Zuiderdam - Alternatives to formal night?

[lighthouse206]

Considering the Zui in October for 7 nights. Never been a big fan of formal night, nor do we really have the clothes.

 

Wondering if there are way to "avoid" it? Meaning is there an alternative dining area, or can you simply order room service?

 

Also, when does the formal attire start to drift away, or does it, after dinner? Meaning... when could we go out to the bars/lounges if at all?

 

Also, do any of the pools/hot tubs stay open?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Lido for dinner.

 

Will still have to be dressed accordingly to go to the bars during the evening.

 

Check you daily program for when the pools close - usually early.

[Southbound]

You can order room service for dinner, but it must be done (I believe*) within the first hour that the dining room is open for dinner and you can tell room service when you would like to have it served. The menu is posted outside of the dining room entrance prior to the commencement of the breakfast service.

You can also have dinner in the Lido, which serves pretty much what is also offered in the dining room (minus, maybe, a couple of entrees). All courses are offered buffet style, except for the entree for which a server will take your order and, once it is prepared, bring it to your table. Acceptable attire for dinner in the Lido would be resort casual -- slacks/sport shirt (him); slacks, skirt, blouse (her); in other words, no shorts, jeans, t-shirts, flip-flops. Rest assured, you will not be denied entrance to any of the bars or lounges because you are not in formal wear, nor will any of the staff/crew comment about the lack thereof.

* Hopefully, someone will post to correct me if I am in error.

[RuthC]

Rest assured, you will not be denied entrance to any of the bars or lounges because you are not in formal wear, nor will any of the staff/crew comment about the lack thereof.

However, the dress code is for the entire evening in public areas. That does include the various lounges, the show lounge, and the casino. HAL requests that you show respect for your fellow passengers by adhearing to the dress code when in those areas.

[Southbound]

Altho we always choose to abide by the requested dress code on formal nights, we also understand that there are some pax who may not be financially able to do so. In such cases, after dining in the Lido as an option, they should not be made to feel as unwelcome outcasts in any of the public areas and be expected to slink back to their cabin and hide until morning. This could very well be someone's once-in-a-lifetime cruise, and to put even the slightest damper on it over the inability to have formalwear is, at the very least, unnecessary. HAL, its staff and crew understand there are sometimes extenuating circumstances and are always gracious to all pax, no matter their attire as long as it is within the bounds of propriety.

[kryos]

Lido for dinner.

 

Will still have to be dressed accordingly to go to the bars during the evening.

That's only on the main decks, though ... you can still go casual to the Lido Deck bars.

 

Another option for dinner is room service as well. If you have a balcony, you can enjoy a nice dinner "al fresco" and then head up to the Lido afterwards, if you want a little after dinner activity.

 

I'm the same way ... I hate getting dressed up when I'm on vacation.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

Considering the Zui in October for 7 nights. Never been a big fan of formal night, nor do we really have the clothes.

Don't get all stressed out about clothes for formal night. Basic black ... a nice pair of pants and blouse ... or a little black dress with maybe a little jacket thrown over the top and ... wa la ... instant formal night.

 

I have a black tee-shirt ... nothing more than a tee-shirt ... with fake multi-colored reinstones all around the neckline and down the front. Add to that a nice pair of velvet slacks and a jacket and I'm good to go. The outfit is very attractive ... works perfectly for formal night. I pretty much wear the same thing up to two or three times (depending on the length of the cruise) and eat in the Lido for any remaining formal nights.

 

I don't have a lot of clothes that would be considered "formal." My lifestyle doesn't warrant them. I work night work in a large computer center where jeans and tee-shirts are the normal attire ... the places I tend to go socially don't require dressing up that much. So, I never accumulated much clothing that would be considered "dressy" and I can't see going out and buying it just for a cruise. I do fine on formal nights.

 

Contrary to some of the posts you will read on these boards, a lot of people don't do the gown and tuxudo thing on formal nights. They dress nicely in what they have and fit in fine. As long as you "make the effort" ... and look neat and presentable, you'll be fine too.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kakalina]

Lighthouse206: First of all welcome to the HAL boards. Most of the people here are sensitive about most issues you just happened to hit on a "hot" topic.

 

DH does not dress up. I love to go formal. On formal nights he will put on slacks and a nice shirt. He dines in the Lido, I dine in the dining room. After dinner we meet up and enjoy ALL of the public venues. He dresses comfortably and I dress as I please. That is what a vacation is all about.

 

Please don't let some of the poster that don't want to admit change is here make you feel the least little bit concerned. As long as you are clean, neat and not wearing shorts or a tee shirt you will be fine.

