What's the Deal w/ Formal Night?

[mll1013]

Our family of four are going on our first cruise next summer to Alaska on the Zuiderdam. We chose HAL because of their specials on 3rd/4th passengers. I was surprised to discover that the cruise industry, which has evolved into a family-friendly component of the tourism industry, still encourages formal nights. Why does that seem soooo last generation to me?

 

What this means is that I have to pack not just one week of outfits for a family of four, but twice the amount, since we'll have our casual wear during the day and our formal attire in the evenings. Oh, but wait... even on the non-formal nights, there's this "smart casual" thing too. 4 people, 7 days, 3 types of dress... 4 X 7 X 3 = 84 outfits?!?!?!

 

So.... I've searched and read many posts about formal nights on this board, but I haven't heard anyone address this subject to families. So... to the questions...

 

1) How should our family of four approach evening attire?

 

2) How can we minimize the amount of luggage required, while not appearing out of place or being looked down upon in public places during the evenings?

 

3) Do we really have to sequester ourselves to our room on formal nights if we want to pack reasonably?

 

4) Can we expect strict dress codes in just the MDR, or will we see it throughout the ship?

Thanks,

mll1013

[jghllnd1]

Formal night is part of the experience. Yes, dress up or go to the Lido or have room service. You can also rent the formal wear right on the ship, that saves some packing space.

[furf_n_slo]

There are also laundry services on board. We've found that most of the time, half way through the week, you can get a special on laundry. Sometimes even get everything in a bag they provide washed for $20. We've done this several times and just reworn items. Sometimes even if they hadn't been washed. You're only wearing them for a few hours anyway. And no one cares or even pays attention if you've worn something twice.

[canadianbear]

You know, my first cruise was last September with a family of four (except my kids are young adults!) and I was freaking over the formal nights but insisted we go to them. So...my husband and son packed a suit (with a tie of course). My daughter a couple of dresses, and since I don't wear dresses any more, a couple of dress pants with different tops.

 

For the "smart casual" I found it pretty much meant no jeans and t-shirts. Dockers and a nice top for men seemed to be the norm, or wear the suit pants and a nice shirt or polo type shirt to cut back on packing. Also, I only took two pair of dress pants but a few different, easy to pack tops.

 

During the day we were always in jeans and runners. They are not strict throughout the rest of the ship with dress code.

 

We found the formal nights to be something very special in our family as it seems the younger generation isn't used to it. There is no rule you have to go to formal nights as there are other options if you find it "so last generation to you"! I bet you will enjoy it though if you give it a try. We never were in a hurry and just enjoyed the evening all dressed up.

 

When we did the cruise they also had the special 3rd/4th passenger rates on so took advantage of it too. It was a wonderful cruise to Alaska and you will love it. Oh...and the room service is great!

 

Have a fantastic time and I am sure other people will post with a lot of hints for you...I am pretty new at this.:)

[SwissMyst]

Our family of four are going on our first cruise next summer to Alaska on the Zuiderdam. We chose HAL because of their specials on 3rd/4th passengers. I was surprised to discover that the cruise industry, which has evolved into a family-friendly component of the tourism industry, still encourages formal nights. Why does that seem soooo last generation to me?

 

What this means is that I have to pack not just one week of outfits for a family of four, but twice the amount, since we'll have our casual wear during the day and our formal attire in the evenings. Oh, but wait... even on the non-formal nights, there's this "smart casual" thing too. 4 people, 7 days, 3 types of dress... 4 X 7 X 3 = 84 outfits?!?!?!

 

So.... I've searched and read many posts about formal nights on this board, but I haven't heard anyone address this subject to families. So... to the questions...

 

1) How should our family of four approach evening attire?

 

2) How can we minimize the amount of luggage required, while not appearing out of place or being looked down upon in public places during the evenings?

 

3) Do we really have to sequester ourselves to our room on formal nights if we want to pack reasonably?

 

4) Can we expect strict dress codes in just the MDR, or will we see it throughout the ship?

Thanks,

mll1013

 

Other family friendly cruise lines have moved away from formal dinner nights, but not HAL as its promotional material always provides.

 

You don't need to attend the formal dinner nights. You can always order room service or eat at the Lido. The Lido is a lively place. You will not feel sequestered. Probably run into the other families there too.

 

You can honor formal dinner evenings and pack reasonably. Or you can rent formal dinner wear onboard - best for men, not so fashionable for women. A nice dressy tailored or sparkly top and long black skirt or pants will be fine.

