Dress Code Noordam

[mommybunny21]

Just returned from the Noordam and have to comment on the dress code.Several weeks ago a woman wrote to ask if her son ,on a formal night,could change into shorts after dinner. The poor woman was completely flamed for even asking this..Now I don't know what happens on any other cruise but on the NOORDAM LAST WEEK this is how it went...On formal nights everyone IN THE DINING ROOM followed the dress code..outside of the dining room they did not..As we walked around in our formal attire we encountered shorts,jeans,track suits,sneakers on all ages....on casual nights anything went..there were jeans in the dining room every casual night..there were jeans with t-shirts..a Budweiser t-shirt in the Vista Dining room...jeans and sweatshirts worse than my gardener would wear...jeans,a sweatshirt and SLIPPERS...best of all at tea jeans,a tshirt and a baseball cap on his head for the whole tea..you wouldn't see that at the Pierre..please don't tell me it didn't happen..IT DID..a fellow CC member sat next to us and we were amazed by the difference between what was written on this site and what we saw..she will back me up..several weeks ago I wrote to ask about my 6 yr old wearing linen shorts to dinner..I was told NEVER NEVER NEVER on HAL..guess what..kids were wearing sweatpants,t-shirts,sneakers-clothes my son wears to gym class..My son was dressed in linen shorts with cardigan sweaters and we couldn't move ten feet without being complimented.by both crew and guests...they called him the "Great Gatsby Boy"..so glad I didn't listen and followed my own judgement..the bottom line with the dress code is aside from the Vista on formal night there is no dress code..

[sail7seas]

That was not our experience on Noordam's January 6 cruise. For the most part, we thought most guests dressed nicely/appropriately for dinner and the evening. I guess we just got lucky. ;)

 

 

Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

Did you have a good time? Isn't Noordam gorgeous? A fabulous ship and crew?

 

Welcome Back.

[bepsf]

That may well have been your experience - but that doesn't make it right.

I'm betting that there was a critical mass of passengers who were "On the wrong ship" and that the Maitre'd couldn't do much about it.

BTW - I don't see what's wrong w/ a boy younger than 10 in dress shorts and a sweater in the dining room?

[mamaofami]

That wasn't my experience in the diningroom for 2/7 cruise on the Noordam. It's sad that people would come to the beautiful diningroom dressed for a gym. Casual is described as "country club" casual.

 

Maybe HAL has to rethink their description of what is acceptable and what is not.

[madelinerose]

Thank you for your dress code (or not) report. Very interesting.

[RuthC]

I'm with Brian (oh, that's right. I was with Brian :D )---just because some people can't/won't get it together doesn't make it right.

There is a dress code, and it's for the evening. It is a show of respect to your fellow passengers to follow it.

[RevNeal]

mommybunny21,

 

Thank you for sharing your experience. It does not reflect mine aboard the Noordam when I was aboard her in January.

 

Please do not be so defensive. No one is going to disbelieve you or your observations. That we didn't have your experience, and state such, does NOT mean that we don't believe you. Nor does it mean that we are flaming you. Likewise, please keep in mind that our opinions regarding what is appropriate dress do NOT constitute "flame" simply because our opinions clash with yours. If I remember correctly, the poster you mentioned was asking about her son who was, I think, 16 or 17 years old. The Dress Code, at THAT TIME, asked that one's dress remain in accordance with the code for the entire evening. It is NOT "flaming" someone to point that out. I also seem to remember that, after a few days, she came back and posted that her son was looking forward to dressing formally, and that he wanted to wear a tuxedo. Perhaps I have a poor memory, or a skewed view, however I don't remember her being "flamed."

 

And, finally, I want to echo Sail's questions. How was your cruise?

[RevNeal]

mommybunny21,

 

I just saw your note on another thread to the effect that you had a terrible cruise ... lots of problems and little or no satisfaction from the ship's staff. I'm sorry to read this.

[mommybunny21]

We had a lovely cruise despite it being riddled with problems unique to us..we were unhappy with the way the FRONT DESK handled each one of them..but that could happen anywhere-it justs makes us question if we want to trust them with our vacation again..we loved the Noordam..wished they had more speciality restaurants..loved the dining room staff-our steward adored our son and I hope he will remember how special he was made to feel by the staff-it touched my heart..I would recommend the noordam,maybe not for 11 days,but it was lovely..

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

WOW! On our cruise on 12/22 never even saw a pair of jeans in the evening! We had lots of children on board, including my son, and everyone was appropriately dressed. As far as more specialty restaurants, you knew that there is only one on Noordam, so that really shouldn't be a complaint now. Also, if you didn't get any "satisfaction" from the front desk staff, why did you not ask to speak with the Hotel Manager or other officer? Oh well.

