What actually happens on formal nights?

[Verfai]

I did a search through the forum, but couldn’t really find an answer...

 

Formal nights, of course everybody going to MDR is dressed up, but are there other things happening that you don’t want to miss?

 

The reason I am asking this, we are doing MTD, we filled in 19:00...But now I am wondering if I should change the MTD to the same time as the late seating, not to miss anything.

 

So the main question: Do passengers doing MTD on formal nights miss out on anything???

 

Greets

[PattyG12]

Not really ... but photographers do come and take photos. The violinists play. It's just the ambiance.

[Verfai]

Not really ... but photographers do come and take photos. The violinists play. It's just the ambiance.

 

That was quick :D

[cruiseguy1016]

You won't miss out on anything in the dining room. There aren't a lot of other things going on in the MDR but there are things happening elsewhere on the ship. On formal nights there are photographers set up all over with various backdrops to choose from. You can have your picture taken at as many stations as you would like. There is no charge to have your picture taken, only if you choose to purchase the picture. Also, the Captain's Welcome Aboard reception happens on the first formal night So you may want to check the timing on that.

[BillOh]

On a couple of ships I have been on there is a Captain's reception where you get a chance to mingle and get your picture taken with the Captain, something I have never done. As soon as dinner is over I almost run to my cabin to change back into comfortable clothes.

[BklynBorn47]

Maybe this is the place to ask.

 

We will be travelling with 3 children (9,12,15) and we would like to be in the MDR for at least 1 formal night. Are their "church clothes" OK?

Also, this grandma is past the "cocktail dress" stage. I wear evening pants outfits to all special occasions. It's a shoe thing since I'm also well past my strappy sandals/heels days.

I'd like to know in advance if we're not welcome on formal night rather than being banished at the door to WJ.

OTOH eliminating sexy shoes has kept me mobile enough to still run 25 miles per week. It's a trade-off.

[Familygoboston]

Maybe this is the place to ask.

 

We will be travelling with 3 children (9,12,15) and we would like to be in the MDR for at least 1 formal night. Are their "church clothes" OK?

Also, this grandma is past the "cocktail dress" stage. I wear evening pants outfits to all special occasions. It's a shoe thing since I'm also well past my strappy sandals/heels days.

I'd like to know in advance if we're not welcome on formal night rather than being banished at the door to WJ.

OTOH eliminating sexy shoes has kept me mobile enough to still run 25 miles per week. It's a trade-off.

 

We have found that dress on "formal nights" are really pretty loose.

Many women in short dresses, some in dressy pant suits and even dressy slacks and tops. I think fewer women wear long gowns every year. Some ladies have their "cruising" dresses or left over "mother of the bride" gowns and you'll see those.

 

Men: most will be in suits, an occassional tux, and a few here and there with just a jacket. You will see men in the MDR with less than that (dress slacks and a shirt), but you get the feeling it's frowned upon, if not by the staff, certainly the other passengers will give the eye.

 

Kids: it's looser for kids, of course most will not buy a suit (or a tux:eek:) for a young growing boy, so you'll see them in khakis and a nice shirt- tie if they have one. The little girls LOVE to dress up, so you will see the "pageant" dresses, but also plenty of little girls in simple sundresses, or as you say, dresses they would wear to religious services.

 

We've never seen anyone turned away from the MDR on Formal Night...and we have seen a range (including a few out and out casually dressed) eating in the MDR on formal night. I wouldn't let a cruise lines suggestions for dress influence

a) your budget-buying $$ clothes for one vacation, especially for growing kids

b) your safety and comfort...loads of older ladies in orthopedic shoes and people like you and me who wear "sportier" low heeled shoes...don't sweat it...that's what your runs are for;)

[karen s]

Maybe this is the place to ask.

 

We will be travelling with 3 children (9,12,15) and we would like to be in the MDR for at least 1 formal night. Are their "church clothes" OK?

Also, this grandma is past the "cocktail dress" stage. I wear evening pants outfits to all special occasions. It's a shoe thing since I'm also well past my strappy sandals/heels days.

I'd like to know in advance if we're not welcome on formal night rather than being banished at the door to WJ.

OTOH eliminating sexy shoes has kept me mobile enough to still run 25 miles per week. It's a trade-off.

