Caribbean cruise versus Med cruise fashion

[nikita]

hi everyone, we have always done Caribbean cruises and are taking our first Med. cruise Sept. 14th, on RCI Brilliance of the Seas.

 

My question is for those who have cruised to both places. Is there a difference in the way people dress onboard? Will it be more formal and less casual then a Caribbean cruise? Or the same? Getting close and I want to do my shopping soon.

 

Thanks in advance for any fashion info for ladies and gents you can provide!

[karen sharpe]

I haven't cruised with RCI but I found really no difference in formal nights in either locale. I always find the first formal night of the cruise is always the most glamorous!

[Corvette Girl]

We've been to the Caribbean on RCI several times, and this past May we did the Med. on RCI. Lots of black formal wear on the Med. cruise and it tends to be more colorful in the Caribbean.

Off the ship if you wear jeans, silver or gray you will blend in with everyone else. Unless you are wearing a clown suit nobody will care.

Wear what you are comfortable in, and most of all have fun!

[sizzle_sisters]

I beg to differ. Onboard, you can wear what you want. You are home after all.

Follow the dress codes for dining please.

Young Europeans wear jeans, but they are usually good jeans, not knock offs.

Older Europeans do not.

They do not go for loud wild Caribbean colours. There dress is more refined and much better in taste. Europeans tend to buy less but buy better quality.

So when you go ashore, you do not want to be dressed in beach wear.

Choose toned down pants, tshirts or blouses, sensible shoes. Remember to respect religious buildings with the correct dress.

And most of all remember to respect them, you are a guest in their country.

Americans' have a terrible reputation as travellers abroad.

Onboard at night, dress for dinner according to the type of dinner and the weather. If you are in hot sunny Spain and have that great wild fancy dress... wear it.

[luckye]

I've been to both Carib and the Med.

 

I would say that the resort areas are similar, perhaps the Med is less toned down.

 

The big cities are like any other big city. Remember you are on a vacation likely spending 8-10 hours sightseeing. The "well dressed" locals are dressed for a day at the office. It's just unrealistic to think you should dress like them. Most importantly, wear comfortable footwear!!!!

[nikita]

Thanks to all of you for your comments and suggestions.

 

My main concern is dressing on the ship. I just thought that maybe the people that cruise the Med. might dress up a bit more at night so wanted to pack accordingly. Is this the case or is it comparable with a Carib. cruise?

 

I have been to Rome before (but not on a cruise) so pretty much know what is expected there. How about going to Monte Carlo for the day? How would one dress for that? Would nice shorts and halter top be acceptable? Or should I dress more conservatively?

[OnVacation11]

I have been on several Carib cruises and our 1st Med this June. Personally, for dinner in the Carib I wear more 'tropical' color and pattern tops with either black or white bottoms or colorfull sun dresses. To save space, for the Med cruise I packed black/white with some red accents color scheme for dinners. I do repeat dinner outfits on a cruise.

I have 2 formal outfits so I wear them on all cruises. On the Med cruise we skipped the 2nd formal as we were tired from touring Capri all day and did not feel like dressing up for dinner.

For touring in Europe I wore mostly skirts and linen tops or tank tops (with a light scarf in my bag for churches etc.) as it was already very warm.

Enjoy your trip !!! I did and wish I was going again.

[caviargal]

I think it depends on the line as well as the itinerary. IME, the Europeans dress up more for dinner and don't wear shorts and sweats to the dining room which I have seen on my last few Caribbean and Alaska cruises.:(

 

As for ports, I totally agree with swizzle sisters. I am packing now for 2 weeks in Italy (we leave October 4th but I start laying out items now) and I will pack black microfiber pants for day, dressier pants for night time wear to wear with mid heeled boots. Tops will be in various sleeve lengths with dressier options for dinners. Two pair of good walking shoes to alternate for day and running shoes only to run in not to wear around town.

 

We are not going on a cruise but if I were I would pack a pair of dressy black evening trousers and a few different tops and also one of my matte jersey full length sheaths and dress it up. For other evenings, I would pack black slacks with a variety of tops and a classic wrap dress or two in a jersey.

 

have fun!

[golfergal]

Nikita,

I would pass on the shorts and halter in Monte Carlo. While it is very much a vacation spot, it isn't really a resort area either. If you stick with shorts, make sure they are not super short and wear a more conservative top. I would dress closer to what you are planning for Rome. Like the rest, I wear skirts, dresses, or maybe capri in Europe. I might wear shorts in Capri or Positano as they are resort/beachy places.

