A Word About Formal Night Appearance

[babyher]

We've mentioned pantsuits,sequins,

 

Oh Yeah

 

We haven't mentioned turtleneck and sportcoat guy,

 

Unfortunately.... If your name isn't "Bullitt" it won't fly.

 

 

 

 

*LOL* Too funny

 

When I was a kid we had a couple that lived next door that were just the personification of the 60s (which it was at the time) :)

 

They were in their mid 20s and the husband always wore the turtle neck with the sportjacket and "love beads" plus he had his hair permed which was big back then for men. (remember a few seasons into The Brady Bunch when Mr. Brady did it ?)*LOL* My Dad used to call him Johnny Cool *LOL*

 

The wife always wore the micro mini shirts and dresses with these peasent tops that she would hang out of. All the pre teen boys in my neighborhood were in love with her:)

 

Man back then they were cooler than Martin Landau and Barbara Bain on "Mission Impossible" :)

[pipedreams62]

Reuters; Rotterdam, April 1, 2009: HAL president and CEO Stein Kruse announced today the creation of a new position aboard all of Holland Amerika Lijn's thirty four vessels. The position, formally unveiled today in Rotterdam as the 'tuxedo police', will fall under the Environmental Friendly Department and its personnel will, as such, report directly to the onboard Environmental Officer. Kruse explained that it will be the Tuxedo police's primary responsibility to enforce the dress code onboard ships. He continued by stating that members of the tuxedo police will position themselves at the entrances to the ship's restaurants at all dinner seatings on formal nights where they will cast a critical eye at the compliance, or lack thereof, of the line's dress codes.

 

"Enough is enough" said Kruse, "We will no longer allow our guests to get away with murder when it comes to properly dressing for dinner on formal night". "Leisure suits, obscenely mismatched color and style combinations, torn blue jeans and/or those recently utlized to change the engine oil in one's automobile, crocodile and/or other amphibian/reptile-based shoes, top garments informally referred to as 'wifebeaters", excessive tatoos, body piercings, male and female pit hair and, above anything else, the public display of male boobs, will be dealt with by the tuxedo police forthwith and with iron fist". "Passengers discovered to be in violation of the "code" will first be asked to return to their respective staterooms to remove said violating garment(s), hair, boobs, tattoo(s) and/or piercing(s)". "If there is no compliance after the first official warning from the tuxedo police, those guests will be given a choice to: a) be quarantined in their stateroom for the remainder of the cruise or: b) be separated from the vessel and their respective cruise without compensation, and deposited at the first sight of land in close proximity, be it Pitcairn Island, Belgium, or the Sandwich Islands.

 

"It is our hope that our guests who do violate the dress code on formal night will seize and desist this activity at their earliest possible opportunity" Kruse continued " It is our goal, fleet-wide, to nip this problem in the butt, Bob, expeditiously with exrtreme prejudice and without added trauma to our guests who do comply in a humanely and orderly manner". When asked if additional rulings to violators commonly referred to as "chair hogs", "hot tub diaper babies", and "beer smugglers" are forthcoming, Kruse winked but would not elaborate!

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

 

 

[babyher]

Reuters; Rotterdam, April 1, 2009: HAL president and CEO Stein Kruse announced today the creation of a new position aboard all of Holland Amerika Lijn's thirty four vessels. The position, formally unveiled today in Rotterdam as the 'tuxedo police', will fall under the Environmental Friendly Department and its personnel will, as such, report directly to the onboard Environmental Officer. Kruse explained that it will be the Tuxedo police's primary responsibility to enforce the dress code onboard ships. He continued by stating that members of the tuxedo police will position themselves at the entrances to the ship's restaurants at all dinner seatings on formal nights where they will cast a critical eye at the compliance, or lack thereof, of the line's dress codes.

