Casual dress on Formal nights

[mozart1999]

I know that most of CC´s like to dress for formal nights and enjoy the dining room and all the atmosphere around it, but this question is for those that choose NOT to dress and NOT to go to the DR, I want to know all experiences and notes.

 

I´m going to Alaska this june and like to have a different cruise, more casual. Also I´m on an aft. corner suite on the Westerdam and dreaming of the large balcony and all the use I can get from it, like having breakfast and dinner.

 

Thank You

[MikeT718]

Here we go again we are going to beat the dead horse again. If you read the "Know before you go" booklet that comes with your docs you will find it says. Dress code for the evening will be for all public spaces. Which means to me that even if you eat in the Lido you need to be dressed. the way around this would be to have room service and remain on your balcony.

 

OK Now Flame Away

[Krazy Kruizers]

You may find that having breakfast and dinner out on your verandah in Alaska will be chilly.

[bepsf]

I agree w/ Mike--

If one doesn't wish to participate in a formal atmosphere, why book a cruise that has formal nights? It's like talking on a cellphone in a restaurant or attending a friend's formal wedding in jeans: it may be within one's "rights" to do so, but it's clearly not the "right thing to do"...

Why not book NCL which has similar itineraries and makes formal wear optional?

[Stevesan]

I know that most of CC´s like to dress for formal nights and enjoy the dining room and all the atmosphere around it, but this question is for those that choose NOT to dress and NOT to go to the DR, I want to know all experiences and notes.

 

I´m going to Alaska this june and like to have a different cruise, more casual. Also I´m on an aft. corner suite on the Westerdam and dreaming of the large balcony and all the use I can get from it, like having breakfast and dinner.

 

Thank You

 

If you just want to hibernate in your suite, you can wear skivvies. Nobody will notice or care. Room service is always available, but please put on a robe when the steward arrives.

 

The Lido buffet is casual dress, even on formal occasions. but you'll need to put on something over those skivvies!:o

 

 

Planning & Advice:

Packing & baggage

 

Clothing and dress code

Evening dress falls into three distinct categories. Each night a daily program will be delivered to your stateroom announcing the suggested dress for the following evening. Comfortable, relaxed clothing is fine for evenings designated as casual; however, T-shirts, jeans, swimsuits, tank tops and shorts are not allowed in the dining room, Lido restaurant, or public areas during the evening hours. During informal nights, dresses or pantsuits for women and jackets (tie optional) for men are standard.

 

On festive formal evenings, women usually wear cocktail dresses or gowns and men usually wear business suits or tuxedos. There are approximately two formal nights per week. (Gentlemen: Although business suits or tuxedos are suggested attire for formal evenings, they are certainly not required. You are welcome to wear a jacket and tie on formal nights.) Formalwear for ladies and gentlemen can be pre-ordered for your use for the duration of your cruise. Just call Cruise Line Formalwear at 800-551-5091 to reserve and it will be ready in your stateroom when you board.

 

In order to complement your fellow guests, Holland America asks that you observe the suggested dress code throughout the entire evening.

[dakrewser]

If you want to stay in your cabin, or slip up the back elevator to the Lido - no problem. That's in keeping with the dress code. But please don't try to go to a show, the casino or a lounge after dinner because the "formal dress" is requested for those.

 

But, as Brian said, why even bother? Choose a cruise line which makes all formal dressing optional. I certainly enjoyed Alaska just as much on the Norwegian Sky as I did on HAL ships...

[FlorenceItaly]

exclusively except for two nights at the Pinnacle I adhered to the "dress code" and on the formal evenings, wore my formal clothes. However, on the first formal evening the guy behind me in line was wearing his HAL bathrobe. The only thing that was said to him by HAL was "good evening sir".

 

You will find many opinions on this subject.

 

Have a wonderful cruise. Alaska is FABULOUS.

 

 

Marie

[venicecruiser]

Perhaps the OP booked on HAL because he/she enjoys the HAL experience. Sorry, but I disagree with those of you who are telling the OP to "book with a line that doesn't have formal evenings...".

 

After many years of cruising and wearing formal clothing on the designated evenings, I never set foot in the dining room on my Volendam cruise last month. I went to casual dining in the Lido every night except the night we had rez for Pinnacle. Did it affect my enjoyment of the cruise?? Heck no-I loved not getting dressed up!

