Wrong Cruise Line

[mosquito#the45]

Early in December we booked a Baltic cruise on the Arcadia through a local travel agent as the destinations and nights on board fitted the bill. Only this week I clicked on the cruise personaliser and discovered that nearly two thirds of the nights on board are either formal or idiotic black tie nights and that's way too many for my liking.

 

There is no way I am going to put up with all that nonsense and I am seriously thinking about cancelling and booking with another line. Yes, I know I will loose my deposit but such is life.

 

Is it possible to avoid all that nonsense without being imprisoned in cabin for fourteen nights?

Edited January 7, 2015 by mosquito#the45

[indiana123]

Nonsense to some but nice or fun for others. For some of us its all part of the cruise. Just a couple of nights dining dressed differently than at home and with a sense of occasion!

 

Surely there wont be 8 or 9 formal nights on a two week cruise. We didn't have that many on a 24 nighter. I would think three or 4 would be about it. The rest might be some jacket required and mostly informal.

 

I think perhaps you may be mistaken on this. Worth a double check anyway.

Edited January 7, 2015 by indiana123

[the english lady]

Early in December we booked a Baltic cruise on the Arcadia through a local travel agent as the destinations and nights on board fitted the bill. Only this week I clicked on the cruise personaliser and discovered that nearly two thirds of the nights on board are either formal or idiotic black tie nights and that's way too many for my liking.

 

There is no way I am going to put up with all that nonsense and I am seriously thinking about cancelling and booking with another line. Yes, I know I will loose my deposit but such is life.

 

Is it possible to avoid all that nonsense without being imprisoned in cabin for fourteen nights?

 

Yes it is possible. you can dress informally the whole time and dine in the buffet. There will be some bars you cannot go into though, unless you are in the dress code.

You will also be in the minority. 95% plus will be in it.

On a 14 night cruise you will have 4 formal nights max. (the black/white night is one of the formal nights).

The other nights will be split between casual or jacket required nights.

Me thinks before booking any more cruises you check the dress code (if any) for the line you want, rather than booking , then coming on here to moan.

P and O is know for adhering to its dress codes.. The overwhelming majority on the cruise enjoying the dressing up part of the experience...and do not consider it nonsense.

[daiB]

Early in December we booked a Baltic cruise on the Arcadia through a local travel agent as the destinations and nights on board fitted the bill. Only this week I clicked on the cruise personaliser and discovered that nearly two thirds of the nights on board are either formal or idiotic black tie nights and that's way too many for my liking.

 

There is no way I am going to put up with all that nonsense and I am seriously thinking about cancelling and booking with another line. Yes, I know I will loose my deposit but such is life.

 

Is it possible to avoid all that nonsense without being imprisoned in cabin for fourteen nights?

 

 

Well of course the Nonsense is of course your opinion. On Formal nights 95% of cruisers will wear DJ's and the rest dark suits. There will be a number not in jackets and will be able to eat in the buffet.

 

I am afraid you are correct about P&O, it is one of the most formal cruise lines, but only in the evening. And in Arcadia you are on an adult only ship which tend to be most formal.

 

You may well be happier in moving to another company.

 

Whatever you do enjoy your cruise.

 

 

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[davecttr]

Early in December we booked a Baltic cruise on the Arcadia through a local travel agent as the destinations and nights on board fitted the bill. Only this week I clicked on the cruise personaliser and discovered that nearly two thirds of the nights on board are either formal or idiotic black tie nights and that's way too many for my liking.

 

There is no way I am going to put up with all that nonsense and I am seriously thinking about cancelling and booking with another line. Yes, I know I will loose my deposit but such is life.

 

Is it possible to avoid all that nonsense without being imprisoned in cabin for fourteen nights?

don't panic, if you booked the cruise for the excellent itinery don't cancel, the dress codes are not as draconian as you might think at first glance.

 

Basically Arcadia has 3 dress codes, applicable after 6pm;

- evening casual

- jacket required - evening casual plus a jacket for men, a blazer or sports coat will be fine. I have a nice crumpled linen jacket for such evenings-

- black tie - dinner jacket or dark suit for men.

 

On your 14 night cruise there will be 4 black tie, 4 jacket required and 6 evening casual evenings.

 

On black tie/jacket required evenings you need to dress appropriately to enter certain venues, everywhere else evening casual is welcome.

 

Restricted venues on Arcadia are:

Meridian main dining room

Intermezzo bar

Crows Nest lounge bar

Ocean Grill cover charge restaurant

 

Venues that welcome evening casual are:

Belvedere buffet restaurant

East cover charge restaurant

The Palladium theatre

The Globe caberet lounge

The casino

The Rising Sun main bar

The Piano bar

The Spinnaker bar

The Orchid bar

all outside bars.

 

So you see it is not as bad as it looks, also, don't worry about what other passengers think, you won't cause any strokes or heart attacks by wearing evening casual where it is allowed.

 

You might consider taking a jacket with you, this will cut down the restricted evenings to 4.

 

ps -P&O is not a formal cruise line, it is middle market. Try Cunard for formality.

