dress code in diningroom on Alaskan cruise

[Luv2cruz1000]

How formal is the diningroom? I assume men have to wear jackets, do they need ties? Can women wear any dress or does it need to be a formal? i am referring to the regular formal night, not the gala evening. We are interested in an Alaskan cruise but having done one previously I know they are port intensive and at times getting back on the ship in time for dinner. Any experiences would be appreciate. Also wanted to check to make sure my info is correct..The whole ship is formal in the evening so therefore could not go out on deck or to a show if we are not in formal attire. We really like the itinerary Cunard has for Alaska but we may not be formal enough for Cunard!

[david,Mississauga]

Cunard defines  "gala" and "smart" on their site (if that site hasn't been ruined as the Voyage Personaliser was) so I won't quote it. But I can tell you my experiences based on our Alaska cruise on the QE this summer.  "Formal" is now called gala and the non-formal nights are now called "smart". Out of the 10 nights only two were designated as gala, which is the lowest ratio I have ever seen on Cunard.

 

Normally a gent needs a jacket - tie is optional - on all nights. The first night was "smart" but it said jackets were optional. 

 

A suit and tie meet the minimum definition on a gala night, although a significant number of men - possibly the majority as on our Alaska cruise - will wear a dinner jacket/tuxedo.

 

On gala nights women do not need long formal dresses although a large number will likely be wearing them. Many wore a cocktail dress or an elegant pant suit.

 

Cunard is not nearly as formal as some people fear. Alaska cruises are less formal than Atlantic crossings.  Being a traditionalist,  I mention this just to be realistic not to say that I approve.

Edited December 9, 2019 by david,Mississauga

[bluemarble]

Here are the evening dress code details as stated by Cunard which apply to most voyages.  This applies to the main dining rooms and many, but not all, of the other public areas of the ship after 6:00pm.

 

==========

 

Gala Evening:
On Gala nights it’s dinner jacket, tuxedo, or dark suit for the men with a regular tie or bow tie. Evening or cocktail dress, smart trouser suit, or formal separates for the ladies please.

 

Smart Attire:
Gentlemen, every night we request you wear smart trousers with a shirt and jacket; tie is optional. Ladies, blouses and skirts or stylish trousers and dresses are welcome.

 

Of course, if you prefer to spend your evenings in more relaxed attire, a selection of casual dining and entertainment venues is always available for your enjoyment. Feel free to dress casually as you visit any of the following venues: Kings Court, Lido Buffet, Golden Lion, Casino, Carinthia Lounge, Winter Garden, Garden Lounge, Yacht Club, and G32. Non-ripped, jeans are appropriate, but please refrain from wearing shorts, sports attire, swim wear or sleeveless t-shirts outside of the gym, spa and deck spaces.

 

==========

Note the two types of dress codes are called "Gala Evening" and "Smart Attire". There isn't anything specifically called "Formal" anymore, even though the "What to pack" page on the Cunard US website insists on using the incorrect terminology "Formal Attire" instead of "Smart Attire" on that page.

 

The dress code does not apply to the outside areas of the ship, so you may go out on deck if dressed casually.

 

Also, just for the record, there is currently a "Smart Attire (Jacket Optional)" dress code on Queen Elizabeth while she is in the Australia region, in place of the usual "Smart Attire" with jacket required dress code.

Edited December 9, 2019 by bluemarble

[Luv2cruz1000]

11 minutes ago, david,Mississauga said:

Cunard defines  "gala" and "smart" on their site (if that site hasn't been ruined as the Voyage Personaliser was) so I won't quote it. But I can tell you my experiences based on our Alaska cruise on the QE this summer.  "Formal" is now called gala and the non-formal nights are now called "smart". Out of the 10 nights only two were designated as gala, which is the lowest ratio I have ever seen on Cunard.

 

Normally a gent needs a jacket - tie is optional - on all nights. The first night was "smart" but it said jackets were optional. 

 

A suit and tie meet the minimum definition on a gala night, although a significant number of men - possibly the majority as on our Alaska cruise - will wear a dinner jacket/tuxedo.

 

On gala nights women do not need long formal dresses although a large number will likely be wearing them. Many wore a cocktail dress or an elegant pant suit.