 

My point is that for now, I have no interest in taking formal clothing when I cruise. However, that does NOT mean that I will be cruising on NCL, etc.

 

I will be going to dinner in the Lido and avoiding the lounges/casino/shows on the formal evenings, but I will still be choosing a HAL cruise.

 

Claudia

[RevNeal]

Perhaps the OP booked on HAL because he/she enjoys the HAL experience.

 

Passengers abiding by the dress code during the evening hours is an important component of "the HAL experience." This is particularly true on "festive Formal evenings." If one wants to deprive themselves of that aspect of the HAL experience ... ok. However, in my opinion that seems like a waste. If one doesn't like "playing dress up," they really should think about cruising on a line where Formal Night codes don't exist.

 

Please note, I did NOT say that someone who doesn't want to follow the Formal night dress code is not welcome aboard HAL. HAL has provided other alternatives for such people. However, to me it seems like those who take this position are just "missing out" on the whole ambiance and "night scene" that HAL has created with the Formal Night tradition. :)

[Craigster-diver]

 

If one doesn't wish to participate in a formal atmosphere, why book a cruise that has formal nights?

Perhaps because most every cruise I've looked at booking (on itinerraries and lines I'd want to travel with, at times when I could travel) includes a formal night.

I'm certainly not going to let a bunch of stuffy-snooty people in tux'es and evening gowns ruin my holiday....hope that my wearing casual (office appropriate) garb to dinner doesn't ruin your holiday either.

Why not book NCL which has similar itineraries and makes formal wear optional?

 

Because I would choose not to. I need no further defence.

 

Ciao for now.

[kaleighsgram]

Recently on the Noordam, I was surprised to see many men (not teenage boys) in shirtsleeves and ties on formal night. On nights that a sportscoat was requested, I have to say the majority of men wore nice shirts (not ties) such as an Hawaiian shirt. This is a far cry from what used to be seen on HAL. Perhaps society is changing and if that's the case, should HAL change also? After all, what else can they say but "Good Evening, Sir".

[FlorenceItaly]

After all, what else can they say but "Good Evening, Sir".

 

I would have loved to have heard "Sir, bathrobes are not permitted in the lido". I wish I would have had the nerve to say something to him. All I could think of was "wait until the board hears this ", LOL, LOL :)

 

 

 

Marie

[Pudgesmom]

To the posters who say that missing out on the formal "experience" is a waste of a cruise, I say: Do you participate in EVERY activity that occurs on the ship?

 

If not, then are YOU wasting the cruise? To many people, myself included, dressing up is not what I enjoy about HAL. The OP stated that he was looking forward to a more casual cruise, and YES, this is available!!!!

 

No one can possibly enjoy every offering on a ship. Just because the formal night is important to you, don't tell people they'll be missing out on one of the best parts. Not everyone goes to the casino, attends movies and shows, plays bingo, attends lectures and cooking classes, etc. etc.

 

Please, this poster was hoping to hear of an experience of not dressing up. He did NOT ask for a lecture on why he should.

 

Beth

[FlorenceItaly]

Last cruise was the first cruise that I did not go to the dining room at all and I LOVED it.

 

 

Marie

[bellebaby]

We always plan to dine in the dining room and adhere to the suggested attire. However, if we are too tired or too full from eating all day long and don't feel like dressing for dinner, we try to understand that this is not just "our vacation", but the vacation of the others we are traveling with. We signed up for a cruise with certain rules related to evening wear. If we choose not to dress for dinner, we stay in our cabin and order room service. Or we grab a late lunch. I try not to worry so much about "my rights" but more about not imposing "my wishes" on the rights of others. Why swim upstream? Either go with the flow or sit on the bank.

 

B

[sarplum]

How about a moratorium on this tiresome debate.

[MikeT718]

Why swim upstream? Either go with the flow or sit on the bank.

 

B

 

Well said and that is all that needs to be said

Bravo!!!

[FlorenceItaly]

although a bit off topic....I did keep the auto tips in place for the dining room staff.

 

 

 

Marie

[Oceanwench]

How about a moratorium on this tiresome debate.

 

Because there are always going to be newbies [new to CC and/or to HAL] and they are always going to ask questions and want feedback -- feedback from actual experiences, not just a list of rules and regs from the cruiseline's guide.

 

I dress up for formal nights, but I have to say that after dinner I have ALWAYS seen other pax who've chosen to ignore the dress code for the rest of the evening ... in the bars, casino, Vista lounge, etc.

