Who Wants an End to HAL Formal Nights Entirely?

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

I enjoy and vote to KEEP formal nights on HAL!

HAL is one of the few lines that offer a more mature, laid back, and elegant cruise, why would anyone want to take away formal nights when they can just choose one of the other many lines to be casual on, or eat in the Lido/their cabin!?

I like dressing up and like seeing others dressed nice. It isn't often you see people dressed nicely (weddings, funerals, etc). I think it adds a special touch to the vacation.

There is no reason why a tux or 2 dresses need to take up alot of room in luggage - roll them up, put them in travel space bags. I can fit 2 dresses in a large purse or carry-on with many other articles of clothing and zero wrinkles.

I will only book on lines that continue formal nights.

[azcruiser64]

I vote to keep formal nights.

I can remember when people wore coats/ties/dresses when flying. Now you see cutoffs, flip flops and just about anything else because people want to be "comfortable".

Do away with formal nights and in a few years country club casual will be the same way with pretty much anything goes.

[LorraineAZ]

Not us. Having sailed with cruiselines that allowed much more casual dining room standards, we're looking forward to the more traditional aspects of HAL. It's my impression that there is a correlation between the perceived elegance of a dining experience and the deportment of the diners, ie: a first class hotel dining room vs. Red Robin or Chilis. Both are enjoyable but quite different.

I do appreciate that baggage weight has become more of an issue for many, especially those who fly in like we do and respect everyones' right to be comfortable on their vacation. For us, black tie IS comfortable for a few formal evenings. We certainly don't expect everyone to feel the same. Enjoy your cruises, however you chose to dress:o

[LSEA]

I would be happy to see a switch to all elegant casual or whatever term the OP used. I am no longer a fan of formal night and I am also not a huge fan of casual night. I like something in between. However, until the change is made I will continue to follow the suggestion for the evening, or choose to dine in my suite.

[fayruz]

it is a hassle to bring a suit when the trip involves a flight. I could go either way as long as it maintains a certain level (no jeans or shorts or t's).

 

Yes, specially when you fly in for a rather long cruise, about a month, and would like to bring something home as a souvenir instead of carrying around your "best clothes". I think that a business suit and tie( for men ) is alright. Ladies dresses are lighter, I do not carry more than one, anyhow.

 

Mens clothes are heavier and with 23 kg baggage allowance you cannot carry much.

I also dislike the "formal wear" you can rent on board : it makes people look as if they are going to a low class funeral.

[cruzn single]

We have enjoyed "formal" night in the past on all of our HAL cruises. However, this year on the Ryndam to Alaska, we won't be participating because after the cruise we will be on a tour and are limited to one bag apiece. Personally, we are using our luggage allowance for warm clothes, since we are going to Alaska from a warmer "lower 48" state! We are already a Panama Canal cruise and will participate in "formal" nights even though it will probably paying for an extra bag!

 

To us, "formal" night not only signifies different clothing, but also another pair of shoes for each of us, and weight allowances and # of bags allowed do become a cause for concern!

[cruzn single]

We have enjoyed "formal" night in the past on all of our HAL cruises. However, this year on the Ryndam to Alaska, we won't be participating because after the cruise we will be on a tour and are limited to one bag apiece. Personally, we are using our luggage allowance for warm clothes, since we are going to Alaska from a warmer "lower 48" state! We are already planning a Panama Canal cruise and will participate in "formal" nights even though it will probably mean paying for an extra bag!

 

To us, "formal" night not only signifies different clothing, but also another pair of shoes for each of us, and weight allowances and # of bags allowed do become a cause for concern!

[Pettifogger]

Formal nights are one of a half dozen things that differentiate HAL from mass market lines and I think HAL should maintain that differentiation in every way it can.

[GOLDENBONNY]

There are so many people who say they will eat in Lido rather than dress formal, that I wonder at what point, it's time to do away with formal nights - to go all 'elegant casual'.

 

Maybe it is mainly because of airline weight restrictions and people don't want to lug the formal clothing or maybe it is because formal is alien to their lives and they don't want to experience on vacation but it seems many folks say they don't wish to participate.

 

You want it to continue or not?

 

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dont wanna see HAL become NCL:eek:

[MJYFGSL]

There are so many people who say they will eat in Lido rather than dress formal, that I wonder at what point, it's time to do away with formal nights - to go all 'elegant casual'.

 

Maybe it is mainly because of airline weight restrictions and people don't want to lug the formal clothing or maybe it is because formal is alien to their lives and they don't want to experience on vacation but it seems many folks say they don't wish to participate.

 

You want it to continue or not?

 

I would prefer no formal nights .My preference is wearing a knit shirt with khakis . I equate this with dressing for business .Forever it seems the norm was wearing a suit and tie to work every day as if this would enhance work production .About 20 years ago somebody came up with the casual friday in which anything other than jeans and tee shirts were acceptable .A few years later every day became business casual .I personally do not know anyone who continued to wear a suit and tie .

I owned 10 suits in 1980 and I have 1 now .

