Using the Theatre on formal evenings

[Lakesregion]

I checked with Cunard, re wearing a blazer, with shirt, tie and dress pants on formal nights and was told that was acceptable. A far cry from dungarees and backwards hat. I also think that assuming a persons intelligence and social skills are defined by their wardrobe is insulting and elitist. Some men in tuxedos are socially inept but that does not make them a lessor person. DO NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER.

 

Asking the Cunard call center questions will only confuse as they will tell you pretty much anything that you wish to hear so as to book you as a pax.

 

As to a blazer being a far cry from work clothes. To besure but the difference on NCL from everyone wearing blazers in the dining room to Dungares with hammer loops bein allowed was just two years in undoing.

 

Trust me I did not judge the book by it's cover, I had to endure 14 days of listening to the context of the inner workings of such a crowd and it was horrifying.

 

Please do not excuse and suggest that it is acceptable on CUNARD.

 

Please leave us few to have something to enjoy. Lord knows the level of atmosphere, civility and intellect found on Cunard ships is exceptionally difficult to find in the US and according to friends in most of Europe.

[orlenda2]

Bit surely you can read the published dress code well enough to know the difference between the standard for a formal night and a blazer, with shirt, tie and dress pants.

 

 

One aspect of Cunard's Britishness is that they are very indirect in a formal setting and seldom inform a guest as to their shortcomings, but that doesn't necessarily excuse the shortcoming.

 

Well I guess the dress code is changing and it is no longer a shortcoming to wear a blazer on formal nights according to the information I received from their representative, well past the final payment.

Surely the few guests that prefer not to invest in a new suit or tuxedo would make a huge impact on the atmosphere of the room/rooms. We did not choose Cunard for the formal nights. We do like to dress up but only to the cocktail level which we do on the Azamara line. We want to experience again, sailing on a Cunard ship (we did a Christmas Cruise in 1985 on the QEll)a nd if it appeals to us as much as we remember, then perhaps a change up in wardrobe would be warranted for a future cruise. Mostly though, the itinerary and timing matched our plans.

[Salacia]

Well I guess the dress code is changing and it is no longer a shortcoming to wear a blazer on formal nights according to the information I received from their representative, well past the final payment.

Surely the few guests that prefer not to invest in a new suit or tuxedo would make a huge impact on the atmosphere of the room/rooms. We did not choose Cunard for the formal nights. We do like to dress up but only to the cocktail level which we do on the Azamara line. We want to experience again, sailing on a Cunard ship (we did a Christmas Cruise in 1985 on the QEll)a nd if it appeals to us as much as we remember, then perhaps a change up in wardrobe would be warranted for a future cruise. Mostly though, the itinerary and timing matched our plans.

 

Passengers that do not want to dress in formal attire on formal nights (and formal nights have been reduced) have venues open to them, just as those passengers who wish to follow the dress code and dress formally have venues where their attire is appreciated.

 

Different strokes for different folks. Just my personal opinion, the dress code has been sufficiently relaxed. But my hunch is that it will continue to dissolve.

[janny444]

I cannot believe some of the comments on this thread and cannot "get my head round" what the problem is.

We have cruised on many different cruise lines but not Cunard. We are now considering it. We have cruised with the more "laid back" lines ...some quite formal... and some in between. For us on our next cruise we would like a change from the "flip flop brigade" ....please do not take that as any sort of criticism...but we want a more formal experience next time. Looking at Cunard that appears to be the case so we will go fully prepared for formal evenings ...attire and formal venues. Why choose a cruise line in the first place that is not going to fit in with how you want to cruise...why bother going with them....choose another cruise line that does.

We may give Cunard a try and if it is not to our liking we simply won't cruise with them again but I wouldn't try to flout their "standards" ....I know what they expect before I decide to go with them. It is honestly quite easy to read up on what the dress codes are on all cruise lines and then choose accordingly as to your own personal requirements

[Host Hattie]

Perfectly put, thank you.

[janny444]

Just as a footnote to my above comments.

 

On one cruise...a Princess one...there was a couple who had been cruising many many years and every evening of the 14 night cruise would dress up formally...he in his "penguin" suit and the lady in her ball gown. They too stood out but for different reasons.

[PORT ROYAL]

Just as a footnote to my above comments.

 

On one cruise...a Princess one...there was a couple who had been cruising many many years and every evening of the 14 night cruise would dress up formally...he in his "penguin" suit and the lady in her ball gown. They too stood out but for different reasons.

 

Obviously, they had personal dress standards for dinner, which they wished to maintain. This is possibly why they "stood out" on your Princess ship. The couple should be applauded.

