Formal night attire

[pmcp]

We will be doing a week of sightseeing before boarding the Volendam for our Alaska cruise. Due to packing limitations, would black pants & a dressy top for me & a sport coat, tie & grey pants for my husband be appropriate attire on formal night in the dining room? We don't want to offend others by being inappropriately dressed.

[Copper10-8]

We will be doing a week of sightseeing before boarding the Volendam for our Alaska cruise. Due to packing limitations, would black pants & a dressy top for me & a sport coat, tie & grey pants for my husband be appropriate attire on formal night in the dining room? We don't want to offend others by being inappropriately dressed.

 

Yes Ma'am, you'll be fine with that as long as you don't wear thongs (slippers) with them;) !

[Krazy Kruizers]

Your selection of clothing will be fine.

 

PS - I do know a couple of people personally that have slippers to match even their formal clothes.

[lougee1043]

We will be doing a week of sightseeing before boarding the Volendam for our Alaska cruise. Due to packing limitations, would black pants & a dressy top for me & a sport coat, tie & grey pants for my husband be appropriate attire on formal night in the dining room? We don't want to offend others by being inappropriately dressed.

 

just my opinion but a suit might be more appropriate and it wouldnt take up any more room then you are planning to take for your husband

 

lots of people myself included rent a tux on board because doing that means i dont have to pack and carry a suit -shirts and ties for formal nite

[Bucky3]

Just returned from our Volendam cruise to Alaska. We had early seating. The majority of men wore dark suits for formal night at least at the 6PM seating. I dressed just as you have planned - black dressy pants and fancy tops. DH didn't want to bring both a sport coat & suit, so he wore his dark suit on the two formal, & one informal night. It's just a wonderful cruise, and the size of the ship was just perfect. Everything about this cruise was great! Enjoy! We were with a group of 16; had we been alone I think we would have dined up on Lido Deck some of the time as the views from up there are just marvelous. Have a wonderful cruise

[sail7seas]

Seeing as you asked.....:)

 

What you describe would suffice but that is about it IMO

 

We all have the same packing restrictions.

 

Unless we are not flying to the port, all of us are limited to the same number of suitcases and weight of the bags per person.

 

If that is what you wish to wear, that is what you will wear. I would wish to wear something a little more dressy. JMHO...but, you did ask for our opinions. ;)

 

 

 

[luvtravel]

We just took the 5/20 Alaska cruise on the Oosterdam...and had the early seating - maybe the late seating crowd was overall dressed differently, but I doubt it. From our observation, what you are planning to bring is just fine. From our experience, all the concern over wearing exactly the right thing is much overstated. I did try to take some notice since I had read so much about this subject on c.c. prior to our trip. Of course I didn't seen everyone...but of the many, many I saw...only 1 man wore a tuxedo and he did stand out....not in a 'wonderful' way, but just different. Can't recall really noticing any other men's dress...which meant they were all wearing either a suit (and yes, we saw some light colored suits), or jackets and slacks. I think much to the chagrin of some who want HAL to be 'elegant' ... its very noticable that the vast majority of people tend toward the country club style...jacket with tie or even less casual and I'm sure as time goes on, this tendency will grow. Prior to this cruise, we had not been on HAL for about 12 years (but have been on other cruise lines) ... and maybe its just the cruise destination or something...but it seemed that the middle aged folks were not dressed to the 'hilt' - (long dresses, sequins, etc.), but it was the next older group (and not all of them) - perhaps because they travel more and have a wardrobe just for this. In any event, not only at our table, but at the others around us, everyone seemed to be enjoying the company and, like me, probably couldn't tell you what the others were even wearing! Don't worry....what you are planning is just fine...your first priority is to enjoy, be comfortable!! Have a great cruise.

[RevNeal]

We will be doing a week of sightseeing before boarding the Volendam for our Alaska cruise. Due to packing limitations, would black pants & a dressy top for me & a sport coat, tie & grey pants for my husband be appropriate attire on formal night in the dining room? We don't want to offend others by being inappropriately dressed.

 

I will let the ladies remark about women's formal wear. :)

As for your husband's suggested attire, it does meet the minimum formal night wear that HAL outlines for gentlemen. I'm sure he will be just fine dressed that way. That being said, if I may I would like to make an alternative suggestion. If he were to bring a black suit he would look even better on the formal nights. Then, for informal nights, he can wear the black jacket from the suit with the grey pants and a button-down or casual shirt. The only difference/addition is 1 pair of dress slacks. This is just a suggestion ... if he wishes to bring just slacks, jacket and tie, he will certainly be attired in accordance with the Dress Code's minimum.