[bradpole]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dont wanna see HAL become NCL:eek:

 

Either do I, there is a HUGE difference between NCL's definition of casual and a "country club" or "resort" casual.

[janiceah]

I couldn't care less if formal is kept or not. I don't do formal but if others want to then go ahead. You won't bother me, I'm happy in the calm of the Lido. Just don't force your choice on me - HAL doesn't!

Ditto for me too.

[luvs2travl]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dont wanna see HAL become NCL:eek:

 

Amen, sister!! :)

[alpal1993]

I used to really look forward to Formal Night and DH and I usually did dress up in a long gown and Tux for DH,but I would be just as happy to skip it and wear just a nice skirt and blouse or a pants outfit.I especially don't like it after a day out in the sun,just too tired!

We are doing a 14 Night Alaska on HAL and due to the need of warmer clothes.I probably will mix and match skirts ,tops and silk pants.Dark suit with varied shirts and tie for DH.

We do enjoy the dinning room service and only would eat in the Lido if we were staying in port over night.

[MJYFGSL]

I used to really look forward to Formal Night and DH and I usually did dress up in a long gown and Tux for DH,but I would be just as happy to skip it and wear just a nice skirt and blouse or a pants outfit.I especially don't like it after a day out in the sun,just too tired!

We are doing a 14 Night Alaska on HAL and due to the need of warmer clothes.I probably will mix and match skirts ,tops and silk pants.Dark suit with varied shirts and tie for DH.

We do enjoy the dinning room service and only would eat in the Lido if we were staying in port over night.

 

If I were you I would call the Chamber of Commerce in the Alaskan cities close to cruise time .We did a 14 day in Alaska in May of 2008 and they were experiencing the warmest temperatures in history .Nearly all of our days were not wearing coats ,sweeaters ,etc .

[Old As Dirt Mom]

If I were you I would call the Chamber of Commerce in the Alaskan cities close to cruise time .We did a 14 day in Alaska in May of 2008 and they were experiencing the warmest temperatures in history .Nearly all of our days were not wearing coats ,sweeaters ,etc .

 

:)Or check out the webcam at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau:

 

 

http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/webcam.html

 

 

It would be helpful to see a poll on the dress topic. I'm sensing that there is a split between those who prefer formal, those who prefer "smart casual", and those who don't care but "go with the flow". I think if HAL switched over to only "smart casual", there would less of a hullabaloo than you might think.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Yes to formal nights. Cruising is the only time we do dress up since being retired and living in Tucson is casual. I wonder if the formal/not fomal nights responses have to do with age and working or not. Just a thought.

 

Barbara

[ger_77]

Keep Formal Nights ! ! !

 

We love the formal evening aspect of cruising, as we don't often have the opportunity to wear our formal attire at home. It isn't a big deal to pack a tuxedo along with everything else - in fact, I'd even pay for the extra piece of luggage if it was necessary to bring along our formal wear. Besides, DH looks soooo good in his tux! ;)

 

Smooth Sailing! :):):)

[iancal]

We would vote NO to formal nights..please discontinue.

 

Not certain why the negative references to NCL. I was on an NCL cruise and did not see any issues.

 

I notice few references Oceana, a true premium line, that does not have formal evenings.

 

As for 'tradition', if we kept all the traditions including price, most people on this board would not be cruising, or cruising as often (including me). The pricing aspect of the cruising tradition has changed dramatically...and I do not see anyone complaining about this departure from tradition.

[savannahgirl1]

Yes to formal nights. Cruising is the only time we do dress up since being retired and living in Tucson is casual. I wonder if the formal/not fomal nights responses have to do with age and working or not. Just a thought.

 

Barbara

 

Not sure about everyone else, but I'm 37 and my husband is 35. He works for a school system as a technology specialist and has to dress for board meetings quiet often (suits with ties) and we still LOVE formal nights. If HAL did away with them, we would look for a line that still included them. I love being "escorted" to dinner on the arm of my well dressed husband, with me in a beautiful dress. Having formal pics made that we otherwise would never get around to here at home. Its just a very special feeling those evenings.

[snowman]

Down with formal nights!!!

[Firemans_Flame]

I'm a first time cruiser and come from a very casual part of the country. I'm looking forward to a chance to get dressed up! I will probably only bring one dressy outfit though - so I will either repeat or only attend one formal night.

[luannsimon]

I do , I do (want to end formal nights)

[chefchick]

I love getting dressed up and it is one of my favorite things about cruising so I am all for it. My husband could take it or leave it frankly. We always rent a tux for him because of his casual job environment (software) so the airline baggage weight restrictions are really not an issue for us.

 

Okay, someone PLEASE explain this to me. I keep hearing about those who "don't mind" dressing formally for dinner but immediately go back to their room to change for the evening. Sure, my feet start to hurt in high heels after a while, but going back to my cabin to change for the evening's show/casino time or after dinner cocktails sounds like more of a hassle than it's worth. We look good in our formal clothes and it took me almost an hour to get ready why would I want the only person to see my beautiful new dress be the waiter? ;)

[taxmantoo]

Down with formal nights!!!

 

Disregard comment. Its author will soon melt and disappear :D