[Scriv]

As the others have said, there are places you can eat and drink if you are not adhering to the correct dress code, but be mindful that you will be in a very small minority.

 

If that bothers you, it might be better to choose another cruiseline rather than risk not enjoying your cruise.

[Dtfc3]

Dear mosquito

I see formal /dressed as high high high ratio of fellow passengers with etiquette, respect, and courtesy; a blessing; (nb: am not saying casual=rude); i explain !

My latest experience: dec 27; we did a 7 days caribbean cruise from miami on msc divina (a beauty, staircases by swaroski, fabulous shows by a resident ukraine troupe, dancers, singers, acrobats); good food, even an ethnic corner-daily indian, thai, chinese, spanish, caribbean)

 

Sad to see this beauty plagued by !! (fyi kids 11 & under cruise free; 12-16 pay $300); dads acting like pancho villa and la revolucion, loud shrieking senoras jumping lines, reaching between you to grab full plates of bacon; pushing , shoving, jumping on tenders even when their turn/letter was not called,

 

Dec 30 morning in st maarten, a time warp, a bright ray thru the clouds, a vision of class , a nostalgia of days bygone.. There is the P&O Oriana docked.. My first cruise ship 35 yrs ago-africa-indian ocean-australia.

Luxurious, Classy ; her sister Canberra ferried the troops to falklands

[bee-ess]

Its only 4 formal. The jacket required nights are just that - don't think you have to wear a tie - just a jacket over your casual wear will suffice.

[Flo71]

The Arcadia is a lovely ship and on our recentish short break we didn't dress formally on the formal night, in fact we didn't eat in the MDR for the whole cruise. We ate in the buffet or room service, we found the buffet excellent at all meal times and never felt we were missing. Had it been a longer cruise we may have done the odd night in the MDR but we never felt out of place in casual evening on any evening including the formal.

[Denarius]

Its only 4 formal. The jacket required nights are just that - don't think you have to wear a tie - just a jacket over your casual wear will suffice.

 

Which is a quite pointless exercise. What is the point of it, can anyone tell me ? (Puts tin hat on :) )

[the english lady]

Which is a quite pointless exercise. What is the point of it, can anyone tell me ? (Puts tin hat on :) )

 

Well a jacket tends to go with trousers. Gives an overall smarter appearance.

You cannot wear shorts in the MDR in the evening. A jacket with scruffy jeans tends to look wrong as well.

I think the moral of this post is that one should find out about a line before you book.

There may be a line that suits the op better.

[bee-ess]

Which is a quite pointless exercise. What is the point of it, can anyone tell me ? (Puts tin hat on :) )

 

My thoughts exactly

[davecttr]

Well a jacket tends to go with trousers. Gives an overall smarter appearance.

You cannot wear shorts in the MDR in the evening. A jacket with scruffy jeans tends to look wrong as well.

I think the moral of this post is that one should find out about a line before you book.

There may be a line that suits the op better.

 

Nobody mentioned shorts or scruffy jeans, obvoiously they are not part of P&O's evening casual dress code as set out on the P&O web site.

 

As for a jacket giving a smarter experience. That certainly did not apply to my Baltic summer cruise on Arcadia. There was a varied array of blazers ancient and new, with not a few of those bright coloured striped ones seen at Henley. Then there were the heavy tweed sports jackets etc. Dinner looked a lot like a tramps convention :eek:

 

If the OP wants to take a jacket, no tie is required and the jacket is little more than a ticket to enter some venues. Take it off when you get in there.

 

THE OP has found out here about P&O, evening casual will be just fine if you don't mind missing out on a venue or two.

[davecttr]

My thoughts exactly

Are you brave or crazy :D:D;)

[Len Baker]

Yes it is possible. you can dress informally the whole time and dine in the buffet. There will be some bars you cannot go into though, unless you are in the dress code.

Y

 

We are soon to embark on our first P&O cruise. Mrs Len was not too keen because of the formal evenings and 3 dress codes but eventually I persuaded her to cruise.

 

Having read details in the P&O Frequently Asked questions sections we were able to identify which bars & restaurants on the Oriana were not compulsory formal dress code on formal nights. So if the need arises we could opt out of the formal dress code.

 

However, on receipt of our "Your Holiday Information" booklet it quotes "Dressing For Dinner. When on board your daily newspaper details the dress codes for each evening which are applied throughout the ship from 6 p.m. To ensure that we can maintain the unique atmosphere we kindly ask that you adhere to these. Appropriate attire is essential for entry to the ship's bars and restuaurants."

 

This reads formal everywhere on formal nights unlless I am mistaken.

 

A very confused Len.:confused:

[Somerset Cruiser]

as for a jacket giving a smarter experience. That certainly did not apply to my baltic summer cruise on arcadia. There was a varied array of blazers ancient and new, with not a few of those bright coloured striped ones seen at henley. Then there were the heavy tweed sports jackets etc. Dinner looked a lot like a tramps convention :eek:

 

 

 

 

lol

[PORT ROYAL]

lol

 

 

Agree, this dress sense is also found on RCI and Celebrity. Then add to the mix the must wear ladies grubby evening gowns, found in charity shops 10 years ago, it is no wonder many cruisers are moving to other lines.

