Formal night...Don't wanna go

[bdjam]

bdjam, I love the way you think.

Likewise – and the feeling is mutual.

However now that a open shirt is considered formal I'll leave the tie home on my next cruise...This is the best news I have read about formal night and from a unexpected source...Thank you!

Tux with an open shirt – otherwise it’s a business-casual outfit.

Luckily, social snobs and holier-than-thou types are in the minority and I doubt anyone would run into one on their cruise. I would run in the other direction if I did.

In reality, it’s those who disregard the guidelines and social manners and dress inappropriately that are still in the minority - well, at least on most Princess ships. We can create 10 page debates here on cruise critic, but the majority of passengers do the right thing. If my feeling that an act of ignoring the dress guidelines of a host - and therefore the wishes of the majority of other guests, to the detriment of their experience - makes me a social snob, then so be it. If someone comes to a publicized formal event in less than formal attire, they are asking for attention - what kind of attention they get is out of their control.

[LARGIN]

So then why would they say that the Horizon Court is always casual. Do you really think you are expected to dress formally in the horizon court? What is so hard to understand, it is the CASUAL alternative...always...the whole cruise...every night...every day...every hour....regardless of the suggested attire for the evening.

 

You can't honesly believe that formal dress is required in the Horizon court during formal nights, do you?

 

The whole point of the Horizon court is for those who do not want to dress formally. Why is this so hard for everyone to understand.

 

Don't shoot the messenger.. I agree with you that the Horizon as well as the pizzeria is casual.. I just stated what is printed in the Patter and Cruise Answer Book..

[PescadoAmarillo]

When my wife puts on one of her black formal gowns the vision shoots one of those love arrows through my heart...and the first thing I always utter is "WOW". We are some of those folks who remain in our formal clothes through the show and an aftershow drink at a bar because I just can't get enough of seeing her looking that way. I'm as comfortable in my tux as I am in my jeans and she likes the tux better...therefore, what my sweetie likes, I gladly wear. Because of her, I've never realized that there were other people in the dining room.

We need to clone YOU!:D

[Host CJSKIDS]

Why is it that this once again turns into a big debate about dressing for dinner when all the OP asked was are there other options when you don't want to get dressed? That's all that should be answered. I just called Princess twice to inquire about my dining options for our upcoming Star Princess cruise and whether or not I would be able to use other facilities on the ship if I chose not to dress formally and both times were told that there were other options and that yes, I would be albe to go to the bars, etc in my casual outfit just not the dining rooms. Now I realize that there are mistakes made all the time by those who work for Princess, but sorry, if this is what they're telling me than on one of our formal nights I will either be eating dinner in my suite or at the buffet and I'll be having cocktails in the evening in my casual attire.

 

I'm reading the cruise answer book and what's written can be taken many different ways in regard to attire. Since they discuss restaurants and the dining room when referring to attire to me that means the evening appropriate attire is for the dining areas. They just don't put dining room in every sentence. The one lines states what's not appropriate for in the dining room and the next discusses what's appropriate attire for formal nights, maybe they felf adding in the dining room constantly was repetitive.

[bdjam]

I just called Princess twice to inquire about my dining options for our upcoming Star Princess cruise and whether or not I would be able to use other facilities on the ship if I chose not to dress formally and both times were told that there were other options and that yes, I would be albe to go to the bars, etc in my casual outfit just not the dining rooms.

I don’t think the debate is about what one can do on a Princess ship – that’s pretty clear. Except for the instances where those not dressed formally have tried to get into the dining room and have been denied entrance, no one has been officially stopped from going into any area of the ship. The question is whether or not it’s proper – I don’t think it is. I also don’t think it’s the cruise line’s intent for casually dressed, tank and short wearers to mingle with the formal crowd. I think the cruise line assumes that first, the passenger has a certain amount of decorum and second, that admonishing the passenger will mean loss of future revenue.

What we have is Princess Cruises again trying to be everything for everybody. They need to make up their mind the direction in which they want to take the line so that those who feel that direction is less than admiral can go somewhere else. In the meantime, I will take what’s written in the Patter about the formal evening’s dress to mean formal evening.

And right - the original poster's question was answered a number of posts ago.

[dennbr9]

Hey, your on vacation, you should do what is right for you and not worry what other's think.

 

Dennis

[LICRUISER2GO]

I read these posts for three reasons :

 

1-to get information from experienced cruisers

2-to give information (if I know the answer:))

3-to entertain myself

 

After the first few posts, reason number one was fullfilled...:) the next 100 posts fullfilled reason number three:D:D.........Happy cruising:cool:

[Ethel5]

Tux with an open shirt – otherwise it’s a business-casual outfit.