[missygirl]

We just took the 5/20 Alaska cruise on the Oosterdam...and had the early seating - maybe the late seating crowd was overall dressed differently, but I doubt it.

 

Hello luvtravel,

We were on the same cruise as you and had early seating on deck three. I was wondering if you happened to see the man in overhalls on causal night in the dining room? He was sitting two tables away form us. I have been reading the boards on others seeing jeans in the dining room but I never thought I would see overhalls. I looked around the same night to also see others in reg. jeans and even tennis shoes. No I'm not miss prim & proper but it states what we as passengers are required to wear so I try to abide in it. Just wondered if you saw this man?

 

Missygirl

[Copper10-8]

Hello luvtravel,

We were on the same cruise as you and had early seating on deck three. I was wondering if you happened to see the man in overhalls on causal night in the dining room? He was sitting two tables away form us. I have been reading the boards on others seeing jeans in the dining room but I never thought I would see overhalls. I looked around the same night to also see others in reg. jeans and even tennis shoes. No I'm not miss prim & proper but it states what we as passengers are required to wear so I try to abide in it. Just wondered if you saw this man?

 

Missygirl

 

Was his name maybe Jed? Could have been a poor mountaineer who barely kept his family fed. Maybe one day he was shootin at some food, and up through the ground came a bubblin' crude. Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea. Heck, could have been a millionaire who is still wearing his overalls!;)

[BasenjiMom]

Is is possible he had a black suit and his heart medicine got spilled on it, and there wasn't enough time to get it cleaned, nor enough money to replace the medicine AND rent a tux, so he opted for the medicine?

[RuthC]

Is is possible he had a black suit and his heart medicine got spilled on it, and there wasn't enough time to get it cleaned, nor enough money to replace the medicine AND rent a tux, so he opted for the medicine?

You'll get better odds in the Casino than you will on that one.

But, at least it's charitable. Unlikely, but charitable.

[BasenjiMom]

I like to bet on the long shot. Still kick myself for not betting on Sparky Jones!

 

I guess the point was, unless you know the details of a person's situation, is it fair to judge?

[Copper10-8]

I like to bet on the long shot. Still kick myself for not betting on Sparky Jones!

 

I guess the point was, unless you know the details of a person's situation, is it fair to judge?

 

Pardon me for the OT but who is Sparky Jones? Wasn't he part of the Monkees, hey, hey?

[sail7seas]

Is is possible he had a black suit and his heart medicine got spilled on it, and there wasn't enough time to get it cleaned, nor enough money to replace the medicine AND rent a tux, so he opted for the medicine?

 

This one is Almost as good as the excuse my DH gave his second grade teacher when he came to school with his homework not fully competed!!! :p

 

Imaginative..... I'll give you points for creativity!!!!! As to probability????? :rolleyes:

[BasenjiMom]

LOL

Sorry, Smarty Jones not Sparky, the long shot that won the Derby a couple of years ago.

 

If I'm anything, I'm creative. Like to give folks the benefit of the doubt is all.

 

Me? I'm wearing a $6 dress on formal night. Last I checked overalls were about $30 around here, maybe I should go out and git me a pair.

 

I honestly don't give a rat's patooey what anyone else wears because frankly, I won't see it. I tend to concentrate on people's faces.

Who knows, it might be me who gets noticed for being dressed inappropriately LOL

[Opinions]

We will be doing a week of sightseeing before boarding the Volendam for our Alaska cruise. Due to packing limitations, would black pants & a dressy top for me & a sport coat, tie & grey pants for my husband be appropriate attire on formal night in the dining room? We don't want to offend others by being inappropriately dressed.

 

The HAL dress code says that a suit or tuxedo are not required on formal nights...You are welcome to wear a jacket and tie...As long as one follows the dress code I wouldn't worry about being inappropriately dressed.

[sail7seas]

LOL

Me? I'm wearing a $6 dress on formal night. Last I checked overalls were about $30 around here, maybe I should go out and git me a pair.

 

 

 

I read, and reread this thread, and I cannot find anyplace where a poster made any mention as to the price of clothing.

 

It isn't about the price of the clothes; it isn't about having or not having a designer label on the jacket; it isn't about anything other than respect and courtesy to fellow passengers and to our hosts.

 

Everyone has said what the OP said they are planning to wear 'strictly meets the dress code'. Some of us believe we personally wish to dress more formally. Everyone was polite and simply gave their opinions/responses. She asked so she must have wished for responses.

 

As long as everyone is polite, where is the problem?

