If you don't want to do formal night...

[sneekpeek]

We were just on the Diamond and we had intended to do formal nights, but after a long day in the sun we decided not to do the first formal night. We were going to one of the bars to have a drink about 5:00. We were on deck 7 at the atrium and the waiters were passing out free drinks and hors de ourves (sp) for the Captain's cocktail party. At first we said no because it was quite obvious that we were not dressed for the occasion, but they insisted that we take part. They said the party is for everyone, not just the formal group. They had wine, martinis, mixed drinks, and non-alcoholic drinks. We had a great time and there were lots of people who were not dressed up. The captain came out and spoke and we enjoyed seeing everyone in their beautiful gowns getting their pictures taken. Then we were in the casino at about 7:30 and noticed they were doing it again for the late dining people.

[nick1234]

Glad to hear it. Especially after reading that other post on how to dress!!

 

Ali

[Rockwife]

I am also happy about this! Thanks so much for sharing the info, sneekpeek. DH & I will not be dressing formally on our next cruise, but we always like to take advantage of free booze.

 

10/04 - Caribbean Princess

1/03 - Carnival Victory

6/89 - Chandris SS Britanis

 

[jhannah]

No issue here. Sneekpeek was in the atrium and not in the dining room which is the subject of the other formal night dress discussions.

 

'Vegas Jim

 

[sneekpeek]

Jhannah:

 

I think a lot of people thought that the PC dining was the alternative to formal night. They thought that they would have the "Captain's dinner" but not have to be formal. So if you are picky about people being formal, go to the international dining room on formal night. Otherwise you will see a lot of casual dress in the PC restaurants and they do not turn people away! We also saw shorts, jeans, etc. on the non formal nights in the PC restaurants. It's confusing because it says "personal choice" but if you read the princess patter it clearly states what the dress code is.

[mafig]

We were in the Personal Choice dining room on the Coral Princess and people were turned away who were not dressed appropriately on formal night.

[rogerpl]

Good!

 

Roger - Caribbean Princess -May 15, 2004.

Marco Polo 1999

Sensation 2001

Galaxy 2002

Pride 2003

 

[sneekpeek]

Rogerpl:

 

You sound like your life revolves around what you wear. Don't be so hard on the casual cruisers. It's a vacation after all - in my book that means relaxation not wearing a monkey suit. Clothes do not make a man (or a woman). To each his own -

[nick1234]

I agree!!

 

Ali

[azsunshine]

Roger, I am with you!!

How rude to think you are going to show up dressed like you are at Carlos and Charlies on a formal night. Love C and C, but I wouldn't show up there in a tux and gown., nor would I show up on formal night in jeans and t shirt. There is a time and place for everything. There is also a mature respect for your fellow passengers who want to have a special evening. Your personal choice shouldn't impact those that want an elegant evening. That is not about dress code, it is just a being senstive to what others want the evening to be. You have a choice on making the evening special for you too. If you want that to be casual, then go to dinner where that is accepted.

 

Carol and John

Caribbean Princess

 

 

[Guest]

I'm heavily invested in the other thread on formal nights, so I'll post my opinion once here and then you can flame me as you wish.

 

You are on a cruise that is sold to you fully disclosing there are two formal nights. Why would you think you wouldn't have to wear a "monkey suit" when the formal night came around to have dinner in the dining room. If you don't want formal nights on cruises, go either to the casual eatery - i.e. Horizon Court - or go to NCL where you don't have to dress.

 

And shame on Princess for letting casually dressed passengers in the dining room on formal night. That's the source of real complaints as far as I'm concerned.

 

-------------------------

Sun Princess, 03/2004; Pacific Princess, 07/2003; Star Princess, 05/2003; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Sun Princess, 05/2001; Sun Princess, 04/2001; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Regal Princess, 10/1999; Sun Princess, 08/1998; Holiday, 05/1998; Westerdam, 09/1997; Regal Princess, 11/1996; Royal Odyssey, 09/1995; Starward, 11/1993

 

 

[SchoolBob]

I won't be in casual dress, but I won't be in a tux either. Black jacket, slate grey slacks, black shoes, shirt and tie. I would bet that I won't be turned away..

 

5/8 Caribbean Princess

[cydspal]

What is the ratio of tuxs vs. suits vs. casual wear?

[ahracer]

Schoolbob,

 

Why would you be turned away dressed like that? Princess only requires you to wear a suit not a tux.

 

As BJDAM stated there already is a lengthy thread going about attire on formal night. No reason to start another one here.

 

Scott

 

Star Princess 11/28/04

Grand Princess 4/25/04

Island Princess

Galaxy

Jubilee

Sensation

Big Red Boat

Celebration

Starward

CostaMarina

Fantasy

Seaward

Independence

Daphne

Independence

[KAJOKG]

I'm not opposed to formal nights. I think they are terrific for those who enjoy them. As for me, I don't enjoy formal at all and I am happy I have an alternative. We dine in the Horizon Court on formal nights, but not super casual. We do wear clothes that are a little more dressy --- definitely not shorts, but slacks and a fancy blouse, etc. My point here is that most people don't get upset about formal nights, they just choose to have a relaxed vacation without having to dress up. Those who enjoy the formal nights should respect that decision too. It' highly unlikely that cruise lines will do away with formal nights, and I'm happy they provide an alternative.

 

KB

 

NCL NORWAY - 2000

GOLDEN PRINCESS - 2001

GOLDEN PRINCESS - 2002

HAL NOORDAM - 2002

HAL VOLENDAM - 2003

ISLAND PRINCESS - NOV. 2003

HAL VOLENDAM - JAN. 2004

[argosy]

Help me understand something.

 

I love formal nights. I have not missed a one and have always worn a tux. I say if it's formal, why not go the whole nine yards?!!

