If we decide not to partake in formal night activies, will we look like outsiders? :)

[sppunk]

We'll be on the Caribbean Princess, and my wife and I are strongly considering traveling light and skipping the formal festivities. However, we don't want to be walking around and feel out of place and make others uncomfortable as well.

 

Is this common? This would be the first time in our many cruises we won't dress up with the rest, so we aren't sure how many others don't do this! We are completely OK with alternative dining (Cafe Caribe, room service, Trident) on these two evenings, but do hate to miss the Captain's gatherings and champaign waterfall (is that formal on the CB, anyway).

 

Thanks! We are just asking because this will be our first cruise on Princess - our last was on the QM2 and we are thinking a completely relaxed, toned down trip is what the doctor has ordered for us both!

[Pam in CA]

The Captain's Circle party is held on formal night and just about everyone who attends is dressed up. You may want to plan on skipping that. The Champagne Waterfall is usually at about 11PM (or is it 11:30?) and by that time, many people have changed but many will also still be in formal clothes. Frankly, it's a zoo with everyone fighting for a look or camera angle.

[darnapar]

no

one the grand a few weeks ago i had never seen so many jeans in the dining room, even on formal night. it was kind of sad.

[Fuzzyape]

Pam's right.

 

You'll be able to enjoy the champagne waterfall. It's done out in the atrium. You may see suits, tuxes, and evening gowns, but you'll also see a lot of less dressy folks, enjoying themselves.

 

It sounds like you have a good handle on what you want to do, and how you want to do it. Enjoy!

[ggprincess2004]

Captain's Welcome Aboard and the Champagne Waterfall are formal nights. People who show up will generally be nicely outfitted. That being said, the Caribbean Princess tends to be a little more "relaxed" when it comes to attire than some of the ships that do "cooler" or longer sailings. If it doesn't bother you to be casual and do the buffet or Cafe Caribe on formal nights, that works - but you will miss the best menus in the formal dining rooms.

If you wanted to strike a compromise, I would suggest a darker sport coat with either a turtle neck, or dress shirt and tie for your husband and a slinky pants/pretty top outfit for you. One outfit would suffice for the two formal nights.

I personally think that the formal night attire is a bit tougher on the guys, who have a more limited choice. The ladies have quite a range of options.

Our experience on formal nights on Caribbean Princess has been about 45/45/10 between suits, tuxes and "rebellion" for the men. I would say that less than 20% of the women are in what I would call evening gowns and/or cocktail dresses, but about 75% manage a "cocktail" type of outfit.

(Okay, I don't want to start a firestorm about the use of "rebellion" concerning men on formal night. We just automatically pack the tux and accessories, and the glittery outfits.)

I hope I have given you some information you can use to form your own opinion - so you can maximize your enjoyment of the cruise. That is what it is ultimately about. It's your vacation - choose your fun.

:D Just please don't "fall" off any balconies!":D

[sbmizzou]

outsiders, no, party poopers, yes....

 

just kidding. My wife and I skip the formal night on some of our cruises. On others, we feel like getting dressed up. In fact, we leave this Saturday on the Grand, and we were not planning on getting dressed up on formal nights. I think we usually just go to the buffet. When I mentioned this to the people that we were going with, they expressed an interest in going to the formal night. It is their first cruise. So we are going with the flow, it will be fun to get dressed up with them.

 

I like formal nights when I don't get dressed up. I have never worn a tux so I am usually just in a suit. I like the people in tuxes. It sort of reminds me of Halloween for adults. I get excited when I spot an adult in a tux just like I get excited when I see my neighbor dressed up as a bumble bee. Don't ask me why, it just brings me a little excitement.

 

sbmizzou

[sppunk]

Thanks, you guys!

 

If we do decide to skip dragging the formal wear, we'll skip the party as well. Frankly, dining room food on most cruise ships isn't enough to get me to schlep formal wear all around. I'd rather be comfortable (for me that means a polo and khakis) and eat a burger on a cruise than wear formal wear! :)

 

Thanks again!

[Tatka]

no

one the grand a few weeks ago i had never seen so many jeans in the dining room, even on formal night. it was kind of sad.

 

Interestingly enough on our Summer cruise on Caribbean Princess July 22 - 29th, 2006, even during regular nights were wearing cocktail dresses/ long sleeved shirts.

[hammybee]

I It sort of reminds me of Halloween for adults. I get excited when I spot an adult in a tux just like I get excited when I see my neighbor dressed up as a bumble bee. Don't ask me why, it just brings me a little excitement.

 

sbmizzou

 

In all the years, and in all the threads, on formal night attire, this is the first time I have seen analogy , tux to bumble bee. There is something appealing about this.

