Solo Cruiser's Formal Night

[cruisebound2007]

I am going on my first cruise and I am doing it alone. I have been reading a lot of different postings and heard there are 2 formal nights on my cruise. I was thinking I wouldn't even bring anything formal and just hide away in my cabin on those nights. Any of you solo cruisers ever participated in a formal night? If so, what did you wear? If you didn't participate in the formal night what did you do? You can still eat at the buffet and not have to dress formal - correct?

[cruiseacecat]

Hope you do not decide to skip formal night!!! As a solo cruiser now with 5 cruises, I love getting dressed up. Please try it at least one night. It's so nice to see everyone looking so festive.

 

I usually wear a long black skirt and a beaded top. Just dressy enough so that I don't feel out of place.

Enjoy your cruise whatever you decide.

 

Anne

[Deb1113]

Do not hide in your room or eat anywhere but the main dining room. I bring a pair of black, silky type material pants and two tops. Add a dressy clutch and that works fine and is easy to pack. Enjoy yourself!

[airlink diva]

I beg you, DO NOT STAY IN YOUR CABIN ON FORMAL NIGHT!! Take something dressy and live it up!!

I work in a job where I'm required to wear an uniform. Because of the long hours that I work, I rarely get to go anywhere and dress up. But when I'm on a cruise, I go totally glam!! I treat myself either to the spa or have my own spa day in the cabin. After I'm dressed, I head to one of the bars for a drink and then to dinner and a show.

It's going to be fun so enjoy!!

Happy sailing!!

 

My first 10 day cruise

Maasdam April 4-14,2007

[DiannaInVA]

I ate at the buffet that night, but the cruise I was on only had one formal night.

 

But unlike others, I HATE dressing up! If I'm not in jeans I'm not happy. :) I brought black pants for the other nights, but I didn't want to use those to go to formal night...but that's just me.

 

However, if you like dressing up, even a little, definitely go! Either way, don't hide in your room--there are plenty of other venues to eat at (or you could try room service if you have a balcony to enjoy it on).

[OHCruisin]

You don't have to go totally fancy. A simple black dress or pantsuit will do. I've never missed a formal night, even when cruising solo.

[PaulfromPA]

Hey cruisebound:

 

Following the advice of others, I would at least pack something simple that can pass for formal night. (Trust me, there are lots of people who don't like to dress to the nines on formal night, so as long as you look presentable, you won't stand out.) The reason for my recommendation is this: Say you have great table mates, and really enjoy dining with them. Having at least one outfit that passes for formal wear means you won't have to skip dining with your new pals that night. On the other hand, if your table mates are duds, then you can always say "Oops, I forgot to pack formal wear, so I won't be seeing you for dinner tomorrow night." In that case, go hang out in the buffet and enjoy the best company you could ever have: yourself! As I always say, it is better to have more options than less!

 

Happy sailing!

 

Paul

[Solo Cruiser]

love, love, love formal night!!! Don't miss out on this even as a solo cruiser. A nice pair of black shimmery pants and a pretty top (I like sparkles but that's just me :D ) will be perfectly acceptable and you get to see the fashion parade for free. Plus you get all that spectacular formal night food.... lobster anyone?

[DiveMaster]

You decision may also be influenced on the cruise line you are sailing - some lean more toward formal and some less so.

 

I am going on my first cruise and I am doing it alone. I have been reading a lot of different postings and heard there are 2 formal nights on my cruise. I was thinking I wouldn't even bring anything formal and just hide away in my cabin on those nights. Any of you solo cruisers ever participated in a formal night? If so, what did you wear? If you didn't participate in the formal night what did you do? You can still eat at the buffet and not have to dress formal - correct?

[playingfetch]

Which formal night is best? The Captain's cocktail party or midnight gala? I read that alcohol is served and I don't drink alcohol because of Christian beliefs and medication that contraindicates alcohol. Are alternative drinks like soft drinks or juice served at the formal nights?

[Deb1113]

Which formal night is best? The Captain's cocktail party or midnight gala? I read that alcohol is served and I don't drink alcohol because of Christian beliefs and medication that contraindicates alcohol. Are alternative drinks like soft drinks or juice served at the formal nights?

 

 

Absolutely - no one is forced to drink alcohol.

[Lois R]

Hi, I don't equate sailing solo and not dressing up for formal night...

in my opinion, one has nothing to do with the other.

I just returned home on Monday from another solo cruise and

I want to be back on the ship:( this PBC is awful......

(Post Blues Cruise).

Anyway, I LOVE formal nights and dress up everytime.

I had wonderful tablemates and we all dressed up for both

formal nights:)

 

If you don't enjoy dressing up there are usually alternatives,

but please don't think because you are sailing solo it in any way

detracts from dressing up.

 

PlayingFetch, I agree with Deb, nobody will ever force you

to drink.

As for which night is dressier.....I love both. The first night

is still in the anticipation stage and the 2nd is already

in the middle of the cruise.

And the midnight gala is just that...usually a midnight buffet,

while the Capts Cocktail Party takes place much earlier in the

evening.