 

Have fun!

[nikita]

Nikita,

I would pass on the shorts and halter in Monte Carlo. While it is very much a vacation spot, it isn't really a resort area either. If you stick with shorts, make sure they are not super short and wear a more conservative top. I would dress closer to what you are planning for Rome. Like the rest, I wear skirts, dresses, or maybe capri in Europe. I might wear shorts in Capri or Positano as they are resort/beachy places.

 

Have fun!

 

thank you! Good advice. I'm guessing that plaid long shorts aren't in style in Europe? I wear them all the time here as they are in style in the US where I live. Should I not bring any with me to Europe? I appreciate any advice on that as I don't want to stick out like a sore thumb. I've already decided not to allow my DH to pack any of his Hawaiin shirts!

[Nanatravel]

Thanks to all of you for your comments and suggestions.

 

My main concern is dressing on the ship. I just thought that maybe the people that cruise the Med. might dress up a bit more at night so wanted to pack accordingly. Is this the case or is it comparable with a Carib. cruise?

 

I have been to Rome before (but not on a cruise) so pretty much know what is expected there. How about going to Monte Carlo for the day? How would one dress for that? Would nice shorts and halter top be acceptable? Or should I dress more conservatively?

 

If you plan to go into the Grand Casino, there is a dress code which does not allow shorts and brief tops. May I suggest a nice capri set, as September is still pretty mild. I also found those crinkle prairie skirts to be great with a t-shirt or top and sandals. Men wear dockers and a cotton golf style shirt.

 

At night on board ship, you will see a lot of black and dark colors that can be worn with various shirts/tops. Your itinerary will be so busy, your on board time is not as long as when in the Caribbean.

 

Bon Voyage

Nanatravel

[nikita]

If you plan to go into the Grand Casino, there is a dress code which does not allow shorts and brief tops. May I suggest a nice capri set, as September is still pretty mild. I also found those crinkle prairie skirts to be great with a t-shirt or top and sandals. Men wear dockers and a cotton golf style shirt.

 

At night on board ship, you will see a lot of black and dark colors that can be worn with various shirts/tops. Your itinerary will be so busy, your on board time is not as long as when in the Caribbean.

 

Bon Voyage

Nanatravel

 

Does the casino allow men to wear dressy shorts? Or must they wear long pants? Thanks so much - this was something we were wondering and forgot to ask so your comments reminded me.

[karen sharpe]

I read this thread last week, the info is a bit conflicting but it might help?

If you can possibly get to St Paul de Vence it may possibly be the best part of the cruise!

Here's the Monaco link:http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=808916&highlight=casino

[nikita]

I read this thread last week, the info is a bit conflicting but it might help?

If you can possibly get to St Paul de Vence it may possibly be the best part of the cruise!

Here's the Monaco link:http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=808916&highlight=casino

 

Thank you for the link! It was informative even if some of the information was conflicting. Maybe we'll just skip the casino. We've seen many many casinos in our travels to Vegas and Atlantic City and we are not big gamblers anyways. I really do not want to ask my DH to walk around in long pants all day. It will be hard enough to get him to leave the Hawaiin shirts at home. LOL!

 

We are in port from 10am-8pm so not sure what all we can fit in - I will research St Paul de Vence though and maybe if we have time we can get there as well. There is just not enough time to see all that I would like to see in that time frame. Maybe we'll have to come back! That would be awful! (said in a very sarcastic tone...)

[Persephone]

I beg to differ. Onboard, you can wear what you want. You are home after all.

Follow the dress codes for dining please.

Young Europeans wear jeans, but they are usually good jeans, not knock offs.

Older Europeans do not.

They do not go for loud wild Caribbean colours. There dress is more refined and much better in taste. Europeans tend to buy less but buy better quality.

So when you go ashore, you do not want to be dressed in beach wear.

Choose toned down pants, tshirts or blouses, sensible shoes. Remember to respect religious buildings with the correct dress.

And most of all remember to respect them, you are a guest in their country.

Americans' have a terrible reputation as travellers abroad.

Onboard at night, dress for dinner according to the type of dinner and the weather. If you are in hot sunny Spain and have that great wild fancy dress... wear it.

 

Very true! Two thumbs up.

[married with children]

Whoa Sizzle we're not all louts!

