public areas?

[murphyis1]

I'm new to HAL, and I read in the dress code that shorts, etc. are not permitted in public areas in the evening. What areas are considered public? Does this include the outside decks? I can't imagine not being able to walk around a deck after dark in my comfy shorts and tee, but I don't want to break the "rules" either. Any advice from experienced HAL cruisers?

[tomc]

My guess, and I'm a traditionalist: The outer decks don't count. If you're walking around in shorts and t-shirt and see a guy in jacket and tie, that's me; I'll smile and say hello. I'm traditional but friendly. I also wear more than a jacket and tie, in case you wondered. :p

[Krazy Kruizers]

You just can't go to the show room or any of the lounges wearing shorts in the evening.

 

The outer deck is fine for shorts.

[Copper10-8]

The inner hallways are good to go also for the shorts and tee's;) (otherwise it's kinda hard to get to the outside decks!;) ). Here's the SOP:

1. Slowly open your cabin door

2. Look left

3. Look right

4. If no pax in formal wear are observed in your assigned hallway, double time or low crawl it to the nearest stairwell and commence your descent

5. Upon arrival at Promenade Deck, repeat steps #2 and #3

6. If the aforementioned observations (steps #2 and #3) prove negative, make a bee-line for one of the exits giving access to the outside deck.

7. Commence with your leisurely walk and sweet nothing talk

8. If folks in formal wear are encountered at any time upon said public deck, acknowledge their presence with a loud and firm "stand clear" - assume the position of attention and render the proper honors (i.e. hand salute)

9. After the formal party passes, continue previous activity and have fun:)

 

You'll get a smile and and a good evening from me too:)

BTW, this is a hot topic if you didn't know

[serendipity1499]

John..Thanks for the laugh..:D :D :D

[murphyis1]

Thanks for the replies, especially yours John. Too funny! I had no idea this was a hot topic. Thanks for letting me know. I've just recently booked my first HAL cruise and started lurking here. I haven't read anything about the dress code so far, so I hope I haven't accidently started what will become a heated thread. ;)

 

Happy cruising,

 

Murphy

[grannynurse]

Hi Murphy,

There are some who make a beeline to their cabin to change after leaving the dining room. There are also those who prefer to eat in the Lido to avoid dressing up for dinner. You're bound to see all manner of dress all over the ship. Some of us HAL traditionalist choose HAL because we prefer the more formal and dressy atmosphere, and we don't change clothes.

If you do, you won't be the only ones, and unless you're wearing muscle shirts and jean shorts with holes you won't get any disparaging looks.

Don't obsess over this, it's not worth it. After reading your concern, I think you won't be comfortable standing out, but go with your gut feeling. Maybe chinos?

Have a great cruise,

GN

[Bill S]

Murphy: it should not be a big deal at all. We have at times, taken a stroll around the ship on the lower promenade decek in our formal wear (but only on formal nights) and have encountered folks dressed more "comfortably". Our experience is that everyone just smiles and says "hi", "good evening", etc and then just moves on. But I do like John's idea of a salute!!!! :D

Enjoy your cruise!

[O2B@C]

... I had no idea this was a hot topic. Thanks for letting me know. .... I haven't read anything about the dress code so far ....

 

Permit me to suggest that before you do a search for dress code threads and start reviewing them, you get yourself a cup of coffee and a comfy chair, because you're in for a LONG stretch of reading!!!:D

 

The bottom line is that you shouldn't be in the indoor public gathering areas (dining room, show lounge, bars, casino, etc.) in the evening without adhering to that evening's dress code, the exception being the Lido dining area where smart casual is acceptable even on formal night.

 

Be respectful, don't visibly defy the rules, go with the flow, and you should be ok.

[tomc]

Copper 10-8 is wrong.

 

If spotted, run like crazy and shout, "Where are the life preservers!?"

 

Nobody will notice what you are wearing.

[Cruising-along]

The inner hallways are good to go also for the shorts and tee's;) (otherwise it's kinda hard to get to the outside decks!;) ). Here's the SOP:

1. Slowly open your cabin door

2. Look left

3. Look right

4. If no pax in formal wear are observed in your assigned hallway, double time or low crawl it to the nearest stairwell and commence your descent

5. Upon arrival at Promenade Deck, repeat steps #2 and #3

6. If the aforementioned observations (steps #2 and #3) prove negative, make a bee-line for one of the exits giving access to the outside deck.

