New Dress Code

[Crew News]

I have been on the Nieuw Amsterdam early dining and have seen only two tuxedos/long gowns in all of the Gala Nights so far. Collared shirts and sport jackets are the norm it seems.

[RocketMan275]

HeHe. Good one! :D

 

Being on Cunard is not a good thing.

[Cindy]

Actually, there are some cruisers who do not agree with that. I've seen posts here on CC, not this line but a comparable line, where posters recounted:

- escorting the Matre d' through the MDR pointing out what they though was inappropriate dress.

- meeting with the Matre d' prior to the first formal night in order to "ensure he had a proper understanding of the dress code".

- demanding that the head waiter escort a passenger they felt was improperly dressed to another table in a loud manner to designed to embarrass that passenger.

 

I have no socially acceptable words for that kind of behavior! :eek:

[jhsocal]

Debbie, do you think the average age was younger than usual for HAL? Thought that might be a connection to the more casual dress. No criticism is intended, just curious.

[DeeniEncinitas]

Hi everyone!!!!

We have always respected the formal nights now Gala. As 4 Stars as of our last cruise on the Nieuw we will be able to enjoy all perks on our big vacation of 3 months starting in August. We will be on The Eurodam doing The Med on Oct.9th. Done 4 other Med cruises on The Nieuw so this will be fun trying The Eurodam.

Since we will be traveling with one carry on and satchel that is it!! Going Global First and yes we know we can bring more suitcases but we enjoy traveling light and we have clothing that is easy and non wrinkle.

We love Tommy Bahama Clothing that is just us, and in the past we would respect Formal nights and either do Tamrind or Canelleto or enjoy a wonderful dinner in our suite.

Now my husband will wear a very nice black silk dress shirt with linen pants and his dress shoes and I will wear a little black dress to Gala Night and I hope we will be fine! Looking forward to our cruise!!

I do love seeing everyone who does dress up!! Everyone is so happy and it brings back nostalgia of a time in cruising that I love.

Packing a suit for my husband or a gown for me would take up our whole suite case!

Sorry for such a long post!

Denise:)

[iancal]

Exactly how we travel, what we pack, and why we previously skipped formal nights in the MDR or alternate venue.

 

Now we have more choice. It will be a nice change.

[Lakesregion]

I agree. It's up to the Maitre d' to decide what is acceptable dress, not rude table-mates. [/size]

 

I would agree however most of the Maître 'D's take the easy route as they do not need the hassle from those who feel entitled to do what they wish dress code or not.

 

As to rude behavior, I guess you feel violating the dress code is not rude but bringing it to your attention is rude. So as the other poster stated we would both win at different tables.

[Lakesregion]

Go for it....

 

I overdress (compared to the general) everywhere I go.... just what I and my wife choose to do. Church, out to dinner, theater, whatever. I hope the rest of the folks are not offended. :o

 

For the last several years before I retired I was significantly 'overdressed' at work. It made folks smile to see someone in a bow tie walking down the hall. Did I cause anybody to dress a little up, particularly my fellow male workers? Not at all. But the occasional smile I elicited was worth it.

 

I will take my tux on an NCL, Carnival, or RCCL cruise, as well as HAL. I would never expect that a majority, or even a significant minority, of my fellow passengers would do the same.

 

As many have said; 'it's my vacation, I'll dress the way I feel the most comfortable among my fellow passengers.' ; even if it is a little overdressed above the norm.

 

Dennis

 

Glad to see there are still a few of us around who like to tone up rather than down the room. Also, I am sure you have found that overall you receive better service from all in the service industry by being dressed a tad better than the masses. I know I find this. From cab drivers to doormen to wait staff to porters etc. A little bit of extra effort goes a long way in life.

[Fouremco]

Go for it....

 

I overdress (compared to the general) everywhere I go.... just what I and my wife choose to do. Church, out to dinner, theater, whatever. I hope the rest of the folks are not offended. :o

 

For the last several years before I retired I was significantly 'overdressed' at work. It made folks smile to see someone in a bow tie walking down the hall. Did I cause anybody to dress a little up, particularly my fellow male workers? Not at all. But the occasional smile I elicited was worth it.