 

Cunard is not nearly as formal as some people fear. Alaska cruises are less formal than Atlantic crossings.  Being a traditionalist,  I mention this just to be realistic not to say that I approve.

Thank you. I think Cunard is a huge leap for us with regards to being more formal and I appreciate the tradition of Cunard Lines being formal. I fear this may not be the atmosphere I need for the port intensive Alaska! 

[kmerlin14]

On 12/9/2019 at 6:39 PM, Luv2cruz1000 said:

How formal is the diningroom? I assume men have to wear jackets, do they need ties? Can women wear any dress or does it need to be a formal? i am referring to the regular formal night, not the gala evening. We are interested in an Alaskan cruise but having done one previously I know they are port intensive and at times getting back on the ship in time for dinner. Any experiences would be appreciate. Also wanted to check to make sure my info is correct..The whole ship is formal in the evening so therefore could not go out on deck or to a show if we are not in formal attire. We really like the itinerary Cunard has for Alaska but we may not be formal enough for Cunard!

It was our first time on a Cunard ship, so I was nervous too. We did stick to the dress code because I loved the food in the dining room. Our original plan had been for my husband to wear his kilt for the formal nights and a jacket and chinos for the other kind (?smart attire).  Then on the day we started packing he changed his mind and decided to bring his suit instead and we just brought his tuxedo shirts and bowties to go with it. He was fine in that--No one drummed him out of the dining room or kicked him off the dance floor, but he did say he felt underdressed. I did drag him out to get a tuxedo this summer, so he'll wear that on the next cruise because it is easier to pack. For $6-7, they will launder the tuxedo shirts, so we will probably just bring one and I've started sending them out to the laundry here so I don't have to press them.

 

For the formal nights, I wore a long black skirt with gold trim and paired it with dressy tops (go shopping after Christmas). I made sure the skirt wasn't so long that I would trip over it on the dance floor though. For the smart attire nights, I usually wore dress pants and a tunic on port days because I could change into them quickly. For shoes, I just wore my dance sandles. If I had a bit more time to change, I wore a dress or skirt and top. Some of the women in the dining room were still dressed to the nines on those nights too, but I contented myself with admiring their finery. I might bring a pant suit and fancy dress pants next time, but I was okay with my standard black dresspants/dressy flowing tunic combo. We had a twenties ball, so we dressed to the them for that because it is fun. I wore the long skirt on the evening we visited the Hubbard Glacier even though it wasn't a formal night. I do have a review with some pics over on the Alaska board that could give you some ideas. Usually we were back in time to change for dinner, but we didn't even try the day we went to Juneau because we didn't get to port until 2 pm and we left about 8 pm, so we had dinner in port that night.

 

If you really like the itinerary, go with Cunard and don't let the dress code prevent you. I felt that the ten day itinerary, put us slightly out of step with some of the seven day cruises, so our port load was lighter (not as many ships in port). Juneau and Ketchikan had about 3 ships, but other days they have 6. Above all, enjoy your cruise.

[Bell Boy]

Kudos to your husband who was prepared to step out and make an effort to support his wife, making the evenings a sense of occasion.

 

Interesting that he said he felt a little underdressed , well done to the both of you for nipping out and buying him a Tux.  It's such a shame when one reads on these board of some guys ( after having paid thousands and thousands of $$ ££ to cruise Cunard) yet, still flatly refuse to even wear a jacket after 6pm , missing out on those elegant evenings in the Commodore /Chart room and enjoying a leisurely meal in the restaurant ,rather than making do with a pub and a self service atmosphere 'every' evening .   

 

😊

Edited December 11, 2019 by Bell Boy

[exlondoner]

Can someone male explain what the objection is to jackets, other than temperature, which can easily be solved by tweaking the air conditioning?

[david,Mississauga]

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

Can someone male explain what the objection is to jackets, other than temperature, which can easily be solved by tweaking the air conditioning?

 

I also have wondered about that. We don't read it often, but there are complaints on this forum from time to time from men who think it is a huge inconvenience to wear a sport coat/blazer even without a tie.