 

Men in tuxes are sexy-with or without a tie. Yum.:D

 

If my feeling that an act of ignoring the dress guidelines of a host - and therefore the wishes of the majority of other guests, to the detriment of their experience - makes me a social snob, then so be it. If someone comes to a publicized formal event in less than formal attire, they are asking for attention - what kind of attention they get is out of their control.

 

 

Once again I have to agree. Wanna try a "Dr. NO" ?? :)

[TexasMom2]

If my feeling that an act of ignoring the dress guidelines of a host - and therefore the wishes of the majority of other guests, to the detriment of their experience - makes me a social snob, then so be it. If someone comes to a publicized formal event in less than formal attire, they are asking for attention - what kind of attention they get is out of their control.

 

Nice deflection, but this thread is still about where to go if you want to dress casual, not a platform about dressing for the dining rooms and the lack of character (in your opinion) of those who don't dress formally at dinner or throughout the ship.

 

Princess is already a mass market line...I guess profits win out over retaining the old fashioned way of cruising. I will sail with them again if they stay cheaper than RCI.

 

I've heard that the dress on the Tahitian Princess is less formal. Can anyone confirm that?

[bdjam]

Nice deflection, but this thread is still about where to go if you want to dress casual, not a platform about dressing for the dining rooms and the lack of character (in your opinion) of those who don't dress formally at dinner or throughout the ship.

Who’s deflecting anything? I answered the original poster’s question in my first post on this thread. It’s obvious that this topic raises a lot of discussion…am I not allowed to participate in that discussion? And yes it is my opinion and I don't expect you to agree with me - and I'm fine with that.

Princess is already a mass market line...I guess profits win out over retaining the old fashioned way of cruising. I will sail with them again if they stay cheaper than RCI.

If that were the case, it would be a dirty shame. But Princess hasn’t thrown away the old way of cruising – they’re trying to be a hybrid and that attempt brings them a moderate level of success. There wouldn’t be these formal dress discussions on the Princess board if they made up their minds what they wanted to market – my opinion is they are afraid to give up the “old fashion” way because of what it would do to their bottom line – otherwise they would have by now. As for the price of Princess cruises, I’ve always advocated raising the fare a couple of hundred to bring back the premium atmosphere Princess used to present. Wait – on the longer itineraries and smaller ships that I sail, that atmosphere is pretty much there – its the super-casual atmosphere of the Caribbean Princess types sailing spilling over to the rest of the fleet that worries me.

[TexasMom2]

It would be nice if they could retain the small ships that appeal to some and still have bigger ships that appeal to others. Maybe if the brochures, cruise answer book and website were more clear, there wouldn't be so many questions. Formal dress in the buffet and grill just don't make any sense and I don't think that's what Princess intends, but it's not clear from information sources.

 

If Princess raised prices by a few hundred in the Caribbean then I would have to pass. For the money, the experience is better on RCI and if prices were the same, the choice would be clear for me.

[keela1eva2]

Whilst people may think they pay their money and they should have the choice in my opinion it is disrespectful to fellow passengers.

 

After all if there was a code for a restaurant you could not just walk in and disregard it.

 

I cannot for the life of me understand why some people need to make a big issue of it.

 

I certainly know that some time ago on the P&O Aurora the Captain issued a directive that anyone not complying with the dress code should be refused service in any of the bars on the ship throughout the evening. Some may think this was not acceptable but sometimes someone has to take on the responsibility for what is considered correct.

 

They could have room service if they so wished. I think it takes courage to take a stand but someone has to do it sometimes in many regards in different situations in life.

[ldoc31]

Who’s deflecting anything? I answered the original poster’s question in my first post on this thread. It’s obvious that this topic raises a lot of discussion…am I not allowed to participate in that discussion? And yes it is my opinion and I don't expect you to agree with me - and I'm fine with that. If that were the case, it would be a dirty shame. But Princess hasn’t thrown away the old way of cruising – they’re trying to be a hybrid and that attempt brings them a moderate level of success. There wouldn’t be these formal dress discussions on the Princess board if they made up their minds what they wanted to market – my opinion is they are afraid to give up the “old fashion” way because of what it would do to their bottom line – otherwise they would have by now. As for the price of Princess cruises, I’ve always advocated raising the fare a couple of hundred to bring back the premium atmosphere Princess used to present. Wait – on the longer itineraries and smaller ships that I sail, that atmosphere is pretty much there – its the super-casual atmosphere of the Caribbean Princess types sailing spilling over to the rest of the fleet that worries me.

