It's official! Formal nights gone, evening chic in! (3 Threads Merged)

[DYKWIA]

....

 

The emphasis of dress code threads will shift from people who gripe about what constitutes formal into what constitutes chic.

 

Errr it's already shifted :D

[suzyed]

To me the photo I posted of the woman in jeans and heels is super fancy and chic. Evening jacket and heels that probably cost more than my mortgage payment! To me that fits "evening chic" for sure- she would fit in at any fine restaurant here in NYC.

 

Agree!!

 

And I think in the photo of the man in the black jeans and gray shirt, while not really "chic", I think he looks hot! I would date him....if I wasn't married for 40 years! LOL!

[Tura Lura]

Maybe they should institute uniforms and hand them out when checking in. That way everyone is dressed the same and no one can complain. It would also save on packing and luggage fees.

 

Excellent, make it some stretchy yoga pants and a tunic top. Perfect - eat as much as you want, the waistband just stretches, the tunic covers up the damage.

[CruiseLurker]

I think on some cruises the changes will be more apparent than others.

 

The Eclipse ex Southampton is quite dressy, I suspect many will book and cruise being non the wiser the dress code has changed. Only a small percentage of cruisers frequent Cruise Critic

 

I think most everyone that is booked on a cruise got an email with the changes, not that many read the email. The change in attire will degrade over time with an immediate burst soon. Jeans today, who knows tomorrow.

 

I have been on dozens of cruises and never packed anything but one bag each. Always bring a black suit or tux, DW always packs a number of dresses. We learned to pack a long time ago.

 

We will continue to dress for dinner and other won't, that's life.

[suzyed]

Thank goodness.

 

Never did like "formal nights", and we always dressed more along the lines of what is now called "Evening Chic". DH is asking what are dress jeans, and my reply was "not the kind you wear". So guess we will be out shopping for dress jeans for him, as wearing a sports jacket and jeans kind of appeals to him...good.

 

Wonder if the other cruise lines will follow with their own version of "Evening Chic'. It's 2015 folks, not 1951!

 

My DH is thrilled with this idea. On our last Princess cruise, he wore brand new, creased jeans on smart casual night and looked quite nice. I don't think even he would be comfortable wearing jeans on "chic" night though.

 

When we want to dress to the nines in a gown and tux, we sail on Cunard.

[CanadianDee]

Yay! Gimme some Darryl Dixon! (in ripped jeans, moto jacket and a cross bow)

 

LOL. Daryl Dixon would not be caught dead on a cruise ship. Well, maybe dead. Love your sense of humour.

[CruisingChick]

When we want to dress to the nines in a gown and tux, we sail on Cunard.

 

Are they the only cruise line left that has formal night? Is every night formal?

 

Thanks.

[suzyed]

Also kinda entertaining you think your little corner of the world is the only perspective. Go to London or Rome sometime.

 

I have seen the same type of dress in London and Rome...the only difference would be a chic scarf would have been added.

[Tiggertastic]

I'm a bit disappointed really. I look forward to the dressing up as we don get to do it anywhere else. We have 2 cruises booked over Christmas and new year and New Year's Eve on celebrity has been a real highlight with so many Going for the full formal.

 

I've already bought 2 dresses and my husbands new tux was delivered the day before the news came out

 

So we're going to still take ours and wear them.

[Tura Lura]

LOL. Daryl Dixon would not be caught dead on a cruise ship. Well, maybe dead. Love your sense of humour.

 

True - there is a walking dead cruise next year that Norman will be on, which is close enough. :) I'm not on it. sold out.

 

I doubt there's a formal night...

[suzyed]

Taking bets that this may turn out to be the longest post in the history of the site....

 

I know!! Was just thinking that....it grows even while we are still typing our response....I may never get to the end of it!! LOL!

[Adidas4fun]

Fascinating. Clearly many dont believe in democracy. It seems 1/4 or less of people believe they have the right to force their view on how we should be dressed on board.

[suzyed]

She is perfectly chic, and exactly what I was thinking when I read the updated dress code, and what I would be wearing. Although my top will probably have some sparkle to it. This woman looks like 98% of the patrons at any upscale restaurant/lounge/bar in Chicago.

 

And that is how my "in their 30's" daughters dress when they go out even here in Jacksonville, FL! They are lawyers and wear their stuffy suits during the day and to court, but when they go out they look fab!

[suzyed]

zombie apocalypse?

 

LOL!

 

I love your humor!! Originally from Brooklyn myself....we "get" it! ;)

[Tura Lura]

LOL!

 

I love your humor!! Originally from Brooklyn myself....we "get" it! ;)

 

Ha! Indeed. :) Some don't, but whatev. I'm enjoying myself on this slow rainy day before a holiday.

[NLH Arizona]

 

In the meantime it is pretty easy to figure out what formal is. Tuxedo or suit/dress shirt and tie for men. Gown or evening dress for the ladies.