 

Even for young people, there are simple options. The idea is to be in a special environment for a few evenings in the old cruising tradition. Most enjoy this aspect when they choose Hal. There are reports that some children found the dress-up nights the best of all. This could be a lot of fun for them.

 

Smart casual is just a few steps up from tee-shirts and jeans. No logo tee-shirts but a simple polo top and a skirt or nice pants with a casual jacket would do fine.

 

You don't need "new" outfits every meal. No one will keep score. And using nylon duffle bags for packing to allow more weight for clothes helps too now that baggage limits have put a cramp on everyone's packing styles.

 

Hope you have a wonderful voyage and a new discovery enjoying the formal dinner nights on HAL. But maybe in the future the more family oriented, casual "free style" cruise lines would be the better match. But don't sell HAL short, it may work too once you see what all of this is like on board. I bet your children will remember the experiences fondly. And will have never seen their parents look so special on those special nights.

 

Looking for cruise clothes on ebay is a great way to put all this together for not much cost at all. I am a fan of searching for Talbots sportswear on ebay and they also have some very appropriate children's outfits too, particularly dressy dresses for young girls.

 

On the last HAL ships I have been on they had some wonderfully cheap dressy shawls, men's silk ties and cheesy but fun glamour "jewelry" sets that can add a little sparkle to some basics you might bring, like a long black dress or blouse and skirt. All the accessory extras were about $10 each. And rummaging through the ties netted a few really nice ones, though others would be best left on the counter.

[jagoodbar]

I'm a very casual dresser, but I do enjoy the formal nights. I only pack one dark suit and three dress shirts and three ties. For the smart casual I pack some everyday slacks and a few nice button down shirts. I've never been out of place on the formal or smart casual nights. Usually on the formal nights, I head back to my room and change the suit into casual dress.

 

Jon

[SwissMyst]

Also, since you have not cruised HAL yet their main dining rooms are so pretty and dramatic with the two stories and full windows and ceiling art that you want to dress up just a little bit. They are special places; not stuffy or overly formal. Just visually fun, yet still a touch of formal. I think the experience will be magical for your children. And will make for great photos for the grandparents.

[yogi2929]

We've been to Alaska twice. On the Volendam in 2007 with our DD 13 and in 2008 on the Westerdam with both teenage DDs. In 2007 it was in the 70s-80s and we wore shorts and Tshirts most days. In 2008 it was freezing. We layered our clothes.

 

The key to packing is to mix and match clothes. All tops go with all bottoms. Limit the number of shoes, etc etc. The fashion board has lots of hints. As long as the clothes are clean no one is going to notice that you wore the same thing twice on a cruise. Febreeze is your friend.

 

For Formal Nights DH brought one suit, two dress shirts and two ties. For the other nights he wore Dockers and nice shirts to dinner. He wore the almost the same things in port. Guys have it a lot easier, lol.

 

For night I brought a black skirt and top, black patterned skirt and top, a dress, couple of sparkly tops and a pair of black travelers slacks. 1 pr of dress sandals & 1 pair flats. I think I wore the black slacks most nights and I didn't notice any 'OMG she's wearing THAT again!' stares. For regular nights I wore nice 'church wear', for formal nights nice 'wedding guest' attire.

 

We each packed into a 25" suitcase and still had clothes we didn't wear.

[bettacanuck]

I have to say I was dreading formal night on my Westerdam cruise recently as I'd rather where a bikini top and board shorts everywhere. But I decided to pack a really nice black dress and I wore it both formal nights, just with totally different jewellery and a nice scarf one night.

 

And shocker of all shockers I loved formal nights!! Everyone looked to good! It felt so elegant to be walking around seeing everyone look so lovely. Nothing too fancy is required, just a nice outfit that you can change up each night.

 

You could eat in the Lido, but who wants that when you can be spoiled in the dining room??

 

I highly recommend formal night...the food was best on those nights:p

[Roz]

I wear my evening attire (both formal and smart casual) more than once. I also do things like wear the same black pants 3 or 4 times with different tops. On my last cruise I took advantage of the laundry service for the first time, and now plan to cut back on what I pack in the future. You do not need a separate outfit for each person for each day/night. Figure out how some clothing items can do double duty.

 

I personally like the ambience of the ship and the dining room when everyone (or nearly everyone!) is dressed up. Dressed up can mean a simple black dress worn with pumps and some jewelry.

