What Is casual country club dress

I was told to dress country club casual. I have usually been on formal nights with long gowns and tuxedo for hubby. Is it acceptable not to bring a sports coat for dinner??? We will be in the South Pacific on the Marina in February 2016. I was hoping just shirts with collars and Capri pants with nice tops for ladies. Due to lugguage...I hate to bring a sports jacket if not needed. I hate wearing dresses and prefer Capri pants. Please advise us. We have only cruised Disney and Royal before. Cheryl

He will be fine with a collared shirt for dinner no jacket required

No shorts in the dining venues for dinner EXCEPT the Terrace

Nice slacks & collared shirt for men

Nice slacks/capris or skirt with a nice top for women

Several threads on the dress code use the search feature if you need more info

I always say think Chicos for the ladies .....and for the South Pacific, I would not have my husband take a jacket..collared shirts and slacks will take you anywhere on board..

Jancruz1

I always say think Chicos for the ladies .....and for the South Pacific, I would not have my husband take a jacket..collared shirts and slacks will take you anywhere on board..

Jancruz1

even for La Reserve and Privee? just checking.

even for La Reserve and Privee? just checking.

No jackets or ties required ANYWHERE on O ships.

No jackets or ties required ANYWHERE on O ships.

Not required, I get that - but some men do wear jackets, no?

They really should change their brochures if that's not the case ;):p

Not required, I get that - but some men do wear jackets, no?

 

They really should change their brochures if that's not the case ;):p

My husband has worn a blazer a time or two. This is usually due to air conditioning! Also sometimes he feels like wearing it when we go to the specialty restaurants. But not necessary!

My husband has worn a blazer a time or two. This is usually due to air conditioning! Also sometimes he feels like wearing it when we go to the specialty restaurants. But not necessary!

ahh thanks :) got that it's not necessary but as long as DH isn't the only one, he may well choose to do so for some of the specialty dining.

much appreciated :)

Not required, I get that - but some men do wear jackets, no?

 

They really should change their brochures if that's not the case ;):p

You will find more people from the east coast wearing jackets..we are from California..we always have dinner with the Captain and always are in La Reserve..have been in Privee many times and my huband NEVER took a jacket EXCEPT to the Christening of Riviera in Barcelona and it was to hot to wear it..

Jancruz1

You will find more people from the east coast wearing jackets..we are from California..we always have dinner with the Captain and always are in La Reserve..have been in Privee many times and my huband NEVER took a jacket EXCEPT to the Christening of Riviera in Barcelona and it was to hot to wear it..

Jancruz1

thanks :) I think that says it loud and clear. I know we won't be having dinner with the captain like you but that speaks volumes. I will see if DH would like to leave his at home then. thank you again :)

We have seen men in jackets with ties , in suits a few Tuxes & men without jackets

even a few ballgowns have been seen :eek:

DH will sometimes wear his blazer but it is just a personal choice

Enjoy

Lyn

I've never ever seen a tux on O, not sure if I've even seen a men's suit. Some men wear sportcoats, most do not. I've never seen a ball gown on O.

Not needed, but I wear a jacket and often a suit most nights.

Entirely my preference, I do not take formal clothes on Oceania though.

I agree with Tansy Mews about the air conditioning. My husband usually takes a jacket on holiday and often ends up wearing it because the on board temperature indoors is verging on the chilly.

Coming from the UK we're not so used to air conditioning!

I often think a good benchmark is to dress as if you were going out for a meal in a smart restaurant at home.

You will be welcome at the Terrace Cafe even if you look a lot less than elegant - useful if you return to the ship late and don't have time to change.

I'd say most men do not wear jackets on "O", however La Reserve is really a nice dinner and even I don't like a jacket I always wear one to La Reserve. As far as having dinner with the Captain--when invited we always thank him but never go---it's not a table I'd want to be at unless I was a TA and had no choice in the matter. When we go to dinner we really want to be with people we really enjoy or a table for 2 works out just great for us.

Rick

I take a jacket, sometimes wear it if I feel like it (which restaurant doesn't matter), have never worn a tie. I manage to get a sports coat folded nicely into carry-on luggage, but I wear sandals, not big clunky dress shoes. Open toe strap sandals during the day; closed toe fisherman leather sandals in the evening, they almost look like dress shoes. I've worn a beige jacket over a dressy burgundy tee shirt in the evening; the jacket has the collar the tee lacks. The jacket also tends to disguise my pot belly ;).

