How many people Actually DO formal Night?

[clackey]

what expensive jewelry? Even if I had it, why would I risk travelling with it?

Everyone needs expensive jewelry. I got Miss Ginger some genuine cubic zirconium earrings for one cruise and last year I got her some real imitation pearls. Nothing but the best for my gal.;)

[ali07]

Lots of people dress up. We have been on a number of RCCL March Break cruises and lots of people dressed up.

 

We are doing another RCCL cruise next week...DH and I are kind of ambivalent about dressing up this time (we always dress up but thought it might be nice to simplify things a bit this trip). However, when asked their preference, my son (15) and daughter (21), said they wanted to dress up.

 

So we will be there with dresses and bling and tuxes!

 

Do what you want...don't worry about what other people may or may not do. There will always be people who dress up and people who don't. Do what makes you happy.

[the queen of clutter]

My best friend & I cruise every year (husband appreciation week) and sometimes we dress up (long gown, fancy pants suit, or cocktail dress) and go to the formal dinners, and sometimes not. Depends on our mood.

 

And how tight the dress is, esp. by the 2nd one!

 

When we don't attend we don't roam the areas where the dressed up folks are, out of respect for those who love dressing up. Some of the cruise lines even state that you should only wear formal wear at the shows on these nights (not that everyone does).

 

The most fun I've had was sitting in the library on RCCL's Liberty of the Seas and RCCL's Navigator of the Seas. The library overlooks the royal promenade, formal pic taking, and the entrance to the dining room--quite the show!

 

Don't feel like you have to go to formal night, or for that matter that you have to do anything. I've been to many ports that I've just stayed on the ship and enjoyed a good book--what a shocker is that?

 

Let the guys go and do their thing and you go to the dining room if that's what you want. A cruise is a multitude of experiences and it goes by way too fast, so enjoy every second.

Pat

[WEELYNCRUZER]

What's the big deal about a man wearing a tux or a suit. They are not uncomfortable and show a little class. When he gets back to the factory or what ever he can wear his jeans and flannels.

[Putterdude]

I agree that formal nights are a part of the magic or tradition of cruising. A year ago I went out a purchased a tux mainly for cruising and by the end of this year it will certainly have paid for itself. I bought a couple of tux shirts with collar sizes about ½’ too large so they are comfortable and don’t have them starched.

It would only be a guess made from observation, but about 30 to 35% of the men wear tuxes, about 50% wear business suits or jackets and ties and the rest wear “whatever”.

My personal opinion is that those who don’t want to participate in formal evenings should dine in other venues and not spoil the tradition of the evening or consider cruising on lines that don’t have formal evenings. I personally wouldn’t chose to sail on a line that didn’t have formal evenings just as there are those who choose those lines just for that reason.

[cruiserking]

We love formal nights. We very much enjoy watching everyone strutting around the ship dressed to the nines.

 

Jonathan

[cruzin w chris]

while i think that the people who dress up on formal night look great and all it is just not for me. i am on vacation and do not want to put on a very uncomfortable suit just to eat in the dining room ( just my opinion ).like i said the people that do look fantastic. i do not feel the least bit uncomfortable being around them while i am in my shorts and t shirt. i say if you like to dress up then by all means ............

[Abear2]

Chris I am with you on that. I paid as much to enjoy this cruise as anyone else. I don't mean I would go on formal night in jeans or old clothes, but if I don't want to wear a fancy glitzy dress then I think that is my poragative. They have formal night for those that like to dress up, but they don't make it a mandatory formal night ! :rolleyes:

[greatam]

They have formal night for those that like to dress up, but they don't make it a mandatory formal night ! :rolleyes:

 

Au contraire!!! Depends on the cruise line. X REQUIRES tux or suit, long or cocktail dress for the dining room. Posted as REQUIRED in the dailies.

 

And try walking into a Cunard dining room in anything OTHER than the dress code on formal night. You will be asked if you have "proper clothing". If so, please go change. If not, please order room service.

[blkspy]

Au contraire!!! Depends on the cruise line. X REQUIRES tux or suit, long or cocktail dress for the dining room. Posted as REQUIRED in the dailies.

