Gentlemen - What do you wear for Formal Nights?

[sail7seas]

I'll wear a dark suit, if there are "formal nights" on a cruise although my preference is for "country club"/elegant casual. I never have understood why folks want to mess with ties and such on a vacation. I'll reserve the tux for banquets since there aren't even many formal weddings any more.

 

 

I can't speak for the Left Coast, but we "Right" Coasters are still running those formal do's. ;) Must be that proper Bostonian thing still living and breathing. :) I have two invitations on my desk right now for formal weddings. :)

DH will get plenty more wear out of his tuxedos. :)

[Scrumpy]

I think Dave hit the nail on the head as that expresses most of my DH's feelings on the subject as well. The other thing is that he tends to get warm. Being athletic, he has a very efficient body-cooling system. He will literally pour sweat. It's uncomfortable for him and not pleasant for anyone nearby. In the right conditions, he will easily and quickly soak his shirts and it's not much fun being close to him. We got him a tux for this cruise and I hope we don't regret the decision. I worry about the cumberbund because it's simply another place for him to excessively perspire...

[sail7seas]

Did not vote - just commenting...

 

My DH wore a black suit, white shirt, dark tie, etc - he looked very crisp and formal. He had been rather dreading dressing up prior to the cruise; however, he found he enjoyed the atmosphere of the first formal evening so much that he wished he had brought a tux or made arrangements to rent one!

 

He did bring two dark suits and various dress slacks and sport coats. He dressed up to some extent every evening, and just loved it so much.

 

This was our first cruise, and we found that we did not feel comfortable going into the elegant dining room and various public rooms around the ship unless we were dressed a little upscale, even on casual nights. Being surrounded by the finest appointments, furnishings, artwork, etc. did not seem to lend itself to extremely casual clothing in the evenings.

 

p.s. There was a gentleman in the dining room one night wearing a cap ...a ball cap ...a red ball cap ...backwards. I'm not usually very observant about what other people are wearing; however, this did manage to grab my attention!:p

 

 

Stormy...

I really like this post ALOT. Thank you for it. You said it so well.

 

[Peggy Sue]

voting for DH too .. He wears a Tux .. He's fortunate..he has a sister in the tux business .. He owns his tux.

 

We're heading to alaska later this month with my Dad. He's bringing a dark suit .. he's not much of a coat/tie man, and when I suggested we might want to consider dining in the lido on formal nights my DH said he wanted to stick with the dining room and it will be a good experience for my dad too! Although for alaska he's going to bring a dark suit instead of his tux.

 

I enjoy seeing everyone dressed up on formal nights.

 

bepsf .. now your next poll should ask if men like the "informal" nights ... We would vote NO .. we comply, but we would be very happy with just two dress codes .. formal and casual.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Just found out from DH that he intends to bring his tux on our upcoming Summit cruise because it's a 2 week cruise and there are more formal nights. So I stand corrected

 

But I don't think any man should feel the least bit underdressed in a dark suit, appropriate shirt and tie on formal nights. The suggestion by a few that a suit would make a man feel underdressed or less than comfortable with others more elegantly attired is just not true.

 

I don't think anyone new to cruising who may be reading this thread should feel that to go on a cruise with anything less than a tux on formal night is inappropriate. It is not. In fact, HAL's suggested attire for formal night includes a dark suit.

 

That said, on cruises we also tend to dress for dinner every single night including casual nights ... obviously not in formal attire, but definitely a cut above anything we would wear to dinner in most restaurants here on land.

[Tak8]

I rent a tux for myself and my son.

[BCEagle78]

I have always worn a dark suit (black pinstripe or dark gray) in my previous cruises. I am feeling that it is time to consider buying my first tuxedo. It makes sense as my size is not changing (doesn't come automatically) and now that we cruise on a more regular basis, it might make sense to take this step.

 

One of my problems is that I have a hard time finding even suits that fit me well. My size is hard to find "off the rack". Anybody have any suggestion as to where would be a good place to look for a tuxedo without having to remortgage the house in the Orlando, FL area?

[Scrumpy]

I'd like to see that, too. Well, DH would like to see that. I don't imagine I will dress that much differently. We bought a sport coat to avoid taking multiple suits and it is for ONE informal night. He probably needed a sport coat anyway, but having to pack it, carry it and wear it - well, he'd rather not. I still haven't broken the news that it is only for one night...

 

bepsf .. now your next poll should ask if men like the "informal" nights ... We would vote NO .. we comply, but we would be very happy with just two dress codes .. formal and casual.

[stormyc]

Stormy...

