Thinking Of Skipping Formal Nights!!

[dressdenn]

I'm single. Going with other family. I did formal nights my first cruise. This is my second and I think I'm just going to skip it and relax more. Thoughts? Anyone else skip the formal nights?

[mtchg]

..No need to do what other people do or think you should do. I have cruised single numerous times, but I enjoy the formal nights; especially that first one with the freebee cocktail party...meet the captain...I just love the ambiance..and the food that night.....mmmmmm,

 

....but thats just me.

 

 

Mitch

[*Mach*]

I'm single. Going with other family. I did formal nights my first cruise. This is my second and I think I'm just going to skip it and relax more. Thoughts? Anyone else skip the formal nights?

 

I did the same... had dinner at the supper club the first formal night.

 

Loved it!

[babyher]

DW , myself and 2 of our kids (15&16) will be on the Miracle in April. This will be DW and mine s 5th and 4th cruise resepctively. Although it will be the kids first, it will be no big loss to them not to have to dress up.

 

We decided to just make this a nice relaxing cruise and leave the formal stuff at home and just do the Lido on formal nights.

[Tightlinerods]

Welcome to the club......

 

We are starting to completely skip the main dinning room for the entire cruise...

 

Here is why...

 

Early seating makes us feel rushed and stops any deck fun we are having!

 

Late seating is simply to late... dinning at 9:00 is well no fun....

 

The food service on the lido deck and other areas is fine by us.....

 

 

John

[cruisejunkie15]

I liked the formal nights, but on my last cruise, the food in the dining room was not that great. I wish I would have given up on the formal nights and the dining room all together early on the cruise, because at the end on the last night I went ahead and had the lido dining and it was actually better than what they were serving at the dining.

 

In the end, it all depends on what you want to do. its your vacation, so enjoy!!!

[joie1016]

I'm single. Going with other family. I did formal nights my first cruise. This is my second and I think I'm just going to skip it and relax more. Thoughts? Anyone else skip the formal nights?

On our last 5 or 6 cruises we skipped formal night. We left the formal stuff at home. Relax , enjoy your cruise and do whatever you want. We have noticed lately more and more people skipping formal nights. The dining rooms seem a lot less crowded than they used to be. Unless you like to get dressed up, skip it.:)

[*Mach*]

Lots of folks are saying don't dress, skip the formal nights and that's fine... I did. But, I still brought a blazer, slacks and such for the Captain's reception and a couple of VIP things that I was invited to.

 

I don't mind dressing, not in the least, but as a solo cruiser I didn't find the 'formal' stuff that inviting.

[capecodmommy]

My son skipped the dinning room most nights all together. He ate at the buffet ALL day long.

[Name game]

Bring clothes with you for formal night so you have them just in case. I sometimes go, sometimes don't. I don't feel like I miss anything by not going, but I want the clothes with me in case I want to go. You will be surprised at how many people skip formal night dinner.

[Kurbanfan]

We usually only do 1 formal night and skip the 2nd one. On our cruise last August we didn't eat in the dining room at all and had a blast. No hurry to get ready. (wish they had anytime) The alternative food is fine for us. They even had prime rib on formal night in the lido buffet.

[Skywench]

My last cruise was the first time I did the formal nights. We ate in the dining room during the two formal nights and in the buffet every other night. On all my other cruises we were quite happy with the buffet each night. I don't really care to be rushed to get back for a certain time to eat or feel like I have to be on a certain schedule when I'm on vacation. We'll probably just eat in the dining room on the two formal nights on the next cruise in May as well.

[bills blasters]

We have always skipped formal night. Trying to decide what to bring was just too much of a hassle for us. We are not formal people in everyday life, and don't want to be formal on a cruise either. We also skip the dining room quite a few times. It gives us time to try out all the thing that the lido deck and room service has. I am not that impressed with the dining room food. It is nice to eat in the lido in the evening. It is much quieter.

[AZjohn]

On the first few cruises we took my wife and I did the formal thing. As time has gone on we both are just not into it anymore. We just don’t feel like playing dress up when on a vacation that we just want to relax on.

I think it’s a big thrill for a lot of people, but not for us anymore. We will find somewhere else to eat and enjoy hanging out at our balcony the rest of the night (don’t want anyone offended seeing dressed casual:rolleyes: ).