 

Roz

[topspot]

Jeans are allowed on Smart Casual nights.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

HAL is not a family line in general. They cater to older, more mature passengers. If going during school breaks or holidays you will see more families/kids then, but if not, I have never seen more than a handful of children (maybe 8-10 at most). Which is why we choose this line! On our Alaska cruise we only saw 2 toddlers under 4. Average age of passengers on all the cruises we have gone on HAL have been 70s. If you choose to go on this line, you should follow their rules. If you don't like their line, go on a different one that caters more to your liking.

HAL's policy on formal nights are tux or dark suit & tie for men, ball or cocktail gown for women, and they ask you to observe dress code the entire evening in all public areas, other than the Lido. Other options are you can stay in your room and order room service or you can eat in casual attire in the Lido and retire to your room afterward.

Many people look forward to formal nights. Everyone looks stunning and it is rather nice.

To minimize clothing packed, wear same outfit twice and pack clothing rolled tightly in travel bags - it does not allow wrinkles and is quite small if you get all the air out. I carry 1 formal dress in a travel space bag in my purse and another in my carry-on. My husband's suits are also rolled tightly in space bags and carried in his carry-on.

[SwissMyst]

It is always an interesting question whether HAL "caters" to older travellers or whether older travellers prefer HAL, because of it traditions of formality.

 

Seems a lot of families who report here also appreciate these more formal cruising traditions are quite happy with HAL. And those who do not, have a lot of other cruising choices besides HAL that may fit them better. But traditional HAL passengers have fewer and fewer other choices to make these days as more ships shift to 24/7 casual, free style with chain restaurants.

 

HAL is in a good place right now with excellent demographics. I hope they don't ruin it.

[Former Goalie]

Our family of four are going on our first cruise next summer to Alaska on the Zuiderdam. We chose HAL because of their specials on 3rd/4th passengers. I was surprised to discover that the cruise industry, which has evolved into a family-friendly component of the tourism industry, still encourages formal nights. Why does that seem soooo last generation to me?

 

What this means is that I have to pack not just one week of outfits for a family of four, but twice the amount, since we'll have our casual wear during the day and our formal attire in the evenings. Oh, but wait... even on the non-formal nights, there's this "smart casual" thing too. 4 people, 7 days, 3 types of dress... 4 X 7 X 3 = 84 outfits?!?!?!

 

So.... I've searched and read many posts about formal nights on this board, but I haven't heard anyone address this subject to families. So... to the questions...

 

1) How should our family of four approach evening attire?

 

2) How can we minimize the amount of luggage required, while not appearing out of place or being looked down upon in public places during the evenings?

 

3) Do we really have to sequester ourselves to our room on formal nights if we want to pack reasonably?

 

4) Can we expect strict dress codes in just the MDR, or will we see it throughout the ship?

Thanks,

mll1013

Disclaimer: I have been on many other cruise lines (RCL, Celebrity, NCL, Regent, Princess), but never HAL. We will be traveling HAL soon.

JMO, but I wouldn't get too concerned about the perception you may (or may not) have about formal nights on HAL. The first thing I'd like to mention is that (at least according to what I've read) all one is asked to wear on "formal" nights are a jacket and tie....no dark suit, no tux, etc.

We are traveling on a Caribbean itinerary and, if we don't go to the Lido or dial up room service, I would wear a jacket, tie, and a nice set of trousers on formal night. If I were to go to formal night the second time, I would reuse the same outfit with some minor variation. If I use the Lido or room service, I wouldn't feel I should sequester myself in my room without the proper attire. I might go to the pool deck for a dip or whirlpool, and I certainly wouldn't wear formal attire there. If I were to go to the casino or if I had some need to go to guest services, I would look presentable, but not dressed to the nines.

This is what I've done on other cruise lines, and have never felt out of place. I've stated I've never cruised HAL, but I am not anticipating that it will be any different on this line. HAL may be perceived as a more "mature" line, but it is nonetheless a mass market line which must cater to a broad demographic.

Some of the longer duration cruises may lean toward a considerable older demographic, but the seven day sailings you and I will be going on I think you will find quite casual in nature, with many children aboard.

Every cruise I've been on I've overpacked, so I would suggest you can substantially cut down on your anticipated clothing needs.

Most importantly, don't sweat the small stuff, revel in the excitement of a first cruise, and get ready for the journey of a lifetime to Alaska!

