Tuxedo or dark suit

[pna]

Am new to Celebrity Cruises. Have done several Princess. On previous cruises my husband rented a tuxedo at home to wear for formal nights. Trying to decide: he is retired now and we will be spending time before and after cruise in Florida, so won't rent and carry tux from home. Do most men on the cruises (we are doing Summit in Feb.) with Celebrity wear tuxes for formal night? Or do most just do the dark suit? Are there any that do the white dinner jacket one night and dark another? How are the tuxes you rent from Celebrity? I will probably wear a long dress both formal nights as we love an excuse to dress up. We are traveling with a group, Iowa Hawkeyes, also for the first time and have no idea what those in our group do. Thanks for advice. I may have several other questions about Celebrity. Fun to try a new line and different itinerary.

[Bfson]

On our cruise it was about 50-50.

[bobbyleduck]

Help preserve the formal in formal nights. By all means wear a tuxedo. As has been noted on previous threads, now might be a good time to buy a gently used tuxedo. No need to go the black and white route. Instead, just purchase additional bow-tie/cummerbund sets for alternate accessories. You can even tie (pun intended) them into your dress colors.

 

If you don't want to lug extra clothing along on the rest of your trip, just ship the excess home via UPS or the like. It won't cost that much and you won't have to deal with carrying it around with you.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[shipshape sam]

I pack/wear a tux and not sure of the difference in packing space between packing a suit vs a tux. Thus, unless you are renting a suit you will still need to pack a suit. Guess the real issue is do you want to spend the money on renting a tux onboard (per your comment) vs packing a suit from home (saving the rental charge)

 

Our Celebrity cruises it has been more like 80/20. One was in early December, the other in early April. You will not go wrong with a tux! :)

[Smitty24]

I pretty much only sail Celebrity and notice a large amount of men wearing tuxes. At least enough that no one feels uncomfortable either way, so I guess it IS 50-50 like the other poster said.

 

That being said, my boyfriend, brother and brothers-in-law always wear tuxes. And I must say, as a woman I do likes me a man in a tux! ;)

 

BTW...before the bf purchased his own, he rented from celebrity. They give 2 shirts, cumberbund (sp?) and the cufflinks. He can also rent an additional vest set if that's what he likes and he can rent shoes, too.

 

The quality is the same as any other formal wear rental place. The good part is, it's delivered to your room and you get to leave it there when you go...no lugging it around!

My bf had a bit of a problem..the pants adjustment thingy was broken and the jacket was too large. The took them both back and replaced them, no problem. Just be sure to have him try it on first thing.

[pna]

I love the comment about preserving formal night. Didn't think of that, but that is one of the things we like about cruising........dressing up and it bugs me when dress codes aren't enforced. Am glad some cruise lines aren't going totally casual, for those of us who do like to have an excuse to dress up! Your point is well taken and we will definitely go the tuxedo route, whether we rent at home or on the ship. Thanks! May try the ship as I doubt if I can talke hubby into purchasing........even though we do like to cruise. I will run the idea across though. Live in a small town, but near some larger ones. Where does one go to find a nice gently used tux or even a reasonable new one. I would guess by the time you rent 2-3 times it would be paid for!

[jackdiamond]

I love the comment about preserving formal night. Didn't think of that, but that is one of the things we like about cruising........dressing up and it bugs me when dress codes aren't enforced. Am glad some cruise lines aren't going totally casual, for those of us who do like to have an excuse to dress up! Your point is well taken and we will definitely go the tuxedo route, whether we rent at home or on the ship. Thanks! May try the ship as I doubt if I can talke hubby into purchasing........even though we do like to cruise. I will run the idea across though. Live in a small town, but near some larger ones. Where does one go to find a nice gently used tux or even a reasonable new one. I would guess by the time you rent 2-3 times it would be paid for!

I endorse the comments of the other folks; and, it would appear that more tuxedoes are viewed at the late seating. I believe that this is one of the differences between Celebrity and many of their rivals. Please, do not abandon this tradition.

[Guest maler]

I rented a tux only a couple of times before I broke down and bought one that really fit well.

It was less than $300 including shirts and accessories at the Mens Warehouse.

I have found many occassions to wear it and would have easily been up to $600 in rental fees by now.

I always take it cruising and just change tie & vest for different nights.

 

KEEP FORMAL NIGHTS ALIVE!

[bobbyleduck]

Most places that rent tuxedos, now sell used tuxedos. There is a place in Portland, OR that has a special outlet where they sell nothing but used formalwear from their retail rental outlets. Do a Google search for "Mr Formal" and it will show the place I'm talking about.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[CaptainG]

I rented tuxes my first few cruises, but found it better to just buy a black suit. With a tux shirt and bow tie you can't tell the difference on formal nights. With gray slacks it works for the informal nights also. When at home, I'm always ready for the next funeral.

[skandls]

If you like to dress up - it is worth buying a tux and accessories. They aren't that expensive and they stay in style for a long time. Celebrity cruisers do dress up more than Princess or Royal Caribbean.

[Hebe]

I agree that you will see more tuxs on late seating. Also Europe tends to have more than the Caribbean.

 

EBAY is also another good source of new tuxs. You can always take it to a local tailor for adjustments.

[Drew B]

If you like to dress up - it is worth buying a tux and accessories. They aren't that expensive and they stay in style for a long time. Celebrity cruisers do dress up more than Princess or Royal Caribbean.