[davecttr]

We are soon to embark on our first P&O cruise. Mrs Len was not too keen because of the formal evenings and 3 dress codes but eventually I persuaded her to cruise.

 

Having read details in the P&O Frequently Asked questions sections we were able to identify which bars & restaurants on the Oriana were not compulsory formal dress code on formal nights. So if the need arises we could opt out of the formal dress code.

 

However, on receipt of our "Your Holiday Information" booklet it quotes "Dressing For Dinner. When on board your daily newspaper details the dress codes for each evening which are applied throughout the ship from 6 p.m. To ensure that we can maintain the unique atmosphere we kindly ask that you adhere to these. Appropriate attire is essential for entry to the ship's bars and restuaurants."

 

This reads formal everywhere on formal nights unlless I am mistaken.

 

A very confused Len.:confused:

Simply not true, i have seen such information for every P&O cruise I have been on and in every case the actuality was as set out in the info on the P&O web site. Venues which require certain dress for entry will have a notice outside reminding you.

 

"appropriate attire" is of course either evening casual, smart jacket required or black tie.

 

Oriana is probably the most traditional of the P&O fleet and the wording probably reflects a P&O plea or hope rather than expectation. P&O are attempting to tread a careful course between not upsetting the traditionalists and not upsetting the new cruisers that they will rely on in the future for business.

 

even on 'casual' Oceana the wording is not true. they write the code is applied in the majority of bars and restaurants. Simply not true!. Only the main dining rooms and one small bar.

[Len Baker]

Simply not true, i have seen such information for every P&O cruise I have been on and in every case the actuality was as set out in the info on the P&O web site. Venues which require certain dress for entry will have a notice outside reminding you.

 

"appropriate attire" is of course either evening casual, smart jacket required or black tie.

 

Oriana is probably the most traditional of the P&O fleet and the wording probably reflects a P&O plea or hope rather than expectation. P&O are attempting to tread a careful course between not upsetting the traditionalists and not upsetting the new cruisers that they will rely on in the future for business.

 

even on 'casual' Oceana the wording is not true. they write the code is applied in the majority of bars and restaurants. Simply not true!. Only the main dining rooms and one small bar.

 

Thanks Dave. I wish they would get their act together and be consistent. For first time on P&O like ourselves its difficult to see the notices outside venues from landlocked Salop when deciding what to pack. I'm o.k. but Mrs Len does not know if she can wear smart t-shirt and smart jeans etc. on casual nights .

 

Thanks for your help Dave

Len

[CRUISIN LINDA]

We are soon to embark on our first P&O cruise. Mrs Len was not too keen because of the formal evenings and 3 dress codes but eventually I persuaded her to cruise.

 

Having read details in the P&O Frequently Asked questions sections we were able to identify which bars & restaurants on the Oriana were not compulsory formal dress code on formal nights. So if the need arises we could opt out of the formal dress code.

 

However, on receipt of our "Your Holiday Information" booklet it quotes "Dressing For Dinner. When on board your daily newspaper details the dress codes for each evening which are applied throughout the ship from 6 p.m. To ensure that we can maintain the unique atmosphere we kindly ask that you adhere to these. Appropriate attire is essential for entry to the ship's bars and restuaurants."

 

This reads formal everywhere on formal nights unlless I am mistaken.

 

A very confused Len.:confused:

Hi Len, as you can see we are off on our first P&O cruise in March, so I shall look forward to your review. The dress code seems a bit muddly. We are going from Southampton but flying back, so we will have to take care of how much luggage we take. Will DH have to take a jacket as well as a DJ?

[davecttr]

Thanks Dave. I wish they would get their act together and be consistent. For first time on P&O like ourselves its difficult to see the notices outside venues from landlocked Salop when deciding what to pack. I'm o.k. but Mrs Len does not know if she can wear smart t-shirt and smart jeans etc. on casual nights .

 

Thanks for your help Dave

Len

Smart jeans are just fine on casual nights. For ladies the T-shirt should be OK as long as it is not covered in cartoons, logos, prints of Che Guevara etc ;)

 

ps - I have never been on Oriana :eek::eek:

[daiB]

Smart jeans are just fine on casual nights. For ladies the T-shirt should be OK as long as it is not covered in cartoons, logos, prints of Che Guevara etc ;)

 

ps - I have never been on Oriana :eek::eek:

 

 

I do not fink you would like it at all. Tiny casino. Next to Andersons. You would like Lords Tavern, good pub. I am sure I would get Metzz there. Possibly best pub in the fleet.

 

 

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[davecttr]

Hardly likely i would touch it, even with a barge pole ;)

[Presto2]

Would be nice to read what the OP now thinks after stirring up the 'old P&O dress code' debate.

[Med 2013]

This is our first P&O cruise but have been on one with RCI and evenings after eating my hubby would go back to the cabin and change into something more comfortable and cooler, often smart shorts ~ would this be acceptable on the Azura in the Med end of July?