My FORMAL NIGHT Experience...(AND RANT)

[Alegria-Paz]

Hello, We enjoy dressing up for formal nights. However, I understand the packing difficulty due to airline restrictions. And, I simply have never been bothered by what other people were wearing. I agree with Brad and others who said the same.

 

On my previous Holland cruises, people were very well-dressed on formal nights. I enjoyed this, but I never looked around and/or took a survey. Just doesn't impact me in any way.

 

For Betty (I believe it was), on our Veendam Bermuda cruise in July in the main dining room (late fixed seating) there were many tuxes. (Not sure of the %). People looked great.

 

One thing I don't understand ~ we always select fixed late dining ~ I've read on the boards, but fortunately never experienced in real life, that some people seem to think that fellow passengers should be in formal clothes around the ship before and after dinner. This, in my opinion, is preposterous. We cruise for the itinerary and stay in port until the last possible moment. We consider it daytime until we get ready for dinner (or happy hour before, if there is time).

 

In other words, if an early fixed seating person is on her way to dinner and sees people dressed in casual attire, those people may be on their way to their cabin to dress for dinner ~ returning from port or from shipboard "daytime activities." (For us 6pm is extremely early, we rarely eat earlier than 9 at home and even an 8pm dinner is early for us).

 

If people who CHOOSE (note ~ they've made a choice) early fixed dining, they have no right to get upset with others who are not yet dressed for dinner because they have CHOSEN late fixed (again another CHOICE). I also don't think it's fair to assume that people should remain in their formal attire through all hours of the night. Personally, I usually do, but if I felt like changing, I most certainly would do so. I have never seen a rule about that and if there is one, then I would reconsider my statement upon review of the rule.

 

However, I still cannot understand why some people here CHOOSE to be angry or upset when they see people in a passageway or other areas of the ship who are not in formal attire. You have no way of knowing if they are simply not yet dressed for dinner... if they have chosen to eat in the Lido or their stateroom... or if they have already been to dinner in formal attire and chose to change for their own personal reasons (which, frankly, are none of your business).

 

In sum, as far as I know, there are no stated hours for formal attire. It is simply that there are formal nights in the main dining room. To suggest that people be in their formal attire from a certain time to a certain time goes above and beyond what Holland's "rules" (or whatever you want to call them) state.

[FightOnRon]

In sum, as far as I know, there are no stated hours for formal attire. It is simply that there are formal nights in the main dining room. To suggest that people be in their formal attire from a certain time to a certain time goes above and beyond what Holland's "rules" (or whatever you want to call them) state.

 

Seems like I once read in a brochure or a travel doc or somewhere that a dress code was supposed to be for the entire evening in public areas of the ship,,sans the Lido. Maybe I jsut hallucinated that or maybe that was on my first cruise in 2004 and I didn't read anything after that because I thought of myself as a seasoned vet. Me personally, I stay in whatever I wore to dinner,,too much work to change.

[RuthC]

Seems like I once read in a brochure or a travel doc or somewhere that a dress code was supposed to be for the entire evening in public areas of the ship,,sans the Lido.

You remember correctly. The statement that the dress code is for the evening is included in the final documents.

[Alegria-Paz]

The only thing I found is that Holland "asks" that people stay in formal dress the attire night.

 

How can you go to a casual (non-formal) dinner in the Lido if formal attire is required all around the ship?

 

I agree with those who say the wording is ambiguous on the formal attire matter.

 

Again, I'm all for formal dress, but I really don't care if I walk by someone in less than formal attire in the corridor.

 

This seems unsolvable, so I now regret posting about this topic.

 

I just want to add that I really enjoy formal nights. It's one of the reasons I enjoy Holland. However, at the same time, I really don't feel it's fair to judge me or others who are going to their staterooms to PREPARE for formal dinner and pass people going to early seating ALREADY in their formal attire.

[startwin]

Seems like I once read in a brochure or a travel doc or somewhere that a dress code was supposed to be for the entire evening in public areas of the ship,,sans the Lido. Maybe I jsut hallucinated that or maybe that was on my first cruise in 2004 and I didn't read anything after that because I thought of myself as a seasoned vet. Me personally, I stay in whatever I wore to dinner,,too much work to change.