 

I will take my tux on an NCL, Carnival, or RCCL cruise, as well as HAL. I would never expect that a majority, or even a significant minority, of my fellow passengers would do the same.

 

As many have said; 'it's my vacation, I'll dress the way I feel the most comfortable among my fellow passengers.' ; even if it is a little overdressed above the norm.

 

Dennis

What a refreshing change. You "overdress" (your choice of words :)) but aren't critical of those who choose otherwise.

Edited May 11, 2016 by Fouremco

[smgardner]

What are folks seeing on trips to Alaska? We have a ton of clothing to take and I am really struggling with taking a jacket, dress shoes, etc for a couple of nights in the dining room. My wife feels the same way with gowns. I do not want to be the couple in the dining room that is sans suitcoat and catching Hell from diners like the fellow I quoted in the post above. If we are way out of place, we will forego the dining room on those nights. I do not want to spoil anybodys experience. I was just wondering if Alaska cruises are a bit more relaxed in terms of dining room apparel.

[RocketMan275]

I would agree however most of the Maître 'D's take the easy route as they do not need the hassle from those who feel entitled to do what they wish dress code or not.

 

As to rude behavior, I guess you feel violating the dress code is not rude but bringing it to your attention is rude. So as the other poster stated we would both win at different tables.

 

If one finds another's dress inappropriate, the correct thing to do is to discuss that privately with the Matre d'. Rude behavior is seldom an appropriate response to rude behavior. As they say, two wrongs do not make a right.

[putums]

I just have to reply and tell you a story. 5 years ago my husband, 13 year old son, myself and a large amount of family and friends went on the Vendam for a celebratory cruise. My husband had been battling cancer and things were finally going good. Unfortunately two days into the sailing my husband became very ill. He had to go to the hospital in Bermuda and eventually was flown home on a hospital jet. He has since died. The reason I'm telling this story is because while I was at my husbands bedside, family kept an eye on my son. Formal night came and I had gotten my son a new suite just for the formal night. He had a great night and was especially remembered because he did dress in his suite but went to the dining room wearing only socks, no shoes. It was his way of reminding me how very silly some of our rules and regulations are. I have no problem if someone wants to dress up but there should be no problem if I want to wear something less formal.

[Lakesregion]

Here is my dilemma. I am trapped in a very casual 21 century when I know I would be more than happy living around 1910. Actually I would be fine in the 1950's) My favorite tv series is Downton Abbey (notice even the servants dress to higher standards than your average middle class American of today.)

 

I was introduced to the finer part of life when I was 5 years old. My mother had enjoyed such a life but the depression and a poor choice of husband had dashed all of that. yet she wished that I could experience it so I might strive for the better things in life as I grew up and set sail into my own life.

 

What truly annoys me is that over my life time (I will reach a young 77 in June) I find that just as I am able to achieve some of the finer things the goal posts have been moved and these things are no longer available.

 

Being a widower and not having a ton of wealth (Rather meager if I do admit) when I leave the house I dress up. Today I was painting the house and needed something at the local 7/11 convenience store. I changed into a pair of all wool slacks and a better sweater over the polo shirt I had under a work sweater. I have not owned a pair of jeans since I was 15 as I do not do labor for a living. I wore my last pair of shorts when I grew our of the shorts look at age 4 and went off to kindergarten.

 

Yes many call this stuffy. I call it proper attire.

 

Over the past 50 years I have watched the public at large. lower the standards for every single aspect of life from marriage to child raising to attire and general socializing.

On many of the cruise lines, it is anything goes 24/7 and people are thrilled by the ability to take zero care for their appearance and as usually follows their actions.

 

One needs to ask, exactly how much further can we as a society go?

 

I refuse to give in and as long as I am allowed a voice (there are many who wish to silence any descent as being rude) I will continue to urge a better level of civility.

 

To me a cruise, a concert a dinner out in a fine restaurant should be a total experience. One can not achieve a total experience if part of the toal atmosphere including those others in attendance chose to violate the basics of civility. Attending a play or a concert in a gold and satin decorated hall in sneakers and jeans simply insults the rest of the patrons and the performers. To arrive at a fine restaurant under dressed for the level of food, décor and attentive staff insults the owner and staff who have strived to offer something special and insults the rest of the diners who have come not only for the food but for the total experience.

