Casual...I mean casual...

[MICHARCH]

I hate to wear a suit or even a blazer/sports coat. I worked in the corporate world for over 25 years, am happily retired and I'm old enough to make my own decisions.

 

I have decided to not bring along a coat at all on our upcoming PC cruise in a few weeks. If some on-board activity requires me to dress up and it's more than a shirt and khakis, I'm not attending. Will I miss much by committing 100% to casual?

[jtl513]

You will probably be refused admittance to the MDR on formal nights, but other than that I doubt you'd be barred from anything else.

[ybarber]

Well, you won't be able to dine in the main dining room or the Pinnacle Grill on formal nights. If that is okay with you, then what you have here sir is a fair trade off. It really won't negatively affect your experience, unless you are a lobster lover because that is one of the special items sever in the MDR on formal nights. I am not sure if they serve the lobster in the Lido on those nights.

 

If you are willing to make some compromises in order to be completely casual, you will have a great time!

[tcook052]

You will probably be refused admittance to the MDR on formal nights, but other than that I doubt you'd be barred from anything else.

 

Agree. Even on a recent visit to the PG saw several male cruisers in polo golf shirts and slacks in what is normally a more formal dining venue, though they were in the minority as most were more formally dressed.

[cruz chic]

I hate to wear a suit or even a blazer/sports coat. I worked in the corporate world for over 25 years, am happily retired and I'm old enough to make my own decisions.

 

I have decided to not bring along a coat at all on our upcoming PC cruise in a few weeks. If some on-board activity requires me to dress up and it's more than a shirt and khakis, I'm not attending. Will I miss much by committing 100% to casual?

I've worked in the corporate world for over 30 years and have dressed up. I don't mind dressing up on a cruise. It always makes me smile when people say this. Really, it's not a crime to be a casual person. I just don't know why people feel they need to jusify why they don't want to dress up. Like others have pointed out it won't be a major deal most of the time.

[mamaofami]

If lobster is your thing, on formal nights when it's served, just call and order it served to your cabin.

[terkatz56]

If lobster is your thing, on formal nights when it's served, just call and order it served to your cabin.

 

agree with mamaofami, my husband and BIL stayed in our room and ordered room service, on lobster night, while my DS and I dressed up and went to the MDR

[stever]

We were on the Westerdam over Thanksgiving for 2 weeks. Unfortunately there were as many men with no jacket as wearing tuxes. In the Pinnacle if you didn't wear a jacket you were seated in the atrium area of the restaurant. I wore my tux and glad I did. But, if you prefer to wear more casual clothes you will be fine. On formal nights I was the only one in the casino with a tux, and most men were in t-shirts. Even 3 years ago it would have been frowned on, but now it is accepted (I say this because no one was turned away).

[sprockie]

I just cruised in December after a 7 year hiatus with HAL. I noticed a difference in the level of formal dress.

There were less gowns and tuxes and more nice sweaters, dress shirts etc.

You MAY be turned away at the dining room, but if you are the gambling type, you might want to try. I saw several men without jackets on formal nights in the dining room.

[liketraveling]

The last Hal cruise I was allot of folks did not bring their formal wear and choose to eat dinner in the Lido on formal nights.

 

This is your vacation. You can work around it.

[JJPacer]

DH wears a dress shirt, dress slacks, and a tie. No jacket. He has never been turned away from the MDR on formal night. I know many feel formal nights should be very formal. In today's world with baggage fees, and weight and size restrictions of suitcases, packing a jacket is hard to justify. For myself I bring one cocktail dress to wear on all formal nights. We overpacked for the first several cruises we took. Now, we have our packing list down to the barest of essentials. For us, it works.

[happy cruzer]

I've worked in the corporate world for over 30 years and have dressed up. I don't mind dressing up on a cruise. It always makes me smile when people say this. Really, it's not a crime to be a casual person. I just don't know why people feel they need to jusify why they don't want to dress up. Like others have pointed out it won't be a major deal most of the time.

 

Yep, you make a very good point. It is best to just skip any rationalization. In general, it makes others feel that you think you are special. If you are casual, it's ok but it's no different from the guy who never put a jacket on in his working life and doesn't intend to start on vacation.

 

The secret is to find out what to expect and make it work for you, no explanations necessary.:)

[F5Loar]

I don't dress for myself, I dress for my wife. She would prefer I follow the cruise dress code guidelines which does inlcude at least a sport coat and tie. Sure you might be able to sneak in with your choosen code busting attire but if you do make it you will be gawked at by the others that are dressed nicely and some of them will come back here and post photos of you here for all to see that you just didn't "get it" on formal night and what it is all about. If you did 25 years in the business world you know what the meaning of a "formal" night is all about. The cruise line has bent over backwards to lower the standards of what they consider basic nice attire and yet you want to take it one step further so you will feel better about yourself. Okay I get it. Are you going to hide in your cabin when they call for the fire drill? Are you going to save your chairs at the front of the pool for hours on end? Are you going to allow your children to swim in the adults only pools? Are you also going to smoke in the non-smoking areas? I get it. You just want to be "you" and it's all about "you" and nobody else. I get it.