 

Right up to our last crossing on the QE2 a few months before its retirement in 2008 the minimum dress code in the main restaurants was jacket and tie. I am not the only one who maintains that standard. Occasionally I have seen a man in the restaurants - from Britannia right up to Queen's Grill - go to dinner without a jacket on the first night. They were not denied admission but given a discreet talking to by the maitre d' .

 

I can't stand the heat but I have never been uncomfortable in any Cunard restaurant. It seems fashionable for a lot of men to wear a jacket to the restaurant then soon remove it and hang it on the back of their chair. I have never seen anyone chastised for this. I suppose their defence would be that it is too hot, even if it isn't. I was surprised to see several men do this on an Alaska cruise - even on gala (formal) nights.

Edited December 11, 2019 by david,Mississauga

[Victoria2]

1 hour ago, exlondoner said:

Can someone male explain what the objection is to jackets, other than temperature, which can easily be solved by tweaking the air conditioning?

My husband never takes his jacket off, if the occasion demands its wearing. It's a rule of his. However, I can understand how some gentlemen can become overheated in certain climates when the aircon just cannot cope, no matter how hard the engineers try to get the temperature to a comfortable level.

We have been in the situation occasionally where it has became so hot, quite a few chaps have taken their jackets off as it became very uncomfortable in the heat.

[Colin_Cameron]

2 hours ago, david,Mississauga said:

I also have wondered about that. We don't read it often, but there are complaints on this forum from time to time from men who think it is a huge inconvenience to wear a sport coat/blazer even without a tie.

My guess is that it's the same people who complained about having to wear a tie when it was "jacket and tie", and the same people who complained about having to wear a suit or dinner suit when every sea-day was "formal".

 

And now that Cunard has apparently done away with the need for a jacket on the Australian itineraries it will be the same people who will complain about having to wear a "collared shirt". And when they win that battle it will be the same people who will complain about having to wear long trousers.

[lissie]

8 hours ago, david,Mississauga said:

 

It seems fashionable for a lot of men to wear a jacket to the restaurant then soon remove it and hang it on the back of their chair. I have never seen anyone chastised for this. I suppose their defence would be that it is too hot, even if it isn't. I was surprised to see several men do this on an Alaska cruise - even on gala (formal) nights.

 

This must be a cultural diffference. In the case where a man wears a jacket to dinner in NZ/Australia- its incredibly common to take it off at some point - like when sitting down to dinner. It would be rare not to frankly. I assume because dry cleaning a jacket which gets grubby is more expensive than washing a shirt?  

 

Frankly until I found these boards it had never occurred to be that this not what happens on Cunard. In fact I think now that's probably why they've dropped the jacket requirement in Australia - even if  men wore them in the door - they wouldnt' be wearing them for long. This is not about winding others up - its just frankly something that would never occur to people that it was an issue 

[newjoisey]

On 12/9/2019 at 6:11 PM, bluemarble said:

Here are the evening dress code details as stated by Cunard which apply to most voyages.  This applies to the main dining rooms and many, but not all, of the other public areas of the ship after 6:00pm.

 

==========

 

Gala Evening:
On Gala nights it’s dinner jacket, tuxedo, or dark suit for the men with a regular tie or bow tie. Evening or cocktail dress, smart trouser suit, or formal separates for the ladies please.

 

Smart Attire:
Gentlemen, every night we request you wear smart trousers with a shirt and jacket; tie is optional. Ladies, blouses and skirts or stylish trousers and dresses are welcome.

 

Of course, if you prefer to spend your evenings in more relaxed attire, a selection of casual dining and entertainment venues is always available for your enjoyment. Feel free to dress casually as you visit any of the following venues: Kings Court, Lido Buffet, Golden Lion, Casino, Carinthia Lounge, Winter Garden, Garden Lounge, Yacht Club, and G32. Non-ripped, jeans are appropriate, but please refrain from wearing shorts, sports attire, swim wear or sleeveless t-shirts outside of the gym, spa and deck spaces.

 

==========

Note the two types of dress codes are called "Gala Evening" and "Smart Attire". There isn't anything specifically called "Formal" anymore, even though the "What to pack" page on the Cunard US website insists on using the incorrect terminology "Formal Attire" instead of "Smart Attire" on that page.

 

The dress code does not apply to the outside areas of the ship, so you may go out on deck if dressed casually.