[BORDER REIVER]

It depends on who you ask, but different people from different walks of life (or different countries) will have different answers to a question like "what is formal / casual / smart casual dress". To some, smart would mean suit and tie for men & to others it would mean a cleaner pair of jeans and tee shirt.

There's really no excuse for some cruise passengers, read the information and act on it, it's discourteous to disrespect your host's wishes. However, there are cruise lines who themselves have no idea what the different terms mean and who mislead their customers in their brochures by not stating their intention. In those instances, they will get what they deserve, am unappealing mix of styles that give the ship a scruffy look.

Last weekend we stayed at a Country House hotel and asked in advance what the dress code was for dinner. We were told "Smart Casual to Formal", so I wore a suit and tie and my wife a cocktail dress, as we would normally wear for a hotel dinner. Most of the other male diners wore jeans / chinos / polo shirts / t-shirts. The ladies were on the whole much better dressed, although some wore jeans. Different people have different interpretations of the meaning of words......Or some just couldn't care less.

[janny444]

Obviously, they had personal dress standards for dinner, which they wished to maintain. This is possibly why they "stood out" on your Princess ship. The couple should be applauded.

 

Yes they certainly had their standards....nothing wrong with that...but Princess cruises are not known for their "high standard" formal nights and as I said in my initial comments you should choose a cruise line that fits in with one's own standards to avoid any disappointment.

[perditax]

If you can pay, you can play.

[janny444]

Within the guide lines

[PORT ROYAL]

Yes they certainly had their standards....nothing wrong with that...but Princess cruises are not known for their "high standard" formal nights and as I said in my initial comments you should choose a cruise line that fits in with one's own standards to avoid any disappointment.

 

Totally agree. Sadly, there are some who think Cunard will be an ideal fit for them, but once on board quickly discover the ethos, etiquette and protocols of a Cunard cruise is not for them, returning to a previous Line, one they feel more "comfortable" with. Think the "Red Top" conversion rate is about 15%

[luckymal]

I cannot believe some of the comments on this thread and cannot "get my head round" what the problem is.

We have cruised on many different cruise lines but not Cunard. We are now considering it. We have cruised with the more "laid back" lines ...some quite formal... and some in between. For us on our next cruise we would like a change from the "flip flop brigade" ....please do not take that as any sort of criticism...but we want a more formal experience next time. Looking at Cunard that appears to be the case so we will go fully prepared for formal evenings ...attire and formal venues. Why choose a cruise line in the first place that is not going to fit in with how you want to cruise...why bother going with them....choose another cruise line that does.

We may give Cunard a try and if it is not to our liking we simply won't cruise with them again but I wouldn't try to flout their "standards" ....I know what they expect before I decide to go with them. It is honestly quite easy to read up on what the dress codes are on all cruise lines and then choose accordingly as to your own personal requirements

We started to cruise over 20 years ago, a very basic ship named Seawings very basic, I took a suit and a blazer, but quite a few had a Tuxs, I thought they looked good, anyway our next cruise ,was on the late, great QE2. So I purchased a Tuxs never needed one before, on the first formal night we went down to dinner, nearly all the men dress in their Tuxs a great time was had. In June we shall be on our 60 cruise (50 with Cunard) and love the formal nights, I have found that the Australian and America men are the ones to object I think their lady's love to dress up and they look great. When people are looking through the brochure they will see what the dress code is, why should the minority spoil it for the majority. When one goes to the theatre it is usual to see a member of staff greeting people why can they not tell the people they have the wrong attire on, with a little word on the quite. I do think Cunard would be the losers if relaxed the dress code, there are so many people travel with Cunard for the formal dress.;p

[luckymal]

We started to cruise over 20 years ago, a very basic ship named Seawings very basic, I took a suit and a blazer, but quite a few had a Tuxs, I thought they looked good, anyway our next cruise ,was on the late, great QE2. So I purchased a Tuxs never needed one before, on the first formal night we went down to dinner, nearly all the men dress in their Tuxs a great time was had. In June we shall be on our 60 cruise (50 with Cunard) and love the formal nights, I have found that the Australian and America men are the ones to object I think their lady's love to dress up and they look great. When people are looking through the brochure they will see what the dress code is, why should the minority spoil it for the majority. When one goes to the theatre it is usual to see a member of staff greeting people why can they not tell the people they have the wrong attire on, with a little word on the quite. I do think Cunard would be the losers if relaxed the dress code, there are so many people travel with Cunard for the formal dress.;p

sorry most of the Australian and American do not object.:cool:

[john watson]

That's ok for me but my brother will be wearing a blazer or tweed jacket,

 

This will be a little below par, but some golfers are, but still finish the round. When it comes to the club house everybody knows who they are. We cant all have a green jacket.