To sail on a ship that has been decorated in elegance, liberally hung with fine art, attended with staff in uniforms keeping with the elegant to the décor and then refuse to dress to the same level insults the cruise line, the staff and the rest of the passengers who do not live in a bubble but reach out for a total experience.

 

Cheers

[Lakesregion]

How can you possibly know this to be true? A little bit of effort to be nice to a doorman, cabbie, porter and wait staff probably goes a longer way than how you are dressed. How condescending, "the masses".

 

I know because I have been doing this for over 50 years of travel and by observing. When I travel, I am not wrapped in a personal bubble but am aware of what is going on around me. It enhances my overall experience. To be in a bubble one loses out on so much of life. I have observed people with exactly the same needs or problems as myself at the same instance and have found that the service staff tends to be directed to my needs (I do not even have to each out to them, they come to me) and the others have been denied or ignored. And as so many here have assumed I must not be a nice person so if that were true this would not occur.

[iancal]

Very odd. We have always travelled extensively. Since retiring it is at least two trips per year, usually 7-9 weeks each. Often more.

 

We invariable travel in jeans. Neat jeans. No tshirt though. And we are clean, as are our clothes. In the past year we have travelled extensively in Southern Europe and throughout SE Asia.

 

Here is the thing.....We have always been treated extremely well by cab drivers, porters, whatever. Did not matter if it was a five star or a three star. Cab, limo or tuk tuk. Made no difference.

 

We have never felt the least bit ignored by any service staff, in fact the opposite was true in SE Asia.

 

As seasoned travellers, on business throughout my career, and pleasure, to many parts of the world and dressed in suits for business and jeans for pleasure I can assure you that our experience is that your comment does not reflect our experience over many years of travel. And it incudes a great deal of travel to the Boston and New Hampshire areas.

 

I can also say that when we have been in situations with very wealthy folks, senior lawyers etc. it was very easy for my spouse to pick out the senior people and/or the ones with real money. They were the most casually dressed of the bunch. They did not have to impress, they were not dressing to satisfy their aspirational goals because they did not feel the need to. The junior partner/associates and their guests were invariably dressed to the nines. Dressed to impress for aspirational reasons.

 

I say this because experienced staff at hotels, resorts can discern things like this. They are not nearly as naïve as you would make them out to be. They know that attire does not tell the story. Their tips depend on knowing this.

Edited May 12, 2016 by iancal

[kelleherdl]

Glad to see there are still a few of us around who like to tone up rather than down the room. Also, I am sure you have found that overall you receive better service from all in the service industry by being dressed a tad better than the masses. I know I find this. From cab drivers to doormen to wait staff to porters etc. A little bit of extra effort goes a long way in life.

 

Thank you for the kind comments, but I think you missed the point of my post. I am not so presumptuous that how I dress will change much of anything other than my feeling good about myself and complimenting my wife. I cannot say that my more 'dressier' attire gets me any special service. It may elicit a smile and sometimes a thumbs-up, but nothing more than that.

 

Dennis

[Oville]

Here is my dilemma. I am trapped in a very casual 21 century when I know I would be more than happy living around 1910. Actually I would be fine in the 1950's) My favorite tv series is Downton Abbey (notice even the servants dress to higher standards than your average middle class American of today.)

 

I was introduced to the finer part of life when I was 5 years old. My mother had enjoyed such a life but the depression and a poor choice of husband had dashed all of that. yet she wished that I could experience it so I might strive for the better things in life as I grew up and set sail into my own life.

 

What truly annoys me is that over my life time (I will reach a young 77 in June) I find that just as I am able to achieve some of the finer things the goal posts have been moved and these things are no longer available.

 

Being a widower and not having a ton of wealth (Rather meager if I do admit) when I leave the house I dress up. Today I was painting the house and needed something at the local 7/11 convenience store. I changed into a pair of all wool slacks and a better sweater over the polo shirt I had under a work sweater. I have not owned a pair of jeans since I was 15 as I do not do labor for a living. I wore my last pair of shorts when I grew our of the shorts look at age 4 and went off to kindergarten.