[mommybunny21]

I'm with Brian (oh, that's right. I was with Brian :D )---just because some people can't/won't get it together doesn't make it right.

 

There is a dress code, and it's for the evening. It is a show of respect to your fellow passengers to follow it.

I never said it was right that people dressed that way. The point I was making was that the code is not as strict as this board has made it out to be. Case in point-we had late seating,on our first formal night my husband had to get our son from Club HAL at 5 oclock.I told him that since it was a formal night and early seating has begun that he should put his tux on to get him.He looked at me like I was crazy.Now strict adherence to the code would make me right. He refused but said if he,in fact was the only one not formally dressed when he picked up aidan that I could buy whatever I wanted at Tiffanys in St John..I lost..I'm just pointing out the reality not whether its right or wrong..

[sail7seas]

No one really expects a parent to put on their tuxedo in order to pick up their child at Club HAL. Your husband's common sense was right on!! :)

 

I understand you were stating a rigidly literal interpretation of the dress code but that would be to the extreme IMO

 

We always have late dinner and if we have been walking laps on Promenade Deck and are returning to our cabin, we will pass early seating guests who are already dressed for their 5:45 seating. I'm sure no one expects us to walk our laps in tuxedo and gown/high heels. :D Of course, we don't dress for 8:00 dinner until an appropriate time to allow us time for a relaxing cocktail in Ocean Bar before dinner.

 

We don't linger in public areas when not dressed for the evening. We finish our walk and go directly to our cabin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DMacD335]

That wasn't my experience in the diningroom for 2/7 cruise on the Noordam. It's sad that people would come to the beautiful diningroom dressed for a gym. Casual is described as "country club" casual.

 

Maybe HAL has to rethink their description of what is acceptable and what is not.

 

 

I certainly agree with this post. I will be sailing aboard Noordam leaving from NYC in a couple of weeks. I will be surprised by what I consider to be dress code "violations" as offered by the original poster. My most recent sailings have been aboard QM2....and I have sailed several times with HAL. I have never experienced anything like the number lof tasteless people OP suggests we might encounter. Believe me, they would know how I feel about it and so will HAL

[bepsf]

No one really expects a parent to put on their tuxedo in order to pick up their child at Club HAL. Your husband's common sense was right on!! :)

 

I understand you were stating a rigidly literal interpretation of the dress code but that would be to the extreme IMO

 

We always have late dinner and if we have been walking laps on Promenade Deck and are returning to our cabin, we will pass early seating guests who are already dressed for their 5:45 seating. I'm sure no one expects us to walk our laps in tuxedo and gown/high heels. :D Of course, we don't dress for 8:00 dinner until an appropriate time to allow us time for a relaxing cocktail in Ocean Bar before dinner.

 

Exactly.

I've passed well-dressed folks in the corridors on their way to Early Formal dinner in my shorts and ballcap since I'm always at Main Seating - and I'm sure that they could have thought "What a Slob"...

[Briny]

mommybunny21 -

Sounds as if you had the dress-code experience we expected but didn’t on our recent cruise. We were on the Westerdam last week and, for the most part, on formal nights people adhered to the dress code throughout the evening in the public areas (decks 2 and 3). We saw a few people in day dress in the Vista Lounge, but they were in the minority. Guess it can just depend on the individual cruise.

Our favorite was a family of three at a table near ours in the Vista dining room. On formal nights dad was in his tux and mom was in her gown. Young daughter (probably around 12) was also dressed to the nines, including a tiara on at least one of the nights. Needless to say, she was the recipient of many oohs and aahs. Bravi to the parents for teaching good social graces. I presume that since they only were present in the dining room on formal nights, they made a pact with DD to have pizza in the Lido on other nights. ;)

[mommybunny21]

WOW! On our cruise on 12/22 never even saw a pair of jeans in the evening! We had lots of children on board, including my son, and everyone was appropriately dressed. As far as more specialty restaurants, you knew that there is only one on Noordam, so that really shouldn't be a complaint now. Also, if you didn't get any "satisfaction" from the front desk staff, why did you not ask to speak with the Hotel Manager or other officer? Oh well.

I WASN'T complaining about the one specialty restaurant I was simply making a comment.This is exactly why I didn't intend to leave a review bc some of you are so hypersensitive about HAL. The hotel manager never even got back to us.

[debsjc]

I'm with Brian (oh, that's right. I was with Brian :D )---just because some people can't/won't get it together doesn't make it right.