[honey8572]

No, you won't feel like an outsider. We've cruised the CB twice and not done formal nights either time. We did Cafe Caribe both times, and in fact the 1st formal night is a special seafood meal in the Cafe Caribe. There are a lot of people out and about who don't do formal night, so you won't feel like an outsider. In fact, we've gone to sit in the Atrium bars and look at everybody all dressed up and didn't feel funny.

 

Doodie:)

[jckvpa0]

no

one the grand a few weeks ago i had never seen so many jeans in the dining room, even on formal night. it was kind of sad.

 

 

OK, not to start anything but I thought I just read on their web site that jeans were not allowed in the dinning room, never mind on formal night !

[cruzinchris]

The Captain's Circle party is held on formal night and just about everyone who attends is dressed up.

 

The first time that DH and I were on the CB (January, 2005), there were three Captain's Circle parties: Two gatherings (based on early/late dinner seating) on the second formal night, and a third (catch-all) party on a "smart casual" night. We attended the latter party, and while DH and I dressed quite nicely, although not black tie, overall attire at this event was decidedly "casual" (I didn't forget the qualifier ;) ). The second time we sailed on the CB, there were two Captain's Circle parties based on early/late seating on the second formal night.

 

While DH and I usually keep our dressy duds on throughout formal evenings onboard (OK - I lose the high heels and don my dainty Isotoner "ballet slippers" while DH doffs his black bow tie) but there are an awful lot of folks - especially on the CB - who loosen up much earlier than we do ;) .

 

That said, we loved the CB and hope to sail her again this fall.

Chris

[sultan_sfo]

But suggest that you still avoid Shorts and Jeans if you plan to mingle during the Captains Welcome Cocktails (first formal) and the Champagne Waterfall and dancing in the Atrium (2nd formal)! /Sultan

[karen sharpe]

Darling.. skip the formal and do your own thing and enjoy it ! Really when all is said and done who really cares!!:o

[latitude 22]

I need a place to tell this story...

 

Last night my DH and I were talking about his very 1st cruise on the Star Princess in May

(as many of you know I've been cruising over 25 years since I was a child when formal was beyond formal)

 

His only bearings to formal night is the movie Titanic and he knows that I am young in age..but an old cruising traditionalist and dress up for it.

 

He has absolutely no clue about the knock down fights we have here on cruisecritic discussing formal night attire...

 

He says to me last night....

 

Honey, if I wear my black suit will I be under dressed...?

....because when I've received invitations in the past requesting

formal attire I always rented a tux.

 

Once again I am reminded I married the perfect man for me!

 

PS I told him the black suit was perfect!

[cruzinchris]

Honey, if I wear my black suit will I be under dressed...? ....because when I've received invitations in the past requesting formal attire I always rented a tux. PS I told him the black suit was perfect!

 

Yes, the black suit will be fine. That said, if you attend enough formal affairs to warrant it, owning a tux is not a bad idea as DH determined several years ago. For us, there's an occasional "black tie" wedding, a formal fund-raising event, or even a night at the ballet or opera. It's nice for DH to not to have to go through the process of renting a tux and returning it when there's one hanging in his closet :) .

 

Bon Voyage!

Chris

[Lynda90]

Even if most pax dress for dinner, enough change after dinner into more comfortable attire. You won't feel at all out of place. Have a wonderful time!

[wrecks]

We'll be on the Caribbean Princess, and my wife and I are strongly considering traveling light and skipping the formal festivities. However, we don't want to be walking around and feel out of place and make others uncomfortable as well.

 

Is this common? This would be the first time in our many cruises we won't dress up with the rest, so we aren't sure how many others don't do this! We are completely OK with alternative dining (Cafe Caribe, room service, Trident) on these two evenings, but do hate to miss the Captain's gatherings and champaign waterfall (is that formal on the CB, anyway).

 

Thanks! We are just asking because this will be our first cruise on Princess - our last was on the QM2 and we are thinking a completely relaxed, toned down trip is what the doctor has ordered for us both!

 

I would feel underdressed in jeans if I were to join the Captain's gatherings and champaign waterfall - but that's just me. I wouldn't complain, but jeans just do not seem right for a 'formal' night. I do wear a tux on each formal night - not necessarily all night tho. You will always find me in a Hawaiian shirt every other night.

So much for style!

Wrecks

[Cruisin' Ron VA]

You can still pack light. What about renting a tux from cruiseformalwear dot com? They deliver to your stateroom and pick it up for you too. One less thing you have to pack.

