Dress code for dinner and afterwards

[Mkripke]

This is going to be our first Cunard cruise. We are going on the 12/8/06 12 days Caribbean cruise on the QM2. On our other cruises, the formal night meant a suit, while the other nights ranged from jeans/shorts to dress pants and a shirt (button down or polo). How is the dress on the QM2, both formal and informal? Also for the women, my wife will be very curious.

 

Thank you all for your input.

[tumeroll]

This is going to be our first Cunard cruise. We are going on the 12/8/06 12 days Caribbean cruise on the QM2. On our other cruises, the formal night meant a suit, while the other nights ranged from jeans/shorts to dress pants and a shirt (button down or polo). How is the dress on the QM2, both formal and informal? Also for the women, my wife will be very curious.

 

Thank you all for your input.

 

I suspect the reason that you have not had a response in over 6 hours is that most Cunard passnegers do not know what to make of your post. If you have been a cruise critic member since 2002 you must have a sense that neither of the Queens enjoy as casual a dress code as you have indicated. Plan on tuxedo for the formal nights and a jacket and tie for all other evenings beginning at 6 pm and ending when you feel it time to retire. There is no changing back to other attire. And certainly no shorts or jeans at the evening hour and basically no jeans at any hour.

 

Tradition is very much up held on both shipsthough I understand the QM2 is not a formal as the QE2. Go for the gusto and dress to the nines. You will have a ball and a wonderful cruise.

[mufi]

In fact the QM2 is very different than QE2. There is no enforced dress code outside the dining rooms and I suspect that some do change after dinner. One of the most way-out things I saw was a guy wearing jeans, trainers and open neck shirt taking his place in the theatre next to an perfectly formally dressed couple, and this was on a crossing!!

 

David.

[Mkripke]

Thanks for your answers.

[imacruizer]

A Caribbean cruise on the QM2 is more casual than a crossing. However, on formal nights the men will be in tuxedos or dark suits and most keep them on for the entire evening. On semi-formal nights, men wear suits or sports coats and ties. On casual nights, men will be wearing dress pants and collared shirts. You will see men on the QM2 in sports coats on casual nights, too.

 

On formal nights, women will wear long formal gowns, tea length gowns or very dressy pants outfits. On semi-formal nights, women will wear shorter cocktail dresses or dressy pants outfits. On casual nights, women will wear casual dresses or nice pants outfits.

 

Even though the dress is not quite as formal as a crossing, the QM2 is still very formal in the Caribbean. I do not think you would be comfortable in jeans or shorts in the evening on the QM2.

 

Daytime attire in the Caribbean is very casual.

[kevinsac]

imacruizer summarizes all of my points quite well.

 

1. QE2 more formal than QM2....but that does not mean QM2 is informal during evenings

2. Crossing more formal.....but that does not mean QM2 is informal in the Carib

 

My memories of QM2 must be fading, because I can not remember men without ties in the evening, even on casual nights. And while I wore some nice linen shorts for numerous shore excursions or just to sit and read while on deck during warm days, I'd change into slacks for any on-baord activities other than running to/from the cabin. And maybe it's because I have been on QE2 so many times.....but I never even took jeans on our QM2 sailings.

[dtwtraveler]

imacruizer summarizes all of my points quite well.

 

1. QE2 more formal than QM2....but that does not mean QM2 is informal during evenings

2. Crossing more formal.....but that does not mean QM2 is informal in the Carib

 

My memories of QM2 must be fading, because I can not remember men without ties in the evening, even on casual nights. And while I wore some nice linen shorts for numerous shore excursions or just to sit and read while on deck during warm days, I'd change into slacks for any on-baord activities other than running to/from the cabin. And maybe it's because I have been on QE2 so many times.....but I never even took jeans on our QM2 sailings.

 

My brother-in-law has taken many cruises but never with Cunard. He said that he can recognize QM2 passengers in the Caribbean ports, because they are dressed nicer and wear long pants or slacks!

[moonshine1]

Well our first time at sea (ever) will be July 2006, and having read so much on here and contacted a few people, we can tell that it is a tux for dinner and rest of the evening, once your dressed for dinner why spoile it by returning to your room changing to casual and joining the others in (dress).

 

Day time its going to be shirt and trousers o rtop and trousers, though I am hoping that nice cut dress shorts are ok with a shirt.

 

Jeans?? well im 51 and I have not worn jeans for 20 years I hate them, hate them on men or women , sorry even designer jeans look so bad, when you buy and wear such nice trousers etc why wear wear working clothes.

 

as for jeans on QM2 please god no

 

rob

 

QM" july 2006

[transatlantic fan]

Always put a tux on on formal nights but then sometimes feel more comftable in jeans and shirt in the Golden Lion bar after dinner.

I was never told at any time on either crossing that this was a problem

[Spring]

As moonshine1 said

 

"As for jeans on QM2 please god no"

 

 

QM2 Nov 1st 2005

[cruiserking]

Half of the fun of experiencing a traditional liner like QM2 is to get spiffed up in your tuxedo, your kilt, beaded gown whatever. I can loll around in casual clothes and watch the tube any night of the week at home. But, when I'm aboard the Queen Mary 2 it's a pleasure to dress to the nines and look sharp.

 

Cruiserking

[stowaway2k]

Isn't the suggested dress for the evening just that?...for the evening...not just while having dinner?

