What to wear in the evenings??

[sassafrass]

First time cruiser. I know, no shorts in the dining room at night but I am wondering does everyone wear skirts, dresses, slacks or what? Especially teens like my daughter? Does everyone stay dressed up for the whole evening? Thanks in advance.

[Sandi149]

First time cruiser. I know, no shorts in the dining room at night but I am wondering does everyone wear skirts, dresses, slacks or what? Especially teens like my daughter? Does everyone stay dressed up for the whole evening? Thanks in advance.

 

For the non-formal nights I wore a nice pair of capris and a nice top with sandals. Sun dresses, skirts, slacks are all ok. On formal nights I wore a tea length cocktail dress and my husband wore a suit. Most people on my sailing changed out of their formal clothing.

[UlvaZell]

Stated policy and actual practice can differ.

 

Generally on the first night there is latitude because all of the luggage may not yet have been delivered to the staterooms.

 

In general however our tribe wears khaki slacks, polos, collar shirts etc. Dressier than jeans and T-shirts but not necessarily suits and dresses. Business casual would probably be the best description. Most folk seem to be respectful of that, but there are always exceptions...

[Knights on the Beach]

Lots of people do change into shorts after dinner; I usually stay dressed in whatever I wore to dinner. It's usually too chilly in the lounges for me to be wearing shorts anyway.

[EastTexans2]

I usually pack pair of black dress pants and then take several diffrent tops to wear to dinner, on the non-formal nights.

[LHP]

I stay dressed up. Hubby and the boys change back into their shorts after dinner.

[Cotton]

I'm sure your DD would look just right in a pair of capris and nice top for non-formal evenings. I've seen lots of sundresses and slacks, as well.

[ParrotRob]

Evening wear while out and about on the ship really shouldn't be any different than your dinner attire for the evening. I don't really get the whole mentality of changing after dinner - if shorts aren't appropriate for dinner, I don't think they're appropriate for the show, the casino, the piano bar or wherever else you might be after dinner (well, unless it's the pool). YMMV, of course, but slacks and a sport coat are what I'm comfortable wearing in, say, the casino or a show.

[Peto]

here we go again.....

[hoopsielv]

I just wore whatever I'd worn to dinner- either a skirt or dress pants (and a long dress on formal nights). I think we saw just about everything though!

[AuntieBon]

Evening wear while out and about on the ship really shouldn't be any different than your dinner attire for the evening. I don't really get the whole mentality of changing after dinner - if shorts aren't appropriate for dinner, I don't think they're appropriate for the show, the casino, the piano bar or wherever else you might be after dinner

 

I'll admit to changing after dinner and it's so I can enjoy myself in the dance clubs. I don't wear heels in regular life but will wear them for dinner on a cruise. After dinner my feet are usually screaming for relief and I'm not ashamed to go back and change into something that will allow me to party all night :D

 

As for dinner on non-formal nights, I wear black slacks with various dressy stops.

[momofmn00]

I agree, I pretty much wore capris/skirts with a dressy bluse/tank to dinner (also a bright floral sundress/halter one night!), except on the formal nights (obviously! :rolleyes: ) I plan for my 8 year old DD to wear sundresses or dressy capri sets & 7 year old DS to wear kakhis/slack with cotton polos on non-formal nights just for suggestions! ;) Have fun cruisin...:)

[Kempa]

I will wear slacks and a button-down shirt for normal evenings, perhaps with a sports jacket. I hear the dining rooms can be cold.

 

For formal night I will wear a tuxedo, but that is just because I have one and like to wear it from time to time. If I didn't have one, I would wear a dark suit with a shirt and tie.

[BallFour4]

First time cruiser. I know, no shorts in the dining room at night but I am wondering does everyone wear skirts, dresses, slacks or what? Especially teens like my daughter? Does everyone stay dressed up for the whole evening? Thanks in advance.

 

You asked this on a Carnival board, so let me give you an idea of what we see and do.

 

We dress for dinner. For me it's a dark suit and a cocktail dress for my wife for formal nights. For the other nights it's khakis and flowered or polo stype shirt and capris' for her. Seems to be the standard "uniform" for most of us.

 

After dinner we change to nice shorts. In the summer months the cruises tend to be casual after dinner, and a surprising number of people skip formal nights and wear shorts all day. I have a 17 year old daughter and her standard dress after dinner is a Hollister/Abercrombie shirt and jeans. On non formal nights she has worn them to dinner as well. Again, no rules against it on Carnival.

 

Some of the show areas are cool, but we find that varies from ship to ship.

 

Also, the late seating dinner folks are in shorts and casual dress all over the ship while early seating ones are dressed up.

 

Take away point here is no one "frowns on you" for wearing shorts after dinner around the ship. At least no one from the cruise line, and no policy states you'd need to stay in your dinner attire.

 

Life's too short to worry about what the person next to you is wearing in the theater or at the slot machines...