I'm not saying that it's right that some choose to change into casual clothes [or maybe never donned formal ones at all].

I'm just saying that it is done by a good number of people.

At least on the Vista ships I have sailed.

[Pilot70D]

We are dedicated HAL cruisers and we choose to dress in formal attire for the formal nights. We enjoy doing so and will continue to do so. However, if someone chooses not to dress for formal night that's fine.

 

What other people do is up to them. If they choose not to dress formally for whatever reasons that's fine. I'm not in favor of shorts, cut-offs, tank tops, etc. in the main dining room but if they are dressed in clean clothes appropriate for let's say 'business casual' I think that's fine. I define buisness casual as long pants with a collared shirt for men as well as dresses or pant suits for the women. I derive my enjoyment from how I'm dressed and what I'm doing rather than from what someone else is wearing or not wearing.

 

Secondly, the menu in the formal dining room is more extensive than that for the evening meal in the Lido. All passengers have paid for that extra level of service and the more extensive menu in the formal dining room consequently they're entitled to enjoy the formal dining room IMHO even if they choose not to dress for formal night.

 

Now go out and enjoy that next cruise no matter what is being worn. Everyone have a great day out there.

[bepsf]

 

I'm certainly not going to let a bunch of stuffy-snooty people in tux'es and evening gowns ruin my holiday....hope that my wearing casual (office appropriate) garb to dinner doesn't ruin your holiday either.

 

 

Because I would choose not to. I need no further defence.

 

Ciao for now.

 

Frankly, it does bother me, because its my vacation too.

I chose a line that has a few formal nights where folks are expected to dress in something better than khakis and polo shirts. I also expect to enjoy the company of others who choose to abide by the same rules as I. If I had wanted a consistently casual cruising experience, I'd have booked Oceania - just as if I'd wanted an exclusively formal experience, I'd have chosen a crossing on Cunard - and if I didn't care what others did, I'd have chosen Carnival, NCL or RCCL.

I'm so glad that my 'stuffy-snooty guy in a tux' attitude doesn't bother you - but it does irritate me when folks justify their actions with "it's my right to do whatever I darned well please and I don't care what you think" (That's like telling the boss that it doesn't bother you that everyone else comes to work on time, so you should be allowed to come in whenever you feel like...)

If you don't like the very simple and clearly stated rules HAL have given and have no intention of following them - please take responsibility for yourself and go someplace where your preferences are more acceptable.

[mozart1999]

Thank You Everyone.

 

I like HAL, never will sail on NCL.

 

I also respect other passangers rights and understand all of them.

 

This will be my first cruise on a Suite and/or Balcony, so I´m thinking of spending two evenings on the balcony with my family, order dinner from room service and just relax looking for wildlife ....... well, maybe this time, I can skip packing for formal night and enjoy those nights this way.

 

I ask for THOSE THAT CHOOSE NOT TO DRESS FOR FORMAL NIGHT for some experience, notes, "will You do it again", etc.

 

I like this board a lot. Thank You.

[zaandam_2]

Until such time as the dress code is enforced, the dress code is a moot point.

 

I love dressing up. I own 3 formal outfits and feel special when I wear them. What other people wear is their business.

[dakrewser]

Until such time as the dress code is enforced, the dress code is a moot point.

 

I love dressing up. I own 3 formal outfits and feel special when I wear them. What other people wear is their business.

 

Another nice part of the HAL experience is not having security staff stationed all over the ship to "enforce" the rules. HAL expects its passengers to observe the rules. I expect my fellow passengers to observe the rules. Anyone who needs to have the dress code forced on them at gunpoint isn't someone I wish to cruise with.

[kakalina]

I don't want a debate, I will answer what I can of your question. I like formal night, I love to dress up. DH does not dress up, never has. I go to the dining room, he eats in the Lido. We go to the lounges together, yes, with me dressed up and him not.

 

The vacation we take must meet the needs and desires of both of us. We choose HAL because we can have the best of both worlds. If someone chooses to be offended by the way we dress, it is their problem not ours.

 

We have dressed this way on many cruises and it works for us, when we dine in the PG, DH dresses for the code of the evening.

 

I would like to point out, in the "rules" someone posted earlier, suggested is the key word. These are guidelines people, not rules. Suggested attire for the evening is not required attire for the evening.