Semi-Formal - advice please?

[CT New Cruiser]

Hello All,

 

From the UK, have never cruised before and in 2 months time going to the Baltic for 2 weeks with the British line P&O. CAN'T WAIT!!!:D

Dress code is 6 smart casual, 4 formal, 4 semi-formal nights... dressing up is one of the things I'm most excited about (thankfully the port is a drive from home not a flight so unlimited baggage - yippee!!).

 

The smart casual should be fine - I have some nice trousers/skirts/tops to mix and match. The formal (surprisingly - as I know this is the one that mostly causes debate!) is also fine - every year my company has a big ball so I'm digging out a few of years worth of shimmery and/or floor length dresses - job done!

 

What is really making my brain work overtime is semi-formal. I have party dresses (cocktail length) but they are quite 'bling' (one is black & quite low cut, one is very patterned red and black so quite eye-catching, one has a few sequins on...sorry should have been more organised with pictures...) and are the sort of things you would wear to a dressy party. At a push you could wear them to a black tie evening. Are party dresses going to be appropriate for semi-formal? Or should I be looking for something more demure and low-key? DH will be in his suit but will not look particularly bling/party/dressy and I don't want to look over the top next to him or in the dining room.

 

Thoughts and advice very gratefully received!

 

Thanks,

CT

[Happy ks]

Your cocktail dresses sound perfect for semi-formal :)

 

Perhaps your husband could wear a dressier suit?

[karen sharpe]

I think your dresses sound perfect especially when you are so excited about dressing up! Some of the cruise lines such as Princess have done away with semi-formal night. I will miss it but I'm hoping it may give me more suitcase space!:)

[CT New Cruiser]

Thanks lots both!:) That's made it clearer in my mind, so I think I'm going to employ the following basics for my packing (know these won't suit everyone but hopefully they should be OK):

 

Formal: Very dressy, possibly/probably floor length or cocktail dresses with fancy accessories

Semi-Formal: Still pretty dressy, mainly cocktail dresses (also have a dress that could be worn as a smart sundress but going to dress it up again with some accessories for semi-formal)

Smart Casual: Nice tops/skirts/pants or nice (sundress and similar) dresses

 

Seem OK?

 

Will also get DH some snazzier ties to keep up with me for semi-formal;)!