Smart Casual

[j2ink]

I just returned from a cruise on the IOS, and FYI, smart casual did not exist on this cruise, except in the specialty dining rooms. Only formal and casual in all other dining areas. This was fine with me, except my wife and I packed quite a few clothes and extra pairs of shoes for smart casual nights. Apparently, the dress code on each ship differs, and it may even differ with the seasons and itinerary. Even the casual dress restrictions in the daily program for the ding areas were more casual than on the RCI website. The only restrictions stated were no shorts, tank tops, swim ware or bare feet. Of course some slobs would occasionally show up in shorts, and would be allowed in the MDR, regardless of the policy.

[cb at sea]

We've never noticed too much difference between casual and "smart" casual....only a few men wore jackets on smart casual nights...and the women, 99% of the time, look pretty damn smart EVERY night!

[milton333]

What about shorts in the Windjammer at dinner? I'm seeing something about WJ being "smart casual" for dinner, and I'd like to be able to eat somewhere on the ship without getting dressed up :rolleyes:

 

EDIT: And before I get flamed by the fashion police, I'll be flying to Florida with a toddler, a carseat, a stroller, and will have a layover because my direct flight got changed by my airline. I cannot cope with lots of bags. As a family, we've traveled for 5 days with a rollaboard duffel bag, a small backpack, and my purse. And that's it, but it's still chaos trying to manage all that crap from parking lot to airport, through security, out to the rental car, into the hotel, etc. And I'm a woman - I pack light.

[BallFour4]

Smart casual = dead for cruises. I learned like you did about taking too many clothes.

 

Shorts = you can walk on a RCCL ship and never put on a pair of long pants if you want. The only place you'd be out of compliance is the dining room and specialty dining venues.

 

All the shows, casino, public areas, Windjammer and entertainment venues will have people wearing shorts. Even on formal nights you will see people return to their cabin and change. Been there, will do it again very soon!

 

Suggestion to those that get cold at night, take a light sweater just in case for some venues.

 

Good post CB, does your wife read these?

 

 

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[j2ink]

Just to clarify--the IOS daily program recommended only formal and casual dress on particular evenings. Smart casual was not recommended for any of the 14 evenings on board.

 

On our cruise, the recommended evening dress included the Windjammer, so theoretically, no shorts are allowed in there. However, there was not any restriction against jeans or sandals in the daily program.

[Langley Cruisers]

What about shorts in the Windjammer at dinner? I'm seeing something about WJ being "smart casual" for dinner, and I'd like to be able to eat somewhere on the ship without getting dressed up :rolleyes:

 

You may wear shorts in the Windjammer at dinner. My husband did every night. It is always classified as "Casual Dining".

 

On our cruise, the recommended evening dress included the Windjammer, so theoretically, no shorts are allowed in there.

 

I'm sorry, that's just not correct. Shorts are always allowed in the Windjammer. Perhaps you misread the Compass; I just looked at mine from Brilliance last week before I posted this and the wording could be misinterpreted... but regardless, short pants are never not permitted in WJ and it is never classified as Smart Casual Dining there. Just wanted to clear that up for anyone who was wondering. :)

[j2ink]

As I said above, this may differ according to the ship or itinerary. The Cruise Compass for the recent IOS cruise I was on said the following in the Dinner section: "Bare feet and swim wear are not permitted in the Dining Room or Windjammer Cafe at any time. In addition, short pants and tank tops are not allowed in any dining venue." That doesn't leave much room for misunderstanding, does it?

 

Just because someone wears shorts and the dress code isn't enforced by the ship's personnel, doesn't mean it is according to policy. Or, it could be that the cruise you were on had a different dress code.