7. Commence with your leisurely walk and sweet nothing talk

8. If folks in formal wear are encountered at any time upon said public deck, acknowledge their presence with a loud and firm "stand clear" - assume the position of attention and render the proper honors (i.e. hand salute)

9. After the formal party passes, continue previous activity and have fun:)

 

You'll get a smile and and a good evening from me too:)

BTW, this is a hot topic if you didn't know

 

(LOL) Too funny! Thanks for humorously answering the question of how does one get from one's stateroom to the outer deck on formal night in non-formal attire ;)

[gg3]

I'm new to HAL, and I read in the dress code that shorts, etc. are not permitted in public areas in the evening. What areas are considered public? Does this include the outside decks? I can't imagine not being able to walk around a deck after dark in my comfy shorts and tee, but I don't want to break the "rules" either. Any advice from experienced HAL cruisers?

 

The only time you will find my DH husband and myself in formal wear is in the dining room on formal nights. After that, we change into more comfy clothes such as slacks, jogging outfits, etc. to walk the decks or go to the casino, or even attend the shows. There are a lot of personal opinions re: this topic, so I go with my gut and have never felt out of place. At the shows you will see more folks dressed up fancy on formal nights, but a lot are in casual clothes as well. Shorts probably need to be worn during the day, then just slip on a pair of wind pants, if you like really casual. gg

[lambs2]

DH and I enjoy dressing up for formal nights, but I know some people don't

 

as evidenced by the missing people at tables which has become more and

 

more common on formal nights - even on HAL cruises. I noticed this

 

particularly on our last Mediterranean cruise. Perhaps some people just

 

didn't want to be bothered bringing formal outfits along, especially with a

 

longer cruise and baggage restrictions. Anyway, we usually can not be

 

bothered to go back to our stateroom and change again after dinner so

 

we are some of the folks who are in their formal attire all evening. But

 

that is mostly just laziness on our part! :)

[RuthC]

4. If no pax in formal wear are observed in your assigned hallway, double time or low crawl it to the nearest stairwell and commence your descent

Descent? Descent! Some of us have cabins on the inside of the hull, you know. :D

[Copper10-8]

Descent? Descent! Some of us have cabins on the inside of the hull, you know. :D

 

OK, Ok, no worries! Especially for you, Ruth (and other inward dwellers like you), "as you were" on the descent and change that to ascent the stairwell in a steady upward movement ('put your left leg in, put your left leg out, etc.) until you too will reach your final destination. However!!!........and this is a biggie!!!..........Make sure you check left, check right before proceeding onto the P-deck. Then adhere to the aforementioned instructions!

BTW, speaking of left leg in, left leg out...............you might have already heard this but with all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the present time, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person which almost went unnoticed .Larry La Prise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey" died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in,and thats when all the trouble started.....

[bob brown]

I feel awkward and under-dressed when I am on the ships public decks just prior to the early seating on formal nights, as the early seating folks are all (mostly) in their formal attire, while we late seating folks have yet to change for late dinner.

Are we supposed to change early or hang out in our cabin for a couple of hours before our dinner time?:confused:

[sir-ed]

You know up until I read Copper 10-8 reply I too had my concerns about what to wear and how to get out on the deck. I thinking of crawling out the port hole and scaling the side of the ship but didn't thing that would work so I think I will use his Idea. Thanks Copper 10-8:cool:

 

 

Hey anybody know what color the wall paper and carpet are on the inner hallways. I want to make sure my camofloge paint is the right colors.

:D

[tomc]

Hey anybody know what color the wall paper and carpet are on the inner hallways. I want to make sure my camofloge paint is the right colors.

Same color as boxer shorts.

[RuthC]

Are we supposed to change early or hang out in our cabin for a couple of hours before our dinner time?:confused:

You sit in the hot tub. When you're up to your neck in bubbling water no one knows what you're wearing. :D

Actually, I know exactly what you mean. I have been in the hot tub while passengers in formal wear pranced by on the way to the Crow's Nest. I wondered how I was going to slink back to my cabin without looking too out of place.

Fortunately I have a long, flowing caftan that I wear as a cover-up and I blended right in. ;)

[serendipity1499]

You sit in the hot tub. When you're up to your neck in bubbling water no one knows what you're wearing. :D

 

Actually, I know exactly what you mean. I have been in the hot tub while passengers in formal wear pranced by on the way to the Crow's Nest. I wondered how I was going to slink back to my cabin without looking too out of place.

Fortunately I have a long, flowing caftan that I wear as a cover-up and I blended right in. ;)

 

We also are late seating folks..I'm glad I'm not the only person who feels so conspicuous in day wear! We love sitting out on Promenade Deck & watching the sun go down..Yes, have even seen the Green Flash! Often the Deck Steward tries to fold us up into the teak chairs..LOL

 

And since we too are in the cheap seats (Main or Dolphin), we are obliged to slink down from the Promenade Deck to our cabin..

 

Happy Cruising all...:) Betty