How do "formal nights" work?

[SJChaput]

As I understand it there are formal nights on cruises that require proper dress, I am going to wear a suit and tie and my (then) wife will be wearing a dress.

 

My question, is it required dress on the entire ship or just the dining room? Can I still lounge by the pool in my swim trunks?

 

Is the formal dress the only unique thing about formal nights or are there other special activities or functions on the ships?

[JES11583]

The formal night dress is directed at the Captains Cocktail party and dinner in the dining room.. please dont jump in the pool in your suit and tie...lol Its up to you if you chose to stay in your formal attire to attend shows/dancing after.. I would just change into something comfortable after dinner and pictures if you want

[yogi2929]

The dress really depends on the line you choose. Carnival no longer has a formal night but a cruise elegant night. Guys can wear nice slacks and a dress shirt. No tie required. HAL requests a tie and jacket. Gals can wear a dress -long or cocktail- or slacks and a fancy top.

Some lines ask for their pax to wear their fancy clothes all night and others do not.

 

Last Carnival cruise DH wore a dress shirt, dark dockers and his Keen shoes (not sandals). I wore black slacks and a fancy top. There were people dressed way up and others running around the ship in their shorts and t's.

[Wennfred]

We dress up for the Captains Party and then head for dinner. After dinner we head down to the Theater and one of us holds a Seat while the other changes. I get into my shorts and polo shirt and relieve Wendy so she can go change if she want too.

 

 

 

Fred

[Cruise, J.D.]

As I understand it there are formal nights on cruises that require proper dress, I am going to wear a suit and tie and my (then) wife will be wearing a dress.

 

My question, is it required dress on the entire ship or just the dining room? Can I still lounge by the pool in my swim trunks?

 

Is the formal dress the only unique thing about formal nights or are there other special activities or functions on the ships?

 

The cruise elegant dress code only applies to the dining room.

[DocF]

As I understand it there are formal nights on cruises that require proper dress, I am going to wear a suit and tie and my (then) wife will be wearing a dress.

 

My question, is it required dress on the entire ship or just the dining room? Can I still lounge by the pool in my swim trunks?

 

Is the formal dress the only unique thing about formal nights or are there other special activities or functions on the ships?

 

We usually wear our nice clothes (formal or very fancy cocktail dress for DW, tuxedo for me) to the special function, dinner and then to the main showroom that evening. We usually get pictures done while we are looking civilized too.

 

Now I know many here will say differently, but most people do dress nicely on cruise elegant nights. Many will still do as we do and dress formally. It is becoming all too rare in our slovenly society to have an opportunity to look ones best. I am glad you folks are deciding to do the right thing.

 

Doc

[Sneezykevina]

I like to skip the tie, but this time I may opt for the tie and skip the jacket just for extra room in the suitcase!

 

I'm not a fan of dressing up but on our past cruises we have gotten some really nice photo's with us dressed nicely. Since we are taking the kids with us we will go for a nice family photo.

[SJChaput]

I might just wear the tie then too... I lost a lot of weight and my jacket no longer fits me and I don't need to add more expense to the trip buying a new one or getting it tailored... I might though, it is my honeymoon and a really nice picture would be nice.

 

Side note, I pasted the countdown clock code into my signature and it doesn't work... Dang.

[WinnipegCruiser]

I didn't think I would like dressing formal on a cruise. After all it is my vacation....

 

However I actually look forward to it now. I like the elegant dinning, and really like doing the pictures.

 

I guess it turns out to be a nice change.

 

We do the Dinner, Captains party, and the pictures. We might even, if the weather is really nice, go up for a stroll on one of the higher decks.

 

We then change and do whatever...

 

[tina257]

I like to dress up but I'm wondering if a lot of women still wear gowns or whether I'd be more appropriately dressed in a cocktail dress. Any opinions? Would I be out of place in a gown? It's been a few years since my last cruise when most men at least had suits on and women still wore at least a cocktail dress but a lot of women wore gowns. Has that changed a lot?

[timekeeper95]

I do the gown bit, I never get to dress up to that extent so its fun for me. I love the pictures!

