"Informal Night" - Are jackets really required?

[babytraveler]

I love clothes and have outfits for nearly every occasion. But one irk with cruise dress code is that with formal, semi-formal, casual, active casual, rain wear, hiking books, black pumps, swim casual, etc.--that's a lot of clothes to travel cross country with via plane. I'm a one bag person--not a steamer trunk. Plus I've got to carry kids luggage and gear like heavy car seats, too.

 

I just personally think it is a lot to request that people bring a lot of luggage. I'd really like to leave dress shoes, suit, and jacket out of my husband's luggage, as well as my black pumps. I can bring a couple of light black dresses with wraps for myself that don't take up much space. Okay, I'll bring the lot, but for travel the Rick Steves method works best. Save the formalwear for home occasions.

[peaches from georgia]

I love clothes and have outfits for nearly every occasion. But one irk with cruise dress code is that with formal, semi-formal, casual, active casual, rain wear, hiking books, black pumps, swim casual, etc.--that's a lot of clothes to travel cross country with via plane. I'm a one bag person--not a steamer trunk. Plus I've got to carry kids luggage and gear like heavy car seats, too.

 

I just personally think it is a lot to request that people bring a lot of luggage. I'd really like to leave dress shoes, suit, and jacket out of my husband's luggage, as well as my black pumps....Save the formalwear for home occasions.

I understand exactly where you are coming from. I think we all go through stages in life that dictate the type of vacation that works for us at that time. Hauling kids and their equipment, yet wanting to fly with limited luggage does limit what is the best cruise options for your family.

 

And this is exactly what posters here mean who suggest that instead of trying to change a cruiseline, where the requirements are different than what is best for you and your family, maybe the real solution is to pick a vacation or in this case cruiseline which meets your needs. There are cruiselines where you would have to take no formalwear or dressy clothes and accessories, which might be a lot easier for you to do at this time. Later on when the kids are gone a HAL type cruise will probably be perfect for you. But HAL is a cruiseline that today does have formal nights and dressier codes than some other lines and that is clear to everyone before they book. ;)

[Stevesan]

Okay, I'll bring the lot, but for travel the Rick Steves method works best. Save the formalwear for home occasions.

 

It's perfect for youth hostels and no star hotels, but a cruise ship?:rolleyes:

[babytraveler]

You know what, you are right. We'd have been better off on a more causal line, but others chose the specifics. So since we're doing HAL, we'll bring the works and all the good stuff, including fancy stuff for the kids (they love dressing up, anyway).

[bonstersd]

They say the dress code is for ALL PUBLIC areas of the ship for the entire night:)

I know for me I like walking into the casino after the show still in my tux it's just a real nice feeling:D

 

My point exactly is that you don't have to dress to dine on the lido, which is a public area. So, again, their "rules" are inconsistent.

 

I do dress for dinner; it is something I enjoy and I don't care whether anyone else does or doesn't dress for dinner or the casino or anywhere else.

[aHALofaCruise]

Someone was wearing a polo shirt and casual pants on formal night. Then later in the cruise wondering around in shorts flip flops and a t-shirt on a different informal night. Looked extra sloppy because everybody had on nice clothes, jackets and ties, not necessarily expensive. Most of my shirts and pants came from Sears. Like someone said earlier it's part of the experience and if someone wants to wear a baseball hat and cutoffs, stay away from HAL.