[SwissMyst]

The biggest reality check between older cruising traditions and maintaing a semblance of older cruising traditions is the elimination of multiple steamer trunks per passenger and replacing them with a single 50 pound baggage limits on connecting domestic airlines.

 

Dressing standards on ships obviously have to respond to this totally different reality. But this does not eliminate the chance to respond creatively nor ignore the really good deal HAL offers renting men's formal wear.

[mll1013]

HAL is not a family line in general. They cater to older, more mature passengers.

 

This is actually what appeals to our family. We prefer to have a more quiet and peaceful cruise setting for our AK experience. For us, AK is about the nature, the scenery, and the wildlife, not the social scene. The cruise ship, then, becomes little more than a floating hotel which provides the best access to the panhandle.

 

It is always an interesting question whether HAL "caters" to older travellers or whether older travellers prefer HAL, because of it traditions of formality.

 

HAL is in a good place right now with excellent demographics. I hope they don't ruin it.

 

It's ironic that the one line which still caters to the more mature clientele is the one company that is offering the 3rd/4th passenger specials. That seems aimed directly at families. If they are going to market to families, then they may indeed "ruin it."

 

I truly appreciate all of the posts here. It is great to hear what everyone thinks about formal night. And while we may not agree on formal night being right for us, I do think we are coming to accept it. We recognize that on HAL, we will be the demographic that is trying to "ruin it." As such, we simply need to "do as the Romans do", right? ;) It wouldn't be prudent or comfortable to "rock the boat." (pun intended!)

 

Thanks for all of the great responses!

 

mll1013

[Mary Ellen]

What this means is that I have to pack not just one week of outfits for a family of four, but twice the amount, since we'll have our casual wear during the day and our formal attire in the evenings. Oh, but wait... even on the non-formal nights, there's this "smart casual" thing too. 4 people, 7 days, 3 types of dress... 4 X 7 X 3 = 84 outfits?!?!?!

I'll deal with the interesting math logic first - Are you planning on wearing 3 outfits EACH day? Do you need 'smart casual' on the formal nights or formal wear on the 'smart casual' nights? :confused:

 

DH can easily wear pants (i.e. Dockers) during the day AND on smart casual nights. Polo-type shirts can also be worn for both. Now, we change after shore ex for dinner as we don't want to wear our sweaty clothing to a nice meal. Same thing as we'd do a home, we'd NEVER clean house/work in yard and not change our clothes before doing out to eat.

 

Two outfits a day are sufficient and some items can be worn multiple times before cleaning. Laundry is available. On the R & S class ships there are laundry rooms for passenger use. On all ships one can send out laundry and dry cleaning to be done by the crew.

 

We just returned from an 18-day cruise (plus 5 nights pre-cruise and 3 post). There were 4 formal nights, I wore black crepe dressy pants and had 4 'sparkly' tops. DH had his tux, 2 formal shirts and formal shoes (size 13 isn't small). We only checked one bag apiece. No need to get freaked out. It CAN easily be done.

[mll1013]

I'll deal with the interesting math logic first - Are you planning on wearing 3 outfits EACH day? Do you need 'smart casual' on the formal nights or formal wear on the 'smart casual' nights? :confused:

 

Good point... looks like you caught me exaggerating, didn't you? :eek:

 

Ok, so it's 4*7*2=56... but I do understand everyone's point in being creative about how this is to be done. I only own one dark suit, and that's exactly what I'll bring for both formal nights... a second tie certainly won't cause the luggage to burst at the seems either, will it? I also haven't worn a pair of dockers in years, but I'm sure that if I can afford the cruise, then I can afford a pair of dockers for smart casual nights.

 

The one thing that concerns me is the amount of shoes we'll have to pack. I can wear something sturdy during the day, but then I'll need my dress shoes for formal night and my loafers for smart casual. Shoes take up sooo much space... that's where I see the packing becoming a real headache for 4 people.

[ziggypup]

I'd be more concerned with the available dresser and closet space in the cabin. Hopefully you will have enough space so you can store everything without having to live out of the luggage.

[doclove]

We are a family of 6 and have just finished packing for our upcoming cruise. We actually limited the number of suitcases we are bringing to 4 plus a garment bag. We are each bringing 2 pairs of shorts, pair of jeans, swim suit, and formal clothes, along with some shirts. We plan to just either wear clothes multiple times or take advantage of the laundry service. Much easier then trying to carry a large number of bags through the airport and then to the cruise terminal.

 

We are all looking forward to the formal nights. We are going to use it as an opportunity to get some nice family pictures taken.