 

Noone is banished from the MDR by the Formal Attire police - "church clothes" are just fine for the kiddos. My mom (who is a grandma) wears dress pants/blouse with "bedazzled" flip flops (the only type of shoe she she will even consider wearing in spring/summer) and noone has even looked twice.

[negc]

Maybe this is the place to ask.

 

We will be travelling with 3 children (9,12,15) and we would like to be in the MDR for at least 1 formal night. Are their "church clothes" OK?

Also, this grandma is past the "cocktail dress" stage. I wear evening pants outfits to all special occasions. It's a shoe thing since I'm also well past my strappy sandals/heels days.

I'd like to know in advance if we're not welcome on formal night rather than being banished at the door to WJ.

OTOH eliminating sexy shoes has kept me mobile enough to still run 25 miles per week. It's a trade-off.

Their "church clothes" will be more than acceptable as will yours and your husband's, if you don't bring "formal wear". Rarely, if ever, is anyone banished at the door to the WJ on formal night or any other night for that matter, and your description of your clothing choices are certainly not going to get you banned. Relax and enjoy the cruise.

[funfamilyof6]

On a couple of ships I have been on there is a Captain's reception where you get a chance to mingle and get your picture taken with the Captain, something I have never done. As soon as dinner is over I almost run to my cabin to change back into comfortable clothes.

 

We are the family who is running right behind you.:D

[snownyet]

You'll see all types! On a past HAL cruise which I have found is more formal than most, there was a woman in a glittery numbered sports jersey and baggy workout pants on the formal night. I figure the glitter must have made it ok.

[funfamilyof6]

Maybe this is the place to ask.

 

We will be travelling with 3 children (9,12,15) and we would like to be in the MDR for at least 1 formal night. Are their "church clothes" OK?

Also, this grandma is past the "cocktail dress" stage. I wear evening pants outfits to all special occasions. It's a shoe thing since I'm also well past my strappy sandals/heels days.

I'd like to know in advance if we're not welcome on formal night rather than being banished at the door to WJ.

OTOH eliminating sexy shoes has kept me mobile enough to still run 25 miles per week. It's a trade-off.

 

Church clothes are fine!

 

A trick that we have learned is that it is not necessary to have a different outfit for "every" night of the cruise. We have doubled (sometimes tripled ;)) up. We only keep the dress clothes on for a short amount of time. There is no point in carrying and storing all of the extra clothing, nobody notices. The only thing really important to us is to dress appropriately.

 

Dress rules have become very slack over the years since more families are cruising now. We have seen people dressed with t-shirts and shorts on formal nights. :eek:

[Verfai]

Hey all, thanks for the answers…I guess will keep the MTD at 19:00, I’ll let the planning of that welcome aboard reception make the final call.

 

On the highjack topic ;) (just kidding, I don’t care nor mind :D ):

 

I don’t really get what is so bad about a suite, I find that it feels pretty good personally…Than again, I wear a nice suite, but with a loose tie and “sporty” dress shoes to give the overall look a little modern feeling…Compare it with the “Doctor House” look :D (without the nike shoes than, don’t have a hole in my leg...Love that show).

 

Greets

[BklynBorn47]

Thanks to all for putting my mind at ease and to Verfai for sharing his space. Obviously I'm a newbie. We've cruised often, but many, many years ago (largest ship around 800 people) and I want to be prepared for this new world.

[backspring]

Church clothes are fine!

 

A trick that we have learned is that it is not necessary to have a different outfit for "every" night of the cruise. We have doubled (sometimes tripled ;)) up. We only keep the dress clothes on for a short amount of time. There is no point in carrying and storing all of the extra clothing, nobody notices. The only thing really important to us is to dress appropriately.

 

Dress rules have become very slack over the years since more families are cruising now. We have seen people dressed with t-shirts and shorts on formal nights. :eek:

I certainly would not like to share a table with people dressed in T shirts and shorts on formal nights when we are dressed in formal attire,not being snobby or anything [we are working class],but I think standards should be kept up.

[Sugar*Magnolia]

Church clothes are fine!