 

"Enough is enough" said Kruse, "We will no longer allow our guests to get away with murder when it comes to properly dressing for dinner on formal night". "Leisure suits, obscenely mismatched color and style combinations, torn blue jeans and/or those recently utlized to change the engine oil in one's automobile, crocodile and/or other amphibian/reptile-based shoes, top garments informally referred to as 'wifebeaters", excessive tatoos, body piercings, male and female pit hair and, above anything else, the public display of male boobs, will be dealt with by the tuxedo police forthwith and with iron fist". "Passengers discovered to be in violation of the "code" will first be asked to return to their respective staterooms to remove said violating garment(s), hair, boobs, tattoo(s) and/or piercing(s)". "If there is no compliance after the first official warning from the tuxedo police, those guests will be given a choice to: a) be quarantined in their stateroom for the remainder of the cruise or: b) be separated from the vessel and their respective cruise without compensation, and deposited at the first sight of land in close proximity, be it Pitcairn Island, Belgium, or the Sandwich Islands.

 

"It is our hope that our guests who do violate the dress code on formal night will seize and desist this activity at their earliest possible opportunity" Kruse continued " It is our goal, fleet-wide, to nip this problem in the butt, Bob, expeditiously with exrtreme prejudice and without added trauma to our guests who do comply in a humanely and orderly manner". When asked if additional rulings to violators commonly referred to as "chair hogs", "hot tub diaper babies", and "beer smugglers" are forthcoming, Kruse winked but would not elaborate!

 

 

Attached Thumbnails

 

 

*LMAO*

 

I think you made this up:) :) :) .......and by the way there is an officer from a small town in upstate New York who wants his patch back *LOL*

[tuckmics]

I've read and read and read and have seen so many opinions, it make's my head spin. The fact is that those who sail on HAL want to sail on HAL. Nooone in their right mind would purposely break the rules, but the fact is that folks are going to wear what they wear. I specifically decided not to do "formal night". However, I will be walking around the "public" areas in less then "formal" attire on those nights. I will not be forced into my room (since I have paid the same as everyone else) and people need to deal. This is 2009, not 1929. My mother passed away last month and I am currently going through family photos (that go back to the 1850's). I knew my mother (and my grandmother) in the 70's/80's wearing pant suits to every occasion...and these were very stylish women. As I look through these photos, I find my grandmother, for example, in the 1920's wearing flapper dresses and furs. My mother, in the 1950's, looking like June Cleaver. Would never have imagined!! We don't live there anymore and folks need to recognize that. If I was meeting the Queen or the President, would I wear a tux or suit? Absolutely. On a cruise (read VACATION) do I need to? No. Ya all need to get a reality check. Will I be wearing cut offs and a "wife beater" to dinner, absolutely not. Will I be wearing a tux on "formal night" in the lounge? Absolutely not. We all need to get over ourselves and recognize we live in 2009. Flame away....:p

[pipedreams62]

After turtleneck guy, we need to hit tab collar dude and "Why is my Mexican wedding shirt not formal on the ship when it's formal in Mexico?"

 

I think after that, we're allowed to discuss the wearing of cowboy boots and/or hats with a suit/tux, then women who wear so little that two sequins and a cork pass for formal wear.

 

We have a schedule to keep folks. *taps clipboard*

 

*tongue firmly in cheek*

 

 

Please fit this guy in as well. Thanks

 

[babyher]

I've read and read and read and have seen so many opinions, it make's my head spin. The fact is that those who sail on HAL want to sail on HAL. Nooone in their right mind would purposely break the rules, but the fact is that folks are going to wear what they wear. I specifically decided not to do "formal night". However, I will be walking around the "public" areas in less then "formal" attire on those nights. I will not be forced into my room (since I have paid the same as everyone else) and people need to deal. This is 2009, not 1929. My mother passed away last month and I am currently going through family photos (that go back to the 1850's). I knew my mother (and my grandmother) in the 70's/80's wearing pant suits to every occasion...and these were very stylish women. As I look through these photos, I find my grandmother, for example, in the 1920's wearing flapper dresses and furs. My mother, in the 1950's, looking like June Cleaver. Would never have imagined!! We don't live there anymore and folks need to recognize that. If I was meeting the Queen or the President, would I wear a tux or suit? Absolutely. On a cruise (read VACATION) do I need to? No. Ya all need to get a reality check. Will I be wearing cut offs and a "wife beater" to dinner, absolutely not. Will I be wearing a tux on "formal night" in the lounge? Absolutely not. We all need to get over ourselves and recognize we live in 2009. Flame away....:p

 

 

 

First off , very sorry to hear about your mom.

