People Don't Want to Dress Up Any More? Of Course They Do.

[BORDER REIVER]

Having returned recently from a 14 night cruise to Norway on Queen Elizabeth, we are pleased to say that dressing up in the evenings is alive and well.

Before we sailed we had read various reports and threads stating that dumbing down of the dress codes was the only way that Cunard would be able to fill it's ships and that most people these days weren't happy with formal dress codes.

We had 5 formal evenings (my wife took 5 evening dresses) and we only twice noticed any "infringement" of any evening dress code. One was by a man who came into the theatre on a formal evening dressed in baggy blue jeans and t-shirt. The other was by a younger lady who almost always wore a mid-thigh-length tight dress for dinner. It was fun watching all heads turn as she walked into the dining room each evening. It was also fun watching wives/girlfriends glaring at their husbands/partners. (I didn't look, honest).

A few men loosened or took off their ties after dinner, but it was very warm at times.

All in all, a brilliant cruise and it goes to show, we DO still like dressing for dinner.

[zider]

I have just returned off a 2 day cruise on the Q.E. Nether night was a Formal night, But on the 2nd night there must have been at least 200 couples dressed Formally that to me proves that people do want to dress up even on a short cruise, After all is that not what Cunard is about looking & feeling good.

[Whitemarsh]

Having returned recently from a 14 night cruise to Norway on Queen Elizabeth, we are pleased to say that dressing up in the evenings is alive and well.

 

Thank you for the update - and the good news!

 

Before we sailed we had read various reports and threads stating that dumbing down of the dress codes was the only way that Cunard would be able to fill it's ships and that most people these days weren't happy with formal dress codes.

 

Well they were wrong then and they're wrong now. It's obvious to any casual observer on a Cunard ship that the overwhelming majority of passengers enjoy the formal dress code - and the atmosphere it creates. That's why the vast majority of people you see on board are adhering to the dress code, because they want to, not because a gun is being pointed at their heads.

 

Nothing causes me more amusement then when the anti-dress code rabble comes on here to tell us that the dress code has to be relegated to the past because "young people" don't want it. Ironically it's always older people passing on this message - older people who would presumably be horrified if Cunard starting making other changes to accommodate the presumed & known preferences of "young people".

 

We had 5 formal evenings (my wife took 5 evening dresses) and we only twice noticed any "infringement" of any evening dress code. One was by a man who came into the theatre on a formal evening dressed in baggy blue jeans and t-shirt.

 

There's always one. :rolleyes:

 

The other was by a younger lady who almost always wore a mid-thigh-length tight dress for dinner. It was fun watching all heads turn as she walked into the dining room each evening. It was also fun watching wives/girlfriends glaring at their husbands/partners. (I didn't look, honest).

A few men loosened or took off their ties after dinner, but it was very warm at times.

All in all, a brilliant cruise and it goes to show, we DO still like dressing for dinner.

 

Glad to hear that you a good time. It does get warm in some of the restaurants, particularly the Grills on QM2. I didn't notice it in the Britannia or TE, but on certain nights in the QG & PG the temp seemed pretty high.

[Scrapnana]

Having returned recently from a 14 night cruise to Norway on Queen Elizabeth, we are pleased to say that dressing up in the evenings is alive and well.

Before we sailed we had read various reports and threads stating that dumbing down of the dress codes was the only way that Cunard would be able to fill it's ships and that most people these days weren't happy with formal dress codes.

We had 5 formal evenings (my wife took 5 evening dresses) and we only twice noticed any "infringement" of any evening dress code. One was by a man who came into the theatre on a formal evening dressed in baggy blue jeans and t-shirt. The other was by a younger lady who almost always wore a mid-thigh-length tight dress for dinner. It was fun watching all heads turn as she walked into the dining room each evening. It was also fun watching wives/girlfriends glaring at their husbands/partners. (I didn't look, honest).

A few men loosened or took off their ties after dinner, but it was very warm at times.

All in all, a brilliant cruise and it goes to show, we DO still like dressing for dinner.

 

The new head honcho of Cunard should do an "Undercover Boss" type of thing and see what the passengers really want.

[dan dan]

On our recent trip to Norway we saw quite a lot of people abusing the dress code and nothing done about it, jeans regularly seen in the casino and ball room, the dress code in the theatre was a a free for all, t ****s jeans track suit bottoms, with the conformers dressed correctly it looked like a wedding had mixed in with the general public at a hotel reception.

 

There was a large group of Japanese who had no intention of even trying and were allowed to carry on regardless.

