MDR Dressing - Specific Question

[n8dogg59]

I've looked around and found a couple posts that say the MDR is flexible on dress code but most don't have examples. I'm always hot and prefer shorts to pants because it's just much more comfortable when I'm not hot and sweating. I'd like to wear nice khaki or black shorts, golf shirt, and nice sandals to dinners most nights, obviously not formal night. Will this be a problem? I can always wear pants to dinner and then go change right away after but would prefer not to have to do that. Never cruised Carnival so really don't know what to expect. Thanks in advance for the help. This forum has been such a huge help planning for the cruise!!

[KenMo]

"Dress" shorts are allowed on non-Elegant Nights.

 

It will not be a problem!!

[PlayTheAces]

Dress shorts are fine on casual nights. Just got off the Freedom and wore them several nights. Most people dress presentably, but you'll see a few you may wonder about. ;)

[mondello]

Dress code is cruise casual most nights and sandals is almost as casual as you can get; definitely a step up from the fancy flip-flops.

[HO HO]

I've looked around and found a couple posts that say the MDR is flexible on dress code but most don't have examples. I'm always hot and prefer shorts to pants because it's just much more comfortable when I'm not hot and sweating. I'd like to wear nice khaki or black shorts, golf shirt, and nice sandals to dinners most nights, obviously not formal night. Will this be a problem? I can always wear pants to dinner and then go change right away after but would prefer not to have to do that. Never cruised Carnival so really don't know what to expect. Thanks in advance for the help. This forum has been such a huge help planning for the cruise!!

 

I wear Hawaiian shirts and "long" shorts (cargo shorts mostly) just about all the time aboard ship. DW does manage to get me into a shirt & tie for one elegant night, but I'll usually wear a open collar polo shirt or Hawaiian shirt and slacks the other.....and I've always got my Sperry deck shoes with no socks on..:rolleyes:

[cathyz]

And I thought this was about what goes on my salad!

[dallas52]

you will be fine.

[crusinpsychRN]

And I thought this was about what goes on my salad!

 

So did I!:D

[kentuckyluckyguy]

Just off the Ecstasy and even on "elegant night" there were men with shorts, polo shirts. I prefer to wear dress pants and at least a nice shirt to dinner each night, so simply adding a tie on "elegant night" was no big deal. Trust me, they aren't gonna stop you from eating based on what you are wearing.

[sanmarcosman]

And I thought this was about what goes on my salad!

 

Me three, I thought it would be a JH menu item breaking news flash!

[rynosmom]

As most have said shorts are fine in the dining room. My DH wore shorts 5 out of 8 nights on our cruise. We did hear about guys being turned away in the dining room for wearing sleeveless shirts and baseball caps.

[mommom of 7]

Just off the Ecstasy and even on "elegant night" there were men with shorts, polo shirts. I prefer to wear dress pants and at least a nice shirt to dinner each night, so simply adding a tie on "elegant night" was no big deal. Trust me, they aren't gonna stop you from eating based on what you are wearing.

We were on the Sensation for a B2B2B2B last mth. & saw two people turned away before they got in the door to the DR. Elegant nite & both had on simi dress shorts. The first cruise they escorted a couple out & he was just raising cane HE PD FOR THAT LOBSTER & HE WAS GOING TO EAT IT. MD stepped up & said NOT IN MY DR. Also saw one young man ask to remove his ball cap.

GOOD GOING SENSATION DINNING ROOM STAFF

[mking8288]

He he, so it's not about given a choice for a new house dressing offered on the side.

 

Dress codes for the ship are ususally written for all to read in the FunTimes and in the "Good To Know" page, and each cruiselines do set the guidelines a little differently.

 

For 8 nights, we didn't notice the fashion police guarding the 2 entrances to our MDR at dinner time (standards are more relaxed at breakfast/brunch, of course) - even on elegant night, folks are showing up in all sorts of outfits - just don't recall anyone in a tux. Last year, we witnessed one in a white tux at lunch and formal wear (black tux) at dinner, almost nighly - that was NCL ... free styling, too.

 

In the tropics, I wear a sleeveless t-shirt too, just have to put one over with a collar. Baseball cap, worn correctly or backward like our little grand nephew are not welcomed for MDR at dinner - those cowboy hats are fine, I think :D - perfect transition to Legends show in the main theater and for the karaoke afterward to do a Kenny Rogers or John Denver thing ...

 

For sailings to Bermuda, shorts for dinner in the MDR is perfect - man on the islands wear those long dress shorts, British style with their matching suit, shirt & tie going to downtown offices. For Carnival, such outfit would be fine for elegant nights.

[dixieva]

We have seen people turned away who tried to wear shorts in the MDR on formal nights also. Other nights it's fine.

 

Whatever makes you happy.:)

[latitude918]

I wouldn't "sweat" it too much (see what I did there? :p ) -- Usually for dinner it is business casual (khakis, boat shoes and a open collar polo) for me, I don't wear a suit on dress night, just a shirt and tie with slacks...

[Sparky2]

And I thought this was about what goes on my salad!

 

Sure glad I didn't have coffee or something in my mouth when I read your response. Still laughing.

[Retiringworkingstiff]

We were on the Sensation for a B2B2B2B last mth. & saw two people turned away before they got in the door to the DR. Elegant nite & both had on simi dress shorts. The first cruise they escorted a couple out & he was just raising cane HE PD FOR THAT LOBSTER & HE WAS GOING TO EAT IT. MD stepped up & said NOT IN MY DR. Also saw one young man ask to remove his ball cap.

GOOD GOING SENSATION DINNING ROOM STAFF

I hope all MDs use the same rule.

[OCruisers]

I've looked around and found a couple posts that say the MDR is flexible on dress code but most don't have examples. I'm always hot and prefer shorts to pants because it's just much more comfortable when I'm not hot and sweating. I'd like to wear nice khaki or black shorts, golf shirt, and nice sandals to dinners most nights, obviously not formal night. Will this be a problem? I can always wear pants to dinner and then go change right away after but would prefer not to have to do that. Never cruised Carnival so really don't know what to expect. Thanks in advance for the help. This forum has been such a huge help planning for the cruise!!

 

Noticed this is your very first post. Welcome to Cruise Critic! :)

 

What you are planning to wear will be absolutely fine! No Problem!

Look forward to enjoying your cruise! :D

 

LuLu

~~~~

[miataman19]

You'll be good to go with the shorts and polo. Carnival does allow them in the MDR on non-elegant nights (still have trouble with that, always was formal night;)). I guess I'm the oddball. I still wear dress pants a jacket, dress shirt, no tie, to dinner on non-elegant:rolleyes: nights, a black tux 1st elegant night and a white dinner jacket the second. I guess its the 007 in me. I always feel very comfortable in a jacket and a tux :cool:. "Every girl crazy bout a sharp dressed man". :D

[riclop]

I've looked around and found a couple posts that say the MDR is flexible on dress code but most don't have examples. I'm always hot and prefer shorts to pants because it's just much more comfortable when I'm not hot and sweating. I'd like to wear nice khaki or black shorts, golf shirt, and nice sandals to dinners most nights, obviously not formal night. Will this be a problem? I can always wear pants to dinner and then go change right away after but would prefer not to have to do that. Never cruised Carnival so really don't know what to expect. Thanks in advance for the help. This forum has been such a huge help planning for the cruise!!

No problem, no shorts on the captains nights however.

[wrigley80]

My dad and I always wear shorts to the dining room. It's just what we feel comfortable wearing. On formal nights we go to the Lido for the buffet. We have never been turned away at the MDR

 

 

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