 

What I do not understand is how people are offended when they see someone who is NOT in formalwear. This "offense" just doesn't register in my brain. It's formal night. I'm in formalwear. All is cool. What someone else does has no bearing at all on me. I mean, I see the same thing when I go to the opera or a Broadway show. There will be folks dressed to the nines, and there will also be others dressed casually, or maybe even inappropriately for the event (shorts). But so what? How does that reflect on me, or my enjoyment of the night? If I were the ONLY one in formalwear, PERHAPS that might be an issue...but that is not the case.

[SerendityPlus]

Argosy,

 

Well said.

 

It's such a shame that some people need to depend on what others are wearing to have a good time. Why can't each person just respect the fact that some people like to dress up and others don't. It's as simple as that.

 

Let me pose a question that most people are uncomfortable with? In the same type of situation, what would Jesus say or do?

 

Just enjoy the fact that you are able to cruise and don't worry what other people are wearing. Life is too short to get caught up in the small stuff.

 

[schoolmarm]

argosy

 

Very well said. I also don't pay any attention to what people are wearing. I read on one thread that a person lost their appetite because someone was not dressed appropriately. I hope it wasn't my hubby because he wore "heaven forbid" a grey suit instead of a dark suit. I once saw a passenger in a beautiful tux who wore one of the largest cowboy hats that I have ever seen throughout the meal. That I did notice! Was that appropriate? I hope that all the first time cruisers are not deciding to stay away from formal nights because of these threads. Go on your cruise and enjoy no matter what you feel about formal nights.

[nick1234]

I talked to my sister this morning and a group of her friends went to the Capital Grill in Providence Rhode Island over the weekend. This is probably one of the fanciest places you can eat in R I There bill for 6 was 650.00 They wore dress pants no suit jackets for the men. But nice clothes. I asked her how everyone else was dressed,and she said some were dressed fancy but most were in jeans!!

 

I asked her if she was offended by the people in jeans and her reply was "Why would I care how they were dressed"

 

So not everyone cares what others wear.

 

Ali

[sneekpeek]

Schoolmarm:

That is too funny. We were just on the Diamond and some of the clothing looked more like a "costume". We did see two men with big cowboy hats - one was white and one black. We had a lot of kids on our ship because it was spring break and we saw so many nice prom dresses on the young girls, but some of the older folks looked like they had their prom dresses on from the early days. We did PC dining and I was surprised at how nice everyone looked on non-formal nights.

[heyjude27]

Sneekpeek,

If you dont want to do formal night then I don't think you should feel forced to.

 

Based on our last cruise, our large group dressed at what I'd call the higher extreme of smart casual every night and did the prom night thing with photos etc on formal night. It was a blast; it was what we wanted. We might do something different next time.

 

Not everyone is dressed to the nines all the time. Like you, I can't imagine that someone could let another person spoil their reverie -- at least not the dress issue. If someone has ever truly approached another to tell them that they are dressed inappropritely and it's an insult or an offense or whatever, then I'd just love to hear it. I can't even imagine it. I mean, what would you say! If you don't like how someone is dressed, then ignore them. And if you ignore them, then how can they spoil your experience? I've just never ever experienced or witnessed any of this on a cruise. Everyone is usually so happy and positive. Have I just been lucky?

J

[Guest]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> It's such a shame that some people need to depend on what others are wearing to have a good time. Why can't each person just respect the fact that some people like to dress up and others don't. It's as simple as that. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I think that more posters than might be apparent agree that people should dress the way they want in order to enjoy their vacation. I prefer to dress for formal night as I think it’s enjoyable that way. One of the reasons I like Princess is that there are alternatives for those who don’t want to dress – and so I don’t have to sit next to someone at dinner who is complaining about the fact they had to dress and didn’t want to. Who knows, someday I might not feel like dressing for the formal night and I would take advantage of the alternatives as well.

 

The issue is that many who don’t want to dress express feelings that it’s their vacation and they can do what they please despite the guidelines and without regard for any respect to their fellow passengers who would like to enjoy a formal evening. If one doesn’t dress for a formal evening – and doesn’t take advantage of the casual opportunities offered - it only affects me in that their lack of manners and respect is demonstrated.

 

I said I wasn't going to get going on this thread too - so I'll stop now.

 

-------------------------

Sun Princess, 03/2004; Pacific Princess, 07/2003; Star Princess, 05/2003; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Sun Princess, 05/2001; Sun Princess, 04/2001; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Regal Princess, 10/1999; Sun Princess, 08/1998; Holiday, 05/1998; Westerdam, 09/1997; Regal Princess, 11/1996; Royal Odyssey, 09/1995; Starward, 11/1993

 

 

[demisod]

It seems like on the larger ships with multiple dining rooms it should be possible to designate all the dining rooms as PC for formal nights and then split them up between formal/smart casual.

[ahracer]

Huh??? So two of the nights the people in Traditional dining would have to do PC?? I really can't see that working. Now I could see one of the PC dining rooms being identified as smart casual.

 

Scott

[sue d. miller]

Scott, You know what I was thinking? NCL made their ship into a dress your way dining. Just like the Paradise, the only non smoking ship. Why? Because people are always complaining about formal nites, and smoking. It might sound like a good idea to turn one of the PC rooms into smart casual, but then I thought, they turned he Paradise back to a smoking ship, cause it was hard to fill. Now, I bet, if Princess turned a PC room into a smart casual, It wouldn't fill either. All these people want to go on a ship that has 2 formal nites, when there is an entire line that you can sail on, that has exactly what they are looking for, but they want this line to change. That is why we sail Princess, and are banging our heads against the wall, getting no where. They really don't want what they were asking for. It isn't Princess. Sue

 

7 Days on The Star Princess OCTOBER,24,2004

 

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