 

I really like this post ALOT. Thank you for it. You said it so well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank YOU ...:o

 

We really expected to feel overdressed, but ended up feeling lucky that so many people were dressed in their best, too - simple or flashy didn't matter - just that everyone was "sparkling." (I believe people act and move differently when they're dressed up, too.) Made dinner and the shows feel very elegant and festive - something that would have probably been lacking if we were all in shorts and tanks.

 

Soooo very glad we followed the advice given here, and packed accordingly. It really enhanced our experience.

 

Thank you everyone!

[zcat]

I have a double breasted , single breasted one button, white dinner jacket,vest, patent leather black shoes, and a couple of tie and cummerbund sets. Only tie yourself bow ties, never ever pretied bow tie. Thats so you can undo it later in the evening and do the Sinatra bit.

Mr. Zcat

[stormyc]

... I don't think any man should feel the least bit underdressed in a dark suit, appropriate shirt and tie on formal nights. The suggestion by a few that a suit would make a man feel underdressed or less than comfortable with others more elegantly attired is just not true.

 

I don't think anyone new to cruising who may be reading this thread should feel that to go on a cruise with anything less than a tux on formal night is inappropriate. It is not. In fact, HAL's suggested attire for formal night includes a dark suit...

 

This was certainly true for us... my DH did not look or feel at all out of place in his dark suit. There were many, many men in suits. Very appropriate.

 

We also very much enjoyed seeing all of the different tuxedos - some of the most arresting, I thought, were those worn with a white jacket. Really stunning!

[Time2sail]

I have always worn a dark suit (black pinstripe or dark gray) in my previous cruises. I am feeling that it is time to consider buying my first tuxedo. It makes sense as my size is not changing (doesn't come automatically) and now that we cruise on a more regular basis, it might make sense to take this step.

 

One of my problems is that I have a hard time finding even suits that fit me well. My size is hard to find "off the rack". Anybody have any suggestion as to where would be a good place to look for a tuxedo without having to remortgage the house in the Orlando, FL area?

 

Go to a tuxedo rental store in the mall and they have new tuxedos for sale. If they do not have your size, it can be ordered. The prices are very reasonable and the 100 per cent wool tuxedos are $159 plus tax (Afterhours tux shop if you have one). They are very nice. You can also buy the shirt and acccessories there, too. If you have a Burlington Coat factory near you, the accessories can be purchased there as well.

[upsndowns]

My thoughts are in line with dakrewser; however........my wife likes to play dress-up. Long story short.....I bought a penguin suit on Ebay.

[Bill S]

I have my own tux and enjoy wearing it for our cruises, because the cruises, are for us, very special occasions, indeed. Although I am a lot more comfortable on casual nights, it does no harm to "spiffy up" twice a week on a cruise. We try to do two cruises a year, so wearing a tux 4 nights a year, is nice change of my fashion pace! :cool:

[jhannah]

Anybody have any suggestion as to where would be a good place to look for a tuxedo without having to remortgage the house in the Orlando, FL area?

Check ebay. I bought one in my size (also more difficult to find) for about the cost of a rental.

[K&RCurt]

I voted "rent" but, as i stated on another thread, I intend to purchase a tuxedo prioer to my 2 2006 cruises.

[RuffinReady]

Hmmm! I notice that a lot of the postings here are by their DW's for their DH's. Is there something to be read into this?

 

As for myself, I will mostly wear a black suit and some very nice ties. However, we are going on another B2B, this time for 26 days. There will be 7 formal nights, so I will be wearing a nice blue blazer a few nights also.

 

Ruffin

[RuffinReady]

Actually, on informal nights I wear a sport jacket, shirt and tie. On casual nights I wear a sport jacket over a nice open necked sport shirt. I don't think that it is appropriate to go into the dining room without a jacket. However, if my luggage didn't arrive before dinner on the first night, I may have to wear my travelling clothes.

 

Ruffin

[RevNeal]

A cruise is, almost by definition, a vacation.

 

A vacation is, almost by definition, more casual than everyday life.

 

q.e.d.

 

I would grant your first statement as an axiom.

 

Your second statement, however, does not logically follow from your first, nor have you demonstrated it to be true (hence, your assertion is not q.e.d.).

 

Let me put this another way. WHY do you assert that a vacation (a Cruise Vacation, or any other kind of vacation) is more casual than everyday life? Sure, one isn't working ... but one might be doing other things that call for a type of dress that isn't more casual than one's every day clothing. Hence, your assertion that a vacation is more casual than everyday life simply isn't necessarily true.

[RevNeal]

One of the best arguments against wearing a suit or a Tuxedo is the temperature issue. There have been times when I have been so HOT in the main dining room that I have soaked my t-shirt and tux-shirt all the way through. Women are freezing from their bare shoulders and whining about being too cold, while the men are roasting and suffocating from not enough ventilation.