[hammybee]

The only time I notice what other people are wearing is when they have gone out of their way to fix up well. Heads turn when a man in a tux or dinner jacket walks by. You just can't help but notice they put time and effort into it.

 

The rest just blend in to the background as far as I am concerned.

[bruce-r]

The only time I notice what other people are wearing is when they have gone out of their way to fix up well. Heads turn when a man in a tux or dinner jacket walks by. You just can't help but notice they put time and effort into it.

And you should see what they do when they encounter a man in a kilt. ;)

[kryos]

Please don't let some of the poster that don't want to admit change is here make you feel the least little bit concerned. As long as you are clean, neat and not wearing shorts or a tee shirt you will be fine.

Bravo! Couldn't have said it better myself, Trish!

 

The face of cruising is changing. Sadly, a lot of folks on these boards don't want to admit that. Maybe they don't like it, but the fact is they will have no choice but to accept it.

 

People are more stressed out today than ever before. Life moves fast. When people take vacation, they want to slow down, relax, and be comfortable. Trust me, the whole point of this thread will be mute within a year or so ... especially with the airlines reducing baggage allowances. Formal night will go the way of steerage class ... and resort casual will be the order of the day. Sure, there will be venues where people can dress up in all their finery ... if that's what they want to do. But no one will be made to feel that such is the norm. The first step in this direction HAL has taken is to eliminate jeans from the prohibited dress list for casual night. We're also seeing experimentation in dining styles ... such as the "leisure dining" concept that's been toyed with on the Oosterdam. The next thing we will see is this move to resort casual as being the dress code every night, with maybe an optional formal night thrown in to keep the traditionalists happy. I'm so sure of this, I'd almost be willing to take bets.

 

Do you know that HAL is one of the few lines that considers the dress code to be in effect for the entire evening? Other lines list it only as the dress code for the dining room, and people routinely go back to their cabins after dinner on formal night to get into something more comfortable for the rest of the evening.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[HeatherInFlorida]

I'm fine with those who don't want to dress up and I think the OP is very nice to ask the question. He/she obviously doesn't want to offend anyone or wouldn't have posted. And as many have said, there's lots of alternatives and ways around dressing up. But just maybe Lighthouse would enjoy having a formal night ... it's fun and you might like to give it a try:) .

 

This is always a hot button issue here ... and especially for me. I don't agree with some of my friends here even though I have the utmost respect for them and their opinions.

 

Almost everyone goes to weddings so almost everyone has something to wear. My formal wardrobe wouldn't be considered "formal" ... just a black cocktail length dress most of the time with a jacket or a scarf. I'm always told I look very nice so I haven't offended anyone yet;) .

 

Some say it's a vacation and you should do as you please. I agree. Just please don't do it on formal nights. As Rita says, there really are plenty of places on the ship you can be casual and do other things.

 

It's true no one is going to put you in the brig or send you to your room. It's about respect ... respect for those who really do enjoy a formal evening.

 

I don't have to "admit" change is here because it isn't or they would have changed the dress code. When and if "change" comes to HAL, I'll deal with it. But in the meantime as long as there's a dress code, it's nice to abide by it.

 

This comment about how we have to accept change always gets me riled. I honestly think if I read one more time that I have to accept change I think I'm going to cry. Not every change is for the better.

[JaiOfChi]

Altho we always choose to abide by the requested dress code on formal nights, we also understand that there are some pax who may not be financially able to do so. In such cases, after dining in the Lido as an option, they should not be made to feel as unwelcome outcasts in any of the public areas and be expected to slink back to their cabin and hide until morning. This could very well be someone's once-in-a-lifetime cruise, and to put even the slightest damper on it over the inability to have formalwear is, at the very least, unnecessary. HAL, its staff and crew understand there are sometimes extenuating circumstances and are always gracious to all pax, no matter their attire as long as it is within the bounds of propriety.

 

 

Very eloquently and appropriately stated! It's amazing how this topic brings out the fangs and claws in people!

[Waxer]

Lighthouse206: after carefully researching the boards, we set out for our first HAL cruise on Zuiderdam recently. I took full formal kit. My Dad, who is a very down-to-earth guy and also not rich (and whose first cruise it was) thought about renting a tux, but in the end opted for a sport coat and tie on formal nights. He looked great; he was very comfortable; and had a very nice time. We ate in the Pinnacle Grill both nights, and had great service. Based on our experience, I think you'll have a great time no matter which of the excellent suggestions above you opt to follow.

 

Cheers,