"Smart Casual"

[Lil Lisa]

Hi,

We have never sailed Royal Caribbean and found that there is a "smart casual" night. I was wondering what attire past cruisers have wore. Thanks.

[hdawson]

For me, a sport coat or blazer, with or without a tie.

[flipirlc]

:D I have never heard of that either it is my 1 time also.hope you have fun:)

[caviargal]

I wear a pretty dress or dressy slacks or skirt with nice top. Heels always.

[judiek]

smart casual used to be a sport coat for men....our last RCCL cruise the daily compass listed smart casual as pants such as Dockers,and a collared shirt.I don't remember what they listed for ladies,but if I remember it was a lot of dresses and skirts rather than pants....I think RCCL has relaxed the rules somewhat.We were discussing it with our head waiter and he was totally opposed to not enforcing the rules but he said it was not up to him to tell a passenger what they could or could not wear.We actually saw jeans and tee shirts on smart casual...Doesnt bother me...we dress the way they suggest because we like to..if others don't...who cares...it's their vacation too!

[Lil Lisa]

Thank you for your responses. Your information has helped us pack for our Adventure cruise.

[JeffHatfield]

In the Compass, the description for Smart Casual and Casual were the same. Personally I wish they would do away with the smart casual and just have Formal and Casual, even if they wanted to add one more formal, it would be ok.

 

On the Grandeur 6/24 for the first smart casual night, my dad and I both wore coats and ties, but I really didn't see another coat and tie in the dining room.

[MiniMom57]

For "smart casual", dress as though you were going to a nice wedding or an expensive restaurant (tie and jacket for men; dress or dressy pantsuit for women).

[pcur]

DH wears a sport coat, no tie, for smart casual. Sometimes a silk "tee", sometimes a button shirt. For casual it's usually a polo shirt or dark colored tropical shirt and slacks. He never wears t-shirts and jeans. Doesn't even bring them with him.

[Folgy]

I always wear a sport coat with tie. I like to dress up though . Most do not .You will mostly see a nice shirt with dress slacks.

 

oh yes...and some dressed like freakin' bums...oh well , does not effect my cruise.

[Ohunion Cruzers]

The following expectation can be found on RCI’s Web Page:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/lifeOnboardFaq.do;jsessionid=00003r7uyfPObwi9-KWfJ3UFI4U:v2mocc7o#8

 

What are the dress codes onboard?

There are three distinct types of evenings onboard: casual, smart casual and formal. Suggested guidelines for these nights are:

 

Casual: Sport shirts and slacks for men, sundresses or pants for women

Smart Casual: Jackets and ties for men, dresses or pantsuits for women

Formal: Suits and ties or tuxedos for men, cocktail dresses for women

 

3 to 4-night cruises include one formal night and two or three casual nights.

5 - nights include one formal and four casual nights.

7 to 9-night cruises include two formal nights, one smart casual night and four to six casual nights.

10, 11, and 12-night cruises include two formal nights and two smart casual nights, all other nights are casual.

14+ -night cruises include three formal nights and four smart casual nights. All other nights are casual.

 

We appreciate your usual parental guidance and cooperation in observing these easy guidelines with your children.

[mrg0433]

Other than formal night, most people dressed casual on our last cruise. Alot of people wore Hawaiian shirts and others wore the permanent press look. I don't remember seeing many guys in jackets and ties other than formal night.

[pcur]

Yes, I think the ties are on their way out, except for formal night. I can get DH to wear his jacket, and that's why we went to the Men's Wearhouse and got the nice ribbed silk tees, but the tie is out unless it's formal night.

 

I think a man in a nice button shirt or silk tee looks very classy in a jacket.

[kenandlaura06]

I just told my fiance today that we need to buy him a new sportcoat for the "smart casual".

[Ocean Boy]

Some ships do not have a smart casual night on their sailings no matter what the website, cruise docs, or any other RCI literature says. When we were aboard Explorer there was none.

[PartyHearty]

Joyce Gleeson-Adamidis, who pens Cruise Critic's original "Under the Captain's Table" series of stories, knows the ins and outs of onboard life -- both as a cruise ship staff member and as the wife of Celebrity Cruises' venerable Captain Adamidis. In "Under the Captain's Table," Joyce will tackle, in her own candid way, a variety of topics -- offering an absolutely behind the scenes perspective on issues ranging from advice for first timers to the burgeoning debate about challenges ships face in handling family travelers.

 

 

Onboard Fashion. Do you wish to look like a million dollars? Those who have it, will. Those who don't, still can anyway! Take your best basic black dress and your favorite shoes, and splurge on a good onboard hair stylist. Put on your favorite jewelry, bring along your favorite shawl and you will look terrific. Men, put on your best suit, a conversational tie and go to the casino or disco. Whoops, haven't a suit? Take along a sport jacket.