[luvtravel]

Hello luvtravel,

We were on the same cruise as you and had early seating on deck three. I was wondering if you happened to see the man in overhalls on causal night in the dining room? He was sitting two tables away form us. I have been reading the boards on others seeing jeans in the dining room but I never thought I would see overhalls. I looked around the same night to also see others in reg. jeans and even tennis shoes. No I'm not miss prim & proper but it states what we as passengers are required to wear so I try to abide in it. Just wondered if you saw this man?

 

Missygirl

 

No....didn't see the overalls, but we did miss 2 nights in the dining room. One night we were in the Pinnacle and the last night, we had dinner in Victoria. We did see someone in bedroom slippers at the Lido and a fellow walking with a beer can in one hand and another in his back pocket...looked funnier than it sounds! Actually these sights have added to our enjoyment....makes for 'fun' recollections. We too follow the guidelines, but are not 'into' dressing formally. One formal night I did wear a long formal dress but frankly felt uncomfortable--I felt overdressed and it was definitely harder to navigate the crowds, stairs, tables, etc. The second formal night, I wore a cocktail like dress .. much better and frankly I felt more appropriately dressed (although I know by some messages on this forum that it isn't considered formal enough). But again, our preference would be for a dress code of clubhouse casual (don't know if that's the right term) every night as we go to dinner on the ship to enjoy the personalities and experiences of our fellow travellers and have dinner, but I wouldn't be offended by those who wanted to dress in tuxes and ballroom gowns. BTW...I had a thought about those overalls based on a family experience......an uncle came down with shingles on his torso, a very common place to get them...very painful...and his doctor suggested he buy overalls to avoid pressure to the area. my aunt bought him several pairs to wear til the episode subsided. These kept the pressure off the area wonderfully. Unfortunately for her...he found them so comfortable he's continued wearing them!!

 

Missygirl, are you like me....can't wait til my next cruise??

[Bramcruiser]

First thing wrong with that question is that you are asking for opinions.

 

However, what you described is fine. It just depends on how dressed up you feel you need to be. If your husband wants to wear a sports jacket, tie and shirt you'll always have someone suggesting bumping up to a suit. If he wants to wear a dark suit someone will then turn around and say "wear a tux". As long as you are well within the suggested guidlines the cruise lines post then you only have to worry about dressing for yourself. Unless you really want to go all out and wow everyone!

 

The only unacceptable suit? The birthday suit!

[gizmo]

We did see someone in bedroom slippers at the Lido and a fellow walking with a beer can in one hand and another in his back pocket...looked funnier than it sounds! Actually these sights have added to our enjoyment....makes for 'fun' recollections.

 

Were they animal slippers by any chance ? Maybe it was Jim V. :D

 

I saw a guy come in the dining room with an outfit that is hard to describe. He had on a sleeveless Tee shirt and his pants had big tiger stripes. Mr. Gizmo swears they were pajama bottoms on the guy. Odds are they were pajama bottoms. :eek:

[missygirl]

Is is possible he had a black suit and his heart medicine got spilled on it, and there wasn't enough time to get it cleaned, nor enough money to replace the medicine AND rent a tux, so he opted for the medicine?

 

First of all my question was stated to luvtravel asking if she personally saw the same dining attire that I had. If you read the rest of the thread I was not making fun of what anyone was wearing but just asking a fellow cruiser on the same ship as I if she noticed the amount of jeans in the dining room.

 

As for poor old Jethro spilling his medicine on his tux, wrong. This same guy was in Oosterdam's American Idol singing later that night. How do I know it was the same night, he arrived on stage "in a suit" laughed and said "I had on my overhalls and they made me change." By that I know for a fact that he could have dressed according to the clothing restrictions in the "know before you go" brochure that arrives with your docs.

 

Missygirl:mad:

[luvtravel]

forgot to say that I didn't notice any jeans in the dining room...doesn't mean there wasn't any...just didn't walk past me. Only jeans I did see was the fellow with the 2 beer cans....and that was somewhere doors to outside around Crowe's Nest.

 

When I get more time I'm going to try to post a few other observations, etc.

 

Happy sailing!

[mike35]

But again, our preference would be for a dress code of clubhouse casual (don't know if that's the right term) every night as we go to dinner on the ship to enjoy the personalities and experiences of our fellow travellers and have dinner, but I wouldn't be offended by those who wanted to dress in tuxes and ballroom gowns.

 

That's one of the main reasons that we prefer Oceania above all other lines - country club casual 24/7. That, plus anytime dining, plus best cuisine afloat, plus small (684 pax) gorgeous ships, plus fabulous itineraries, plus plus plus...

 

Mike