[rada628]

go for it. Like one of the other posters, I wear scrubs every day to work. I went on a solo cruise and took a floor length ball gown! AfterI bought it, I got cold feet and thought it might be too dressy for Carnival. People on CC encouraged me, so I went for it. You would be surprised who notices you when you dress up. I had strangers coming up to me for the rest of the week telling me how beautiful my dress was. So I got to meet a lot of friends because of that dress.....

[SantaAna,CA]

Actually my favorite nights are the formal nights. I have been on two Seabourn cruises, and the reason I love this line so much is, they know that you are traveling solo, and go out of their way to make you feel "included". On my seven night cruise to the southern Caribbean December of 2007, there was a dinner invitation on my door every afternoon. Seabourn has "hosted" tables in the main dining room at dinnertime, and you will get invited to sit with a ship's engineer, one of the entertainers, the ship's excursion manager, etc., and you can accept or decline. I always accepted, and ended up meeting six or seven interesting people every night.

 

I love dressing up; I bring my most beautiful gowns and put on music in my cabin and take my time getting ready, it's a real treat for me. Yes, it can be a little daunting walking into the dining room alone all dressed up...but at least I know I have a seat waiting for me!

 

Jane :)

[docksider21]

Hi

 

Formal nite is just great! The dining room, which is always beautiful, will

be decorated even more. The menu for formal nite, is even better the usually excellent food. You won't want to miss it.

 

And on your second formal nite, you will want a picture with you

and your tablemates, for a keep sake.

 

I usually go to cocktail hour in one of the bars

Then on to the reception for the evening

Then dinner (first sitting)

Then to the show.

 

Since I am dressed up in my dinner jacket, I usually play a

little roullette.

 

Have a great cruise!

[Roz]

I agree with Lois. Solo cruising and dressing up on formal night are 2 separate issues. On my first cruise (with friends) I wasn't sure about formal night, but ended up loving it. Now I wouldn't miss it for the world whether I'm by myself or with others.

 

I say go for it. If it's not your cup of tea, you can always do the buffet on your next cruise.

 

Roz

[playingfetch]

I had second thoughts about attending the formal nights because of my traveling solo. After reading these posts, I changed my mind.:cool:

[Lois R]

I love formal nights so much:) and to be honest...sometimes

one of the Maitr'ds will offer me an arm and escort me to my

table too;)

 

Hope you enjoy your cruise those formal nights are great:D

[Island Annie]

Formal nights are not night you want to miss out on.

 

No need to feel "out of place" because you're traveling solo.

 

Take "something" dressy with you (black pants/skirt with a nice top & rhinestone jewlery will be fine if you're in a time or money crunch).

 

I've got 18 cruises "under my belt" so far (most of them solo), and I always look forward to formal nights. As mentioned above, It's nice to see everyone so "festive" on these nights and if you don't bring anythong along to wear you're going to wish you had.

 

Formal nights are also the nights most cruiselines tend to put special items on the dinner menu (like LOBSTER!)

 

Trust me . . . IMHO if you plan not to bring anything to wear that night & plan to eat at the buffet you're going to regret it.

 

Don't be one These are "special" nights on your cruise. Don't want to miss them.

[PaulfromPA]

As mentioned above, It's nice to see everyone so "festive" on these nights and if you don't bring anythong along to wear you're going to wish you had.

 

Hi Annie!

 

I noticed you used the word "anythong" in your post. Did you mean "anything" or did you mean "any thong?" If it is the latter, then I assume you are advocating we don thong bikini's as formal wear. If that is the case, this new formal wear designation gets my vote. I have been itching to wear my thong to the dining room for so long now I can't even stand it! :eek:

 

Paul

[rymo717]

Please Paul, don't scratch that itch! ;)

 

I haven't done a solo cruise yet (first one in November, sort of)..

But I deffinately recommend formal night! It's a great time.. get dressed up (i'm a jean's and t-shirt/sweatshirt kinda guy) chat up a storm w/ your new shipmates, and just make the most of it. If things change, and you begin to feel uncomfortable, you can always go back to your cabin, change clothes, and find something else to do.. That's why I love cruising, always something to do, for everyone!

 

oh yea, hi to all my fellow solo-cruisers! new to the board

 

Ryan

[PaulfromPA]

Please Paul, don't scratch that itch! ;)

 

Careful Ryan!

 

You know what happens when you tell a misbehaved child NOT to do something: he immediately wants to do it that much more! In fact, after reading your post, I was inspired to scratch around the net a little: *********** And just in case you didn't catch it, that last sentence was meant to have a double meaning! :eek:

 

Paul

[playingfetch]

First time and solo cruiser here. I like that picture on your post. Is that a work or living station? The upstairs could be a dining room.:D

[earl_m]

i always go to at least one solo formal night, Iwear my suit and tie and I go to the captains party before the dinner.

[Solo Cruiser]

Welcome to the Solo Cruisers Board Ryan. Earl I think it is terrific that you go to at least one formal night. I always go to the cocktail party and the dinner and have as many photos made as I can.

 

It seems that I've been one of the few cruisers that is solo so an evening of dancing hasn't been my experience. But some day I'm hoping to add that to my cruise resume :D