 

Also, just for the record, there is currently a "Smart Attire (Jacket Optional)" dress code on Queen Elizabeth while she is in the Australia region, in place of the usual "Smart Attire" with jacket required dress code.

imho this is the best reply 

[Lakesregion]

Interesting discussion about getting grubby while dining. Now if one simply eats rather than dines then I might go along with the grubby part but dinner on a Cunard ship does not involve except the buffet an all you can eat orgy where one could get grubby after the tenth platter of ribs and sauce.

 

Way too many people trying too hard to make too many excuses why Cunard should not remain a rather formal ship in the grand tradition of England's gentry.

 

After all is that not what the vast majority sail for. Otherwise they would be on a lesser line with a lesser tradition.

[Neuhoftraveler]

Maybe some men take off their jackets at dinner (or at least their  tuxedo jackets) because they want to show off their flashy braces?

[newjoisey]

14 hours ago, Neuhoftraveler said:

Maybe some men take off their jackets at dinner (or at least their  tuxedo jackets) because they want to show off their flashy braces?

funny story....years ago when one could smoke on deck 7 along the rails the men would come out and light up ....i would chuckle ....often the topic was new tight shoes or how their monkey suit shrunk while in storage for a year  

[Desert Cruisers]

We sailed last June on the Queen Elizabeth in Alaska.  The first and last nights were "jacket optional".  Dining times were also changed.  Can't remember the early time but the late seating was changed to 7:45pm.

[exlondoner]

3 hours ago, newjoisey said:

funny story....years ago when one could smoke on deck 7 along the rails the men would come out and light up ....i would chuckle ....often the topic was new tight shoes or how their monkey suit shrunk while in storage for a year  

Help. I know seawater can shrink clothes, but I didn't know it had the same effect on shoes. 😀

[Lakesregion]

Three different threads on an otherwise rather short list of total threads here on Cunard all dealing with dress codes. I wonder if Cunard might publish the code in more different languages because it is evident that the basic English, German, French and Japanese is not sufficient to allow people to understand what is desired and anything beyond that is pushing the envelope and most of the passengers are not amused by those pushers.

 

After reading through the Cunard published dress code you need to ask for further guidance, then you are looking, in my opinion, to push beyond the boundaries and that is not nice. Don't do it.

[lissie]

41 minutes ago, Lakesregion said:

Three different threads on an otherwise rather short list of total threads here on Cunard all dealing with dress codes. I wonder if Cunard might publish the code in more different languages because it is evident that the basic English, German, French and Japanese is not sufficient to allow people to understand what is desired and anything beyond that is pushing the envelope and most of the passengers are not amused by those pushers.

 

After reading through the Cunard published dress code you need to ask for further guidance, then you are looking, in my opinion, to push beyond the boundaries and that is not nice. Don't do it.

 

They need to publish the dress code in English!  The only place  there is any detail is on the UK website. On the Australian website where I am automatically redirected to based on my geographic location - you get  this: 

Smart attire.

Every night on board in most venues we ask that you wear smart attire. You can still dress to impress, yet with less formality than during our Gala celebrations.

Gala evening attire.

Two or three times during every seven nights on board our Gala evenings (sometimes themed) encourage you to be at your most glamorous from when the clock strikes 6pm. 

https://www.cunard.com/en-au/the-cunard-experience/what-to-pack

 

I'm quite good at english having it as my only language for 57 years -  nowhere does that tell me what the dress code is! 

 

Trying  "dress code" in the FAQ I get this - 

 

Is there a dress code on board?

AnswerChildren under 18 do not have a dress code but should adhere to the daily dress code where possible. National and Religious dress including headdress' are allowed on board. Depending on the amount of the face covered by the headdress, guests may be asked to unveil for a security photo at check in and passing through security check points ashore and on board during the voyage. Some items of national dress such as ceremonial blades or swords are not permitted and guests should check our list of prohibited items under the question What am I not allowed to take on board?

https://www.cunard.com/en-au/frequently-asked-questions

 

[Lakesregion]

21 minutes ago, lissie said:

 

They need to publish the dress code in English!  The only place  there is any detail is on the UK website. On the Australian website where I am automatically redirected to based on my geographic location - you get  this: 

Smart attire.

