Formal Nights for Teenagers

[cavkc]

We are taking a cruise on the Brilliance in summer 2006 in Europe with our 13 year old boys. Does anyone have any experience of what teenagers generally do/wear on the formal nights.

 

We took them both on a caribbean cruise with Celebrity where we hired DJ's on board, but this isn't available on the Europe cruises. I don't really want to buy 2 suits just for a couple of nights. Obviously though, I would hate for them to be the 'odd one out' if everyone else their age was getting dressed up.

 

Any advice on what they will need clothes wise for the evenings would be appreciated.

[raerae]

RCI does ask that children follow the same guidelines as adults. that would mean at least a jacket with their slacks, dress shirt and tie. If you don't want to purchase a suit then maybe just a sports coat would work. Also they do have tuxedo rental on board their ships.

Enjoy your cruise. :)

Cindy ;)

[benjidog]

How about buying something at a second hand store??? Even though that might not be the norm for you, maybe to wear twice and toss (or redonate) will work just fine.

[cusyl]

I agree with the second hand store suggestion....consignment shops. Even Goodwill has a boutique section. We got a tuxedo for our teen grandson for $20. just like new.

[cavkc]

Unfortunately, they only rent men's suit onboard (I checked with RCL) & both boys are not in a mans size yet. It also works out at about £250 each to rent suits for them for the full 2 weeks from a local shop before we go.

 

When we were with Celebrity, although it said that children should follow the same dress code (and ours did) the vast majority of kids just ate in the casual restaurants on formal nights & didn't even bother with long pants. I would have thought that a Med summer cruise would be even more relaxed than a Christmas & New Year cruise.

 

I don't mind spending the money, but don't want to find that I didn't need to !

[judy&steve]

Do your boys ever go to weddings or other occasions requiring non-casual attire? I think investing in jackets and dress pants at this age is a good thing. I am not trying to tell you how to spend your money, but I think that young men and ladies should learn from an early age how to dress for any occasion. A good suit or jacket can be tailored from year to year to fit your sons. My son wore the same suit for about four years with the help of tailors. When he graduated from high school, we bought him a new suit which he still wears (he just graduated from college.) And, he owns a tuxedo. He dresses like a bum most of the time, but when he needs to, he dresses up and looks great.

Judy

[CaptData]

Europeans generally dress up more then us. Go to good will or have the kids eat in windjammer on formal nights.

[BaltoTraveler]

Definitely consignment/Goodwill/Salvation Army shops. Get them both dark-blue blazers and grey slacks (khakis in a pinch). They can borrow ties from Dad. They'll look great!

 

We didn't buy new blazers for our sons until they stopped growing, considering that they wore them about twice a year.

[caviargal]

I have always found Med cruises to be a little dressier as the Europeans aboard take their clothing seriously.

 

I cruised as a teen and was always attired formally, as were my two brothers. My nephew has cruised with me since a young age and he always wears a suit for formal nights and also a tie for every other night. And he is Mr. surfer dude at home!

 

Brilliance is Radiance class and people do tend to dress up more on these ships.

 

I would hit the consignment shops and see what you can dig up.

[hdawson]

Judy&Steve. I agree totally with your post. As teens it's important that they learn social graces, manners, etc. A cruise can be a great help in this learning experience. And like others have said, the cost doesn't need to be bankrupting.

[want2cruisenow]

I have never been on a European cruise, so they may be dressier, but on the cruises I have been on (Alaska, Mexico, and Caribbean) many teenage boys skipped the jacket and just wore slacks, shirt and tie.

[smrtypnts]

I just bought my son (11 years old) a tux on ebay for $40. It is brand new and I hope to resell after his 1 wear. Maybe I'll get $20 back.

 

I've only purchased my daughter 1 cocktail dress and hope that she'll end up eating with her new friends on the 2nd formal night. :rolleyes: If this doesn't work out, then she'll just have to wear the same dress twice.

[Sassy Chassis]

On our Vision cruise the teenagers were dressed appropriately (the ones I saw anyway!) ESPECIALLY the teenage girls. They were dressed like they were going to the prom :)

[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.