[mufi]

No. To quote from the daily programme "Dress codes will be enforced in the Britannia and Grill Restaurants" Maybe our crossings in July were not typical, and admittedly the dress standard was noticeably more casual on the east bound voyage. But Cunard have made the ruling that the dress code applies to the dining rooms only. NOT Kings Court.

 

QM2 is not particularly classy in the way that QE2 still is, or was the last time we were aboard.

 

David.

[carlmm]

No. To quote from the daily programme "Dress codes will be enforced in the Britannia and Grill Restaurants"

 

I am sad to read this wording. What about the bars, the lounges, the dancefloors, all the places where you see much more of the fellow passengers than in the dinning room?

Maybe Cunard has not the courage and/or style anymore to "enforce" the dress code, maybe they want other passengers, but at least it still says in their brochure "One of the great thrills of a Cunard cruise is the sheer glamour of the evenings. ... Evening attire, effective from 6pm..."

 

Furtunately so many here pointed out that they contribute to the elegant atmosphere all night. Certainly it does not (or should not) need enforcement to grasp this concept.

[mufi]

I suppose Cunard looked at this big ship they had to fill every voyage and made the decision that they could not do this without attracting folk who would not take an enforced dress code crossing. That's why the papers are full of "unbeatable offers". We must get a dozen a week in the post from Cunard and others.

 

We found that the mixed dress was noticeable mostly in the theatre, where everyone entering and finding a seat is noticed as they walk in. It was still there in the bars and lounges, though not so obvious there. In the Queens Room we did not see any "casuals" so maybe that could be regarded as one haven of elegance as well as the dining rooms.

 

David.

[Paul NH]

I have seen a couple of postings that the QM2 is more casual than the QE2, but our June 9 QM2 eastbound crossing was very dressy in the evenings ... everyone dressed to the nines. I saw only one person in jeans one evening, and I will tell you, he looked seriously out of place.

 

I supposed the Carribean itineraries may end up more casual because of the locale, and read with interest from passengers who have been there to find out whether the formality is maintained or not.

 

Paul

[cruiseskeptic]

On the eastbound QM2 Oct. 20 transatlantic, about 90 percent of the men we saw in the dining room were wearing a tux, and the other 10 percent were wearing suits. It was about the best we have seen on any cruise. Sure hope it stays that way.

[travel-to-go]

I always dress the best I can, and try to stay dressed for the evening. I have done star-gazing with the ships' navigtors on the uppermost deck in a gown and heels. That said, I will admit that, as I am plus-sized, it is often difficult to find stylish well fitting, comfortable clothing. I often find I have to change shoes and lose the stockings (although with a long gown, who would know!) I change to nice flats or sandals, and if I must change out of the dress- (Hey- sometimes you spill something on it at dinner) I try to at least change to a dressy pantsuit- say, one with a sparkly top, or a nice scarf to set it off.

I don't remember ever packing jeans- even for my flight home!

[Kindlychap]

I can only comment on the QE2. It is not done to change back into "day" clothes and I don't think I can recall ever seeing it.

 

From my (male) point of view I would wear a dinner suit for formal nights, a lounge suit for informal nights and a blazer for the rare casual night. I might occasionally wear a blazer for an informal night were it not for the fact that my lounge suit is so much more comfortable than a mass produced blazer!

 

Yes - it is very formal. But all the better for it if you ask me.

 

I might (only might) undo my tie if I was very hot at the show on a formal night, but only because I think a bow tie looks okay undone at the very end of an evening!

[dtwtraveler]

From my (male) point of view I would wear a dinner suit for formal nights, a lounge suit for informal nights and a blazer for the rare casual night. I might occasionally wear a blazer for an informal night were it not for the fact that my lounge suit is so much more comfortable than a mass produced blazer!

 

What's a "lounge suit"?

[GeminiA]

I don't have a tuxedo & never worn one on any cruises so far.

I was on the QM2 Maiden Carribean voyage. Dark Suit on formal nights is fine, jacket with collared shirt(tie optional) on informal. Collared shirt & dress pants on casual. All within their dress code guidelines, I never felt out of place.

[dtwtraveler]

I don't have a tuxedo & never worn one on any cruises so far.

I was on the QM2 Maiden Carribean voyage. Dark Suit on formal nights is fine, jacket with collared shirt(tie optional) on informal. Collared shirt & dress pants on casual. All within their dress code guidelines, I never felt out of place.

 

My husband thanks you for your comments on the men's appropriate attire on the ship!

[sean of the seas]

phoned cunard usa re dress code and the guy said

 

3 formal

 

2 semi formal

 

7 casual

 

cheers sean

[Kindlychap]

What's a "lounge suit"?

 

A lounge suit is a classic suit as you would wear to the office.

 

Strange, isn't it, how a common language can be so different? I'd no more refer to a "tux" or "tuxedo" that I would fly, as to me it is simply a dress suit or a dinner suit.

[pisces1]

Please do not feel you have to don a tux on QM2. I sailed in the Queens Grill and in Brittannia, and you would feel completely comfortable in a dark suit. The photos in the brochure may conjure up nights of royalty, but in the end it is a cornucopia of people who make up their own mind of what is formal for the evening. That is not to say you have to follow their lead, you just don't have to do it to the extreme in either direction. After dinner, I would often change into velvet pants for instance to visit the casino. I would still fit the bill for formal, but I would be much more comfortable while I lost my bills to the ever hungry slot machines.