 

Second , I agree with you about the pant suits. I too have a ton of old family photos and right before your eyes in just one album you can see the styles change from the furs and jewels and long gowns, to very stylish pants suits and everything in between.

[kenevenpar]

We all need to get over ourselves and recognize we live in 2009. Flame away....:p

 

 

OK, here goes.

[fann1sh]

I've read and read and read and have seen so many opinions, it make's my head spin. The fact is that those who sail on HAL want to sail on HAL. Nooone in their right mind would purposely break the rules, but the fact is that folks are going to wear what they wear. I specifically decided not to do "formal night". However, I will be walking around the "public" areas in less then "formal" attire on those nights. I will not be forced into my room (since I have paid the same as everyone else) and people need to deal. This is 2009, not 1929. My mother passed away last month and I am currently going through family photos (that go back to the 1850's). I knew my mother (and my grandmother) in the 70's/80's wearing pant suits to every occasion...and these were very stylish women. As I look through these photos, I find my grandmother, for example, in the 1920's wearing flapper dresses and furs. My mother, in the 1950's, looking like June Cleaver. Would never have imagined!! We don't live there anymore and folks need to recognize that. If I was meeting the Queen or the President, would I wear a tux or suit? Absolutely. On a cruise (read VACATION) do I need to? No. Ya all need to get a reality check. Will I be wearing cut offs and a "wife beater" to dinner, absolutely not. Will I be wearing a tux on "formal night" in the lounge? Absolutely not. We all need to get over ourselves and recognize we live in 2009. Flame away....:p

 

I'm afraid I don't understand your post. I'm not being sarcastic, I genuinely don't understand.

 

No one would purposely break the rules...you're not going to do formal night....the idea of "dress codes" belongs in 1929 and you'd only wear a suit or tuxedo to meet a president or monarch...you won't be in cut offs in the show lounge, but not in a tuxedo either...So, you'll be in the show lounge...

 

...in a jacket and tie? So you won't be breaking the rules?

 

From HAL website:

"On festive Formal evenings, ladies usually wear a suit, cocktail dress or gown and gentlemen wear a jacket and tie, dark suit or tuxedo. There are approximately two formal nights per week. In order to complement your fellow guests, Holland America Line asks that you observe the suggested dress code throughout the entire evening."

 

If you're saying you also won't be wearing a jacket and tie, then, well.... you're purposely breaking the rules. You're entitled to post that, and I'm not flaming you.

 

But why cruise HAL when there are so many other lines that do similar itineraries, and don't have formal, or as formal, a dress code?

[Petronillus]

After turtleneck guy, we need to hit tab collar dude and "Why is my Mexican wedding shirt not formal on the ship when it's formal in Mexico?"

 

And wha' aboot ma dress kilt, Laddie?

[scopewest]

I don't notice what you're wearing but I will notice how you're behaving. I'd rather eat dinner with someone not dressed "properly" on formal night than with the two women at the table next to mine on our last cruise who showed up for every meal dressed to the teeth but 30-45 minutes late. This affected the waiter/asst. waiter service for the rest of us. I tried complaining to those in charge but was told the staff was putting up with it so as not to affect their tips.

 

As Rita says, it's all about the $$$.

[srlafleur]

From HAL website:

"On festive Formal evenings, ladies usually wear a suit, cocktail dress or gown and gentlemen wear a jacket and tie, dark suit or tuxedo. There are approximately two formal nights per week. In order to complement your fellow guests, Holland America Line asks that you observe the suggested dress code throughout the entire evening."

?

 

Well, I guess that answers that. "Usually", "asks" and "suggested" doesn't exactly sound like one will be made to walk the plank for an infraction, does it?

Oh, and note the "suit" for the ladies. So a women's suit is suitable.

[pipedreams62]

The Good Humor man with his white suit has been "Grandfathered" in for formal nights.

 

 

[Copper10-8]

The Good Humor man with his white suit has been "Grandfathered" in for formal nights.

 

 

 

French Navy?

[daveS007]

I just finished my first cruise. Zuiderdam to panama canal. I wore a sport coat and tie etc... First off there were maybe, maybe, 5 percent of the men in tuxedo's. I don't think the cruise company would turn anyone away and you see it all in the dinning room on formal night. I personally could care less but those on these boards that have there panties in a wad over this simply crack me up. I saw it all on formal night !! Another word to the wise regarding formal night or dressing etc... you rarely ever see the same people twice at least we didn't in anytime dinning situation. Wear whatever the you want and to hell with all these uppity peeps.

