levenlinks

I think the point that is missing is we older folks were taught that appropriate dress is a sign of respect - that you care enough to take the trouble to wear what is expected of you. If the expected changes to less formal, I feel you can always dress up but not down. So, let us wear on the Queens as dressy as we wish - yes, even ball gowns because we can't look down on someone dressing on the "upside". Where else can you wear it anymore if not on the Queens?

By the way, it is not just sloppy Americans who don't dress up anymore. We went to the theatre in London last time we were there over 5 years ago and my husband and I were the only ones in a suit and elegant dress. The others were in flip flops and shorts. However, I think the pendulum is starting to swing the other way when they found out people took their jobs more seriously when dressed in suits rather than casual.

My favorite tuxedo shirt is from M & S when the airline lost our luggage and I had to whip into one of their stores for that and some other things. It only cost $29, can be thrown into the washer and dryer coming out "starched" appearing and perfect! Come to think of it, if I have time, I will see if we can buy another one or two to replace his others.

We love to dress up, but our only problem is we use the Queen Mary as a means of transportation, not just strictly for pleasure, since we prefer to cross the Atlantic by ship rather than by air. That means we have to store the formalwear someplace for over a month and then have Luggage Forward pick it up and deliver to whatever ship we are taking home so that we don't have to lug that suitcase around Europe. Wish Celebrity was the formal ship instead since it is just for cruising and we miss formal nights. So I guess if we can go through the trouble and expense, it shouldn't be a problem for just "cruisers" to pack a suit and tie for a couple of nights.

42. There you have it.

I've been reading the reviews of the Queens and I'm now thinking we are worried about the wrong thing. Dress is the least of our problems. The food was universally panned, service was awful, on and on. One man on a 4 week voyage got off after two weeks it was so bad. The upper deck buffet was called "nasty" and especially vilified. Think I'll book more evenings in the "Veranda" specialty dining room...

We just got our cruise booklet for July 6 crossing and it states "formal" (gala) still dress to impress - tux, dinner jacket or dark suit/tie with women from formal gowns, one or two piece, or smart suit (?). There are three formal nights every other night on 7 day trip. Other nights "smart casual" - jackets with or without ties and dress pants - women dresses, skirts and blouses or pants with nice top. This has replaced the old cocktail attire on the non-gala nights.

how awful

Curious why princess would send buses for you??

Did Oceania not have any available to hire

I was just answering her question. We were on a Princess cruise.

The trouble was some of the people on the train were with a RCCL ship and everyone but the four of us hopped the first train that came along which then called for transferring to a second train to get back to Livorno after 8:00pm. When they got off that train and saw us waiting for them with the two buses, they dropped to the ground in thanks. They had thought that the ship had sailed without them.

Second half of story. Two days later ship docked in Monte Carlo and people went into Nice. There was a land slide and they couldn't get back to ship, so ship left late again. On way across Atlantic, a hurricane developed south, so captain steered north. New hurricane developed north of us and now we are caught in-between. We arrived New York a day late. Not sure, but imagine captain retired after that cruise!

Anybody on the Oceania Singapore to San Francisco 58 day cruise May 9, 2020? We are wait-listed - every category cabin sold out!

I assumed but some posts in this thread give me the impression they believe anything less than full royal uniform is unsatisfactory. ;)

I don't care what anyone else wears, but it will be nice to be on a ship where nice clothes are the norm instead of "jeans without holes in them" as designated by most ships these days for dinner.

Anyone know if there is a shuttle in Livorno and if there is , where does it take you?

 

Thanks!

KIm

From Livorno you can take a train into Florence. Just be sure to take one back by 4:00pm. We had a woman commit suicide in front of our train and couldn't get back until after 8pm even with that 4:00 train. As much as I am not a Princess fan, they sent two buses to pick us all up from the train station since I didn't know how many of us there were and held the ship for us. It was much appreciated!

Hello, we are booked on two QM2 transatlantic cruises July 6 eastbound and August 19 back. We are also taking a two week river cruise and two week a Celebrity British Isles cruise in between beside 10 days on land. So, what attire is required on the Queen very important since we need different attire on each kind of ship! I had planned to bring tux and gowns for the QM2 in one suitcase and storing it in Southampton until we return 6 weeks later.

No matter what, still will have suit and sport coat for husband and "dress up" (wedding guest type of attire) along with a few silk flowing pants for the REFLECTION. This is what we wear on even Caribbean cruises. Everyone is very complementary and seem to appreciate our lack of jeans.

So my question is, is the above dressy enough for QM2 if the designations are ambiguous but they still mean formal and informal (to save the trouble and expense of lugging a third large suitcase)? It's been awhile since we sailed the QM2. We will not be in the Princess or Queen's Grill.

BTW, I'm sure not all the British understand American sense of humor at all times as well.