. It's one of the reasons I don't go for any of the "Free Style" cruises. Just not my preference of cruising. Part of the atmosphere I enjoy most is the formal nights.

Suzanne. Lovely! I also look forward to dressing for dinner. At home we don't and it's so nice to go to a nice dining room with a tablecloth and linen napkins, to be served your food and to enjoy the company of others. Even on casual night I tend to dress up. It's just fun. Also, I want to look good for my honey. And on formal nights, it's sure nice to see him all decked out in a tux.

Garry

Great thread!!!!

I remember on one of our formal nights, some schmoe wore a faded tuxedo T-shirt!!!!!!!!!! He thought no one would notice, but he stuck out like a sore thumb!

Simple dress code philosophy; You know what is expected going in. Either comply, eat in the buffet, order room service or don't go on the cruise!