 

On a mega ship, you will see everything from Yves St. Laurent to Nikes with Bermuda shorts and then some. Though it is respectful to the Captain and crew to dress for formal evenings, on many ships you don't have to -- there are casual dining options available to you. But for those who want to live the glamour, go all out.

 

One of the strangest -- and most fascinating -- lessons I've learned is how passionate cruise travelers can be about fashion. I've seen raucous debates from passengers about whether ships should casual-ize dressing standards. Actual fist fights with comical ramifications have broken out because of comments made about one's attire. One time, a man walking through the lobby made a comment to his wife about another poorly dressed couple. Overhearing him, the shabby bloke retorted to the dandy guy to "button up."

 

The dressed one responded with an epithet. Next thing you know, a bow tie was tossed, a tennis shoe was flung over the deck and a black tuxedo pant somehow got wrapped around two ankles. What started with a shot and ended in a flash had other passengers running in all directions, pressing hands against mouths to stifle impossibly held giggles.

 

Bottom line? Do what's right for you. Onboard you will see many types of people with many wishes. Just worry about fulfilling yours.

 

And while I'm on the subject, cruise lines rarely offer guidance on what to wear in ports of call. It's important, though -- very important -- to wear appropriate and respectful clothing, depending on the port of call.

[pcur]

Great post, PH!

[Keksie]

Some ships do not have a smart casual night on their sailings no matter what the website, cruise docs, or any other RCI literature says. When we were aboard Explorer there was none.

 

The last two cruises I have taken on the Rhapsody did not have a smart casual night even though they were 7 day cruises. There were 2 formal and the rest casual. It is best if someone who just finished a cruise on the same ship and itinerary will post and let you know what is actually being done.

[caviargal]

The last two cruises I have taken on the Rhapsody did not have a smart casual night even though they were 7 day cruises. There were 2 formal and the rest casual. It is best if someone who just finished a cruise on the same ship and itinerary will post and let you know what is actually being done.

 

I really think it is more important to be respectful of the ships guidelines and standards, as well as your own. Use good taste and you will be appropriate.

 

I saw folks on my Carnival cruise in shorts and ball caps in the dining room at dinner, more than I could believe. There is no way I would ever dress like that for dinner, at sea or at a nice restaurant on land.

[kenandlaura06]

I love dressing up and will be dressed up on casual nights too!!!

[pcur]

I'm with kenandlaura06: I like to wear more dressy clothes regardless. It doesn't matter if they eliminate smart casual, I'll wear the same nice pantsuits and outfits anyway.

 

It's DH I have to keep an eye on. He pays lip service to the fact that it's a nice restaurant and we should dress accordingly. However, on longer cruises he wants to slip back into being very casual.

 

You have to understand we're talking about a man who retired when he was 51, wears shorts and tees as his "uniform of the day". "Dress uniform" is a polo shirt (has a collar) with same shorts, and "Tropical uniform" is same shorts with a tropical shirt.... :D :D

 

Casual, smart casual, it's still a very nice restaurant, and we should dress accordingly. Being on vacation is not an excuse to dress badly, IMHO (in reference to the baseball capped folks mentioned above).

[MisterBill99]

Don't they say that the first and last nights are less "casual" than others because you may just be getting your luggage and not have much time to prepare, or have already packed your stuff? I am surprised to see it lumped in with most other nights.

[Keksie]

I really think it is more important to be respectful of the ships guidelines and standards, as well as your own. Use good taste and you will be appropriate.

 

I saw folks on my Carnival cruise in shorts and ball caps in the dining room at dinner, more than I could believe. There is no way I would ever dress like that for dinner, at sea or at a nice restaurant on land.

 

According to the ship's guidelines and standards, the Rhapsody did not have any smart casual nights just casual nights. I wear sundresses for casual nights while for smart casual I would wear something that was more semi-formal. For a man casual would be dockers/khakis and a collared shirt while smart casual would have a jacket. There is no need in my mind to pack for smart casual when there is not a smart casual evening. According to the ship's that I have been on guidelines, I have been in good taste and appropriate.

[Monthend]

Just got off the 9 night VOS cruise. The first day there was a listing of the dress for the entire cruise. Two smart casual nights were listed but in each days compass we never had a smart casual listed. Two formal and the rest were casual. Some people took casual to a new low. Cut off jean shorts and tank tops. Sneakers and flip flops.

[JasonH]

When I was on the Explorer last fall there were one or two smart casual nights (one was on "Caribbean Night" so attire was "Smart Casual or Tropical".) I'm cruising on Voyager for 9 nights in September and found no mention of smart casual nights in the Cruise Compasses I downloaded (from another thread.) I'm going to pack assuming there will be no smart casual nights.