This Yank actually agrees with you on the fashiom advice..The Tropics are all about fun in the sun while Europe is all about wonderful antiquity and conservative tasteful dress.

[Hoyaheel]

4000 hoteliers voted the british the worst tourists (but among the best dressed) Americans placed well in the best-behaved group;)

 

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2008/06/04/27794/brits-named-as-the-worst-behaved-tourists-in-the-world.html

 

It appears that "americans' lousy reputation abroad" isn't as widespread as some might have you believe.....

 

It's all a matter of perspective.

[Happy ks]

Hoyaheel, thanks for the link, the story was cute.

 

It's just a shame to read that Americans are, by far, the worst dressed tourists :o :o :o

 

We get a lot of foreign tourists in our luggage store, every single day. To be honest with you, the only way I know they are tourists is by asking them. They look the same as everyone else and we have so much diversity in language here, you never assume a person isn't an American because of an accent.

 

I'm planning on being on my best behaviour and dressing well for my first Italy vacation, I want to help improve our image!!

 

caviargal, your trip sounds great, I'm not jealous at all :p

[Hoyaheel]

I pretty much act the same abroad as I do at home. And by that I mean I dress in clean clothing that is in my personal style and appropriate to the occasion and the climate. I am friendly but somewhat reserved, polite, etc. I don't have "home manners" and "travel manners":D I would never trash a hotel room and I always tip housekeeping;)

[caviargal]

 

I'm planning on being on my best behaviour and dressing well for my first Italy vacation, I want to help improve our image!!

 

caviargal, your trip sounds great, I'm not jealous at all :p

 

Kathy, I know you are excited about your cruise and have been looking forward to it for a long time. I am already laying out clothes for our trip in 8 weeks:p.

 

Have a great trip and enjoy my favorite country!

[pcur]

Hoyaheel, thanks for the link, the story was cute.

 

It's just a shame to read that Americans are, by far, the worst dressed tourists :o :o :o

 

We get a lot of foreign tourists in our luggage store, every single day. To be honest with you, the only way I know they are tourists is by asking them. They look the same as everyone else and we have so much diversity in language here, you never assume a person isn't an American because of an accent.

 

I'm planning on being on my best behaviour and dressing well for my first Italy vacation, I want to help improve our image!!

 

caviargal, your trip sounds great, I'm not jealous at all :p

 

I've been on four European cruises, and the problem with many American tourists is they dress like they were going to Disneyland, but they're going to the Vatican!!!!!!!

 

I watched a travel program once about Paris, and the joke in Paris is you can always tell the American tourists by their ugly shoes. Sure enough, they were all wearing athletic shoes with megasoles!

 

So, if you want to "blend", wear conservative clothing as mentioned above.

 

I also found the evening clothes on board the ship to be more conservative. Not casual, but more conservative. I think it's because there are a lot of Europeans traveling on the cruises in Europe.

[sizzle_sisters]

Good advice pcur.

American's are also known for their accents, their desire to opinionate, loudness and choices of garnish to foods!

I say "when in Rome, do as the Romans", leave your habits and preferences at home and enjoy the differences. Drink it all in, and return with the good from each person you have met.

[Cruise Arizona]

Good advice pcur.

American's are also known for their accents, their desire to opinionate, loudness and choices of garnish to foods!

I say "when in Rome, do as the Romans", leave your habits and preferences at home and enjoy the differences. Drink it all in, and return with the good from each person you have met.

 

 

LOL, According to the picture it looks like ya'll brought your "habits" with you when you went to Rome. :p

[sizzle_sisters]

:D LOL:D aren't they a bad bunch of gals!!! you should've seen the looks on passerby's!!!

[Palmetto Lady]

4000 hoteliers voted the british the worst tourists (but among the best dressed) Americans placed well in the best-behaved group;)

 

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2008/06/04/27794/brits-named-as-the-worst-behaved-tourists-in-the-world.html

 

It appears that "americans' lousy reputation abroad" isn't as widespread as some might have you believe.....

 

It's all a matter of perspective.

 

We have traveled widely and disagree with that particular article. We have found the Germans and the Japanese to be the most pushy especially in lines. Germans were guilty of hogging deck chairs.

Americans can be guilty of bad behavior in churches - talking loudly while services are being conducted and not removing their hats.

We live in a tourist area and some of the worst dressed tourists are the Europeans. Socks with sandals are not dead! However, I excuse people who have diabetes