What is a 'black tie event'?

[peteukmcr]

New to P&O after 12 years on RCI & Celebrity where they have (or used to on Celebrity) a 'Formal Night', is the 'Black Tie Event' the same?

 

From anyone who has sailed Azura recently, could you please confirm whether you are you denied access to any venue if not wearing the appropriate attire?

[the english lady]

New to P&O after 12 years on RCI & Celebrity where they have (or used to on Celebrity) a 'Formal Night', is the 'Black Tie Event' the same?

 

From anyone who has sailed Azura recently, could you please confirm whether you are you denied access to any venue if not wearing the appropriate attire?

 

Black tie is just a normal formal night. DJ or cream tux, or a dark suit.

Certain locations (MDR and certain bars) will have a sign at the entrance stating what the dress code is for that night.

Some may say just walk in in whatever you are wearing, but it is possible then that you will be asked to leave.

[daiB]

New to P&O after 12 years on RCI & Celebrity where they have (or used to on Celebrity) a 'Formal Night', is the 'Black Tie Event' the same?

 

 

 

From anyone who has sailed Azura recently, could you please confirm whether you are you denied access to any venue if not wearing the appropriate attire?

 

 

You will not get in the MDR. If you do not have a DJ a dark suit will do fine, but you will need a tie.

[peteukmcr]

Black tie is just a normal formal night. DJ or cream tux, or a dark suit.

Certain locations (MDR and certain bars) will have a sign at the entrance stating what the dress code is for that night.

Some may say just walk in in whatever you are wearing, but it is possible then that you will be asked to leave.

 

You will not get in the MDR. If you do not have a DJ a dark suit will do fine, but you will need a tie.

Many thanks for your feedback.

 

Extremely disappointing IMHO as this is only a 2 night sailing to Zeebrugge. I now understand why many of my US fellow cruising friends are not keen on sailing P&O as the dress code is far too strict for them.

 

If it were a longer sailing I would have no issue with taking my tux as I have done on all my past cruises, but then again they have been at least of 7 nights duration, the last one was 11 days which I returned from last weekend and transatlantic crossings of 14 nights where there are at least 3 formal evenings.

 

Even a 2 night on RCI Adventure of the Seas out of Southampton did not require a tux, or suit for that matter.

 

It will be interesting to see the number of people who do dress accordingly on a 2 night sailing as past experience is that there will be a high percentage of guests in large groups just on board for a short break.

[Scriv]

Actually Pete you may be very surprised. The vast majority of people do dress up on these two nighters and seem to really enjoy doing so. I think you will find your view being in the minority.

 

This is because the 2 nighters attract a lot of families and groups celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions including extended family dinners and hen and stag parties as well, all who are enjoying a celebratory weekend away dining out and getting dressed to the nines.

 

The ones I have been on are best described as party cruises, but I am happy to report that there has been a very good atmosphere on board and a lot of fun. In fact, a lot of people had dressed up on the second night as well even though it was a casual dress code.

 

We love it. There are a lot of us Brits of all ages who enjoy a weekend away involving a dressed up night out - after all, how many chances do we all get in every day life of doing so.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Scriv

[the english lady]

Totally agree scriv.

P and O is known for having a dress code. Why book with them, if you know this.

You have said the lines you are happy to sail with, with no dressd code.

Just wondering your reasons for booking.

Surely a bit like booking a table in a Chinese resteraunt, then saying but I want to eat Indian.

[peteukmcr]

Totally agree scriv.

P and O is known for having a dress code. Why book with them, if you know this.

You have said the lines you are happy to sail with, with no dressd code.

Just wondering your reasons for booking.

Surely a bit like booking a table in a Chinese resteraunt, then saying but I want to eat Indian.

We booked to try another line and at the time of booking the dress code was not available and has only been detailed when I made final payment this weekend. I didn't say I sailed with lines that do not have a dress code, only these are not as strict obviously as P&O.

[B19]

We are sailing on Azura in two weeks, it will be our first cruise. I don't really get the opportunity to dress up very often and are really looking forward to the formal nights. Different strokes I guess.

