Is it formal dress for the gala buffet?

[itsonlyme]

:) Sorry about this question, but I need to know so that I can make my DH bring a jacket and tie.

[FitzLA]

Nope. Not at all. As a matter of fact, when we were on Freedom, they had it out by the pool. Shorts were even okay.

[Alexis]

Even when held in the dining room, I have seen every type of dress. ;)

It is held later in the evening and many people have changed into more comfortable clothes by then.

I would still not wear shorts in the dining room, but that is me. What others wear, I do not care. :D

[cb at sea]

If it is on the formal night, many will stay in their formal duds, because they look so good! Some will immediately change into their everyday clothes.

[Mark_K]

If it is on the formal night, many will stay in their formal duds, because they look so good! Some will immediately change into their everyday clothes.

Actually, it is formal night, not formal dinner night, and some cruise lines even enforce it (unlike RCI, which doesn't even enforce it for dinner).

[gnparend]

RCL will not challenge you if you do not wear formal dress, but most others will be dressed in formal. That's one of the fun things about Cruising getting dressed up. It's nice to look Nice.

 

I do change out of formal for the midnight buffet which is @ 12:30.

[alcheme]

I don't recall seeing very many people dressed up for the midnight buffet. I've even occasionally seen someone show up in their PJs. I wouldn't do that, but suffice it to say, it's hard to be underdressed for a late-night buffet.

[Barbee524]

I have never made it to a midnight buffet. Maybe on the next cruise (I always say this). That said since many people opt out of the dining room altogether for the informal Windjammer, I don't see how they could possibly enforce any type of dress code for the midnight buffet.

[FitzLA]

Actually, it is formal night, not formal dinner night, and some cruise lines even enforce it (unlike RCI, which doesn't even enforce it for dinner).

 

Actually, you are wrong. It is only formal in the dining room. At least on RCI, Carnival, Princess. You will notice in the Compass that even on formal night, it says formal attire for the dining room. For Chops, Portofino it says Smart Casual, and for windjammer it says casual. Just because it is formal night in the dining room does not mean it is formal night ship wide. And you do not have to stay in your formal attire all night. This is not Crystal or Silversea. It's Royal Caribbean.

[Mark_K]

Actually, you are wrong. It is only formal in the dining room. At least on RCI, Carnival, Princess. You will notice in the Compass that even on formal night, it says formal attire for the dining room. For Chops, Portofino it says Smart Casual, and for windjammer it says casual. Just because it is formal night in the dining room does not mean it is formal night ship wide. And you do not have to stay in your formal attire all night. This is not Crystal or Silversea. It's Royal Caribbean.

I know what they enforce, and don't, and how people dress in practice on RCI, etc. and I don't really have a problem with it either way. However....

 

I just checked the Compass from our last cruise on Adventure, this is what it says:

Suggested attire for

this evening

is

Formal

. Cocktail dresses for ladies, suits and ties or tuxedos for gentlemen.

And here's the suggested codes from the website:

 

Q:

What are the dress codes onboard?

 

A:

There are three distinct types of evenings onboard

: casual, smart casual and formal. Suggested guidelines for these

nights

are:

Casual: Sport shirts and slacks for men, sundresses or pants for women

Smart Casual: Jackets and ties for men, dresses or pantsuits for women

Formal: Suits and ties or tuxedos for men, cocktail dresses for women

 

3 to 4 - night cruises include one

formal night

and the remainder nights are casual.

5 - night cruises include one formal and the remainder nights casual.

6 - night cruises include two

formal nights

, one smart casual and the remainder nights casual. 7 to 9 - night cruises include two formal nights, one smart casual night and the remainder nights casual.

10 to 13-night cruises include three

formal nights

, two smart casual nights, and the remainder nights casual.

14+ - night cruises include three

formal nights

, four smart casual nights and the remainder nights casual.

 

We appreciate your usual parental guidance and cooperation in observing these easy guidelines with your children.

 

 

 

Where in either of these does it mention dinner as opposed to evening/night?

[FitzLA]

I know what it says. But I also know what our compass said. Chops, Portofino were smart casual, windjammer were casual. And since we still use the pools at night I am not going to use them in a tux. I love to dress for formal night and show off my duds, but after dinner, I am going to change and enjoy the rest of the evening is whatever I am most comfortable in. And if you want to stay in your formal attire all night, have at it. No one will look at you funny. And you should enjoy yourfelf. As will I.

[Mark_K]

I know what it says. But I also know what our compass said. Chops, Portofino were smart casual, windjammer were casual. And since we still use the pools at night I am not going to use them in a tux. I love to dress for formal night and show off my duds, but after dinner, I am going to change and enjoy the rest of the evening is whatever I am most comfortable in. And if you want to stay in your formal attire all night, have at it. No one will look at you funny. And you should enjoy yourfelf. As will I.

How long I stay in my suit/tux depends a lot on how much I ate at dinner. :)

 

And again, I know this is all relatively immaterial on RCI, who doesn't enforce much of anything related to their dress codes, but just because a particular venue is not formal doesn't mean the evening isn't.

 

Some cruise lines on formal evenings have informal dining options - and it's always informal on the open decks, at the pool, etc., but you still will be expected to be dressed formally if you go to a show, the casino, the indoor lounges, etc. RCI's policies are still written that way, even though they may be mostly honored in the breach.

[FitzLA]

How long I stay in my suit/tux depends a lot on how much I ate at dinner. :)

 

And again, I know this is all relatively immaterial on RCI, who doesn't enforce much of anything related to their dress codes, but just because a particular venue is not formal doesn't mean the evening isn't.

 

Some cruise lines on formal evenings have informal dining options - and it's always informal on the open decks, at the pool, etc., but you still will be expected to be dressed formally if you go to a show, the casino, the indoor lounges, etc. RCI's policies are still written that way, even though they may be mostly honored in the breach.

 

Well, knowing this now, I think next time i will head to the pool and jump in in my tux. Lol. Just teasing you. I get what you are saying. There are casual venues, but the evening remains formal. I do get it. I am just one of those who loves cruising, and loves being on tropical vacations, but I love doing it casual. This is why I don't limit myself to just cruising. This is why I am going to Hawaii for 10 days in a few months. Cause no matter where I go or what I do in Hawaii, I can do it in shorts. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and everything here is casual. Went to Mortons for dinner the other night, and most people were in shorts. It's just the way of life here. I respect the attire on cruises, and enjot wearing my tux to dinner. But it is a once in a while thing.

 

Happy cruising.

[Hypo]

It has always struck me as very funny, when we get on the elevator to go to dinner on formal night. Here we are, dressed to the nines, and the elevator stops at a floor and a big hairy guy in a speedo gets on even though we are going down to dinner, and he wants to go up to the pool.

 

You will see people on formal nights in all sorts of clothing. Only on a cruise ship.

 

Hypo

[cheshire999]

It has always struck me as very funny, when we get on the elevator to go to dinner on formal night. Here we are, dressed to the nines, and the elevator stops at a floor and a big hairy guy in a speedo gets on even though we are going down to dinner, and he wants to go up to the pool.

 

You will see people on formal nights in all sorts of clothing. Only on a cruise ship.

 

Hypo

 

Thanks for the mental picture! Mind eraser please!