There are two stories that illustrate the dress code. The first is the founder and CEO, Frank Del Rio, once said that if he sees a fellow in a tux on Oceania, he assumes it's a maitre 'd. The second is that he has stated he deliberately told the shipyard to avoid tie racks in the design of Marina and Riviera (the smaller ships were designed by a different cruise line).

Betsy wears Chicos or Travelsmith capris or slacks with various color smart tops. She also wears sandals. Some folks notice that some of the dress code statements say, "no sandals"; the official dress code in the books in your stateroom says, "no rubber or plastic sandals" in the dining rooms.

We treat the dining room dress code as a recommendation for the rest of the evening, in the theater, lounge or casino.

We have had dinner with a Captain, but only the one with whom we have become friends. He doesn't care what we wear as long as we look nice.

I'd say most men do not wear jackets on "O", however La Reserve is really a nice dinner and even I don't like a jacket I always wear one to La Reserve. As far as having dinner with the Captain--when invited we always thank him but never go---it's not a table I'd want to be at unless I was a TA and had no choice in the matter. When we go to dinner we really want to be with people we really enjoy or a table for 2 works out just great for us.

Rick

We quite enjoyed dinner with the Captain he was quite knowledgeable & charming

To each his own

I always come back to the couple we shared a table with in the GDR few years ago. The husband was in a suit and tie. And he asked us about the dress code when he realized we were "longtimers" on Oceania ...

So I told him he didn't need to wear the suit and tie, that he didn't even need a jacket unless he wanted to. (Some men do, that's obvious!)

We saw him the next night in Polo and he was in a shirt without the jacket or tie ... he felt much happier.

Unfortunately his TA hadn't told him about the dress code.

This is a common question that keeps on coming up with newbies who really cannot believe that the jacket and tie are not di rigueur. It's the same with people who can't believe that they can bring on alcohol without a problem.

I understand why people want to be SURE. I just saw in the current issue of International Travel News tonight that Carnival is banning bottled drinks. This is an effort to prevent alcohol being "smuggled" on board and the amount of time it takes to inspect passengers' luggage for alcohol. Passengers will be allowed up to 12 unopened bottles of water or cans of soda and passengers over 21 may bring on one unopened 750ml bottle of wine or champagne.

They can pre-purchase from Carnival a 12 pack of bottled water online for $2.99 plus tax or on board for $4.99 plus tax and tip. I'm not sure from the article if that price is per bottle or per 12-pack.

I do prefer Oceania's policy ...

In the same issue a passenger praised Oceania because he had been diagnosed with a relatively unknown restrictive diet a month before boarding Insignia in Singapore. The ship staff had never heard of the problem before (FODMAP) but they researched it and when the passenger boarded the ship he met with the restaurant manager, the food & beverage manager, the executive chef, the headwaiter AND the ship's physician. They discussed for half an hour the passenger's dietary needs.

As is typical he received the menus 24 hours ahead of time so he could make his choices. He is recommending everyone with dietary concerns to sail with O. (The menus he received were from both the GDR and Polo/Toscana.)

Mura

As is typical he received the menus 24 hours ahead of time so he could make his choices. He is recommending everyone with dietary concerns to sail with O. (The menus he received were from both the GDR and Polo/Toscana.)

 

Mura

The menus come for meals 2 days ahead

EG: on Mon night you get Wed menu etc..

It is hard to know what I might want to eat on Wed :D

But if you have food issues it is the way to go

That's interesting, Lyn. He specifically said a day in advance, which is what I'd seen here from other people in the past who have dietary needs (no gluten, diabetic, etc.).

I was going to suggest that maybe the time line has changed except that they were on Insignia from Singapore to Papeete April 11-June 4, so that probably is not the case.

Maybe O has just decided to give people more notice than they used to?

Mura

That's interesting, Lyn. He specifically said a day in advance, which is what I'd seen here from other people in the past who have dietary needs (no gluten, diabetic, etc.).

 

I was going to suggest that maybe the time line has changed except that they were on Insignia from Singapore to Papeete April 11-June 4, so that probably is not the case.