 

Regards John

[AZNative2000]

sorry most of the Australian and American do not object.:cool:

After buying my first tux, we loved our first Cunard cruise (6 months ago) so much that we booked another while on board. We looked forward to the (true) formal nights and still do. DW bought new gowns as well.

 

Cheers!

[Victoria2]

This will be a little below par, but some golfers are, but still finish the round. When it comes to the club house everybody knows who they are. We cant all have a green jacket.

 

Regards John

Perfect analogy.

[david,Mississauga]

Just as a footnote to my above comments.

 

On one cruise...a Princess one...there was a couple who had been cruising many many years and every evening of the 14 night cruise would dress up formally...he in his "penguin" suit and the lady in her ball gown. They too stood out but for different reasons.

 

A friend had an Atlantic crossing on the QM2 last year - his first Cunard voyage in 14 years. He had no intention of accepting the "dumbed down" dress code so he wore his tuxedo every night except the first and last, as was the tradition on crossings. He told us it appeared that he was the only one in Princess Grill to wear black tie on informal nights.

 

On our earlier crossings on the QM2 - six nights - the tradition established on the QE2 continued, so there were four formal nights. Then Cunard changed one of the formal nights to "semi-formal" which meant a suit and tie for gents, not just jacket and tie. I had no intention of bringing a business suit for just one night so I wore my navy-blue blazer with trousers that almost matched. This was satisfactory for all of the non-formal nights.

 

 

As we all know, when the crossings were lengthened to seven nights the "semi-formal" night was changed to "informal" and that was also the dress code for the first and last nights which had been amusingly designated as "elegant casual". It is much easier to understand the dress code now.

[Solent Richard]

Why can't people just respect the dress code. You know when you book that Cunard is quite formal so if you don't like it cruise with someone else.

 

 

Wish there was a like button.

[Tillylovesseabourn]

Richard, totally agree.

 

After cruising for some 20 years now and still being classed as a "younger" cruiser I really hate the disrespect for others that is pushing the boundaries when it comes to dress code. Over the years it has been suggested that younger people were those dumbing down the concept of formals, however, I for one love dressing up for the formal evenings,but have watched the erosion of dress code on just about every luxury line I have travelled on. It would be a real shame for Cunard to go this way too. I think the formality is part of Cunards USP.

[Pushka]

Men are being turned away at the Dining Room if they appear without a jacket on non formal nights on the current sector.

[NSWP]

Men are being turned away at the Dining Room if they appear without a jacket on non formal nights on the current sector.

 

Good, how is the dress code enforcement in other parts of the ship, i.e. theatre/lounges? It was pathetic on the Syd-HK in March.

 

Trust you are enjoying your voyage.:cool:

[Pushka]

Good, how is the dress code enforcement in other parts of the ship, i.e. theatre/lounges? It was pathetic on the Syd-HK in March.

 

 

 

Trust you are enjoying your voyage.:cool:

 

 

 

We've not been to the theatre yet. Last nights dinner dragged on for a while as a couple on our table kept eating and ordering drinks long after everyone else had finished and we didn't want to look rude and leave. But we will tonight.

[luckymal]

;)

We've not been to the theatre yet. Last nights dinner dragged on for a while as a couple on our table kept eating and ordering drinks long after everyone else had finished and we didn't want to look rude and leave. But we will tonight.

This is one big problem when on a big table, you can be waiting for people who are having Cocktails before dinner, and in your case waiting for people to finish, some people are selfish, if we are on a large table we say please excuse us we are going for a drink, casino or theatre. It is our holiday and we do what we want to do.

[pepperrn]

;)

This is one big problem when on a big table, you can be waiting for people who are having Cocktails before dinner, and in your case waiting for people to finish, some people are selfish, if we are on a large table we say please excuse us we are going for a drink, casino or theatre. It is our holiday and we do what we want to do.

Agreed luckymal,

 

One should be able, in a brief pause in conversation, to say "Well that was a wonderful dinner, sadly we must tear ourselves away now or we'll be late, lovely to see you, have a great day tomorrow" and not cause the slightest offence.

 

If said politely, at the right moment, only the very self-centered or selfish person would get upset, any normal person would think nothing of it, and look forward to seeing their table-mates again the following evening, IMHO.

 

Best wishes :)