 

I am curious to know how Princess raising the fare a couple of hundred dollars would bring back the premium atmospher they used to have. Money doesn't always equate to better clothing and manners by the passengers.

[bdjam]

I am curious to know how Princess raising the fare a couple of hundred dollars would bring back the premium atmospher they used to have. Money doesn't always equate to better clothing and manners by the passengers.

I didn’t mean that it would – my thought was that the cruise line itself could provide the premium experience they used to if they put more money into the product. If the expectation of a premium experience went with the price, then maybe the staff and crew would be more apt to enforce those expectations like they used to when Princess was considered a premium cruise line. You’re right – money doesn’t equate with manners.

[Opinions]

Tux with an open shirt – otherwise it’s a business-casual outfit.

 

Is a suit with a open shirt, no tie, acceptable on formal nights on Princess, or does it violate the dress code?

[Ethel5]

I am curious to know how Princess raising the fare a couple of hundred dollars would bring back the premium atmospher they used to have. Money doesn't always equate to better clothing and manners by the passengers.

 

I'm obviously not BDJAM, and I'm sure he will answer your post, but my thought is this: There is a real change for the better on longer cruises. I don't know if it's because the demographics are diffferent or what makes it better. I personally don't like the short cruises (even tho' I have one scheduled to please my sister) because I don't feel relaxed after a 7 night cruise.

[spenc]

Telling people to "get over it" solves nothing. Nobody is "upset" over what people are wearing and no one has to stay in their cabin. We are here to voice opinions and all are welcome to do so but with a far less harsher tone.

 

I don't feel like I was actually being harsh. My point is that this is a vacation and that people should be comfortable and relax on their vacation. However, people's ideas of comfort are different. It has no affect on my vacation what anyone else wears and I do not understand why others feel they need to judge me on what I wear. and if you will read back, it was definitely suggested by one poster that you should order room service if you don't want to dress formally. We will most likely attend one formal night and skip the second. Our plan is to go the the Horizon court and I will most likely wear capris. If that bothers someone, then I feel like that is their problem, not mine. I am not trying to "solve" anything. It is my vacation as much as it is someone else's and I will wear what I want. If I don't feel like dressing formally then I won't go to the dining room on formal night. But I will go to the show, casino or on deck.

[bdjam]

Is a suit with a open shirt, no tie, acceptable on formal nights on Princess, or does it violate the dress code?

This was posted by Herb – it a copy of the Princess guidelines.

Here's the copy and paste:

 

 

Smart Casual Evenings:

Passengers dress as they would for a fine restaurant at home.

• Skirts/dresses, slacks, and sweaters for ladies

• Pants and open-neck shirts for men

In the dining room, items such as cutoff T-shirts, shorts, halter tops, and jeans are not permitted; shoes must be worn at all times. Formal Evenings:

• Evening gowns and cocktail dresses for ladies

• Tuxedo, slacks with dinner jackets, or suits for men

[flynrph]

[spenc]

[attach]17726[/attach]

 

What a crack up!!!!! You definitely made me laugh.

[Opinions]

This was posted by Herb – it a copy of the Princess guidelines.

 

Sorry, this does not indicate whether a tie is required on formal nights...I have always thought it was but since you voluntarily posted that a open shirt is still formal with a tux it raised the question of whether a tie is required with a suit on formal nights...I have read the brochures, web site and Cruise Answer Book...Can you give any other sources?...Thank you.

[mgkdk]

Please go to new thread "ENOUGH ALREADY".

 

My thanks to everyone !!

[bdjam]

Sorry, this does not indicate whether a tie is required on formal nights...I have always thought it was but since you voluntarily posted that a open shirt is still formal with a tux it raised the question of whether a tie is required with a suit on formal nights...I have read the brochures, web site and Cruise Answer Book...Can you give any other sources?...Thank you.

I have no source that states a tie is or is not required. My source is the published guidelines – but isn’t it pretty obvious that on some ships not much in the way of formal attire is required? Suffice to say a tux and an open shirt are more formal than what some are wearing on board on formal nights.

Perhaps you can enlighten me as to why you're pressing the issue.

[Opinions]

 

I have cruised for about 40 years...I have seen everything from T-shirts to to the most elegant tuxes on formal nights at dinner...I can't recall seeing anyone who would wear a tux with a open collar shirt at dinner...They may have removed the tie later at a lounge...Frankly I was surprised that someone who has always supported the traditions of formal night would now say that a tux with a open collar shirt is now acceptable...You may very well be right...If trying to clarify a dress code question is "pressing the issue" then I plead guilty...I thought getting answers was one of the reasons for this board.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Wouldn't if be nice if Princess was consistent (and clear) in the text on their website, answer book, 800 customer service??????