[kamfan]

To the OP, I get it too, it is YOUR holiday as much as anyone elses, and I applaud you for embracing that fact. Have a wonderful time on YOUR cruise.

[wingit]

I hate to wear a suit or even a blazer/sports coat. I worked in the corporate world for over 25 years, am happily retired and I'm old enough to make my own decisions.

 

I have decided to not bring along a coat at all on our upcoming PC cruise in a few weeks. If some on-board activity requires me to dress up and it's more than a shirt and khakis, I'm not attending. Will I miss much by committing 100% to casual?

 

No, on a HAL ship I don't think you will miss much at all. You will very likely be able to eat in the MDR. Even on formal night. Have a wonderful cruise!

 

To the OP, I get it too, it is YOUR holiday as much as anyone elses, and I applaud you for embracing that fact. Have a wonderful time on YOUR cruise.

 

I'll add my applause to you for embracing the fact that it is your holiday... That is a rare quality.

[Richie2pies]

I refuse to wear formal clothes on MY vacation. If lobster is your thing, order room service or go to Red Lobster. The lobster on a cruiseship is no big deal anyway.

[iancal]

You should not cancel. The lobster is very iffy. Our experience is that you have a less than 50 percent chance of being served a nicely prepared, good tasting lobster tail. It is often overcooked, tasteless, tough, or all three. I don't blame this on HAL, it must be very difficult to do banquet style lobster... the other cruise lines have the same issue.

 

You are not alone. We now do the same thing. There will not be any issue attending any other events after dinner on formal evenings.

[tjcox9]

"serve us the whole lobster instead of a tiny tail. That I would get!"

 

I can see it now.........a huge lobster tank in the atrium for all those live lobsters. Perhaps they can let you go to the tank and pick your own!!! :p

[esther e]

My husband worked in the corporate world for 30 years also where a colored shirt was not allowed. White shirt, striped tie and conservative suit. Today when we cruise he wears a blazer 90% of the time in any dining room. I personally think he looks dashing. And to go one step further, I do not like to see any man in a blazer with short sleeves. Very unappealing to see a bare arm under a jacket, reaching for the butter or roll. JMHO

[F5Loar]

Thanks to Esther in Florida. She gets it. Rants? Stereotype comparisions. You know the smokers usually drink and gamble. The dress code busters usually break other rules like letting their kids swim in the adult pools while they hog the chairs to themselves. I quit bringing the formal wear years ago as many others have done. But that don't mean I don't know right from wrong. The OP must be a gambler too since he is going to gamble on whether or not at 50% chance of getting to eat lobster in MDR.

[cruisingonQ]

My husband is not packing the suit this time and we will either go to Lido or order room service. It's vacation and that is what he is comfortable with. We will just not to the main dining room out of respect of those who like formal. To the op if we were on the same cruise we could enjoy a casual diner together.

Being from Maine the best way to enjoy a lobster is at a picnic table where juice runs down your arms.

[esther e]

Thanks to Esther in Florida. She gets it. Rants? Stereotype comparisions. You know the smokers usually drink and gamble. The dress code busters usually break other rules like letting their kids swim in the adult pools while they hog the chairs to themselves. I quit bringing the formal wear years ago as many others have done. But that don't mean I don't know right from wrong. The OP must be a gambler too since he is going to gamble on whether or not at 50% chance of getting to eat lobster in MDR.

 

Interesting. While I was making breakfast I thought about the people who think "it's my cruise; I'll do what I want. I paid for it." And then I read what you posted. You're absolutely right -- there is a certain "personality" that puffs out their chest, crosses their arms and defies everything. And not only on HAL; we ran into a horrible set of grandparents/parents with their obnoxious grandkids, 5 under the age 7, who never checked on them or reprimanded them. It was their cruise; they paid for it; by God, their grandkids were going to have fun. Sigh.

[babyher]

My husband is not packing the suit this time and we will either go to Lido or order room service. It's vacation and that is what he is comfortable with. We will just not to the main dining room out of respect of those who like formal. To the op if we were on the same cruise we could enjoy a casual diner together.

Being from Maine the best way to enjoy a lobster is at a picnic table where juice runs down your arms.

 

I am with your husband on that one, and like you, DW and I just ate in Lido on our last cruise when we decided to leave the formal clothes home. Hope you don't mind getting a table for 6 and letting us join you ? :)

 

And as a fellow New Englander (Connecticut) I couldn't agree more about how to enjoy a lobster *LOL* And WHOLE BELLY CLAMS ....the hell with those wussy Clam Stripes *LOL*

[esther e]

I have yet to have a lobster anywhere other than New England that's as good as a Maine lobster!!! Yum.

[iancal]

This is a joke, right??? I mean the notion that someone who decides to only wear casual clothing and NOT go to the MDR on formal nights is a chair hog, a horrible parent or grandparent w/undisciplined children, and walks around with a puffed out chest and crossed arms?????

 

I blame it on too much daytime television.