 

Personally there have been times when I skipped formal night, ate in the buffet and hung out in the casino. Later in the evening most people change out of those clothes anyhow.

 

I wouldnt worry about a thing. Its your vacation and you are the one paying for it. You are the one going home with the good memories.

 

If someone really wants to let the way others dress ruin their vacation then too bad for them. I cant imagine someone going home with lots of pictures and fun times in their heads and telling others that despite that their vacation was ruined because someone wore jeans in the dining room one night.

 

Look at the whole picture. (no pun intended) In the end will it really matter? :confused:

[Cruisin' Chick]

The Captain's Circle party is for past passengers on princess only so if it's the OP's first Princess cruise, he will not receive an invitiation unless his wife is gold status.

[sultan_sfo]

To OP:

You are risking your vacation being ruined. As an extreme example, imagine you are in "shorts" and no one else is. My vacation will not be ruined because of your "shorts" but many (including I) may look at you in a "funny" way that embarrasses you. Tux or Cocktail dress may not be necessary or your bag, but a respectable / appropriate mode of dress will make you enjoy the evenings more as you comfortably mingle with the rest. And I also feel that individuals who keep saying "you paid for it, so you can dress as you like or behave as you like" are impolite and rude.

/Sultan

 

...

I wouldnt worry about a thing. Its your vacation and you are the one paying for it. You are the one going home with the good memories.

...

 

:confused:

[happyscot]

Scuse me cruisers. I need to talk about trousers, or pants as you call them. Often, "dockers" and "khakis" are quoted as fine for casual nights. I've asked once or twice what these are, but still fail to get it. Clearly they must relate to stuff we wear as well, because we basically wear in UK whatever you were wearing three years before (not literally, I mean we don't raid your trash bins, you know what I mean).

 

So, ommitting no detail of colour, style, length etc, and imagining I'm from Mars (and I guess for you Scotland might as well be) can someone please explain what these are?

 

Thanks.

[SissasMomE]

We'll be on the Caribbean Princess, and my wife and I are strongly considering traveling light and skipping the formal festivities. However, we don't want to be walking around and feel out of place and make others uncomfortable as well.

 

Is this common? This would be the first time in our many cruises we won't dress up with the rest, so we aren't sure how many others don't do this! We are completely OK with alternative dining (Cafe Caribe, room service, Trident) on these two evenings, but do hate to miss the Captain's gatherings and champaign waterfall (is that formal on the CB, anyway).

 

Thanks! We are just asking because this will be our first cruise on Princess - our last was on the QM2 and we are thinking a completely relaxed, toned down trip is what the doctor has ordered for us both!

 

Hi Spunk!

 

You won't be out of place. Some people dress to go to dinner and then change right after dinner back into their "normal" clothes. I'm packing light this cruise as well. I am not skipping formal night, but I'm not going as dressy as I usually do ... a pair of slacks and a dressy blouse. That's the extent of formal night for me this year ... and really, you will see people wearing all sorts of things. Whether you dine in the dining room in what I call "dressier than work" clothes, or decide to skip altogether and stay in your comfy shorts, you will not be alone! Enjoy!!

[SissasMomE]

To OP:

You are risking your vacation being ruined. As an extreme example, imagine you are in "shorts" and no one else is. My vacation will not be ruined because of your "shorts" but many (including I) may look at you in a "funny" way that embarrasses you. Tux or Cocktail dress may not be necessary or your bag, but a respectable / appropriate mode of dress will make you enjoy the evenings more as you comfortably mingle with the rest. And I also feel that individuals who keep saying "you paid for it, so you can dress as you like or behave as you like" are impolite and rude.

/Sultan

 

Good grief.

[davejohn]

Scuse me cruisers. I need to talk about trousers, or pants as you call them. Often, "dockers" and "khakis" are quoted as fine for casual nights. I've asked once or twice what these are, but still fail to get it. Clearly they must relate to stuff we wear as well, because we basically wear in UK whatever you were wearing three years before (not literally, I mean we don't raid your trash bins, you know what I mean).

 

So, ommitting no detail of colour, style, length etc, and imagining I'm from Mars (and I guess for you Scotland might as well be) can someone please explain what these are?

 

Thanks.

 

"Dockers" is actually a company that makes clothing for men and women, based in San Francisco. Generically, dockers (or khakis) are just casual pants, usually cotton or cotton blends. Traditionally they are tan, but you can get them in any color. They are a little more dressy than jeans, not quite as dressy as suit pants. They have multiple styles (cargo pants, pleated, my cruise favorite....expandable waists :) ) and are full length.

 

Basically just casual pants, but not as casual as jeans.

 

Dave