Yet another dress code question

[pampaul]

I have seen many times the term "resort casual". People say that men could wear khakis witha button down shirt. What about my little boys (well they'll be 9 and 11) And what about me? All four of us a jean wearin' type of people. I don't wear dresses or skirts. PERIOD!!! :)

 

I do wear capris and that's what I'll probably be wearing (and yep, most of them are jeans. I do have a white pair and a black pair that I'll bring) I'll probably bring a pair or two of sandels to switch out for dinner, but other than that, it's sneakers for me (and DH and boys) Are sneakers allowed in the dining rooms? What about jean shorts? This is just so confusing. Can ya tell I'm new to all of this?

 

And are some of the dining rooms included in with the price? We're sailing on the Dawn. Or do all of them have a price?

 

Thanks for being patient with all my questions.

[tw1168]

All meals are included in your cruise, you would only pay an extra fee if you were to go to one of the specialty restaurants.

 

If your cruise offers anytime dining...you may be able to get by with the black or white capri's and a nice pair of sandals with a heel. I would feel underdressed in all of the dining locations though. Most ladies wear nice slacks and blouses or skirts and sundresses. The guys are usually in no less than khaki's and a polo shirt. On the formal nights, ladies are usually in long dresses and men in suits or tuxedos. If you do choose to wear your jeans and t-shirts you still have options. The buffets are casual and you would feel comfortable in anything you chose to wear there.

 

Hope this helps you a little.

[ndavis7515]

This came off the NCL website:

Dress Code in Dining Rooms

Freestyle Cruising gives our guests the freedom to dress as they please. Resort casual attire is always appropriate morning, noon and night. However, NCL/ NCLA does not allow any blue jeans, t-shirts, shorts, cut-offs, tank tops, bare feet, etc. in any of our fine dining restaurants for dinner, including all main restaurants, alternative restaurants, and cover charge venues.

Guests are allowed to wear blue jeans, shorts and t-shirts, in the evenings at the buffets, outdoor barbeques, and 24-hour venues, such as the Blue Lagoon, the Cadillac diner, etc.

Below are a few exceptions to the dining room dress code:

Blue Jeans will be allowed in all dining rooms on all Houston departures, due to the Texas culture.

Blue Jeans will be allowed in the Trattoria's in the evenings.

Bermuda shorts with knee high socks, or Scottish kilts with knee highs will also be allowed in all dining rooms in Bermuda as these are considered formal dress in Bermuda.

Hawaiian shirts are allowed with proper slacks in all dining rooms.

Ladies Capri Pants, which are a length between the knee and ankles, are acceptable in all fine dining rooms as long as they are not blue jean capris.

[johnql]

And are some of the dining rooms included in with the price? We're sailing on the Dawn. Or do all of them have a price?

Here's how the dining venues break down on the Dawn:

 

Included, no reservations required

Aqua (main dining room)

Impressions (main dining room)

Venetian (main dining room)

Garden Cafe Buffet

Bimini Bar & Grill

Blue Lagoon - 24/7 eatery

Pearly Kings Pub - Fish & chips

Ondeck BBQs

Late night snacks served in the casino

Room service - 24/7

 

Specialty Restaurants - included, reservations required

La Trattoria - Italian

Salsa - Tex-Mex

 

Specialty Restaurants - surcharge, reservations required

Bamboo - 3 eateries in 1 - Asian fusion restaurant / sushi / Teppanyaki

Cagney's Steakhouse

Le Bistro - French

 

 

 

 

[scdreamer]

No, you cannot wear jeans shorts in the dining rooms for dinner. No jeans or shorts at all in the evenings.

 

Your capris should be okay, although you may feel a bit underdressed. What do you wear when you go out to a nice restaurant shoreside? That's probably what you will want to bring along for the evening meals on the ship.

 

You can wear those types of clothes to the buffet or to the deckside barbecues.

 

But I bet you will get pretty tired of the buffet food. It's pretty much the same stuff over and over again, and not exactly the highest quality or the greatest ambiance. Think "cafeteria" and you'll get the picture. Lots of starches and fats, no tablecloths on the tables, plastic cups for drinks.