[the english lady]

We booked to try another line and at the time of booking the dress code was not available and has only been detailed when I made final payment this weekend. I didn't say I sailed with lines that do not have a dress code, only these are not as strict obviously as P&O.

 

Somebody on another cruise board I occasionally wander over to put the question, how much actual research do people do before booking a cruise. Made me think, with some of the questions asked (not always to do with dress codes)

You would not have know which actual nights may be dress up, but did you find out anything about P and O before booking.

If I said Cunard to you, what would that cruise line conjure up?

If a line is not strict about a dress code, then it does not have a dress code.

We like to think that everyone will have as good a time as we do on cruises.

I hope you do to. Dress up or not (there will be other places you can dine and other places you can drink if you do not adhere to the dress code)

[john watson]

Black tie is the term used for a formal night. You do not actually need to have a tie of the aforesaid colour I went for a psychedelic multi colour bow tie, knowing a two nighter would be lower key. To compliment this I went with a black and white houndstooth tuxedo. Black tie is not to be confused with a white tie event involving white ties and tailed suits as I understand it, see gocompare advert guy. On a recent two nighter on Ventura we were seated on a table for eight. Two couples were together and did not really do formals so wore dark jacket and normal trousers. I wore my tuxedo as described and the other gentleman wore a black tuxedo with military medals. Nobody passed comments about standards and a good time was had by all as Tommy Cockles would say.

 

Regards John

Edited March 2, 2016 by john watson

[Host Sharon]

Somebody on another cruise board I occasionally wander over to put the question, how much actual research do people do before booking a cruise. Made me think, with some of the questions asked (not always to do with dress codes)

You would not have know which actual nights may be dress up, but did you find out anything about P and O before booking.

If I said Cunard to you, what would that cruise line conjure up?

If a line is not strict about a dress code, then it does not have a dress code.

We like to think that everyone will have as good a time as we do on cruises.

I hope you do to. Dress up or not (there will be other places you can dine and other places you can drink if you do not adhere to the dress code)

 

I have to agree - dress codes are available on the P&O website months in advance.

https://ask.pocruises.com/help/PO/life-on-board/dress_code_all

[peteukmcr]

Well I'm not going to argue but that list was NOT available when we booked.

 

Please close this thread because it is clear that I do not agree with anyone on this P&O thread.

[dsrdsrdsr]

Well I'm not going to argue but that list was NOT available when we booked.

 

Please close this thread because it is clear that I do not agree with anyone on this P&O thread.

 

P&O have had this dress code or equivalent for at least 25 years that I can vouch for, and probably for many years before that. The dress code was certainly available when you booked, though evidently you didn't see it.

[the english lady]

Well I'm not going to argue but that list was NOT available when we booked.

 

Please close this thread because it is clear that I do not agree with anyone on this P&O thread.

 

Well the lucky lucky people on this cruise will be honoured to have this "gentlemans" company on this cruise.

He came on here expecting us all to agree with him and when we didn't, took umbrage , lifted his skirts and huffed off. tee hee . I don't think any one was rude to him, we just didn't agree with him.

I wonder what he will wear and if he will attempt the MDR and said bars.....

[Scriv]

P&O have had this dress code or equivalent for at least 25 years that I can vouch for, and probably for many years before that. The dress code was certainly available when you booked, though evidently you didn't see it.

 

Maybe Pete meant that it wasn't yet published as to which night the Formal Night would fall on for his particular cruise?

 

In my experience of 2 nighters, the Dress code has always been published way ahead though and I have been able to see it on the CP from really early on.

 

Sorry to disagree, Pete.

Edited March 3, 2016 by Scriv

[peteukmcr]

Well the lucky lucky people on this cruise will be honoured to have this "gentlemans" company on this cruise.

He came on here expecting us all to agree with him and when we didn't, took umbrage , lifted his skirts and huffed off. tee hee . I don't think any one was rude to him, we just didn't agree with him.

