galavant3

So,,, if you read the FAQ, it immediately says SUGGESTED ATTIRE.

 

And the Cruise Compass is very specific that it is TONIGHT’S DINNER DRESS SUGGESTION, avoiding the word “code”.

 

You’re on vacation. Wear what you want.

Actually, that’s what a dress code is. Suggested attire. Sometimes it is mandatory, sometimes not. I don’t care what anyone wears but there is a dress code. It up to you to comply or ignore since it is not enforced.

I used this example in a previous post. My son is getting married next month and the dress code is “semi formal”. That’s what we’d like people to wear. However, if someone shows up in jeans and a flannel shirt, they will be welcomed with open arms.

It isn’t about being rigid and militant. It’s about making an effort to ensure that people are comfortable and don’t feel over or under dressed. If someone wants to wear gym shorts to the MDR, it won’t bother me. But at some level, I would like to think that it bothered them.

 

However... we don’t notice much decline overall in RCCL food since 2004 when we started cruising with this company.

That’s when we started also. I never thought the food was that great but we’ve always managed to find something we like. We certainly don’t cruise Royal Caribbean for the food.

It’s been a few years for me also but I always enjoyed the lamb shank.

I don't have to:

 

1. Buy it

2. Prep it

3. Cook it

4. Serve it

5. Clean up after it

 

 

I consider myself as a decent cook....not great, but pretty good. I have been on at least 10 cruises and all different cruise lines. I only recall ONE dish (salty) that I could not eat or considered inedible. Other than that ONE dish....I have enjoyed every meal on every cruise line from soup to nuts.

I consider myself to be a very good cook but I totally agree with you!

I have 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 rule when dining out. One third of my enjoyment from each the company, the service and the food. If the food is lacking a little, the service and the company usually more than make up for it.

First RC cruise in 85 days. My opinion should be highly regarded as I really can’t cook that great at home. I’ve tried 8x to copy a Caesar dressing recipe and had to spit out 5 of them. My best meal ever was at a restaurant 25 years ago, I don’t expect RC to beat that...but I do expect it to be hot and tasty. Five Guys, our local Tony’s Pizza, Houston's, even Chick Fil A have consistently tasty food...they rarely miss the mark. If RC can hit the mark 5/7 days...I’ll be pleased. Time will tell.

If you enjoy fast food, you’ll be fine! To me, the key is knowing what they do well and what they do not so well. Foods that benefit from long, slow cooking like lamb shanks are consistently good. Foods, like fish, that can easily be overlooked, not so good.

But that’s the case any time you are feeding large groups of people.

As long as the host/hostess at the entrance of the MDR is cool with what we are wearing and allows us to enter the MDR that's all that matters to us. No one else matters.

And hopefully that person would be too polite to comment on what you are wearing.

Having said all that, what others choose to wear is no bother of mine nor is my business. I just find it difficult to believe what others wear affects ones meal in a Dinning area with 100’s of people. I do believe a lot cruise to dress up. There is still a few places where dressing up is required.

 

 

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I really doubt that anyone is really bothered by what others wear. I think they are bothered by the "idea" of what people might wear and also of the "idea" that others choose to ignore the suggested dress code. But I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time.

You leave a major part out of you quote. It would have been more accurate to have quoted as it reads, “suggested dress code”. It doesn’t say requested or required.

 

Definition

 

Suggestion

 

A suggestion is an idea someone proposes. You can accept or reject a suggestion.

 

 

 

 

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I think that really is the issue. Those that feel it is appropriate to dress as suggested and to do otherwise would be rude and those that believe it is perfectly fine to ignore the suggestions. And it doesn't appear to be generational. And there will never be agreement.

But it is interesting.

That was one of the best posts I have read about dress code. Thank you. I was raised as well.

 

 

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Thank you! I was actually raised in the military. I'm not nearly as open minded about baseball caps in the dining room so I try and stay away from those discussions.

Personally, we comply with the suggested dress but you would be surprised how many here on CC complain what others wear affects their dining.

 

 

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Every now and then I feel compelled to jump in the middle of this. For the life of me, I don't know why.

New cruisers find it very helpful to find dress code information on line. I know I did. I really don't think people are bothered by what others wear, except in extreme cases. I think they object "in principle" if people announce are not dressing in compliance with the published guidelines.

Even if I felt someone else was dressed inappropriately, I do believe that the proper and polite response would be to do and say nothing.

As a courtesy to the host, or in this case the cruise ship, I dress as "suggested". But when I say I don't care what anyone else does, I mean it. To spend one minute worrying about something someone else does or doesn't do, especially when I have no control over it, is one minute too much.

Doesn’t it say “suggested” dress?

 

 

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In FAQ’s it is referred to as a dress “code”. Which in my experience is almost always “suggested”. An exception might be a school or the military. For example, my son is getting married next month. We are requesting semi formal dress. But, if a guest showed up in jeans, they would most certainly be welcome. The dress code is usually for the benefit of the guest so that they have some guidance on what to wear and in this case what to pack.

It has been my experience that when dress code is listed (non cruise) the host is not planning on policing wardrobes but ultimately it is up to the guest to comply or not. I’m not sure Royal cares what people wear. I think it is more to prevent anyone from feeling uncomfortable because of the way they are dressed.

If a guest feels comfortable wearing shorts when it is suggested they don’t, I don’t think anyone else should be bothered by it.

Oh my would people get off the dress code there is none and wear what you want!!! Royal has suggestions they are not mandatory only suggestive guidelines, just off the Oasis and every night anything pretty much went in all the dining rooms, shorts, t-shirts, jeans, suits, as long as you wear clothes!!