 

 

Tell me about it! I still wear a tux I bought in 1987. 20 years (granted of infrequent use) ain't bad! And you don't necessarily need to stick to traditional ruffled formal shirts, either. You can up the "hip" quotient with different style dress shirts. Colors, patterns, even different collar styles... Just about everything looks good with a nice tux!

[fti]

I hate to disappoint those who posted above but I will have a dark suit on my Celebrity cruise next month and I have late dinner seating. If you want to pay for my tux rental though, I will reconsider.

[skandls]

I hate to disappoint those who posted above but I will have a dark suit on my Celebrity cruise next month and I have late dinner seating. If you want to pay for my tux rental though, I will reconsider.

 

Many dark suits on our Baltic cruise. When DH takes his black suit I pack a vest and tie with cuff link shirt - almost as dressy as a tux. But I do love a tux with a real bow tie (with out of style wing collar shirt) - the ones you tie yourself. It takes 15 min for us to figure out how to get the bow tie to work.

[DeepWaterMariner]

There are always plenty of dark suits. I usually drag along my tux but I don't feel it's necessary except for longer cruises, certainly not on a 7 day trip. Transatlantic cruises in particular are very dressy in my experience.

[Luxuriate]

Seriously, you can buy one cheap and it still looks good. I think it is part of the fun. Get a simple tux and plan to wear it for the next 10 years. Hubby got his on sale for $150.00. Shoes were an extra $25 and the shirt probably cost him another $20. He has worn the ensemble at least 10 times...even at our wedding!

 

Cheryl

[GeminiA]

I've never worn a tux on any of my cruises so far, & don't plan to in the future. I'm never fond of them. Dark suits on formal nights for me.

[gillianrose]

I hate to disappoint those who posted above but I will have a dark suit on my Celebrity cruise next month and I have late dinner seating. If you want to pay for my tux rental though, I will reconsider.

 

I started wearing formals as a preteen. I was invited to and attended every dance at all my schools, and nearly all events were formal or cocktail. I associate formals with dancing, gala events or opera openings. A cruise is seldom one of those to me.

 

I will not lug an evening gown along with me unless I do a special crossing, a world cruise (SOMEDAY MAYBE), or maybe for New Year's Eve. Now I wear cocktail dresses or evening pants and pretty tops, but when we go to Alaska, it is far more important to bring clothes appropriate for excursions and the variable weather than it is for a few hours of fantasyland onboard.

 

I certainly don't expect my husband to dress more formally than me.

I think a dark suit along with a white or very pale long-sleeved shirt and solid tie of "evening" fabric is just fine for men on "formal" nights, especially for shorter, active cruises such as Alaska, where we would actually prefer a much more "resort casual" (long-sleeved, collared shirts on men) approach in the evening, with no formal nights at all. Having said that, I really hate to see "sloppy casual" at any time. We are looking forward to cruising on lines that emphasize formal nights less, but where passengers still dress stylishly. Most of all, on short cruises we really hate reading that there will be formal, informal and casual all in a one-week period. We hate packing for that. Again, especially for Alaska, Antarctica, etc.

 

Someone wrote that 7-day cruises have the same rental fee for tuxedos as 12-14 night cruises, but I don't know if that is the case. Either way, there'll be no tux on our upcoming trip to Alaska. He will still look very sharp on deck, though, with his outdoorsy gear. :)

[amagar]

We took my parents on their first cruise a couple of years ago....my dad -- a very mild-mannered, retired banker from the midwest -- fought the tux idea...said he hadn't worn one since he and my mom married in 1957. Well, we bought him an inexpensive tux for his birthday. He still balked. But then the first formal night came and he and my husband both put on their tuxes. While my mom and I got ready, my husband took my dad to the casino, ordered two martinis and taught him how to pay black jack. By the time mom and I got there, Dad thought he was James Bond (and he hadn't even finished first martini!). Now Dad loves his tuxedo...and mom loves to see him in it.

[bobbyleduck]

We took my parents on their first cruise a couple of years ago....my dad -- a very mild-mannered, retired banker from the midwest -- fought the tux idea...said he hadn't worn one since he and my mom married in 1957. Well, we bought him an inexpensive tux for his birthday. He still balked. But then the first formal night came and he and my husband both put on their tuxes. While my mom and I got ready, my husband took my dad to the casino, ordered two martinis and taught him how to pay black jack. By the time mom and I got there, Dad thought he was James Bond (and he hadn't even finished first martini!). Now Dad loves his tuxedo...and mom loves to see him in it.

 

I loved your "pay black jack" slip. Talk about truth in advertising.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[amagar]

Teehee, Bob!

 

You are sooo right, haha

[Luxuriate]

My husband loves to wear his tux in the casino. He has a very inexpensive tux and he has been able to wear it many many times. He says he pretends he is a "high roller" a the craps table!

 

Cheryl

[LynnObie]

I don't really like getting dressed up so, not surprisingly, my vote is for a dark suit on formal nights. I agree that it's about a 50/50 split on this issue on the cruises we've taken. No *right* or *wrong* answer here.... go with what you prefer, don't worry about what anyone else thinks & HAVE FUN!!!!!

[Michele Noel]

If you are looking for a gently used tux, look at the charity shops in your neighborhood. The people who support those shops need to donate a certain amount of nice clothing every year to keep their membership current. There are always very expensive tuxes in those shops and they don't sell very quickly. You can even shop for a tux when you are on a vacation to a big American city.