Thread: WardrobeéTemp

Our cruise is in Feb,Eastern Caribbean.(Princess, in case it makes a difference to the responses )I understand formal is required for some evenings.My husband intends to buy a new suit as he needs one anyway. No tux, it just doesn't make sense for us.
I have been perusing dresses-no hardship!-but I am curious. If the dress is flash but not floor length will anyone care ?
I have dressy black slacks that I have worn with a succession of dress blouses ( for annual voice recitals).Tops wer a lot easier to find than dresses. So, would that be suitable i.e. dress slacks and fancy blouse?
Which leads me to: how warm is it on board? Long sleeved blouse too warm? Medium weight suit uncomfortable?Sleeveless dresses,tops appropriate for informal and other dress wear?
And ashore at that time of year.What are we looking at fortemperatures? Would summer-in-Nova-Scotia-wear be useful there?
And, should I bring my own hair dryer?
Making my Christmas list, have to give people some direction!

First, good choice on the suit for DH. I see more and more suits as opposed to tuxes so he will be fine.
Long dresses, short dresses, fancy pants with nice fancy blouses(maybe beaded, maybe rhinestones, maybe neither) should be fine for you.
I like to wear matching pants/tops. Sleeveless or sleeved will be fine.
The temperature aboard is usually "normal" room temperature.

Hair dryers are usually provided on board so unless you have really long hair and want a good one, you should be fine.

Informal, yes sleevless dresses/tops are fine for women. Sometimes it gets a little chilly in the dining room though.

Stick around though and you will get varied opinions. I always wear what is comfortable and what I like. As long as I don't look like a country bumpkin and out of place, I'm fine with it.

Don't think you have to wear something all sparkly or prom-like. I consider anything you can wear to a really nice wedding, whether floor length or cocktail length or in between, or crepy pants, formal. If I'm not driving to the port, I tend to go with shorter dresses that will go into hubby's garment bag. For non-formal nights, I like to wear sundresses or gauzy type of skirts (as Hanna stated, the ship's interior can get cool, so I have a pretty sweater or thin shawl to wear at dinner or in the entertainment venues).

Daytime you can wear shorts in the dining rooms. I think the one no-no in the dining rooms during the day is bathing suits, even if covered.

That's what I'm aiming for, thank you! Honestly, it's like learning a new culture.Finding out what's 'de rigeur' and then adjusting to your comfort level.
Dining, dressing, tipping -is there a 'cruise ettiquette' book? If not, someone should get busy!

Actually, this forum is much better than an etiquitte book. Most have been on a lot of cruises.
You will find a big variety of dress on formal night.
You'll see beaded gowns, tea length dresses, cocktail dresses & dress pants with fancy tops. It's all good. My DH wears a suit. He doesn't have a tux.
Check the weather for each of your ports a few days before you go. Just google each island. Sometimes it can get chilly on the deck at night, especially if it's a little windy. Also can get cool in the lounges , etc.
Most all have hair dryers, but I like my own.
Just know you're going to have a fabulous time ! Nothing like a cruise. ENJOY !!!!!

I have 3/4 length skirts and full length skirts -- both black -- makes it easy to just bring along a few fancy tops!!

That sounds like me. Tops are relatively easy to come by. It'll be a race to see if I can downsize enough to be happy with ones I own or get to splurge on a new one. I win either way!!
Meantime, I'll look peripherally for a dress . Just for fun.
As long as it takes no room and doesn't wrinkle...

Easternstar,

As you check your fancy tops do consider the weight of some of the beaded ones. Given all the weight restrictions nowadays, I've had to relegate my beaded tops to non cruise wardrobes.

Will do, thank you. Are we talking flight restriction weight or ship? I'm keeping a notebook of helpful hints and advice and have been collecting bits of history and maps.Very unlike me to be so organized but I want to have a stress free time.

Eastern star, it's weight for the airplane that is my concern -- don't think it could be a problem on the ship.

On our last cruise we had a $75 overweight surcharge on the suitcase with my husband's kilt -- but we pretty well knew this would be the case. We were offered the opportunity to repack -- step aside in the mile long line and reorganize three cases! We paid. But we were going on a 30 day cruise so had factored in surplace weight charges.

We haven't cruised Princess but evening dress was quite varied on HAL and Celebrity --with outfits ranging from 'nice pants and top' to sparkly evening dresses.

Please yourself and your husband is my motto.