[bonniemari]

Evening wear while out and about on the ship really shouldn't be any different than your dinner attire for the evening. I don't really get the whole mentality of changing after dinner - if shorts aren't appropriate for dinner, I don't think they're appropriate for the show, the casino, the piano bar or wherever else you might be after dinner (well, unless it's the pool). YMMV, of course, but slacks and a sport coat are what I'm comfortable wearing in, say, the casino or a show.

 

 

Spoken like a man who has never had the privilege (or pain) of wearing those cute little strappy shoes with heels that are to die for.

[nmyorkiemom]

DD15 packed sundresses. Actually wore a knit skort that looked like a skirt all around most nights & since it was comfy knit stayed in it all evening. Tank top w/ a jacket or other top over it.

[cuyahoga11]

Evening wear while out and about on the ship really shouldn't be any different than your dinner attire for the evening. I don't really get the whole mentality of changing after dinner - if shorts aren't appropriate for dinner, I don't think they're appropriate for the show, the casino, the piano bar or wherever else you might be after dinner (well, unless it's the pool). YMMV, of course, but slacks and a sport coat are what I'm comfortable wearing in, say, the casino or a show.

 

So if I choose to dine at the buffet in shorts instead of going to the dining room do I have to change after dinner into dress clothes to go to the casino? I think not.

[Kieferbell]

You asked this on a Carnival board, so let me give you an idea of what we see and do.

 

We dress for dinner. For me it's a dark suit and a cocktail dress for my wife for formal nights. For the other nights it's khakis and flowered or polo stype shirt and capris' for her. Seems to be the standard "uniform" for most of us.

 

After dinner we change to nice shorts. In the summer months the cruises tend to be casual after dinner, and a surprising number of people skip formal nights and wear shorts all day. I have a 17 year old daughter and her standard dress after dinner is a Hollister/Abercrombie shirt and jeans. On non formal nights she has worn them to dinner as well. Again, no rules against it on Carnival.

 

Some of the show areas are cool, but we find that varies from ship to ship.

 

Also, the late seating dinner folks are in shorts and casual dress all over the ship while early seating ones are dressed up.

 

Take away point here is no one "frowns on you" for wearing shorts after dinner around the ship. At least no one from the cruise line, and no policy states you'd need to stay in your dinner attire.

 

Life's too short to worry about what the person next to you is wearing in the theater or at the slot machines...

 

I agree with you. Why should you worry what someone else has on after dinner. Good Grief ! I'm on vacation !

[crystalblue0610]

Although I'm confortable in what I wear to dinner....I'm just wearing it to dinner. I'm usually in tall heels and going to dinner....it's just a walk to the elevator and walk to the table.....

 

After dinner, we're walking all over the ship, going up on deck feeling the breeze, walking in the lobby, seeing a show, walking around the casino....I want my feet to be alive and if I change shoes then I change clothes. But I'll usually keep on my top and switch to capris....mostly jean ones (non-holey and very nice)

[AuntieBon]

AMEN!

Spoken like a man who has never had the privilege (or pain) of wearing those cute little strappy shoes with heels that are to die for.

[nimbex1970]

For the teens... mine wore sun dresses on non formals and cocktail length for formal... at night... all the teen girls were in mini skirts or jeans. let your teen bring jeans to hang in at night.

 

I've worn designer jeans with black high heel and a snazzy, night club shirt at night after dinner for the night life, as well as black pants or mini skirts with night club type shirts, if I don't change from my dinner dress. I always wear dresses to dinner and sometimes don't change as a few of them can pass for night club wear without being tacky and smutty at dinner:eek:;):D

[ParrotRob]

So if I choose to dine at the buffet in shorts instead of going to the dining room do I have to change after dinner into dress clothes to go to the casino? I think not.

 

You don't HAVE to do anything. *I* don't think shorts are appropriate for the casino at night, but like I said, YMMV.

[KK41]

I just got off the Conquest 7/8/07 and was very disappointed that the dress code was not considered. We dressed each and every night but saw folks in shorts, jeans, muscle shirts and board shorts. This is the only time I get to dress up and really wish the rules were made to be followed.

[JerseyHorseLover]

*I* don't think shorts are appropriate for the casino at night, but like I said, YMMV

 

Guess you have never been to a casino in Vegas or Atlantic City..... Shorts and casual attire is where its at. And the casino on the ship is just as casual.. This Jersey girl is on vacation, and flip flops & shorts is my attire there

[crystalblue0610]

I just got off the Conquest 7/8/07 and was very disappointed that the dress code was not considered. We dressed each and every night but saw folks in shorts, jeans, muscle shirts and board shorts. This is the only time I get to dress up and really wish the rules were made to be followed.

 

Good for you.....just because it's the only time you dress up why do you feel that others have to be like you

 

Once again:rolleyes: there is nothing wrong with jeans. I highly doubt someone would be in a muscle shirt in the dining room even on casual nights without someone saying something just because of underarm hair.....I saw a man in khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt and I was like more power to him.....he was in the minority.......so he stood out so we let him deal with that.

 

It wasn't "Oh the horror...my dinner is ruined we must leave at once, I'm losing my appetite seeing people in jeans and shorts, I'm so disgusted"