 

Unfortunately, HAL has no suggestions as to how to get to the Lido and back in casual wear on formal night.:rolleyes:

[jerseygirl3]

We were onboard Westerdam this past January and DH and I always adhere to the dress code of the evening. However, on one evening, there was to be a big Luau type party on deck for dinner. We thought it would have many food offerings, but it turned out not to be the case (basically ribs and chicken, which did not interested us). We opted to "run" downstairs and make it to our regular dining time (early) in the MDR. DH had been dressed in a really nice (and expensive) Tommy Bahama long shorts and shirt outfit. Very smart looking, nothing tacky. Anyway, we figured we'd just inquire if he could go into the dining room like that and we were politely told "no sir, no shorts are allowed in the MDR at dinner time." No problem, we expected that. As DH ran back to the cabin to put on a pair of slacks I was sitting waiting right outside the dining room. A couple of minutes later, a woman (I would guess her to be in her early 40's) walked up to the maitre 'd in very short shorts and a blouse. Not only was she wearing shorts, but they were denim shorts. Not a skort, but shorts. She asked the maitre 'd (same one who minutes before denied entrance to DH) if she could dine dressed that way and he said, "yes, that's fine." After she walked away, I questioned the inconsistency. He informed me that "it's fine for a woman, but not a man". I was a bit dumbfounded by that answer!

 

Jo-Ann

[Alegria-Paz]

What if a couple chooses to opt out of formal dining... has an early dinner in the Lido or eats in their stateroom and then wants to go to the gym/spa after dinner?

 

The gym and spa are open until ~10. Are people suggesting that couple wear a tux and cocktail dress on their way to work out/relax in the spa?

[milleruszk]

We were onboard Westerdam this past January and DH and I always adhere to the dress code of the evening. However, on one evening, there was to be a big Luau type party on deck for dinner. We thought it would have many food offerings, but it turned out not to be the case (basically ribs and chicken, which did not interested us). We opted to "run" downstairs and make it to our regular dining time (early) in the MDR. DH had been dressed in a really nice (and expensive) Tommy Bahama long shorts and shirt outfit. Very smart looking, nothing tacky. Anyway, we figured we'd just inquire if he could go into the dining room like that and we were politely told "no sir, no shorts are allowed in the MDR at dinner time." No problem, we expected that. As DH ran back to the cabin to put on a pair of slacks I was sitting waiting right outside the dining room. A couple of minutes later, a woman (I would guess her to be in her early 40's) walked up to the maitre 'd in very short shorts and a blouse. Not only was she wearing shorts, but they were denim shorts. Not a skort, but shorts. She asked the maitre 'd (same one who minutes before denied entrance to DH) if she could dine dressed that way and he said, "yes, that's fine." After she walked away, I questioned the inconsistency. He informed me that "it's fine for a woman, but not a man". I was a bit dumbfounded by that answer!

 

Jo-Ann

 

She must have been a "looker". ;)

[CowPrincess]

What if a couple chooses to opt out of formal dining... has an early dinner in the Lido or eats in their stateroom and then wants to go to the gym/spa after dinner?

 

The gym and spa are open until ~10. Are people suggesting that couple wear a tux and cocktail dress on their way to work out/relax in the spa?

 

No, we often do laps on the deck after dinner, so on formal night we scoot back to the cabin and get into walking clothes, AND transit the interior parts of the ship required to get to the LP deck dressed in our walking clothes. And I've been know to go to the casino dressed that way after our walk.

[iancal]

The notion that formal dress applies to the entire ship but that folks can dress in casual attire in the Lido is contradictory and makes no sense whatever.

 

Is HAL suggesting the 'beam me up Scotty' method of getting to and from the the Lido?? Will HAL also 'beam us up' when we want to go topside for a walk on the deck?? Are they suggesting they do not want folks who are dressed in casual attire spending money in the casino, the lounges, the shops. I think not.

 

This is an example of how silly the entire issue has become and what a substandard job HAL does not only of making the supposed rules but enforcing them, and enforcing them in a consistent manner. A little common sense is in order here and HAL owes this to it's customers. To make it easy, HAL may wish to refer to the Celebrity rules....

 

We may not be in the MDR on formal nights, but we will be everywhere else in our non formal attire.