Enjoy,

John

[DottieMay]

but but but but but... the LOBSTER!

 

I think you should make yourself happy. And, if skipping Formal Night (but... the LOBSTER!!) does that - so be it!

[map70065]

I actually enjoy dressing up and going, but DH doesn't. I don't enjoy it as much as he dislikes it - so for our cruise in June we will be skipping the formal nights. It does make packing easier.

[travelingirl70]

On our first couple of cruises, we went to both formal nights. In fact, we went to everything so as not to miss out on whatever was going on. We were exhausted and didn't like cruising very much. After swearing off cruising, DH won a cruise from work, so of course, we went. This time, we went to one formal night (skipped the captain's party). Our kids skipped the formal nights entirely, in fact they only ate in the dining room twice (first and last night). We skipped the second formal night and one other night in the dining room. We just did what we wanted to, when we wanted to. In fact, we didn't "plan" on skipping the dining room, we just decided what we were up to each day. It made for a much more enjoyable cruise!

 

So, we are going on another cruise in December and I may just skip packing the formal stuff altogether. I don't think the lobster is all that great anyway. But I live in New England and can get delicious lobster any day of the week.

 

Do what you feel like doing, and if you change your mind - that's okay. It's VACATION, afterall!

[-ClevelandRocks-]

We did formal nite first cruise and now pack lite, self assist debark, and skip the formal nites. I must admit, I miss the dining room those nites, but don't miss dressing up OR lugging around the extra garmets.

[keene state mom]

WOW and I thought it was just me ... We jave been on several cruises, and have always gone to every dinner. and this year we are skipping formal night, and just going to enjoy that extra time. I find it rush rush rush to get their to sit sit sit. We will still go to the cocktail party.

[bmw mama]

WOW and I thought it was just me ... We jave been on several cruises, and have always gone to every dinner. and this year we are skipping formal night, and just going to enjoy that extra time. I find it rush rush rush to get their to sit sit sit. We will still go to the cocktail party.

 

 

Formal nights on my last cruise.. Carnival Conquest... We wore nice clothes, but, I didn`t see one person decked out in evening gowns !! Why care what people think about how you dress as long as you dress nice and don`t wear a baseball cap? (saw plenty of these) Carnival is just not a formal ship ! This was our first Carnival cruise. Royal Carribean on formal nights I do see a few evening gowns and tux, but, I really don`t see that many people worrying about FORMAL !!!! Think about it who really cares about what you have on??? We just enjoy the dining room every night. The food I agree is not the best... but, why in the world do you think that the buffet food is better??

[DonMar]

We do not go to formal night at all, on any cruise.

 

Why.... we were suits everyday for work, speaking of work and we only bring carry on luggage.

 

We love going to the Lido buffet on formal nights and eating out by the pool. There are so few people and it is one of the quietest, restful times on the ship. Lovely.

[Djptcp]

We sailed on the Glory the week of Christmas. DH was winning big at craps in the casino and returned to the cabin too late for us to make the first formal night at our 5:45 seating. So we ate in the buffet restaurant and had prime rib. First time in 13 cruises we had ever missed a formal night. We decided we didn't miss it that much, although ordinarily we do like to dress up for the formal nights. We made the second one okay. The prime rib in the buffet was very good and there were very few people eating there, so no lines.

[RizzoLee]

We just do both-early dinner in the dining room, then we pick and choose what we want at the buffet around 8pm if we get hungry. :)

 

I bring a few cocktail dresses-we've never missed formal night, but if we didn't it wouldn't bother me that much. I'm sure if I checked the menu ahead of time, and didn't like a thing on the menu (within reason, lol), FDH wouldn't have a problem skipping it. He's grumbling about wearing a tie enough already right now, lol.

[scopewest]

Our last cruise everyone but us at our table for ten skipped formal night. It was like having a romantic table for two, we had no complaints! I think the waiter thought gee, I can relax, because he had the busboy serve us. Which we didn't care as it was probably good training for him, and we had his undivided attention.

[cruisetobeaches]

We have skipped the dining room on a few occasions, but not the formal nights. This always seems to be the 'best' night for the food, especially the lobster! Not that crazy about dressing up, but have always found the 'special' food is served on formal nights. And, I'm not shy about taking 'seconds'. BTW: I am NOT overweight!