 

Ironically, my family loves the formal nights, but my parents who fit the traditional HAL demographic hate them.

 

I couldn't imagine cruising without formal nights. And I agree with SwissMyst that the dining room is so nicely decorated and elegant that you want to be dressed up.

[Boytjie]

The biggest reality check between older cruising traditions and maintaing a semblance of older cruising traditions is the elimination of multiple steamer trunks per passenger and replacing them with a single 50 pound baggage limits on connecting domestic airlines.

 

You are not limited to one 50lb bag per person on cruises; you are most likely flying to your departure port and choosing to not pay for a second bag.

[Luke Warmwater]

It could be worse and you could be coming from England as many HAL cruisers do. Most flights, we are limited to 45 pounds each and minimal carry on and, because of the distance, will generaly cruise for two weeks as well have having time in Florida before and after. The formal nights are not big deal. You do not need different outfits. Ask anyone who has sat at a dinner table if they remember what their table mates were wearing. They never remember. And even if they did, so what? You are never going to see them again are you?

[mll1013]

The biggest reality check between older cruising traditions and maintaing a semblance of older cruising traditions is the elimination of multiple steamer trunks per passenger and replacing them with a single 50 pound baggage limits on connecting domestic airlines.

 

You are not limited to one 50lb bag per person on cruises; you are most likely flying to your departure port and choosing to not pay for a second bag.

 

We'll be driving from Seattle to Vancouver, so baggage restrictions will not be an issue for us... However, I also highly appreciate ziggypup's post below as well:

 

I'd be more concerned with the available dresser and closet space in the cabin. Hopefully you will have enough space so you can store everything without having to live out of the luggage.

 

Obviously, we'll want to economize on space. I started a separate thread on storage space on a HAL balcony.

[RevNeal]

The one thing that concerns me is the amount of shoes we'll have to pack. I can wear something sturdy during the day, but then I'll need my dress shoes for formal night and my loafers for smart casual. Shoes take up sooo much space... that's where I see the packing becoming a real headache for 4 people.

 

Are you traveling to the ship barefoot? ;)

Based upon what you've written, you'll only be packing TWO pair of shoes. Yes, men's shoes are bulky, but dispersed through two bags (or even in just one) they're not THAT bad. It's the women folk who seem to bring a lot of shoes.

 

Here's my packing list my most recent Alaska Cruises (edited to remove clergy-specific apparel):

 

Formal: 2 nights

1 Black Tuxedo

1 Tuxedo shirt, 2 bow ties (1 black, 1 silver), shirt studs and cufflinks

1 Pair Dress Shoes

 

Smart Casual: 5 nights

3 Silk/Print Shirts

1 blue button-down shirt

2 Pair slacks (1 black, 1 tan dockers)

1 Pair slip-on brown casual-dress shoes (loafers)

 

Daytime Wear / Ship and Shore

4 polo shirts

2 long sleeve shirts

1 Sweater

1 pair of slacks

 

Cold Weather Wear / Ship and Shore

1 coat

1 pair of gloves

1 hat

 

Other Clothing Items:

Workout wear / Sleep Wear

2 pair shorts

1 pair long sweat pants

2 t-shirts

2 pair white socks

1 pair white walking shoes (for ship/short/workout)

1 swim suit

10 pair of underwear

3 undershirts

3 pair compression socks

 

Worn In Transit:

1 sports jacket

1 pair slacks

1 belt

1 black polo shirt

1 Pair of brown casual shoes

 

Stuff:

2 Watches (1 casual, 1 formal)

Collapsible Laundry Basket

Small emergency tailor kit

Spare pare of glasses and glasses tool / cleaner and cloth

Sunglasses

Binoculars

Umbrella

Rain Poncho

Shaving kit (all bathroom articles)

Medical supplies (sinus, headache, toothache, etc)

Breath Rite Nasal Strips

iPod and iPhone and charger

Short, multi-plug extension cord

Sun tan lotion (yes, even in Alaska)

Tums

Laptop

Digital Cameras with assorted accessories (chargers, memory cards, cables, etc)

Book or two to read.

Travel Documents including Passport

Money and Monetary Instruments

[cruz chic]

Seems to me the OP is just not wanting to dress up in any way and that is really what the issue is to me. If I didn't have to worry about weight restrictions on flights it would make life easier. As it is I pretty much bring what I want...within reason. That said I do dress for formal nights and don't have a problem with it.