[erewhon]

On October 22nd, we disembarked the Volendam after travelling from Vancouver to Alaska then on to Auckland. On one of the formal nights a woman wore what appeared to be a track suit in the Rotterdam dining room.

 

One formal night we dined at the Canaletto, where we observed a man turned away to change out of his shorts into long trousers. His wife waited at the next table.

[dixieagle]

Formal means formal. What part of that is so hard to understand? Yes, the policies should be uniformly enforced, but why would anyone try to enter a formal venue when not dresses formally? Formal night doesn't mean "except for you". People who do not conform to the dress codes are, in my opinion, selfish, in that they degrade the experience for others who may actually enjoy the traditional ocean liner experience of formal dining.

If you don't want to conform to the dress code, you should not visit the dining room on formal nights, but go to the Lido or another dining venue. Or better yet, choose a ship or line with no formal nights.

 

 

I think you hit the nail on the head; sadly, people often do tend to think that rules simply don't matter, as what THEY wish to do must be right, because THEY want to do it. While I find it much easier to pack when there are no formal nights, I would never dream of entering the MDR in attire that doesn't conform to the published "rules." I do believe that spotty enforcement is wrong; be consistent.

 

The day will likely come, and soon, when "smart casual" will be the order of the day for most cruise lines - and I will actually welcome it, with the crazy baggage fees airlines charge. Until then, when a cruise line has formal nights, I'll squish a couple of cocktail outfits into my suitcase, because I wouldn't dream of doing otherwise.

 

(BTW, nanasoxfan...I see you're from Plymouth; my 90 year old Dad lives there! We get up there as often as possible; I love and miss New England.)

[lucky99]

This discussion pops up regularly. One thing I noticed the last few years when my company had a Christmas party at a very nice resort. We received invitations and they said "formal". Not one person had any problem with that word. Not one person showed up in anything less than formal wear. We were "guests" there, it was my Christmas party but I did what I was asked to do. Why do people have such a problem on cruises? If you don't want to wear formal clothing then there are other places on the ship to eat or if you don't like that, there are other vacations that don't ask you wear formal clothing.

[FrankNJ]

"The next week, we sailed on RCCL Rhapsody of the Seas, where the same outfit was welcomed by my dinner comapnions and the dining steward, who said, "We would not turn you away, sir. You are our GUEST." We sail again, next month, on HAL. Can't wait to see what happens on that particular ship. "

 

Why would the dining steward say such a thing ? Is it the sweater ?

[teacherman]

I started this thread, seemingly, a long time ago, simply to give an account of my experience on 2 different ships. I am surprised that it is still on page 1 of this board, although the topic does seem to elicit many different opinions. The dining steward on RCCL said it BECAUSE when we arrived on the ship we went to the main dining room to change from fixed time to anytime dining. I explained to her that I had not brought formal clothes and asked if sport shirt and nice sweater would be allowed on formal night, or would they rather we eat in the casual restaurant. Thus, her response. I do not defy rules or try to ruin anyone's cruise experience. I enjoy HAL and will be embarking next Friday for Zuiderdam 10 day cruise. I plan to take shirt and tie since I am not packing for 28 days and 2 different cruise ships like the trip that cause me to begin this thread. Hopefully, I will be allowed into the MDR, but if not, I shall eat in the Lido. I was only showing that the policy is a "suggestion", which is not consistently followed or enforced, as many others also seem to feel. I once saw a gentleman turned away from the MDR on a Princess ship because he did not have on a sport coat. I felt he was dressed nicely, but I guess I wasn't the one "in charge" that evening.

[krewzin]

I plan to take shirt and tie since I am not packing for 28 days and 2 different cruise ships like the trip that cause me to begin this thread. Hopefully, I will be allowed into the MDR, but if not, I shall eat in the Lido.

 

 

 

So, after reading this entire thread, you're gonna bring a shirt and tie and 'hope' you'll be allowed in the MDR? -Now that's funny!:D

[marsabez]

The excuse of "I paid for it and wear whatever I want" does not fly with me. If the line offers an alternative dining place, go to it! I am 42 and love to dress up on formal nights (and I wear a jacket on all dinners). HAL should be stricter and require tuxes on formal nights.

[iancal]

IF HAL insisted on tuxedos on formal evening, and enforced it, we would not longer have a HAL on which to sail-it would be out of business. It is also completely contrary to their sales and marketing direction.