Can I wear nice, dressier shorts to dinner

[Paul65]

The reason I asked about shorts is because I normally cruise in the winter and spring...and I never wear shorts to dinner during those times. But it is summertime, it's hot and putting on long, hot clothes after being in the sun all day (100 degrees) is not appealing to me.

 

If I have on a pair of Ralph Lauren shorts with a very nice button up, not only would it look fantastic it would be nice and cool and enjoyable.

 

But it sounds like a will have to wear long pants and sweat like Obama during the pledge of allegiance.

 

Never found the dining rooms to be hot, myself. I always wear long pants to dinner on cruises, and it has always been comfortable for me. :)

[land lover]

Can I wear nice, dressier shorts to dinner with a nice button up top? (Male)

Like linen?

 

yes.....but whether or not they let u in the dining room is another story.

 

Enjoy.

[mcatmcat]

Yes, you won't be the only one

[cjdixon4]

Can I wear nice, adressier shorts to dinner with a nice button up top? (Ma

Like linen?[/QU

 

Yep, wear anything you like. My last sailing in May showed me that people are pretty much wearing whatever they want to.

[mark22mac]

Can I wear nice, dressier shorts to dinner with a nice button up top? (Male)

 

Like linen?

 

 

I'm sure your confused by now with all these posts so the first night you could wear shorts and get away with it they are usually more relaxed on the first night.The rest of the cruise I would bring dockers or some other type of long pants just in case you can't get in otherwise you can eat in the windjammer.

[BGCruiser85]

Shorts wouldn't bother me personally, but the dining room rules state otherwise. Breaking the rules bothers me. When people think they are above the rules or the rules shouldn't apply on their vacation I get annoyed. I'm sorry, you're not above the rules of the cruise line. I'm not sure why people just don't get that. I don't care how you want to relax and not dress up, if the rules state otherwise then go to the windjammer or don't cruise. Simple as that.

[NatMark]

Could I ask how it works with children. Could my 11 year old wear smart shorts and shirt? Or do they have to wear long trousers as well?

[gerif]

Could I ask how it works with children. Could my 11 year old wear smart shorts and shirt? Or do they have to wear long trousers as well?

 

It's very clearly stated that children shall follow the same dress code as adults.

[Allensfan]

The reason I asked about shorts is because I normally cruise in the winter and spring...and I never wear shorts to dinner during those times. But it is summertime, it's hot and putting on long, hot clothes after being in the sun all day (100 degrees) is not appealing to me.

 

If I have on a pair of Ralph Lauren shorts with a very nice button up, not only would it look fantastic it would be nice and cool and enjoyable.

 

But it sounds like a will have to wear long pants and sweat like Obama during the pledge of allegiance.

 

I personally love when men dress like you are describing and my guy looks so fantastic with shorts and a nice button-up shirt and loafers...but sadly there are no shorts allowed in the MDR and I would feel embarrassed to be turned away at the door when I was trying to enter to start my evening. I would suggest wearing pants to dinner and then changing into your nice shorts for a great night of dancing and having fun in the casino.

[Newtoncruise]

Shorts wouldn't bother me personally, but the dining room rules state otherwise. Breaking the rules bothers me. When people think they are above the rules or the rules shouldn't apply on their vacation I get annoyed. I'm sorry, you're not above the rules of the cruise line. I'm not sure why people just don't get that. I don't care how you want to relax and not dress up, if the rules state otherwise then go to the windjammer or don't cruise. Simple as that.

 

We'll said.....

[LMaxwell]

Shorts wouldn't bother me personally, but the dining room rules state otherwise. Breaking the rules bothers me. When people think they are above the rules or the rules shouldn't apply on their vacation I get annoyed. I'm sorry, you're not above the rules of the cruise line. I'm not sure why people just don't get that. I don't care how you want to relax and not dress up, if the rules state otherwise then go to the windjammer or don't cruise. Simple as that.

 

Or lobby the cruise line to update their outdated rules. If you're not bothered by the action, then simply having the rule updated would remove your objection.

[LMaxwell]

Never found the dining rooms to be hot, myself. I always wear long pants to dinner on cruises, and it has always been comfortable for me. :)

 

I've sweated bullets before in the MDR. I guess it comes down to location, location, location and if you are near air vents, or are densely packed in with others, etc. Not everyone is going to have the same experiences. I'd prefer having more options for comfort while still, obviously, allowing people to dress up as much as they might wish. Then everyone wins.

[John&LaLa]

They used to suggest you follow the dress code throughout the evening, but that went away.

[Calgon1]

I have gotten away with shorts in the MDR on formal night. But,

1) it was in Bermuda, and

2) I had a tailor convert a pair of tuxedo trousers to Bermuda Shorts.

 

At first the Maître 'd was going to turn me away, but when he saw that the shorts were indeed formal wear (i.e. - satin stripe down the outside of the legs), and that I was wearing all the rest of the tuxedo (bow tie, formal shirt, cummerbund, over-the-calf black socks and patent leather shoes) ... with a smile :), he relented.

