Opting out of formal night

[1 HappyCruiser]

I'd be willing to bet RCL is the next to drop them. Princess will hold off for a while.

 

I doubt if they totally drop them but ease into a more relaxed mode of acceptance.

What I can't understand is why they don't have one of the anytime dining rooms set up for a formal dress optional, this way every one would be satisfied without offending the formalists. There are obviously many people who would take advantage of the a setup like that considering the extra charges the airlines are imposing lately.

Possibly when the new ship is introduced, they change.

[paul929207]

I doubt if they totally drop them but ease into a more relaxed mode of acceptance.

What I can't understand is why they don't have one of the anytime dining rooms set up for a formal dress optional, this way every one would be satisfied without offending the formalists. There are obviously many people who would take advantage of the a setup like that considering the extra charges the airlines are imposing lately.

Possibly when the new ship is introduced, they change.

I agree, one of the dining rooms should have no dress code.

[flynmess]

While we enjoyed participating in formal night on our first cruise, we decided it really wasn't for us. We were thrilled to learn we had other options for future cruises and have since taken advantage of the Specialty Restaurants, and our favorite...The Ultimate Balcony Dinner on formal nights. May have to try Room Service next time ;)

[BLS]

We now very rarely do "formal nights".

We enjoy the option to just visit the buffet or specialty resaurants.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and their own idea s to what amkes their cruise special.

For us we're happy to be sailing and able to just be casual.(however would never go to the dining room on formal night in casual clothes, we do respect the dress code)

For those choosing formal nights, I'm sure they enjoy them.

Bottem line--to each his own.

 

Happy sailing!

[sultan_sfo]

Shorts and Tees would be fine?

 

I agree, one of the dining rooms should have no dress code.

[paul929207]

Shorts and Tees would be fine?

Sure. Don't want to force someone to dress up to someone else's standards.

[Pam in CA]

I agree, one of the dining rooms should have no dress code.

Paul, as I posted on the other thread, I don't see how you could implement this. You have two ships with 5 dining rooms, several with 3, several with 2 and three with just 1. Also, there are already several alternative options for those who don't want to dress up. They just don't want those alternatives. If I go to a really nice restaurant, even here in SoCal, I dress up. If I don't want to dress up, I go to another type of restaurant. There are choices. I don't throw a hissy fit because I should dress appropriately.

[hubofhockey]

Paul, as I posted on the other thread, I don't see how you could implement this. You have two ships with 5 dining rooms, several with 3, several with 2 and three with just 1. Also, there are already several alternative options for those who don't want to dress up. They just don't want those alternatives. If I go to a really nice restaurant, even here in SoCal, I dress up. If I don't want to dress up, I go to another type of restaurant. There are choices. I don't throw a hissy fit because I should dress appropriately.

 

Are you saying that, because some smaller ships only have one dining room, there can't be a more flexible plan with the ships that have three or more?

[Coracii]

Paul, as I posted on the other thread, I don't see how you could implement this. You have two ships with 5 dining rooms, several with 3, several with 2 and three with just 1. Also, there are already several alternative options for those who don't want to dress up. They just don't want those alternatives. If I go to a really nice restaurant, even here in SoCal, I dress up. If I don't want to dress up, I go to another type of restaurant. There are choices. I don't throw a hissy fit because I should dress appropriately.

 

Are you saying that, because some smaller ships only have one dining room, there can't be a more flexible plan with the ships that have three or more?

 

And that people that don't want to participate in the formal night should never have an option to have a nice sit-down dinner without shelling out an additional $25 per person for the specialty restaurants? The majority of the ships in the Princess line have more than one dining room and all of the new ones built from here out will have multiple options. This wouldn't be that hard for them to implement and I'm betting Princess would be surprised at the number of people that would jump at the chance to dine without dressing to the nine's on formal nights. You say you go to another restaurant if you don't want to dress up, well on Princess that would be the difference between going to a 4-star restaurant while telling other people that paid the same amount they're banished to Golden Corral. There is no other viable option for sit-down meals on the ships, unlike on land where you go where you want. On my cruises with Princess, my rough count is about 5-10% already choose their attire without following the suggestions, it'd likely be higher if given the choice.

[Ratdoggie]

Thank you all for your responses. I didn't mean to generate a debate, I was mostly just wondering if the airline baggage fees had made an effect on formal night and what folks were doing about it.

 

I learned from the responses that we can still go to the Specialty DR's which is great to know. It seems there are plenty of alternate choices for those who choose to opt out, whether it's where they eat on the ship or what cruise line they choose. ;)

[hubofhockey]

Thank you all for your responses. I didn't mean to generate a debate, I was mostly just wondering if the airline baggage fees had made an effect on formal night and what folks were doing about it.

 

I learned from the responses that we can still go to the Specialty DR's which is great to know. It seems there are plenty of alternate choices for those who choose to opt out, whether it's where they eat on the ship or what cruise line they choose. ;)

 

Book them early (when you get on the ship). What you are doing is what we do and there is a growing contingent of people who do just that.

 

I think some of it is all of the airline fees and some of it is people not wanting to lug around an extra garment bag. But you will always get a debate when you bring up formal nights on any cruise critic thread on any board. ;)

[oskidunker]

There are many Cruise lines that are all casual.

[WOWJr1]

The last time I cruised HAL they requested you stay formal for the whole evening, even in the casino. Things may have changed, it has been 3 yrs. since I have gone on Holland.

 

They still request it but, outside the main dining room, they don't enforce it. (And sometimes not even in the MDR!) There may be an occasional "look" from another passenger that complied and I've occasionally seen casually dressed pax on formal nights "called out" by a theater comedian (which is one reason we sit in the balcony if we go there). But if none of that bothers you, I can assure you HAL isn't going to toss you in the brig or even banish you to your cabin for dressing casual outside the MDR on formal nights.

[1 HappyCruiser]

They still request it but, outside the main dining room, they don't enforce it. (And sometimes not even in the MDR!) There may be an occasional "look" from another passenger that complied and I've occasionally seen casually dressed pax on formal nights "called out" by a theater comedian (which is one reason we sit in the balcony if we go there). But if none of that bothers you, I can assure you HAL isn't going to toss you in the brig or even banish you to your cabin for dressing casual outside the MDR on formal nights.

 

Man, would I give that guy something to work with. :D:D