[fatcat04]

Please fit this guy in as well. Thanks

 

 

Dear lord... JCPenney, 9 pages of MAN MATES, the humanity!

 

The benevolent powers that be had allowed my mind to block out this time in fashion. Thank you for bringing it all back. You, sir, are evil. :p;)

[kryos]

I've read and read and read and have seen so many opinions, it make's my head spin. The fact is that those who sail on HAL want to sail on HAL. Nooone in their right mind would purposely break the rules, but the fact is that folks are going to wear what they wear. I specifically decided not to do "formal night". However, I will be walking around the "public" areas in less then "formal" attire on those nights. I will not be forced into my room (since I have paid the same as everyone else) and people need to deal. This is 2009, not 1929.

Don't pay the slightest bit of mind to some of the things you read on this board. You will be fine doing just that.

 

There are some people here who would have you think it's still the 1940's and HAL is one of those grand old ocean liners. HAL may have been that way at one time, but no longer. Just as with all things, it has changed. HAL has become a modern cruise line catering to all kinds of people.

 

The only thing I can suggest ... for those who thirst for those bygone days of elegant dress after dark ... a Cunard cruise may suit their tastes a bit more. There, the emphasis is on more elegant dress and since most people on their ships dress that way, I would imagine the codes are probably very strictly enforced.

 

FWIW, I sailed the QE2 once ... a transatlantic from Southampton to New York in order to get back from a HAL Veendam repositioning cruise. I absolutely fell in love with that grand old dame ... but one look at my fellow passengers in the evening, and I knew I wouldn't be spending too much time out and about after dark. It was a very, very formal environment ... and yes, we're talking tuxes and full-length gowns primarily.

 

But on HAL, no way ... in fact, I would dare say that probably at least 50% of the people who do follow the dress code on formal nights tend to change after dinner into something a bit more comfortable. Now, on a World Cruise or an extended itinerary in Europe, that might be different. But on most of the HAL (and even the Princess cruises I've been on) that has been the case.

 

Go and enjoy. Just dress nicely in the evenings, and you'll be fine anywhere out and about on the ship.

 

Just remember what I said before ... HAL wants you out and about and they don't much care what you are wearing when you are there (of course, assuming you are dressed in a manner showing the appropriate respect to your fellow passengers; i.e., no shorts, tee-shirts, etc.). HAL wants you out on the public decks ... visiting the casino, the shops, the lounges and the bars. Cha ching! They don't make squat when you're sitting in your cabin, right? And today, it is all about making money ... it has to be ... these cruise lines are fighting for their very survival in these economic times.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[fann1sh]

Rita, your posts on dress codes always puzzle me. What you "see" people wearing on HAL ships is the opposite of what I "see".

 

I don't need to go cruise with Cunard to find a line with a formal night ambiance I like....HAL is it.

 

Because, people in general observe the dress code on formal nights.

 

If you think HAL is fine, too, because people don't follow the dress code....we're all good.

[Koshlong]

I DO wish they would ban plaid Polo shirts :eek: in the Pinnacle Grill. We made our guys wear jackets...............

[Boytjie]

OK, my fault and don't assume that any more. In fact, by your aviator photo and other details from your posting we have a lot of things in common.

I appoligize and guess I was in a pissy mood last night. I need to leave these kinds of threads alone.

John

 

Apology accepted. Disclosure: I edited my first reply in time and toned it down. :)

[pipedreams62]

[fridayeyes]

And wha' aboot ma dress kilt, Laddie?

 

Actually, I've seen gentlemen in full dress kilts on formal night and I positively *adore* it. :)

[Tamaracboy]

My personal opinion on women's pantsuits are that they belong in the board room and should not count as acceptable formal night wear. In my (not so) humble opinion, men should wear suits or tuxedos, and women should wear dresses on formal nights. Period. Honestly, I think women's pantsuits are nowhere near "formal" in the least. I cannot understand why others feel that they are formal wear. I don't find ANY women's pantsuits to be anywhere NEAR fancy or formal. But whatever, that's just me...

