Celebrity Cruises Swaps Formal Nights for Evening Chic

[Karysa]

Have to say I am disappointed. I cruise for the romance and wearing a long dress is part of that romance. There are so few opportunities in life to wear a long dress now but I will continue to do this even if I am the only one in order to keep my view of romance and cruising alive.

 

There are lots of long dresses out there now that are not formal and would fit in perfectly with the new dress code. I recently purchased several dresses that are dressier than a long beach dress but not formal either. Also, they're not saying you can't wear your long formal dresses. If you enjoy them, wear them.:) I too love them but DH wears a jacket to work every day so it will be nice for him to not have to wear one on vacation.

Edited January 10, 2016 by Karysa

[cruiseyj]

We sailed last month and found that many people sill dressed up in their formal outfits. There were also kilts, kimonos, etc. of course some were more casual but overall didn't notice much of a change. Bring what you want and wear what you feel comfortable in :). People were still taking formal photos all over and I noticed more people out and about. The menu is also a bit special on evening chic night (like formal night). Plenty of men in ties and jackets and women in glittery dresses. I didn't personally notice any shorts or inappropriately dressed people. Kids were in dresses/tutus and little suits.

Edited January 10, 2016 by LILYJULES

[colingu]

Anyone else recently returned from their cruise to report back on what people actually wore on the Evening Chic nights?

 

My partner and I have always gone formal with tuxedos and will probably do the same, but don't want to stick out. Our next cruise will be a Scandinavian & Baltic cruise in May which we assume may a bit more formal than a Caribbean cruise or other similar warmer climate cruise. Thoughts anyone?

[Charles4515]

Anyone else recently returned from their cruise to report back on what people actually wore on the Evening Chic nights?

 

 

 

My partner and I have always gone formal with tuxedos and will probably do the same, but don't want to stick out. Our next cruise will be a Scandinavian & Baltic cruise in May which we assume may a bit more formal than a Caribbean cruise or other similar warmer climate cruise. Thoughts anyone?

 

 

A month ago, about 5 per cent wore a tux. 35 per cent wore a suit. 15 per sent a sports jacket. 40 per cent wore a dress shirt. 5 per cent a polo shirt. This was one of the first after the change and I expect some didn't know about the change and others didn't change their original plans because it was so recent.

 

I do expect European cruises to be more formal because the Brits on them like to dress up. They are the biggest boosters of formal. But if I were doing a Baltic cruise again like I did a few years ago it wouldn't matter to me what others were wearing. I would wear a dress shirt and khaki pants just like I did in the Caribbean with the change in dress code. Because of the cooler weather I might even do designer jeans. I don't think anyone is going to stick out whether wearing a dress shirt, a tux or a sports jacket. There will be an eclectic mix. Maybe in a year or two wearing a tux will stick out in Europe. Pretty soon one I expect it will stick out in the Caribbean since it was already in major decline.

 

 

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Edited January 17, 2016 by Charles4515

[kelmac]

Anyone else recently returned from their cruise to report back on what people actually wore on the Evening Chic nights?

 

My partner and I have always gone formal with tuxedos and will probably do the same, but don't want to stick out. Our next cruise will be a Scandinavian & Baltic cruise in May which we assume may a bit more formal than a Caribbean cruise or other similar warmer climate cruise. Thoughts anyone?

 

Hi Colin,

 

Just off the Equinox -- very little difference between Formal and Evening Chic. Might of been because people booked so long ago, or because it was a holiday cruise, or maybe Evening Chic sparked a desire to dress up a bit? Not sure, but people were dressed very nicely.

 

I still wore my Tux, but with an ascot tie. My wife wears dresses every night in the MDR, some more "chic" than others. Except for the first casual night in the MDR, no shorts, no tee shirts, no hats. True to all of our recent holiday cruises, no Captain's Table evenings.

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

[CanadianDee]

At least for this day of the year, Shabby Chic is celebrated.

 

Happy International Sweatpants Day!

 

Also, I could not bear to see this thread die. :D

[TourDeCruise]

We are the Summit now for three cruises. We have had 2 formal nights so far in the MDR. Last cruise we will be in Blu. For the first formal night, I would guesstimate around a third of the men were in suit jackets or shirt with tie and the other two-thirds in long or short-sleeved shirts (no ties) and a small number in polos. Women were dressed in anything from long gowns (very few) to cocktail or regular dresses to skirts or long pants with nice tops. I didn't see anyone in the MDR with jeans, but I did not study what people were wearing. Second formal night was less formal - maybe 20% of men in suit jackets, very few gowns, and some men in Hawaiian shirts; otherwise, pretty much the same dress. Again, I did not see jeans although I'm sure some were wearing them. Overall I would say a little less formal than on past Caribbean cruises, but generally more dressy than smart casual nights.

 

In our case, we wore dress pants and long-sleeved dress shirt for dh and dressy jacket & blouse for me both nights.

 

 

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[n12s08]

n12s08

I just back from a holiday cruise on the Eclipse and Evening chic was very different . Some people in shorts& t-shirt others in jeans and also people still had tuxedos and long dresses. My family and I wore tuxedo and long dresses. We were disappointed to see this on a holiday cruise.

[Iamcruzin]

n12s08

I just back from a holiday cruise on the Eclipse and Evening chic was very different . Some people in shorts& t-shirt others in jeans and also people still had tuxedos and long dresses. My family and I wore tuxedo and long dresses. We were disappointed to see this on a holiday cruise.