 

Now I don't mind either way and would dress down if that was the norm, but when it is stated, then I will happily follow the rules and make the effort. So either enforce it , or forget it, but this middle ground is just embarrasing

 

PS a fantastic trip , all the staff were friendly when I engaged with them, food was on the most very good (clotted cream with scones) I did not detect any lowering in standards from Cunard and we both thought it was better than our last trip. Just one thing, there was a lot of vibration from the engines that shook the bed, in our cabin deck 5 aft which really was bad on the first sea day and surprised me for such a new ship.

 

The way some passengers treat and talk to staff is truly shocking and to be sexist and racist what I witnessed was mainly elderly british women (calm down dear). So I would like to say thank you to all the staff on QE I thought you did a grand job

[laktex]

I have just returned off a 2 day cruise on the Q.E. Nether night was a Formal night, But on the 2nd night there must have been at least 200 couples dressed Formally that to me proves that people do want to dress up even on a short cruise, After all is that not what Cunard is about looking & feeling good.

 

I concur with this - I was truly surprised how many men were in Tuxedo (or at least black suit and Black Tie) for the supposed 2 "Informal" evenings - I began to feel underdressed. There was a group in the Verandah one evening fully attired for a Black Tie event. Perhaps some of those photos in the brochure inspire people to dress up and long may it continue.

[Austcruiser84]

I concur with this - I was truly surprised how many men were in Tuxedo (or at least black suit and Black Tie) for the supposed 2 "Informal" evenings - I began to feel underdressed. There was a group in the Verandah one evening fully attired for a Black Tie event. Perhaps some of those photos in the brochure inspire people to dress up and long may it continue.

 

Black tie is a lot of fun. It's special to get so dressed up and everyone looks great.

 

It's partly why I will continue to book Cunard over other lines.

[Whitemarsh]

On our recent trip to Norway we saw quite a lot of people abusing the dress code and nothing done about it, jeans regularly seen in the casino and ball room, the dress code in the theatre was a a free for all, t ****s jeans track suit bottoms, with the conformers dressed correctly it looked like a wedding had mixed in with the general public at a hotel reception.

 

There was a large group of Japanese who had no intention of even trying and were allowed to carry on regardless.

 

Now I don't mind either way and would dress down if that was the norm, but when it is stated, then I will happily follow the rules and make the effort. So either enforce it , or forget it, but this middle ground is just embarrasing

 

PS a fantastic trip , all the staff were friendly when I engaged with them, food was on the most very good (clotted cream with scones) I did not detect any lowering in standards from Cunard and we both thought it was better than our last trip. Just one thing, there was a lot of vibration from the engines that shook the bed, in our cabin deck 5 aft which really was bad on the first sea day and surprised me for such a new ship.

 

The way some passengers treat and talk to staff is truly shocking and to be sexist and racist what I witnessed was mainly elderly british women (calm down dear). So I would like to say thank you to all the staff on QE I thought you did a grand job

 

Hmmm, was this the same cruise that Border reiver has come back from? The QE Fjords & Waterfalls May 26-June 9 2013?

[Keuka Lake Sailor]

I just have to mention I attended the "picture taking opportunity" in a park in Albany, NY for a junior class prom before the event itself. My family member was in a beautiful full length gown and her date rented a tux. At the park, I was blown away by all these young teenagers dressed to the nines. So dressing up in not completely a thing of the past. By the way, the prom was held on a boat on the Hudson River - this class is really doing things up right!

[dan dan]

Hmmm, was this the same cruise that Border reiver has come back from? The QE Fjords & Waterfalls May 26-June 9 2013?

 

no, one after and I may of sounded harsh as most people were very smart even on casual days but the rebels do stand out

[Whitemarsh]

no, one after and I may of sounded harsh as most people were very smart even on casual days but the rebels do stand out

 

Yes, and for all the wrong reasons. Just like someone eating McDonalds at a Michelin star restaurant, or reading a comic at an art gallery would stand out.

[Keith1010]

I suspect most people who sail Cunard like to dress up.

 

Keith

[Austcruiser84]

Yes, and for all the wrong reasons. Just like someone eating McDonalds at a Michelin star restaurant, or reading a comic at an art gallery would stand out.

 

Or the guy wearing a bright red tux on the QM2 Caribbean voyage last December. Not a good look.

[pmb1]

Or the guy wearing a bright red tux on the QM2 Caribbean voyage last December. Not a good look.

Reminds me of the man wearing a green tuxedo in PG on a QM2 Caribbean several years age; and, no, it wasn't St. Patrick's Day.

[balf]

I suspect most people who sail Cunard like to dress up.

 

Keith

 

Yes, most people like to conform and I think that most who would like a more relaxed code will just pick another line, though Cunard is certainly not unique in its code, however much Cunarders are sniffy about P&O etc.