Totally disagree that it is pretty easy to figure out what formal is. I've seen everything from gowns to cocktail dresses to maxi beach dresses to pants and a sweater to go to church dresses, to go to work dresses to things I wouldn't even consider casual on my Celebrity cruises. In other words, it might be easy for some to figure out what formal is, but not for everyone.

 

Once Crystal cut their formal nights from two to one on seven day cruises, I just thought the writing was on the wall for a more modern luxury without formal night.

Edited November 10, 2015 by NLH Arizona

[LA_Design]

Fascinating. Clearly many dont believe in democracy. It seems 1/4 or less of people believe they have the right to force their view on how we should be dressed on board.

 

 

no democracy in guantanamo ? [emoji33]

 

the issue simply that it is up to Celebrity to decide the dress code ( and whether to enforce it pedantically or not .

 

It is also up to each passenger ( or in my case fellow passenger[emoji12]) to decide if the dress code and all the other parts of the boat trip is suitable for us. There are plenty of others to choose from.

 

On our first Cel cruise we had reason to dine with the Hotel Director of Solstice( June 2009 ex Civitavecchia). he gave us a fascinating insight into how he saw the cruise industry developing . he stressed it was his personal view based upon years of seeing how the lines had developed.

 

He thought that formal dining would be phased out on most lines and big dining rooms would be replaced by smaller speciality restaurants with a race to try and get a 'michelin star at sea'.

 

He did say that one possibly 2 lines would specialise in the traditional cruise experience as clearly there was a market for the traditionalists. He believed however that the industry would remain dominated by the US where a more casual experience is desired more and more.

 

The photos and the spas were dying anyway. My hunch is that the valuable space that they occupy would generate more cash by having speciality restaurants , upmarket bars and Suites.

 

Six years ago when we listened with interest . It would appear he knew what was going to happen. Pity he supported Juventus - otherwise everything else he said made sense [emoji41]

[suzyed]

Are they the only cruise line left that has formal night? Is every night formal?

 

Thanks.

 

No, there are a few each cruise....usually 2-3 on a 7 night cruise. The other nights are smart casual, but a jacket is still required for the men. Jeans are not allowed in the evening in the main dining venues. Oh, and on formal nights, it is expected that everyone remain in their formal wear for the entire evening.

[NLH Arizona]

LOL. Daryl Dixon would not be caught dead on a cruise ship. Well, maybe dead. Love your sense of humour.

Actually there is a Walking Dead theme cruise on NCL and he is going to be on the cruise.

[Tura Lura]

Actually there is a Walking Dead theme cruise on NCL and he is going to be on the cruise.

 

Yes Norman and the cast. I wish i could be on it. Can't imagine how those folks will deal with being trapped on a ship with their fans! Comic Con is crazy enough and they can leave there!

[gek]

So many people here are arguing what "Evening chic" means but Celebrity have already answered that question definitively : "The change, driven by the line's evolving passenger mix, is designed to enable passengers to express their own sense of sophistication"

 

In other words, Celebrity are treating their passengers like adults and allowing each person to decide for themselves what "evening chic" means. Diversity will be the result.

 

That may be difficult to accept for those who like the artificial ambience which is created when everyone is dressed the same but given the widening range of cultural and economic backgrounds of Celebrity's target markets it is the only way that anything resembling a "Formal Night" could survive.

[bEwAbG]

No, there are a few each cruise....usually 2-3 on a 7 night cruise. The other nights are smart casual, but a jacket is still required for the men. Jeans are not allowed in the evening in the main dining venues. Oh, and on formal nights, it is expected that everyone remain in their formal wear for the entire evening.

 

And this is why the dress code threads go on for pages and pages. Smart casual = pants (no holes, rips or tears) with a sports shirt or sweater. Shirts must have sleeves. Nothing about a jacket. Nothing about not wearing jeans. Formal (was) only expected in the dining room and in the theater and only on the formal night. The standard you describe hasn't been the case in years.

[CanadianDee]

True - there is a walking dead cruise next year that Norman will be on, which is close enough. :) I'm not on it. sold out.

 

I doubt there's a formal night...

 

There is! I would LOVE that. I'll bet people don't complain about Carl acting up in the dining room ...

 

I'd also bet that torn jeans are de rigueur on formal night.

Edited November 10, 2015 by CanadianDee

[LMaxwell]

 

I genuinely am always a loss to understand why offering people more options, that do not take away the options from others, is a problem for anyone to begin with.

 

The question no one against a relaxing of dress policy will, or even can, answer.

[nicedream]

The question no one against a relaxing of dress policy will, or even can, answer.

 

Not true at all:

I see many posts stating no problem you can still wear a Tux so nothings changed. That's not correct because a formal night is special because of the overal ambiance which comes from the group dressing up. Half a dozen men in a Tux with the rest in trousers and a shirt will completely change this special night for many of us.

Edited November 10, 2015 by nicedream