 

 

Oh. And a follow-up:

If the Maître 'd does say, "I'm sorry sir, but you can't wear shorts in the Main Dining Room in the evenings."

Taking them off and folding them under your arm is NOT a recommended solution, either :eek:

 

Edited July 26, 2015 by Calgon1

[my3guys]

I would compare the WJ to Golden Corral, a casual, self-serve cafeteria. I consider the MDR to be a fancy, date-night restaurant with attentive servers and "good china". Therefore, we dress accordingly.

[tserface]

That sign doesn't disallow shorts for dinner unless you wear them in the pool first. It does say they are OK for breakfast. It lists some other items specifically, but I see women in tank tops often and no one seems too bothered by that either.

 

:)

 

Update: Oops, editing, I take it back. I didn't see the word "only" after the breakfast lunch list. They could make the sign less confusing.

 

Tom

 

Freedom in June. 3rd night I think.

The sign was more or less totally hidden. This was main floor of MDR

Edited July 26, 2015 by tserface

[John&LaLa]

That sign doesn't disallow shorts for dinner unless you wear them in the pool first. It does say they are OK for breakfast. It lists some other items specifically, but I see women in tank tops often and no one seems too bothered by that either.

 

:)

 

Update: Oops, editing, I take it back. I didn't see the word "only" after the breakfast lunch list. They could make the sign less confusing.

 

Tom

 

Yes, the sign is indeed confusing. Plus the fact that on Freedom it was totally off to the side

[land lover]

I have gotten away with shorts in the MDR on formal night. But,

1) it was in Bermuda, and

2) I had a tailor convert a pair of tuxedo trousers to Bermuda Shorts.

 

At first the Maître 'd was going to turn me away, but when he saw that the shorts were indeed formal wear (i.e. - satin stripe down the outside of the legs), and that I was wearing all the rest of the tuxedo (bow tie, formal shirt, cummerbund, over-the-calf black socks and patent leather shoes) ... with a smile :), he relented.

 

 

Oh. And a follow-up:

If the Maître 'd does say, "I'm sorry sir, but you can't wear shorts in the Main Dining Room in the evenings."

Taking them off and folding them under your arm is NOT a recommended solution, either :eek:

 

and they should have let you in...your ensemble was formal wear.....

It would have certainly made me smile and that is what vacation is all about letting everyone enjoy themselves.

 

It is is a request from our host(even though we are paying the BIll) to respect their dining room.

 

BTW is anyone else having problems quoting?

 

 

 

 

[danv3]

For what it's worth, all of the arguments in favor of shorts in the MDR equally support men without shirts or women in bikini tops in the MDR:

 

-I'm on vacation! It's the Caribbean! I shouldn't have to dress in a way that I don't like!

 

-I'm not bothering anyone! (Or the converse, I would never let what someone else chooses to wear affect my enjoyment!).

 

I wonder how many of the pro-shorts crowd would also accept women in bikini tops in the MDR. To me there's really no difference, except that some people want all the rules to be followed (no shorts), and some people only want some of the rules to be followed (shorts are fine, but no way for swimsuits).

 

In any event, to answer the question from the OP, 9 times out of 10, you can wear whatever you want in the MDR. On that 1 time you get some push back, try entering through another door and you'll probably get in just fine. The crew members don't get paid enough to be bothered seriously enforcing the rules. It's more on the guests to police themselves, and that's certainly not going to happen.

[John&LaLa]

+1 on the bikini tops

[Scotty G]

If I ever saw someone turned away for their appearance (even if I didn't know the person), I would immediately go to Guest Services and revoke all of my pre-paid tips.

 

So you would remove gratuities from the worker bees because a management level person enforced the company rules? This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever!

[mark22mac]

I 2nd the bikini tops.

[gerif]

So you would remove gratuities from the worker bees because a management level person enforced the company rules? This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever!

 

Just proves the intelligence level of some of our posters.

[north29]

I would compare the WJ to Golden Corral, a casual, self-serve cafeteria. I consider the MDR to be a fancy, date-night restaurant with attentive servers and "good china". Therefore, we dress accordingly.

 

Maybe you have not been on a cruise lately.

The Cruise lines and employees do their best to keep it nice, however it is no longer a truly fancy, date-night restaurant with truly attentive servers and China.

[Lady Hudson]

Just a personal opinion. The dining room rules state that there is to be no shorts for gentlemen for dinner. I don't see why there is such a fuss. Wear long pants for dinner, then go and change after you eat if you wish. I see it as a respect issue -- for the cruise line, your fellow passengers, and the crew. Why make life more difficult for the staff? I am sure they do not like having to tell passengers that they are not appropriately dressed. If you do not want to wear long pants there are certainly many other dining options available.

 

Interesting tidbit. A fellow passenger was ranting about folks who sit in the handicapped section of the theatre when they obviously don't need to be there. He got into a fight with a fellow passenger who was sitting in a handicapped area. Then he proceeded to say that he was getting into the dining room wearing shorts that evening no matter what. Guess the rules didn't apply to him!