Actually Royal specifically refers to it as a dress “code” so there is, in fact a dress code. Just because they don’t enforce it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

There will always be those that either aren’t aware of the dress code or elect to ignore it. A polite host pretends not to notice and a polite guest does the same thing. No guest should be made to feel uncomfortable.

For any event, occasion or venue, I dress as requested. It’s just how I was raised. However, I have no control over what others wear and I rarely notice.

Nice jeans would be preferred to nylon shorts for dinner.

Agree! One good thing about nylon shorts is that people would probably assume your luggage was lost and give you a pass.

I am not a big rule follower.

 

However we do like to dress fairly decent and look nice for dinner & beyond.

 

Usually the people who say "Why dress up, I am on vacation" are the folks who get dressed up daily for work and want a break from it.

 

Although no one really cares what others wear, I personally would never show up for dinner looking sloppy and embarrass my wife. unless it was the buffet.

 

Perhaps its time to go shopping...

This made me laugh. I can’t even imagine getting dressed for dinner and having my husband show up in gym shorts. To say it would be a long cruise is an understatement. And we dress fairly casually.

When it becomes too much effort to put on a pair of pants, it’s probably time to rethink cruising.

Almost everyone buys the drink package which is several hundreds of dollars per person...but the auto gratuities are too much and they would like to be selective about who they tip? It's about a hundred per person for the entire cruise and it takes care of all the servers in every venue and your cabin steward, for crying out loud. I never understand why this is the big debate and requires you to get a calculator out or have a list of which members of the crew are included in the pool.

I know! The last thing I want to think about or worry about while on vacation is someone else’s compensation plan. It has already been figured out. The staff are hired with that understanding and each passenger is charged a small amount each day. It’s all set.

The simplest way is to leave your automatic gratuities in place and not worry about the distribution.

 

Waiters, assistant waiters and food service staff work in numerous locations throughout the ship; not just MDR and Windjammer.

 

If you feel anyone goes above and beyond and want to tip extra you can always do so.

I really don’t understand why people spend any time at all thinking about gratuities. There is a gratuity system in place so why people feel the need to step in the middle of it is beyond me.

We are talking about $100 for the week which boils down to about the cost of one drink a day.

Agree with Grandma Dazzles. Give a bit extra to those that go above and beyond and call it a day.

I can't believe anyone would want to not pay gratuities everyone on the ship works really hard to make sure you have a good time they deserve every penny

 

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Agree! People pay thousands of dollars to vacation but take issue with the $100 to pay the staff that bends over backwards all week.

Even if they eliminated tipping, the fare would just go up by $100.

We prefer to prepay and not give it another thought. It’s incredibly liberating and I highly recommend it.

My favorite chicken wings. Have seen meatballs, spring rolls, beef skewers, shrimp and others.

 

 

 

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One time we enjoyed bacon wrapped scallops. I look for those every time now.....

Two things I never understand:

 

1. Why do people think you can share an earned perk in your name. Very seldom is a earned perk transferable to another person.

 

2. Why do people openly admit they share, things they are not suppose to, and say where, no one caught me?

I think what happens is that people genuinely don’t know the policy. I’ll include me in that category. I’ll be cruising with my mom who is not Diamond. I plan to ask if I can “buy” her a drink with one of my complimentary vouchers . If I’m told no, I’ll purchase her drink. It isn’t about not being “caught”. While I get a lot of valuable information on here, I don’t assume everything I read is accurate.

By booking O life you will get the Internet....so if you know you will use the OBC, that is the advantage. Given the gratuity charge, even if you don’t drink, the OBC can be used against that.

Thanks! Every time I try a new line I feel like I am starting over. We will get the beverage package - then upgrade for the $20 per day once on board.

I thought he said we would get internet but didn't remember for sure. The more I learn, the better value this is!

Will they charge the gratuities daily?

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Could the difference be an O life price, as opposed to a base price (with no amenities)?

This must be it! I'm not sure what we are doing about airfare so I'm holding off on that for now but he did mention that he gave us the on board credit. When I checked the invoice, $400 per cabin was showing as OBC.

So, it looks like he gave us the OLife pricing and subtracted 800 for air credit.

Not a big deal but I booked 4 cabins so it adds up.

Thanks for your help!

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Hi! Just booked our first Oceania cruise. When I received the invoice, the fare was higher fare listed on the website. I'm assuming that port fees and taxes (gratuities?) were added but there was no breakdown.

Can someone tell me what charges might have been added? I'd call but the hold time was quite long and I was not given an email address of the person I booked with. Just an extension.

Thanks!

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See my post #119.

 

Perceived success? Not the reason I cruise with a brand that rewards my loyalty. ;)

Sorry...I think my post might have been confusing. It was someone else that suggested cruise status could be interpreted as perceived success in other areas. I was just pointing out that I, personally, don't view it that way.

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And I would not. I like the atmosphere on RCI. That is the reason that I cruise with this line.

My point really was I don't think frequent cruising on a mass market line is an indication of success. We started cruising when our kids were young because it was a very affordable family vacation. I suspect there are others that started for the same reason.

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I wonder why that would be? And I suspect that people feel that the ability to cruise frequently signifies success in other aspects of life.

I suppose some would interpret it that way. As a frequent cruiser on mass market lines, we cruise because it is a budget friendly way to vacation.

If money were no object, I would be cruising on Regent or Crystal.

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