 

And try walking into a Cunard dining room in anything OTHER than the dress code on formal night. You will be asked if you have "proper clothing". If so, please go change. If not, please order room service.

AMEN.....IF ANYONE COMES TO THE MAIN DINNING ROOM ON FORMAL NIGHT IN VERY CASUAL WEAR....I LOOK AT THEM LIKE A 2 HEADED MONSTER...AND WITH SADNESS...IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE PART---GO TO THE BUFFET ON THIS NIGHT....COMING TO THE MAIN DINNING ROOM SHOWS YOU LACK SOMETHING-----AND I'M SORRY I CHOSE A CRUISE YOU WERE ON...

[tomko2]

My DH was not fussy about the formal night idea at first then three years ago he decided to buy a tux and he enjoys wearing it which is great. I don't own expensive jewellry but I enjoy dressing up on formal nights. We went to Chops Grille on one formal night and wore our formal attire because we feel good wearing it.

On the other hand, we change from our dinner clothes every evening after the show and head to the casino in more relaxed attire even on formal nights. So to us it is all a matter of personal choice.

Kathy:)

[queenbead]

and we enjoy it. Last year I did see a father and daughter turned away from the dining room for wearing very "non" formal wear and I was glad to see that the dress code was abided by. My statement "very non-formal" was shorts and nice shirts. I see nothing wrong with, nor will you offend me and mine in your dress slacks and button down or your Sunday dress. Just enjoy the evening.

[cruisin0308]

I would like to do formal night and so would my daughter, by my son (15) and husband are just not interested... I could skip, honestly, but I don't want to feel left out if the whole ship is participating. We are on RCCL over Spring Break, not sure if that makes a difference. I would also feel really weird walking around the ship in shorts when everyone else is dressed to the nines..... Also, is the dinner just fabulous that night too? Will we be missing, let's say Filet mignon, or Lobster if we don't go? Sigh... what to do????

 

We've done the formal dinners on the Princess ships, 2 different cruises, and I believe 2 nights on each cruise. My husband rented a tux on the ship the first time, and from home on the 2nd cruise, and I found a very reasonable dress to buy, I loved dressing up, since we never have a reason to do so at home. Being it was our 2nd time on Princess, we had our picture taken with the captain of the ship, and were invited to a cocktail party with the captain, none of our friends were invited as that was their 1st time cruising. I loved everything about it, and would highly recommend it if you haven't done it before, and I will do it again, I'm hoping many more times.

[cruisin0308]

I would like to do formal night and so would my daughter, by my son (15) and husband are just not interested... I could skip, honestly, but I don't want to feel left out if the whole ship is participating. We are on RCCL over Spring Break, not sure if that makes a difference. I would also feel really weird walking around the ship in shorts when everyone else is dressed to the nines..... Also, is the dinner just fabulous that night too? Will we be missing, let's say Filet mignon, or Lobster if we don't go? Sigh... what to do????

 

We've done the formal dinners on the Princess ships, 2 different cruises, and I believe 2 nights on each cruise. My husband rented a tux on the ship the first time, and from home on the 2nd cruise, and I found a very reasonable dress to buy, I loved dressing up, since we never have a reason to do so at home. Being it was our 2nd time on Princess, we had our picture taken with the captain of the ship, and were invited to a cocktail party with the captain, none of our friends were invited as that was their 1st time cruising. I loved everything about it, and would highly recommend it if you haven't done it before, and I will do it again, I'm hoping many more times.

[Abear2]

blkspy, I never said casual wear on formal night. I simply said not a cocktail dress !!! I do wear nice slacks and a nice blouse, but NO glitzy dresses. I guess I have never been on your high class cruise. Thank God because I would hate for you to think I am low class.

[Loyal2RoyalCaribbean]

We have always done formal night, since it's not very often that my family dresses up but on the more recent ships we've been on with RCCL, more and more people choose not to do formal night. People who do not dress in formal wear tend to get unwanted attention, and are much more noticed however, whether they want to be or not. Some people find it disrespectful I guess, the whole courtesy thing. Personally, I don't mind but I think some people should do a little better than come into the dining room with shorts and a hawaiian shirt on with sandals on their feet, at least put a little effort into it. Leave the suit and tie, and cocktail dresses, at the room if you want to but at least come in with dress pants or a rather long skirt, and a clean nice looking shirt. It's not too hard and painful.