[LEET44]

Jeans are tolerated in la trattoria . This taken from last weeks freestyle.As far as kids are concerned they really don't enforce any dress code on them. I still would try to stay away from jeans .You will find people dressed in gowns and tuxs to people still in bathing suits relaxing at the buffet to tired to get dressed.

[hotspur]

On the formal nights, ladies are usually in long dresses and men in suits or tuxedos.

Not on any NCL cruise I've been on. Formal nights are OPTIONAL on NCL. Resort casual attire is appropriate EVERY night on NCL. On our last two NCL cruises no more than 10% of men wore suits or tuxedos, and long dresses were few and far between.

[macdays1]

I don't think anyone should feel underdressed in capris and a nice blouse on a Freestyle Cruise. I have cruised five times and I've seen everything in the dining room. That's why they post the sign, no jeans, no shorts, no t-shirts. That pretty much covers it. You also need to wear proper footwear. My daughter wore a nice pair of sandals once, with a heel, and the hostess in the dining room insisted they were "beach wear". I argued back that they were a dressy sandal, and she finally allowed us inside. Just be careful of that. That same evening, during dinner, we saw women with flip flops on in the dining room. Guess it just depends on their mood when you arrive. Wear what you are most comfortable in, and have a wonderful cruise.

[Lisa63]

pampaul, as far as your sons, at their ages they should go by the adult dress code. Of course, you can always take them to the buffet, bring them to the kids club, and go to the dining room alone with your husband. I know it's tempting for them to stay in shorts, but if you plan to have dinner in the dining rooms, bring along a couple of pairs of khaki pants and a few collared shirts for each of them.

[sam3]

Boy, do I ever understand your concerns! We're a family of 4 with kids about the same age as yours. We're going to Alaska on the Sun, and we're a very active/outdoorsy family. All of the excursions we'll be doing are hiking and kayaking.

I recently came to this realization about the dining, and it's killing me to think about packing so much extra stuff. I don't want to be obnoxious, so of course I'll make sure of the no jeans, no tanks, etc. I do wish that some of this will relax a bit in the future. As long as people aren't drawing attention to themselves (with bad behavior or ridiculous clothes), frankly, I don't see what the problem would be. For example, I wouldn't notice if someone at the next table was wearing jeans, nor would I "feel" underdressed in them myself..... Oh I could go on and on.

Anyway, I think I'm going to bring 2-3 khakis for each kid, and they can wear them more than once (change out of them right after dinner). As for myself, I'm not sure. I guess I'll bring a couple of khakis. Also, my hiking attire is khaki/army green pants, so I wonder if I'll get away with that. I don't want to bring several pairs of shoes either. I am thinking about bringing one pair of clogs just for meals.

On Disney Cruises, it's perfectly fine to wear whatever in the dining rooms.

[sjbdtz]

Boy, do I ever understand your concerns! We're a family of 4 with kids about the same age as yours. We're going to Alaska on the Sun, and we're a very active/outdoorsy family. All of the excursions we'll be doing are hiking and kayaking.

I recently came to this realization about the dining, and it's killing me to think about packing so much extra stuff. I don't want to be obnoxious, so of course I'll make sure of the no jeans, no tanks, etc. I do wish that some of this will relax a bit in the future. As long as people aren't drawing attention to themselves (with bad behavior or ridiculous clothes), frankly, I don't see what the problem would be. For example, I wouldn't notice if someone at the next table was wearing jeans, nor would I "feel" underdressed in them myself..... Oh I could go on and on.

Anyway, I think I'm going to bring 2-3 khakis for each kid, and they can wear them more than once (change out of them right after dinner). As for myself, I'm not sure. I guess I'll bring a couple of khakis. Also, my hiking attire is khaki/army green pants, so I wonder if I'll get away with that. I don't want to bring several pairs of shoes either. I am thinking about bringing one pair of clogs just for meals.

On Disney Cruises, it's perfectly fine to wear whatever in the dining rooms.

 

If you go to any upscale resort (on land), they will insist on khakis and shirt with a collar (polo is ok). On the OTHER cruise lines, you have to remember to take a suit, as well...

 

Leave the jeans at home....Dockers are just as durable (after all...they're made by Levi's).