 

Maybe O has just decided to give people more notice than they used to?

 

Mura

It use to be a day in advance & you had to hand them in before 10 am ...maybe it was too close

Last 2 cruises we got them much earlier except the 1st night ...that is my experience

I had to start making a note of what I ordered because by the night of the meal I could not remember what I had checked off :D

blame old age ;)

 

In the same issue a passenger praised Oceania because he had been diagnosed with a relatively unknown restrictive diet a month before boarding Insignia in Singapore. The ship staff had never heard of the problem before (FODMAP) but they researched it and when the passenger boarded the ship he met with the restaurant manager, the food & beverage manager, the executive chef, the headwaiter AND the ship's physician. They discussed for half an hour the passenger's dietary needs.

 

As is typical he received the menus 24 hours ahead of time so he could make his choices. He is recommending everyone with dietary concerns to sail with O. (The menus he received were from both the GDR and Polo/Toscana.)

 

Mura

Last night we met Tomas, one of the maitre d' s who is the Grand Dining Room Special Diet Specialist. He was emotionally gearing up for the cruise that begins today. He said cruisers new to Oceania with special dietary needs arrive on board totally freaked out worrying whether Oceania is going to be able to meet their dietary needs. It takes about two days of meetings and hand holding for newbies to realize that Oceania understands special needs and delivers.

I take a jacket, sometimes wear it if I feel like it (which restaurant doesn't matter), have never worn a tie. I manage to get a sports coat folded nicely into carry-on luggage, but I wear sandals, not big clunky dress shoes. Open toe strap sandals during the day; closed toe fisherman leather sandals in the evening, they almost look like dress shoes. I've worn a beige jacket over a dressy burgundy tee shirt in the evening; the jacket has the collar the tee lacks. The jacket also tends to disguise my pot belly ;).

 

Some folks notice that some of the dress code statements say, "no sandals"; the official dress code in the books in your stateroom says, "no rubber or plastic sandals" in the dining rooms.

 

thank you for the confirmation on the sandals although I fully admit I had planned to take mine in any case :)

I always come back to the couple we shared a table with in the GDR few years ago. The husband was in a suit and tie. And he asked us about the dress code when he realized we were "longtimers" on Oceania ...

 

So I told him he didn't need to wear the suit and tie, that he didn't even need a jacket unless he wanted to. (Some men do, that's obvious!)

 

We saw him the next night in Polo and he was in a shirt without the jacket or tie ... he felt much happier.

 

Unfortunately his TA hadn't told him about the dress code.

 

This is a common question that keeps on coming up with newbies who really cannot believe that the jacket and tie are not di rigueur. It's the same with people who can't believe that they can bring on alcohol without a problem.

 

I understand why people want to be SURE. Mura

what an interesting thread and very helpful to a "newbie". Thank you to everyone for sharing.

I think why we "newbies" want to be sure is that O sends mixed messages. Take a look a their latest brochure - both La Reserve and Privee have men in jackets and the ladies in cocktail type dresses.

And their own blog references jackets for the dining room and cocktail dresses - http://www.oceaniacruisesblog.com/taste/2010/08/top-five-tips-on-what-to-pack-for-an-oceania-cruise--------as-ill-be-boarding-regatta-for-the-oceania-club-reunion--crui.html

My TA did tell me country club casual. Country club casual means different things in different locations obviously which adds to the confusion. Here a sports jacket would be worn for a very nice restaurant or a "country club casual affair".

A great thread and very helpful. Thank you again :)

Maybe they should stop showing those paid models in the brochures it is too confusing :D

Maybe they are showing you can dress up if you like

The fashion police are not going to tell you that you are overdressed for Oceania CCC policy :D

One cruise we had a man wear a suit & tie every night to dinner ...his choice no one stopped him form going to the dining venues

we also had a man in shorts going to the GDR he was turned away

There are some restrictions but not too many

Enjoy

I must admit that before our first Renaissance cruise I didn't have a clue as to what "country club casual" meant. I just took comfort in the "casual" part.

On that cruise we saw a group of four couples (obviously travelling together) in evening gowns and tuxes. They looked great and happy ... but for most of us it is just too burdensome to bring along everything you need for a formal evening.

I agree with Lyn that the professional models all dolled up do send a very mixed message!

Mura