 

I have a few doubts about when the fly/cruise season in the Med starts though.

 

David.

[Dcoy]

I was in a men's clothing store which also rents tuxcidos and they had a camelflodge vest. I asked if they ever rented any and the lady said mostly to high schoolers for proms but had at least one wedding us them. I asked if it was a shotgun wedding but she was not amused.

 

So maybe we'll see some of these soon.

 

Don

[gfs1ram]

Hello Border. We were also on the North Cape Cruise and yes a superb cruise, 28c at Trondheim and 22c at the North Cape was not anticipated clothes wise but certainly made for amazing scenery/pictures. We like the QE, met many 'nice' people and thoroughly enjoyed the formal nights - long may they last. I do vaguely (well vividly actually LOL) recall the young lady that you mentioned who wore the mid thigh length dresses, I think she was the one that 'cleared' the dance floor most evenings wearing the very same attire!. Mind you your terminology made me smile - you said she 'almost wore' a mid thigh length dress - that just about sums it up really from what I can remember !!! Long may 'dressing up' continue LOL.

[Jimsgirl]

Sounds like a passenger on a cruise I took earlier this year, the dress barely covered her rear end, and since it was so tight I could make out the dimple of her navel, and the points of her nipples, I knew that there was only skin underneath.

[mercury51]

I think you are all part of the emperor with no clothes fantasy I am currently on qm2 just had a semi formal dinner with a variety of men in short sleeve shirts with their napkin stuck at their necks plus just learned no ATM on the ocean liner to low class had to carry on my own luggage not considered luggage just stood there when they figured out I wasn't carring on my own luggage they sent an employee to help me I get it sail away from hamburg left me speechless library is awesome but this ship is an ocean liner that is its value and specialality but the rest is a delusional fantasy

[pmb1]

I think you are all part of the emperor with no clothes fantasy I am currently on qm2 just had a semi formal dinner with a variety of men in short sleeve shirts with their napkin stuck at their necks plus just learned no ATM on the ocean liner to low class had to carry on my own luggage not considered luggage just stood there when they figured out I wasn't carring on my own luggage they sent an employee to help me I get it sail away from hamburg left me speechless library is awesome but this ship is an ocean liner that is its value and specialality but the rest is a delusional fantasy

Obviously you have something interesting to report here, but my limited facilities for decoding what that might be beg you to season what you wrote with punctuation. Thanks.

[BORDER REIVER]

I think you are all part of the emperor with no clothes fantasy I am currently on qm2 just had a semi formal dinner with a variety of men in short sleeve shirts with their napkin stuck at their necks plus just learned no ATM on the ocean liner to low class had to carry on my own luggage not considered luggage just stood there when they figured out I wasn't carring on my own luggage they sent an employee to help me I get it sail away from hamburg left me speechless library is awesome but this ship is an ocean liner that is its value and specialality but the rest is a delusional fantasy

I think it is only right that you tell it how it was for you, just as each and every one of the rest of us will tell it how it was for us. I wouldn't dream of commenting on any cruise that I hadn't been on myself. There's no conspiracy theory or smoke and mirrors, just me saying that on our particular cruise almost everyone that we saw, was dressed as requested by the dress code each evening and seemed to be having a great time.

The only assumption I can make from this, is that those people did actually want to dress up in the evenings, otherwise they would have used the alternative dining options.

[mercury51]

The dress code is trashed. When I was in casino everyone said it was because the Germans were only on for two days . Who knows will report later . Interesting thing 9 days three formal nights

[Scrapnana]

The FAQ mentions that there are no ATMs on the ships.

https://ask.cunard.com/help/cunard/fleet/cash_machine

[Salacia]

I think you are all part of the emperor with no clothes fantasy I am currently on qm2 just had a semi formal dinner with a variety of men in short sleeve shirts with their napkin stuck at their necks plus just learned no ATM on the ocean liner to low class had to carry on my own luggage not considered luggage just stood there when they figured out I wasn't carring on my own luggage they sent an employee to help me I get it sail away from hamburg left me speechless library is awesome but this ship is an ocean liner that is its value and specialality but the rest is a delusional fantasy

 

Mercury, I'm sorry, but I am confused by your statement regarding your luggage. What was it that was not considered luggage?

 

Not for nothin', but there is no 'semi-formal' dress code anymore - simply Formal and Informal.

 

As you stated that you are currently on board QM2, I hope you find a way to enjoy your time on board. Best wishes to you and your fellow passengers. Regards, -S.

[Pushka]

Obviously you have something interesting to report here, but my limited facilities for decoding what that might be beg you to season what you wrote with punctuation. Thanks.

 

Phew, I thought I'd had too many glasses of sparkling. :o