 

Sorry, I guess I took that a little too personally lol.

[Loyal2RoyalCaribbean]

By the way, the dinner menu won't change that much, most meals, whether it be formal night or not, are extravagent. And you won't be kicked out of the dining room if you're not formal either, so don't panic too much over nothing. As long as you all look nice, and cleaned up, it won't be too horrible.

[waitin4acruise]

We enjoy dressing up for formal night.:rolleyes:

[KC_fn]

OP: Make it Girls' Night Out; it will be a wonderful mother-daughter evening. The guys can avoid the hoopla and do what they prefer. Everyone wins! :)

[blkspy]

blkspy, I never said casual wear on formal night. I simply said not a cocktail dress !!! I do wear nice slacks and a nice blouse, but NO glitzy dresses. I guess I have never been on your high class cruise. Thank God because I would hate for you to think I am low class.

SORRY IF YOU THOUGHT I WAS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO YOU---I WASN'T....I WAS JUST EXPRESSING AN OPINION ON THE SUBJECT....I WOULD NEVER TALK TO SOMEONE I DIDN'T KNOW LIKE THAT...MY POINT IS THAT IF SOMEONE DIDN'T WANT TO WEAR A TUX OR SUIT OR AT LEAST A NICE SLACKS OUTFIT THEY SHOULD GO TO THE BUFFET....ON YOUR NEXT CRUISE--YOU'LL SEE WHAT I MEAN...AGAIN I WAS STATING AN OPINION ON THE SUBJECT---NOT SPEAKING ABOUT YOU DIRECTLY--PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGY.

[dream2be]

I've always enjoyed dressing up and the atmosphere of formal night when cruising with my daughter. Since my sister is not into formal, we are going to Chops on formal night on the upcoming cruise. :(

[Rob & Beckys mom]

SORRY IF YOU THOUGHT I WAS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO YOU---I WASN'T....I WAS JUST EXPRESSING AN OPINION ON THE SUBJECT....I WOULD NEVER TALK TO SOMEONE I DIDN'T KNOW LIKE THAT...MY POINT IS THAT IF SOMEONE DIDN'T WANT TO WEAR A TUX OR SUIT OR AT LEAST A NICE SLACKS OUTFIT THEY SHOULD GO TO THE BUFFET....ON YOUR NEXT CRUISE--YOU'LL SEE WHAT I MEAN...AGAIN I WAS STATING AN OPINION ON THE SUBJECT---NOT SPEAKING ABOUT YOU DIRECTLY--PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGY.

 

 

Why are you shouting:rolleyes: ??

[blkspy]

Why are you shouting:rolleyes: ??

wanted to make sure i was HEARD on the subject

[tigger615]

Something you might like to keep in mind..."formal". Formal is as "formal" as you want to be. I've been on a few cruises where some people consider their dress jeans to be formal. It's really about how dressed up YOU want to be. I personally HATE getting dressed up, my husband can take it or leave it...our daughter on the other hand LOVES it. So for her I bring ALL of her dressy stuff & I wear black dress pants with a black dress type blouse & my husband wears black dress pants & a nice button down shirt with a tie (no jacket, less to pack).

 

Just keep in mind this is YOUR vacation. Have FUN & be COMFORTABLE.

 

They say in all of the brochures no short or tank tops in the dining room, but I haven't been on any cruise where I haven't seen atleast one person in short for dinner.

 

Oh & PS we change out of our "formal" clothes as soon as dinner is over. Some people stay dressed up all night. It's what ever makes YOU HAPPY & COMFY.

 

I hope you have a great trip!!!:)

[WEELYNCRUZER]

If you have nice jewelry why wouldn't you want to bring it and wear it.It belongs on not at home in a box. If you have MIKi MOTO pearls they tell you that they must be worn because that is how they get their luster .From your skin.:)