 

Yes many call this stuffy. I call it proper attire.

 

Over the past 50 years I have watched the public at large. lower the standards for every single aspect of life from marriage to child raising to attire and general socializing.

On many of the cruise lines, it is anything goes 24/7 and people are thrilled by the ability to take zero care for their appearance and as usually follows their actions.

 

One needs to ask, exactly how much further can we as a society go?

 

I refuse to give in and as long as I am allowed a voice (there are many who wish to silence any descent as being rude) I will continue to urge a better level of civility.

 

To me a cruise, a concert a dinner out in a fine restaurant should be a total experience. One can not achieve a total experience if part of the toal atmosphere including those others in attendance chose to violate the basics of civility. Attending a play or a concert in a gold and satin decorated hall in sneakers and jeans simply insults the rest of the patrons and the performers. To arrive at a fine restaurant under dressed for the level of food, décor and attentive staff insults the owner and staff who have strived to offer something special and insults the rest of the diners who have come not only for the food but for the total experience.

To sail on a ship that has been decorated in elegance, liberally hung with fine art, attended with staff in uniforms keeping with the elegant to the décor and then refuse to dress to the same level insults the cruise line, the staff and the rest of the passengers who do not live in a bubble but reach out for a total experience.

 

Cheers

 

Having read this you must be pulling our legs, if not it is beyond the pale.

Edited May 12, 2016 by Oville

[ithaca gal]

Having read this you must be pulling our legs, if not it is beyond the pale.

 

Beyond the pale? Beyond the pale??? Seriously???

 

While I am younger than this gentleman, I smiled as I read his post because I understand it COMPLETELY.

 

Apparently it all boils down to "you either get it or you don't". Happy to say, sir, that I get it! I would love to encounter you on a future cruise -- you sound like a cultured delight!

[idiebabe]

Beyond the pale? Beyond the pale??? Seriously???

 

While I am younger than this gentleman, I smiled as I read his post because I understand it COMPLETELY.

 

Apparently it all boils down to "you either get it or you don't". Happy to say, sir, that I get it! I would love to encounter you on a future cruise -- you sound like a cultured delight!

 

I get it, too, and his post nailed it! :) :)

[dakrewser]

Having read this you must be pulling our legs, if not it is beyond the pale.

 

I'm with you on this one. I've never thought of a resturant as an "experience". I'm reminded of the early Rainforest Grill, where a booming voice called your name and asked you to "step up to the elephant to begin your experience!"

 

I go to a restaurant for a meal and not once in all my 70 years has my wardrobe affected the taste of that meal.

[iancal]

I would hardly call dining in HAL's MDR fine dining. At most, it is good banquet food. The level of service would not suffice in any fine dining establishment that we have enjoyed. You can pretend all you want but you cannot pretend that.

 

Most retailers, service providers, etc. believe in the golden rule. He who has the gold makes the rules. It is another facet of supply and demand. HAL understands this.

Edited May 12, 2016 by iancal

[jtl513]

Here is my dilemma. I am trapped in a very casual 21 century when I know I would be more than happy living around 1910.

A sad tale, but that does not give you the right to be fashion police in the MDR. Maybe you would be happier in the PG, seated at a table by yourself?

[alwaysfrantic]

If one finds another's dress inappropriate, the correct thing to do is to discuss that privately with the Matre d'.

 

Unless the other guest is wearing a neo-**** tee shirt I think the correct thing to do is leave the Maitre d alone to do his job and quit worrying about what anyone else is wearing and eat your dinner.

[shellsrus]

Unless the other guest is wearing a neo-**** tee shirt I think the correct thing to do is leave the Maitre d alone to do his job and quit worrying about what anyone else is wearing and eat your dinner.

 

Amen

[dmcfad2]

Debbie, do you think the average age was younger than usual for HAL? Thought that might be a connection to the more casual dress. No criticism is intended, just curious.

 

 

Yes, I would say that it was a "younger" crowd, maybe average age in the low 70's. Some people still dressed up. I did see some tuxes and one long gown.