 

There are women I know who don't own, never wear, have never worn dresses (maybe when they were 3 or 4). They wore beautiful white suits to their wedding.

 

I feel the need to post again some of my insight/input from a competing "Dress Code" thread mere inches away here on CC, just in case "all 'ya all ain't readin' 'nuff" on this (the 4,783rd redundant) thread on everybody's opinion on just exactly how everybody else should dress in the MDR ! : : : :

 

The truth of all this is the concept that: "If I have/want to dress this way, then you do too."

Depending on the poster, you can alternately substitute any/all of the following: "spend this much" or "be this uncomfortable" or "pack this much extra weight" OR (more truthfully) "BE JUDGED BY OTHERS"

 

How arrogant and petty of anyone to presume "Then you do too" for another human being !

 

Imagine this alternative: "I enjoy dressing 'Formal' for my own delight", thus not imposing your will on others.

 

The Tuxedo (or Dinner Jacket) is Semi-Formal evening wear (just ask any London tailor).

FORMAL evening/dinner wear (for men) is correctly "White Tie & Tailcoat" with Waistcoat ! :rolleyes:

Hope this deflates the unnecessary "Pretension Factor" from all current, previous and future (and there will be more) discussions of "Proper" HAL Dining Room attire.

99% don't even know of what they speak, which has yet to dissuade them from doing so. :mad:

 

This anecdote may be quite dated (1/2 Century ago), but it does put things in their "Proper" perspective:

The Dutchess of Windsor (no less), at the time considered THE ! model of fashion for the World as well as THE most famous woman, etc. etc., was refused entrance to the Dining Room in a conservative hotel, and in front of the ever-present reporters, for wearing PANTS! :eek:

Mind you, this "Formal" ensemble was something personally custom designed for her by Yves Saint Laurent (no less, again) and had set the fashion world on its head, AND she had just been featured on the cover of Time (no less) as the absolute Zenith of style & taste. :confused:

Now, HAL even suggests "Pants Suits" for "Formal" wear. :cool: (Viola would never presume to be more stylish or fashionable than the Duchess of Windsor)

 

While travel for most is educational and enlightening, it truly surprises me the number of the especially seasoned HAL passengers that are proving themselves to be purposefully immune to "Cultural Diversity". For me this is the very signature that one is educated and well mannered as opposed to superficially effete. The panoply of just what exactly is "Formal" (especially for men) should not be limited to one's own narrow Western European perspective. What is the height of formality in India, South Africa, SE Asia, Japan, Mexico, Bavaria or any other corner of this marvelous World is frequently far more "elegant", beautiful to look at, varied and colorful, and expensive than the laughable Black & White (unimaginative) "Penguin Suits" that would satisfy some stuffy Maitre 'd on HAL (or elsewhere). :p

Somewhere here on HAL/CC is an equally heated (and pointless) thread as to the propriety of military "Mess Dress" in the MDR on formal nights. {Of course it IS !}

As more of a lesson:

ASSUME the 2nd Coming were to happen onboard any HAL-DAM on Formal Night, should HE be denied entrance to the Main Dining Room ?

Just Asking,

[Jenbo57]

Rita,

I absolutely agree. I don’t want to seem like some bohemian…I would never wear shorts and flip flops anywhere, including the Lido (or for that matter, most places I go at home). And not withstanding HALs (or any cruise line’s) need to bring in the $$$, I really believe that the dress code needs to reflect the cruise. Alaska (and the NW in general) is a more casual place. While I agree that on formal nights , folks should wear appropriate clothes TO THE DINING ROOM; since we will forgo that experience, I don’t think we should be relegated to our cabin. Having said that, if we were sailing the Med, then yes, I would comply with the much more formal expectations. And make no mistake, if we were planning on eating in the dining room, we would certainly dress the part. But we are taking this cruise for relaxation and to decompress…my mother passed away last month…so we don’t want to be bothered with dressing up, dealing with party people, kids, noise, etc. HAL seemed like the best option. We will certainly refrain from embarrassing ourselves and fellow passengers.:)

 

 

Amen! We'll be right there with you in our fleece pullovers, REI jackets and Merrell trail shoes! (Us Pacific Northwesterners are the only folks who really know how to dress for an Alaska cruise!!! ;))

 

Sorry about your mom. We first cruised to Alaska in '06, several months after my husband had lost both his parents. It was just what he needed.