 

There is a dress code, and it's for the evening. It is a show of respect to your fellow passengers to follow it.

 

I agree. If the ship allows people into the dining room into scruffy sweats and Budweiser t-shirts then I am really disappointed. :(

[virgilhilts]

Just a clarification, please. Are jeans ever -- ever -- okay on a HAL cruise? I happen to be someone who, when I relax, likes to wear a pair of clean jeans, a polo shirt, and sports coat. As a cruise if supposed to be a time to relax, am I to understand that if I dress in this relaxed but well-groomed way, someone is going to confront me personally or complain about me to HAL (as was suggsted by a previous poster here.)

 

(PS: I'm not talking about showing up in the Vista Dining Room on formal night dressed this way --I'll wear a suit and tie for that -- but on casual nights and to go to shows, the casino, to various other public rooms for dancing, etc., that would be my preferred attire.)

 

Bill

[hammybee]

Just a clarification, please. Are jeans ever -- ever -- okay on a HAL cruise? I happen to be someone who, when I relax, likes to wear a pair of clean jeans, a polo shirt, and sports coat. As a cruise if supposed to be a time to relax, am I to understand that if I dress in this relaxed but well-groomed way, someone is going to confront me personally or complain about me to HAL (as was suggsted by a previous poster here.)

 

(PS: I'm not talking about showing up in the Vista Dining Room on formal night dressed this way --I'll wear a suit and tie for that -- but on casual nights and to go to shows, the casino, to various other public rooms for dancing, etc., that would be my preferred attire.)

 

Bill

 

You will be fine on all nights other than formal ones.

[eldercruser]

Just back from the Maasdam this past week. There was nothing in the program regarding staying in formal dress through out the evening. In fact - just the opposite. It stated quite clearly that passengers could dine in the Lido that evening if they desired not dress formally.

 

Times are changing folks.

[NoNoNanette]

Yes indeed, Eldercruiser! :)

 

Times are changing.... but some HAL passengers prefer to hide their head in the sand.

 

;)

[innlady1]

That wasn't my experience in the diningroom for 2/7 cruise on the Noordam. It's sad that people would come to the beautiful diningroom dressed for a gym. Casual is described as "country club" casual.

 

Maybe HAL has to rethink their description of what is acceptable and what is not.

 

I'm with mamaofami on this...we, too, were on the 02/07 sailing and I didn't see anyone dressed inappropriately in the Vista. Overall, I thought everyone looked lovely.

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

Yes indeed, Eldercruiser! :)

 

Times are changing.... but some HAL passengers prefer to hide their head in the sand.

 

;)

 

That's not a very fair assessment is it? Why should HAL passengers expect anything less? If we go this way, then what's next? Wear whatever, whenever? The reasons HAL cruisers cruise HAL is because of the traditions. I am in my early 40's, so not, according to some, your typical 70's cruiser. We expect tradition, because that's the way we were "brought" up while cruising. If some of us do not "stand up" and demand traditional cruising, then we give in to all those others. Please! Requiring some "class" when I take my vacation is not too much to ask. But that's IMHO. If people want to change with the times, then they should choose a different cruise line.

[RevNeal]

That's not a very fair assessment is it? Why should HAL passengers expect anything less? If we go this way, then what's next? Wear whatever, whenever? The reasons HAL cruisers cruise HAL is because of the traditions. I am in my early 40's, so not, according to some, your typical 70's cruiser. We expect tradition, because that's the way we were "brought" up while cruising. If some of us do not "stand up" and demand traditional cruising, then we give in to all those others. Please! Requiring some "class" when I take my vacation is not too much to ask. But that's IMHO. If people want to change with the times, then they should choose a different cruise line.

 

I agree with you, LoveMyBoxer. Sadly, my friend, you and I will both be denigrated, name-called, and accused of flaming for saying this kind of thing. WE are the "bad ones" for wanting the Code to be enforced. :(

[mamaofami]

In my opinion, HAl is partly responsible for the confusion. They built the vista ships to attract a yonger and what they thought would be a more"casual" cruiser. Someone, propbably after much research, told them to drop the informal nights and move to casual. HAL defined what casual is, but now they're not sticking to the definition of what country club casual should be and they're allowing all sorts of dress in the dining room. Maybe this was just last week because of the family vacation week.

 

 

Those cruisers who want to stay traditional need to let HAL know how they feel.

 

Cruise lines respond to pressure from their passengers and if they think that jeans and t shirts in the diningroom will bring in the dollars, that's what they'll let happen.

 

I think they know that the older more traditional cruiser will stay with HAl anyway.