 

I think that the idea is to provide a sense of "occasion" to the trip...this isn't just lunch at the Sizzler.... you're on a premium vacation, and this is probably the easiest way to stay off the slippery slope of "ok...jeans are good....so what's a little grease....or a tear....or two..."

[freakymickey]

pampaul

 

let me say that my husband and I just came of the Spirit today and we are a very casual couple. The first night of the cruise we both wore jeans with a pair of sneakers and I had a nice blouse and my husband wore a nice shirt, no one said anything to us at all. we didnt eat in the dining rooms much because the options didnt appeal to us. However at night my husband wore shorts, sweats and jeans. The most relaxed he was in a dining room was jeans and the most dressed was a pair of dockers with a collared shirt. Now for me I brought 1 pair of black slacks, 1 pair of black capris and 1 pair of beige capris and a few nicer blouses. everynight my husband and I noticed all types in the dining rooms and the specialty restaurants some had jeans, some wore hats and we even noticed a gentleman come into Cagney's (a specialty restaurant) while we were eating there in shorts and a button down shirt with sandals.

 

So with that being said be yourself look presentable and dont worry. I am sure I will have some comments not so favorable, but hey I paid for my cruise and we enjoyed it the way we would at home.

 

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sjbdtz]

So with that being said be yourself look presentable and dont worry. I am sure I will have some comments not so favorable, but hey I paid for my cruise and we enjoyed it the way we would at home.

 

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Therein lies the problem... people have differing ideas of what is "Presentable". For instance, I wouldn't be caught dead out in public in "sweats", they should be limited to the gym, or while jogging.

 

Moreover, you enjoyed the way you would at home....Great. But you AREN'T at home. In fact, you aren't even in your own country.

 

Rules of politeness bring a minimum standard of graciousness to our expeditions to other countries. We are in fact ambassadors of our own country and culture. Dress codes are simply an extension of politeness.

 

Next time, wouldn't it be nice NOT to be the lowest common denominator?

 

Put on some freshly ironed slacks & a collared shirt, like the dress code says. Do it not so that you can get in, or for yourselves. Do it for your country! ;)

[freakymickey]

I knew someone would have a comment about this. Let me say I am far from the lowest common denominator. Sweats were not worn in the dining room and in my opinion why make it such a big deal as to what others are doing??? Are you that miserable on your vacation that you need to focus on others?? I do not want to feel like I am at home working everyday when I have to get dressed to go out for dinner, I want to relax. If there are dinng venues that call for certain attire so be it, however in my opinion there is not a dining room on the Spirit that is formal. You would know what true formal dining is if you have been to it. I think people should get over themselves and let everyone enjoy their own vacation however they would like. As far as the dress code, I was in La Trattoria when 4 female crew members came into dine in capris!!! Should they be fired? Not one person made a comment to them about their attire, hum....makes you think.

[jp2001]

Capris are not banned from NCL, as you can read above.

[Momof2kids]

DH and I wore slacks and shirts/blouses for most of our dinners. I also took a skirt that matched my blouses for when I felt like going dressier. DS4, likewise, wore slacks and a button-down shirt or polo to dinner. DD2 wore sundresses.

 

We each had about 3 prs of slacks and 4 nice shirts. I bought many of the kids' dress clothes at the local consignment store and will resell them there. You could get some dress clothes for yourself at Thrift Stores or Consignment Stores to save a bit of money. I also bought the kids' dress shoes from Payless Shoe Source for the $ savings.

[sjbdtz]

duplicate post.

[sjbdtz]

Let me say I am far from the lowest common denominator. Are you that miserable on your vacation that you need to focus on others?? I do not want to feel like I am at home working everyday when I have to get dressed to go out for dinner, I want to relax.

 

 

I certainly didn't mean to suggest that you were the lowest common denominator, nor have I ever noticed what others are wearing.

 

Frankly, I could care less. However, it's mildly annoying to be conforming to the rules, when everyone around is breaking them. I also would like to wear shorts & sandals to dinner...but the sense of decorum that the rules are attempting to establish, make that verboten.

 

So I refrain. I don't agree, but I refrain.