 

(P.S. We're in Bremerton, so we're practically neighbors!)

[fridayeyes]

I feel the need to post again some of my insight/input from a competing "Dress Code" thread mere inches away here on CC, just in case "all 'ya all ain't readin' 'nuff" on this (the 4,783rd redundant) thread on everybody's opinion on just exactly how everybody else should dress in the MDR ! : : : :

 

The truth of all this is the concept that: "If I have/want to dress this way, then you do too."

Depending on the poster, you can alternately substitute any/all of the following: "spend this much" or "be this uncomfortable" or "pack this much extra weight" OR (more truthfully) "BE JUDGED BY OTHERS"

 

How arrogant and petty of anyone to presume "Then you do too" for another human being !

 

Imagine this alternative: "I enjoy dressing 'Formal' for my own delight", thus not imposing your will on others.

 

The Tuxedo (or Dinner Jacket) is Semi-Formal evening wear (just ask any London tailor).

FORMAL evening/dinner wear (for men) is correctly "White Tie & Tailcoat" with Waistcoat ! :rolleyes:

Hope this deflates the unnecessary "Pretension Factor" from all current, previous and future (and there will be more) discussions of "Proper" HAL Dining Room attire.

99% don't even know of what they speak, which has yet to dissuade them from doing so. :mad:

 

This anecdote may be quite dated (1/2 Century ago), but it does put things in their "Proper" perspective:

The Dutchess of Windsor (no less), at the time considered THE ! model of fashion for the World as well as THE most famous woman, etc. etc., was refused entrance to the Dining Room in a conservative hotel, and in front of the ever-present reporters, for wearing PANTS!

Mind you, this "Formal" ensemble was something personally custom designed for her by Yves Saint Laurent (no less, again) and had set the fashion world on its head, AND she had just been featured on the cover of Time (no less) as the absolute Zenith of style & taste.

Now, HAL even suggests "Pants Suits" for "Formal" wear. :cool: (Viola would never presume to be more stylish or fashionable than the Duchess of Windsor)

 

While travel for most is educational and enlightening, it truly surprises me the number of the especially seasoned HAL passengers that are proving themselves to be purposefully immune to "Cultural Diversity". For me this is the very signature that one is educated and well mannered as opposed to superficially effete. The panoply of just what exactly is "Formal" (especially for men) should not be limited to one's own narrow Western European perspective. What is the height of formality in India, South Africa, SE Asia, Japan, Mexico, Bavaria or any other corner of this marvelous World is frequently far more "elegant", beautiful to look at, varied and colorful, and expensive than the laughable Black & White (unimaginative) "Penguin Suits" that would satisfy some stuffy Maitre 'd on HAL (or elsewhere). :p

Somewhere here on HAL/CC is an equally heated (and pointless) thread as to the propriety of military "Mess Dress" in the MDR on formal nights. {Of course it IS !}

As more of a lesson:

ASSUME the 2nd Coming were to happen onboard any HAL-DAM on Formal Night, should HE be denied entrance to the Main Dining Room ?

Just Asking,

 

Hear, hear! Should our paths ever cross in the Crow's Nest, whatever you're drinking is on me. :D

[velotaco]

It comes down to this. Someone might not be able to put on the dog because of reasons far beyond their control. I would give someone the benefit of the doubt before looking down my nose. Any thoughts????

 

Boy, did I miss the ball where this thread was going. I simply stated a few things that my wife and I do to keep from being caught in the position of arriving on board and not having anything to wear due to lost luggage.

As for, would I look down my nose at you? H*** no. I don't look down my nose at anyone, unless of course, they present themselves to be boorish and pretentious nincompoops. Then I may feel the need to toy with them. I really could care less what my fellow passengers are wearing in the MDR during formal night. If they are allowed to be seated, more power to ‘em. Life’s too short to worry about what others are doing.

It’s funny that many folks equate the dress code for formal night as more like what is worn at your average high school prom then what one would wear to a nice restuarant. The most stringent dress code I’ve ever encountered at a high end restaurant, is the requirement (for men) to have on a jacket and tie.

Wear what you want. If you make it in fine, if not, go change and try again.