 

Were shorts and t-shirts worn in the MDR or just around the ship in the casino or lounges?

[kenevenpar]

We are the Summit now for three cruises. We have had 2 formal nights so far in the MDR. Last cruise we will be in Blu. For the first formal night, I would guesstimate around a third of the men were in suit jackets or shirt with tie and the other two-thirds in long or short-sleeved shirts (no ties) and a small number in polos. Women were dressed in anything from long gowns (very few) to cocktail or regular dresses to skirts or long pants with nice tops. I didn't see anyone in the MDR with jeans, but I did not study what people were wearing. Second formal night was less formal - maybe 20% of men in suit jackets, very few gowns, and some men in Hawaiian shirts; otherwise, pretty much the same dress. Again, I did not see jeans although I'm sure some were wearing them. Overall I would say a little less formal than on past Caribbean cruises, but generally more dressy than smart casual nights.

 

I thought there were no more Formal nights. Has Summit not adopted the Evening Chic thingy?

[partman57]

What is wrong with choice? You dress up as much as you wish and I do the same. And why do you get the right to determine "standards"?

What is everyone afraid of?

 

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I am with you. You can still dress up and go to the props for pictures. I always thought the cruise lines loved formal night because they sell more photos. I am going to Alaska this year and really don't want to take a tux or suit and tie.

[K.T.B.]

I am with you. You can still dress up and go to the props for pictures. I always thought the cruise lines loved formal night because they sell more photos. I am going to Alaska this year and really don't want to take a tux or suit and tie.

 

I was going to rent a tux for my Alaskan cruise, but decided to not pay the money. So that's about $125 I'm saving and $125 that cruise line formal is not getting. I am bringing a dress jacket and banded collared shirts however. (I have no ties in my wardrobe any more.)

 

I just wonder how much this hurts the tuxedo rental company with this change. I suspect they may not be too happy.

[floridalover5623]

I was going to rent a tux for my Alaskan cruise, but decided to not pay the money. So that's about $125 I'm saving and $125 that cruise line formal is not getting. I am bringing a dress jacket and banded collared shirts however. (I have no ties in my wardrobe any more.)

 

I just wonder how much this hurts the tuxedo rental company with this change. I suspect they may not be too happy.

 

In terms of the number of people that they'll gain due to the dressing no long being required might be much more of an increase. We've avoided Celebrity for years due to it being overly formal & in my opinion "stuffy".

We'll be considering a Celebrity cruise in the near future just to see how the new ships have changed and won't be dressing up either.

[north29]

I just talked to a HAL rep and told her that HAL's dress code has kept me from trying some of the neat itineraries they offer and now that they use the basically the same dress code as X I will be dong some cruises with them, well, if they offer me a drink package. She said that I was not the first that told her.

[Ma Bell]

I just talked to a HAL rep and told her that HAL's dress code has kept me from trying some of the neat itineraries they offer and now that they use the basically the same dress code as X I will be dong some cruises with them, well, if they offer me a drink package. She said that I was not the first that told her.

 

Strange that you would have taken so many cruises on Royal Caribbean.:confused:

[TourDeCruise]

I thought there were no more Formal nights. Has Summit not adopted the Evening Chic thingy?

 

Sorry, I meant Evening Chic of course. I was in a hurry to post while in port.

 

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[north29]

Strange that you would have taken so many cruises on Royal Caribbean.:confused:

 

Maybe I do not understand, but RC is a suggested dress code if that is what you are implying. HAL was more into the Titanic era's dress code.

[wallie5446]

 

I just wonder how much this hurts the tuxedo rental company with this change. I suspect they may not be too happy.

 

I would think it is a big load off them. They can trim back their stale inventory.

[lynnek]

We booked our first celebrity cruise and less than a month later found out the dress code had changed. We are unhappy as the formal nights are what we look forward to. Not cruised yet so will wait and see but may revert back to RC and P & 0!

[K.T.B.]

I would think it is a big load off them. They can trim back their stale inventory.

 

I suspect they'd rather have the inventory because they need it for all the rentals. With me, they've lost a definite rental. How many more on here are like me and have decided to not rent?

[sptrout]

We booked our first celebrity cruise and less than a month later found out the dress code had changed. We are unhappy as the formal nights are what we look forward to. Not cruised yet so will wait and see but may revert back to RC and P & 0!

 

We were on Equinox last week and there were many people dressed formally as well as much less so. I would not let the new dress code change any plans. We were on Princess the week before Christmas and the variety of dress was about the same as Celebrity. IMO, pure formal dress is going away fast.

[colingu]

Anyone got an update on this?

[varoo]

Anyone got an update on this?

What kind of update are you expecting?

 

Formal nights have been replaced by evening chic.

Those who like to dress formally are encouraged to do so, and those who don't are encouraged to wear what they prefer.

 

It appears that this policy should make everyone happy, but people here love to argue and disparage others, even when there is nothing left to argue about. :D

 

[UpcountryTravelers]

As far as I know, formal dress was never required for air travel or grocery shopping, people just did it. .......

 

Really? I've been flying since the 1950s and have never, ever seen anyone dressed in formal attire on an airliner. Business attire, yes. Formal, or even evening wear, never.

[Adidas4fun]

Really? I've been flying since the 1950s and have never, ever seen anyone dressed in formal attire on an airliner. Business attire, yes. Formal, or even evening wear, never.

 

What about grocery shopping?