I wonder what he will wear and if he will attempt the MDR and said bars.....

Well name calling isn't very ladylike is it? :D Perhaps you should reconsider your name on these boards. Just saying.

 

Actually people will be very lucky to have my company on this cruise because I am far more a gentleman than you and many other veteran P&O cruisers have behaved towards me on here and on social media dedicated to P&O cruisers/cruising.

 

I cannot believe the amount of name calling, sarcasm and rudeness that has been directed at those who have not had the opportunity to sail P&O before now.

 

Do you believe you are a special society that no one else may join nor question?

 

Would you be happier if I returned to the RCI threads where I only ever provide information and guidance, not name calling, nor belittling posters?

 

I still stand by my comment that at the time of booking, this short cruise did not specify that there would be a black tie event.

 

To put your minds at rest, and to answer your question, I will be attired accordingly to adhere to the dress code so do not wait with baited breath for reports of someone being denied access to the main dining rooms, nor being escorted from the Blue or Planet bars, because I will be in there dressed appropriately.

[peteukmcr]

Maybe Pete meant that it wasn't yet published as to which night the Formal Night would fall on for his particular cruise?

 

In my experience of 2 nighters, the Dress code has always been published way ahead though and I have been able to see it on the CP from really early on.

 

Sorry to disagree, Pete.

You are welcome to disagree, but I will repeat (I so wish I'd taken a screenshot of the CP after booking and up to final payment) that it did not show the dress code, the area was blank.

[Scriv]

Excuse me, Pete - I have been unfailingly polite to you and have tried to be very helpful, but I can't help it that I can't agree with you. Disagreeing with someone is not usually a reason to be accused of being rude on these forums.

 

Even if you couldn't find it on your CP that there was a Formal Night on your particular cruise - a question here or on Facebook as to whether there are usually Formal Nights on 2 nighters would have helped you. It's a shame you didn't do that especially knowing the reputation that P&O has for Formal Nights and Dress Code.

Edited March 3, 2016 by Scriv

[peteukmcr]

Excuse me, Pete - I have been unfailingly polite to you and have tried to be very helpful, but I can't help it that I can't agree with you. Disagreeing with someone is not usually a reason to be accused of being rude on these forums.

 

Even if you couldn't find it on your CP that there was a Formal Night on your particular cruise - a question here or on Facebook as to whether there are usually Formal Nights on 2 nighters would have helped you. It's a shame you didn't do that especially knowing the reputation that P&O has for Formal Nights and Dress Code.

I never said you were impolite. I will never ask a question again on social media as within 10 minutes I was called a trollop, party pooper and drama queen. Great welcome that was.

 

I didn't know the reputation P&O has for formal nights, that's why I asked and I was derided, ridiculed for my lack of knowledge and basically abused.

 

Needless to say, that leaves a bitter taste. Wouldn't it to you?

 

And this is no way directed at you, but I have never come across so many uptight keyboard warriors as there appears to be on P&O. A close friend sailed P&O for the first time recently and was not impressed by fellow cruisers who wanted to know their personal details and tried to impress by saying they 'owned' the P&O social media pages, nobody owns them, administer yes, own no.

[Scriv]

Pete - moving on, if you are going to Zeebrugge you may be interested in some threads on the P&O forum about getting into Bruges other than on P&O organised trips. One is entitled 'Vague Port Times' and another something like Zeebrugge or Bruges Shuttles.

 

I don't know if you have already been to Zeebrugge, but you can get a train from nearby Blankenberge to Bruges. You get to Blankenberge by a Shuttle, free to all fares whether Saver or Select. Blankenberge is in itself a very nice well kept little resort.

 

Have a look over there anyway and I'm happy to help answer any questions you may have. I have been to Zeebrugge 5 times by now, so know a bit lol - and 3 of those have been 2 nighters ( with three more booked lol)

 

Anyway, happy to help. :) See you over there maybe?

Edited March 3, 2016 by Scriv

[Host Sharon]

I think perhaps this thread has run its course so will end it here.