Every night on board in most venues we ask that you wear smart attire. You can still dress to impress, yet with less formality than during our Gala celebrations.

Gala evening attire.

Two or three times during every seven nights on board our Gala evenings (sometimes themed) encourage you to be at your most glamorous from when the clock strikes 6pm. 

https://www.cunard.com/en-au/the-cunard-experience/what-to-pack

 

I'm quite good at english having it as my only language for 57 years -  nowhere does that tell me what the dress code is! 

 

Trying  "dress code" in the FAQ I get this - 

 

Is there a dress code on board?

AnswerChildren under 18 do not have a dress code but should adhere to the daily dress code where possible. National and Religious dress including headdress' are allowed on board. Depending on the amount of the face covered by the headdress, guests may be asked to unveil for a security photo at check in and passing through security check points ashore and on board during the voyage. Some items of national dress such as ceremonial blades or swords are not permitted and guests should check our list of prohibited items under the question What am I not allowed to take on board?

https://www.cunard.com/en-au/frequently-asked-questions

 

Totally agree. "Smart Attire" is worthless as it is so broad that you could drive a pair of coveralls through it and claim it was smart. Also Gala evenings are a way to lower the standards but claim they are not. Formal simply scares people, Gala evening cn also mean most anything. So yes I agree English across the board for all English reading folks. Not different strokes for different places.

[lissie]

1 minute ago, Lakesregion said:

Totally agree. "Smart Attire" is worthless as it is so broad that you could drive a pair of coveralls through it and claim it was smart. Also Gala evenings are a way to lower the standards but claim they are not. Formal simply scares people, Gala evening cn also mean most anything. So yes I agree English across the board for all English reading folks. Not different strokes for different places.

And tuxedos and dinner jackets are informal too - formal is white tie and tails or morning suit and top hat! Ironically my partner has tails but not a dark suit or blazer. But we will go shopping before the cruise.  

 

The really hilarious part of all this is that it really only applies to men. Women can wear anything they like within reason (ie not shorts or ripped jeans) -  even though men (probably) can't wear sleeveless tops into the dining room -   I doubt that I'd be banned from wearing a sleeveless top after 6pm! 

[kmerlin14]

On 12/11/2019 at 5:25 AM, Bell Boy said:

Kudos to your husband who was prepared to step out and make an effort to support his wife, making the evenings a sense of occasion.

 

Interesting that he said he felt a little underdressed , well done to the both of you for nipping out and buying him a Tux.  It's such a shame when one reads on these board of some guys ( after having paid thousands and thousands of $$ ££ to cruise Cunard) yet, still flatly refuse to even wear a jacket after 6pm , missing out on those elegant evenings in the Commodore /Chart room and enjoying a leisurely meal in the restaurant ,rather than making do with a pub and a self service atmosphere 'every' evening .   

 

😊

We just test drove the new tuxedo at a Christmas dance. He thought he'd be able to dance in the tuxedo shoes because the bottoms were slippery, but his feet kept sliding more than he wanted, so I think he's going to wear his sueded dance shoes instead. And he doesn't mind dressing up because we like to dance when we go on a cruise. (But it took me 30 years to get him to dance, so that was actually the harder part.)

[Lakesregion]

6 hours ago, kmerlin14 said:

We just test drove the new tuxedo at a Christmas dance. He thought he'd be able to dance in the tuxedo shoes because the bottoms were slippery, but his feet kept sliding more than he wanted, so I think he's going to wear his sueded dance shoes instead. And he doesn't mind dressing up because we like to dance when we go on a cruise. (But it took me 30 years to get him to dance, so that was actually the harder part.)

Good leather soled shoes will always be slippery on first wearing. Put them on go outside and slide the soles against the pavement. That will take the shine off the soles and he will no longer be slipping and sliding.

[Lakesregion]

[Lakesregion]

Just now, Lakesregion said:

The above pictures are from a recent (yesterday) brochure from Cunard. Afternoon attire for the ladies as desired by Cunard. (Otherwise why would they put it in their brochure), Notice even on the Alaskan voyage, nary a pair of jeans nor sneakers. This is what they mean by either "Smart Attire" or Country Club Casual" Follow Cunard's lead on this and you will not be incorrect.