[Keksie]

Unfortunately cutting and pasting from the website does not really answer the OP’s question. It is also inaccurate. The number of formal/smart casual/casual nights is ship/itinerary specific. For instance on my last two cruises, which were 7 nights in length there were no smart casual nights.

[susanNjay]

I have a suggestion for teenage GIRLS, although I know the original post was in regards to BOYS...find someone your daughter's size who has been to several formal dances and borrow or buy their formal gowns.

We are taking our 9 and 16 year old daughters on our next cruise, and the prom dresses will definitely come in handy! My teen says she wants to wear one almost every night! The little one will just wear really nice church dresses.

 

--Susan

[WeLuvVacation]

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.

[Ohunion Cruzers]

Unfortunately cutting and pasting from the website does not really answer the OP’s question. It is also inaccurate. The number of formal/smart casual/casual nights is ship/itinerary specific. For instance on my last two cruises, which were 7 nights in length there were no smart casual nights.

 

The very last line sort of sums it up and DOES answer the OP's question.

 

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

 

We = Royal Caribbean

Appreciate = thanks you

Parental Guidance = Setting a Good example

Cooperation = doing what RCI wishes

Observing = Complying with

Easy = Not Difficult (for most sensible people)

Guidelines = Rules

With your Children = You AND your children

[teddie]

If you would like to keep it simple, this will work fine:

 

Khaki slacks, pressed. Shirt and tie. Navy blazer. Loafers

 

(got the blazer at Sears--about $60 bucks)

[rjg41]

Our our family reunion cruise with grandchildren children age 13, 7, 6, 5, 4(2), 3, & 18 months, all were dressed appropriately at minimul cost. Our kids went out and got closeouts and second hand stuff. In fact the girls had a different dress for each formal night and their brothers had matching ties. Note the attached picture. Doesn't everyone look great and the kids loved getting dressed up.

[WeLuvVacation]

Never seen ANYONE kicked out for not following the so called code, and I'll guarantee they will not start doing so unless you are dressed like a total slob!

 

PERIOD!

 

IMHO they should do away with the idea of "formal night". Anoyone who wants formal night should indicate so and they can be given an area to themselves.

[Keksie]

The very last line sort of sums it up and DOES answer the OP's question.

 

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

 

We = Royal Caribbean

Appreciate = thanks you

Parental Guidance = Setting a Good example

Cooperation = doing what RCI wishes

Observing = Complying with

Easy = Not Difficult (for most sensible people)

Guidelines = Rules

With your Children = You AND your children

 

Actually the OP was asking for cruisers who have experience with what teenagers actually wear and do on formal night. The website is often wrong as far as what is really being done in relation to the number and type of nights and while a general guideline does not help in ascertaining what is currently being done on a particular cruise by a particular demographic. It does seem that there is a wide variation of "the guidelines" since they only mention suits and tuxes and not jackets which according to many posters will be just fine.

[WeLuvVacation]

Don't let the "cruise police" on these message boards dictate YOUR vacation.

 

A shirt & tie for a man is ok and a lot do it. A nice pants suit or dressy pants and a pretty blouse are really nice for a woman. And similar for older kids, and dressy kids clothes for the younger ones.

[terri23]

rjg41 - great photo!!

 

cavkc - have a terrific cruise. based on all the input, there's no need to break the bank for the kids to look great.

 

weluvvacation - most (at least on RCI) don't agree w/ your opinion about getting rid of formal night. sounds like you enjoy casual attire, and they have already set aside an area for you - WJ

[WeLuvVacation]

I paid for the DR and I will continue to eat there.

 

I will not wear a tux, I will wear a jacket and tie w/ shirt & pants cause I choose to do so.

 

And I have to disagree I am sure if you took a poll most people would say no to formal night.

 

The people here is another story!

 

But I would certainly NOT give the waitstaff a bad review or a lesser tip cause thay let someone sit down who was underdressed. It is management who is telling them to do so!