 

There have been other times, however, when the AC has been sufficient to keep me comfortable in the Dining room even when dressed in full Tux, etc. Of course, then, the women are solid ice. :)

[bepsf]

There have been other times, however, when the AC has been sufficient to keep me comfortable in the Dining room even when dressed in full Tux, etc. Of course, then, the women are solid ice. :)

 

In the old days, they kept the AC cranked so that ladies could wear their furs to dinner.

However after the first time in the Caribbean dying in the heat while waiting in the lobby of the Vista Dining Room w/ a cast of hundreds for the doors to open for dinner, I learned to forego the t-shirt!

[dakrewser]

I would grant your first statement as an axiom.

 

Your second statement, however, does not logically follow from your first, nor have you demonstrated it to be true (hence, your assertion is not q.e.d.).

*****

vacation, holiday

leisure time away from work; devoted to rest or pleasure; "we get two weeks of vacation every summer"; "we took a short holiday in Puerto Rico;"

 

******

1) A cruise is a vacation (axiom)

2) a vacation is leisure time (definition)

3) leisure time involves leisure attire (ipso facto)

4) leisure attire is not formal (see definitions and examples)

 

It follows, therefore, that leisure attire is most appropriate for a cruise.

[kgjg]

My favorite is a double breasted tux. You don't have to wear a cumberbun which gets to be pretty hot when you are bopping down the Mexican Riviera or are underway to Roatàn. I also have a white dinner jacket that my DW likes for me to wear so I'll usually carry both along.

 

I don't dress for myself on those special occasions, I dress for her. She's the star that night and I just want to be her supporting actor.

 

It pays big dividends around midnight thirty when you are back in your cabin with a bottle of bubbly.

 

Otherwise, it would be just shorts and a tee shirt for me. After all, I'm on vacation. Who wants to go to the trouble of wearing something as restricting as a suit when you are trying to relax.

[RevNeal]

However after the first time in the Caribbean dying in the heat while waiting in the lobby of the Vista Dining Room w/ a cast of hundreds for the doors to open for dinner, I learned to forego the t-shirt!

 

The heat is awful. Hence, I avoid that crowd. I don't move to enter the dining room until I hear the Yum Yum man walking around playing that little portable xylophone.

 

:)

 

As for not wearing a t-shirt under my tux shirt ... for me that's a BAD move. Trust me ... you don't want to see my body hair through my white shirt. ;) :D

[RevNeal]

*****

vacation, holiday

leisure time away from work; devoted to rest or pleasure; "we get two weeks of vacation every summer"; "we took a short holiday in Puerto Rico;"

 

******

1) A cruise is a vacation (axiom)

2) a vacation is leisure time (definition)

3) leisure time involves leisure attire (ipso facto)

4) leisure attire is not formal (see definitions and examples)

 

It follows, therefore, that leisure attire is most appropriate for a cruise.

 

Dave,

 

Naughty naughty. I noticed that you've tightened up your argument to avoid the error I was addressing. Tsk Tsk. :D

 

Please return to your definition of "leisure attire." You had asserted that "leisure attire" was more casual than "everyday attire." That assumed that one's "everyday attire" was either formal or at least in accord with the minimum HAL formal night dress code. My disagreement all along has been with the assumption that "leisure attire" excludes formal clothing, or includes only "casual attire." What about people for whom "everyday" attire is somewhat less than "Business Casual?" What about those for whom "dressing up" is part of the definition of leisure and "fun"?

 

Please demonstrate (without resort to a priori assumptions as to the nature of leisure attire) that number 3 is a fact in all circumstances and in accordance with your prior definition of leisure attire. Since this is the point which is to be proven, I do not accept it as an ipso facto proof. Leisure time MAY involve leisure attire as per your definition, but it is not an axiomatic fact that such is the case. Leisure time MAY involve events which REQUIRE formal attire.

 

example:

 

leisure time away from work; devoted to rest or pleasure; "we get two weeks of vacation every summer"; "we took a short holiday in Puerto Rico"; "we spent a week in Monte Carlo and went to the Casinos every evening"; "on our vacation in London we were thrilled to attend a Royal Command Performance of the London Symphony Orchestra"; "it was a pleasure for us to dress in formal clothing and attend the Formal Night Dinners on our cruise."

 

Do you see my point?

While leisure time MAY involve "leisure" clothing, leisure time MAY ALSO involve events where clothing that is "more formal than casual" is appropriate.

 

Should I drag out my "beating a dead horse" icon??? :D