 

A trick that we have learned is that it is not necessary to have a different outfit for "every" night of the cruise. We have doubled (sometimes tripled ;)) up. We only keep the dress clothes on for a short amount of time. There is no point in carrying and storing all of the extra clothing, nobody notices. The only thing really important to us is to dress appropriately.

 

Dress rules have become very slack over the years since more families are cruising now. We have seen people dressed with t-shirts and shorts on formal nights. :eek:

 

Thats one thing we have neer seen, shorts and tee shirts in the MDR on formal night, never. cruisedivaNJ

[bayonnebubba]

While in your finest, go to the casino and hum to yourself a James Bond movie theme!

 

Once did that and won $300 in less than 10 minutes at a craps table and never touched the dice. Guy in front of me was rolling non-stop numbers.

 

I'm sure it was the lucky tux.

[Desert Cruizers]

Cruise Divan,one cruise we were on, a father/mother and daughter arrived on formal night in shorts. Since they were a few min late, most everyone on the top lever stopped eating their salad and observed them being stopped at the door for several minutes, then were allowed in.

[regabdra]

I totally agree. I would not like to share my table with people in shorts and T shirt on a formal night. Just back from our first ever cruise. We got dressed up for the formal nights. Hubby wore his tux the first night for the captain's reception and I wore a long black shirt and glittery black and white glittery jacket. Most were dressed up in a similar vein but many men just had dinner suits. There were some women there who were definitely undressed as were some men. In future my husband will not be taking a tux. He will just have his dark sports jacket. We probably will not bother going to the Captains reception again. Not really worth the effort in mho. If you want your photo taken with the Captain fine, but we did not buy any photos at all on the ship. Not interested to be honest.

 

A nice dark jacket for a man and a nice pair of slacks is sufficient we feel. People have become lax over time but I draw the line at some of the outfits some were wearing. More suitable for a day at Walmart.

[Sugar*Magnolia]

Cruise Divan,one cruise we were on, a father/mother and daughter arrived on formal night in shorts. Since they were a few min late, most everyone on the top lever stopped eating their salad and observed them being stopped at the door for several minutes, then were allowed in.

 

Yes, you can not help but notice...:)

cruisedivanj

[Scotty G]

The Captain's reception is something we like to attend. We had a nice family picture taken with him last cruise. There usually are folks dancing to the orchestra as well. Hope you enjoy formal night as many seem to. Disregard the comments from the few here that don't seem to enjoy it that much. They are usually in the minority if you judge participation by those that do dress accordingly and line up for the photo opportunities throughout the ship as well. Have a great cruise!!!

[lrn2cruise]

We are thinking church or wedding type clothes. I actually have a tiered, sleevesless dress that I wore to a summer wedding last year that I might take. My Husband thinks it will be good for our 11 year old son to experience a "formal" meal. We will for sure go on lobster night.

 

The one and only cruise I ever went on was the Norweign Star and that ship was rocking so bad that I had to hang on to the railings in my heels. It really was not a fun experience. I dont ever want to go through that again.

 

IMO, I dont think that the MDR would turn away people that pay thousands of dollars for a vacation. I think if you pay the money and it is your vacation, then......

[enidcruiser]

We found that we had been really lax in having family pictures taken over the years. Now we have pics taken at all the back drops, wearing our best, and as a result have pictures to share with family. We find we look pretty good and know that our children appreciate the pictures of us looking so dressed up.

It's fun to look back at past pictures from those fun cruises. We were soooo much younger.

[Lady Chew]

We're not all that into formal night ... there's really nothing formal going on anywhere that justifies the trouble. For us, anyway!

 

The dining room is the same every night ... always beautiful with full service, but still the same every night.

 

We have found that smart formal is as dressed up as we need to get, Mr. Chew wears slacks, nice shirt & tie, blazer, I go the black pants/"sparkly" top route.

 

The captain's reception is no big deal, everyone who wants goes to the Promenade, sometimes it's jammed sometimes it's not ... you can have your picture taken with the capt or other staff, they don't check your attire first!

 

It is nice to have your picture taken, especially when you have a family group, but you don't have to be in formal wear for that either.

 

I don't know what the actual percentage is of people who change back into regular clothes right after dinner, but it sure seems as though a lot of people who post on these threads do change right away. I bet most of them would tell us they'll be more comfortable in their "lesser" duds!