Are Formal Nights just for eating in the Dining Room?

[bocacruiser]

Or is it formal for the evening on the entire ship?

[superjerryw]

Some people dress up for the dining room and then change back to their casual clothes. Other remain dressed up for the entire night. The general concept is that it's a formal night, not just a formal dinner.

[bocacruiser]

Thanks!

[DALSAL]

I dont recall RCI asking you to stay dressed for the night,but Celebrity does...

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Many passengers do remain in formal attire for the evening. I guess they feel they bothered to dress up, so why not stay that way for the evening. Not all passengers do remain in formal attire, however. You will see many in the theater after dinner wearing shorts and casual clothing.

[a-tx-brit]

I dont recall RCI asking you to stay dressed for the night,but Celebrity does...

What time can you get "undressed" on RCI?

[DALSAL]

My first RCI (before I read many flaming post here:) ) I went to dinner and then rushed back to my cabin to change..not to jeans,but to nice pants/top,same for hubby...just something more comfortable.We then did everything we wanted to do..You will find many stay dressed,but I certainly didnt feel out of place by changing.Do what makes you comfortable. Dot

[cb at sea]

I've never felt that being dressed in formal wear was that much different from wearing any other clothes! I mean, you're not playing basketball in them, are you? You're sitting down to have a drink, play a slot or hand of cards, talking to friends... You look nice--keep them on for awhile!!!!

[lovemylab]

Don't be worried about feeling out of place, just do what you feel comfortable with. I didn't bother changing as I preferred to stay in my formal outfit. My husband did change out of his tux into something more casual. Neither one of us received any funny looks despite being together in opposite outfits.

[DALSAL]

Actually,I have no problem with my clothes,its the shoes! I have rods in my back so,I cant wear all the pretty shoes that go with formal wear.Thats one thing that I miss from my younger,healthy back days! I have tons of shoes,but Ive never found any cute ones that are comfortable.Its the shoe issue for hubby too.Now,he would love a "tux and tennies" night.:)

[BayMan123]

What time can you get "undressed" on RCI?

 

Your wife will determine that!

[TJ&Ace]

I don't care what other people do, but my husband and I will be formal the entire evening. :p Hubby doesn't know this yet. :eek:

[FitzLA]

It all depends on what you plan on doing after dinner. If I were going to a show, I would probably stay with what I was wearing, or maybe change into something a tad more comfortable. But if I am planning on dancing the night away, or going to the pools or hot tubs, I would obvioulsy change into something more appropriate for my activity. But, you can do as you please after dinner. RCI's attire recommendations are for the dining room, not the rest of the ship. I, for one, like to hit the hot tubs after dinner and then off to the night club. So swim suit and then jeans is what I would wear after dinner.

[cruisersnorkler]

We are in are formal attire all evening. As far as the shoes, I often change to comfortable flats or ballet type shoes or slippers after pictures and dinner, however I keep my dress on.

[Ocean Boy]

As long as there is smoke in the bars and casino I will be changing after dinner into clothing that can go through the washing machine to get the stench out.

[cruisePRN]

After dining in my formal wear I change into something comfy and walk the jogging track for at least a mile to aid my digestion (read-made a pig of myself at dinner). Formal dinner is usually lobster or something else special so I may over indulge. I realise I'm the only one who would do such a thing of course!

[beachchick]

I've never felt that being dressed in formal wear was that much different from wearing any other clothes! I mean, you're not playing basketball in them, are you? You're sitting down to have a drink, play a slot or hand of cards, talking to friends... You look nice--keep them on for awhile!!!!

 

This is kind of a yes and no thing.

 

First, heels and stockings are in fact not as comfortable as nice low-heeled strappy sandals. Formal/cocktail gowns are not as comfy (for me or my sister) as a nice sundress with pretty jewelry.

 

Second, no I don't want to go to the casino in my formal wear (neither does DH). We are non-smokers and prefer not to have our formal wear smell like smoke the rest of the cruise, especially if we plan to attend the second formal dinner. We can put a sundress, cotton slacks, and a polo shirt into a bag and put them away until we get home and do laundry (we don't prefer to use the ship's service for several reasons). We always have more than one of these more casual outfits, whereas DH would only have one tux.

 

Third, as a matter of fact, many pax do go play basketball, go for a swim, go to the gym/spa, and any number of those types of activities after the formal dinner. I'm sure you wouldn't expect them to wear their formal wear to the pool or hottub.

 

For those that enjoy wearing formal wear all evening, terrific. Go for it. For those that don't, don't worry about it. However, I do advise that if you are going to the shows, casino, discos, and lounges that you change into something that is still nice--akin to what you would wear to dinner on casual nights, not what you would wear to the basketball court.

 

beachchick

[LABCHICK]

I know this is a little off subject, but does anyone know how many formal nights there are on a 6 night cruise. I did a search, but found nothing. Thank You Judi :)

[Guest cvbart]

We just come off our first RCCL cruise on Friday and all I can say is don't believe a lot of what you read out here.

 

Some people dressed up every night for the dining room and some did not dress up at all. And some just stayed away from the dining room.

 

And you know what, everyone had a great time and no one seemed to care about how folks were dressed. Besides the couple we were with I met no one that had even heard of Cruise Critic.

 

We dressed up for formal night and had fun getting our picture taken everywhere but that was just us.

 

We had a great time and already plan to do it again.

 

My advice would be to not believe everything you read out here. Just be yourself and you'll have a great time. It seems to me that the heavy Cruise Critic posters are NOT the typical folks who cruise.

[cruisinMike]

As long as there is smoke in the bars and casino I will be changing after dinner into clothing that can go through the washing machine to get the stench out.

 

ditto, exact reason DW and I change after dinner.

[Rala]

I am just grateful to get DH into his suit and tie for dinner (amidst MUCH grumbling), so if he changes after dinner I don't fight it. I usually change because my feet are KILLING ME in my fancy shoes. Again, not jeans and t-shirts: more of a slightly dressy casual look (if there is such a thing??!!)