[ilikered]

I will be 18 weeks pregnant and don't have any formal dresses that fit me now. On a 7 night are there still 2 formal dinners? I have a black skirt and fancy top for one night, but just a long "Sunday dress" for the other. Do you think that will pass??:confused:

[livestocruisetoo]

...to take a suit or tux. If we only get one of the photos from the cruise it will be one from formal night. And that is a big deal because my girl is HOT! :D

 

If I take the tux then I take the black shoes and gray and dark pants and shirts. If I'm going to take light colored clothes, then it's a brown shoes for the suit. We have learned to pack lighter so the only other shoes are a pair of sneakers and either sandals or boat shoes to fly in since they have to come off at the airport.

[lives to cruise]

...to take a suit or tux. If we only get one of the photos from the cruise it will be one from formal night. And that is a big deal because my girl is HOT! :D

 

If I take the tux then I take the black shoes and gray and dark pants and shirts. If I'm going to take light colored clothes, then it's a brown shoes for the suit. We have learned to pack lighter so the only other shoes are a pair of sneakers and either sandals or boat shoes to fly in since they have to come off at the airport.

 

 

You just have to love a man/husband that feels that way after 11 years. :)

 

Thank you my love. I think you are HOT too! ~kisses~

[jsglow]

You know its kind of funny. I even enjoy dressing up just a bit on the non-elegant nights. My view is that we're going to a nice dinner, I'll at least make sure I have on a nice shirt, maybe even a sports coat. On elegant night I always wear a suit and tie. We never go to the dining room in very casual clothing for dinner. Breakfast or lunch is a different story, of course. My kids will even put on a decent shirt for "regular" dinner and very much enjoy fully dressing up on elegant night.

[JES11583]

WEAR the gown...I still do!! Well, my last cruise, I wore more of a cocktail dress bc I was pregnant... this time around, im wearing a knee length dress... but it is turqois and sparkly.. so if it were longer, it would def. be a gown... I just wanted something short this time...(that style is kind of in)... but its def. not casual or even a cocktail dress... its what a lot of ladies are wearing to "formals" and "proms"

[sailor44]

We usually wear our nice clothes (formal or very fancy cocktail dress for DW, tuxedo for me) to the special function, dinner and then to the main showroom that evening. We usually get pictures done while we are looking civilized too.

 

Now I know many here will say differently, but most people do dress nicely on cruise elegant nights. Many will still do as we do and dress formally. It is becoming all too rare in our slovenly society to have an opportunity to look ones best. I am glad you folks are deciding to do the right thing.

 

Doc

 

The only right thing to do is to adhere to the dress code.

 

I agree, most people do dress nicely on the elegant evenings, however less men wore tuxes and suits on my last cruise compared to the one before that!

 

There were a significant number of men who wore slacks and a dress shirt - not even a tie.

 

There were also some folks in the dining room that they should have turned away since they didn't even come close to the dress code. They had on t -shirts and shorts.

[PapaJDub]

We usually wear our nice clothes (formal or very fancy cocktail dress for DW, tuxedo for me) to the special function, dinner and then to the main showroom that evening. We usually get pictures done while we are looking civilized too.

 

Ditto, except for the tux, I do jacket and tie instead. I keep that on through the show, and then change into some jeans and hit the casino or midnight buffet or both ;)

[Tgianco]

1. Wear a sailing outfit and captain's hat (see the boat launch scene in Caddyshack to give you an idea).
   
2. Call everyone "chap."
   
3. Say "cheerio" a lot.
   
4. Wear an ascot (see Fred from Scooby Doo).
   

You're good to go.

[tina257]

You guys made a lot of good points here. Some of the best photos I have of my husband and myself were taken on cruises because we were all dressed up and I made him get his picture taken and I cherish them and wouldn't mind having a few more. And, luckily, I also have a husband who still thinks I'm beautiful even though we're getting older now....so I think I'll remind him just what a goddess (*wink*) he married and give him an excuse to tell me he thinks I'm beautiful. Nothing like a cruise to add to the romance factor! (anyway, I really like seeing him all dressed up even though he still looks great in jeans and sneakers too) I'm one of those girls that likes wearing dresses and if they're elegant or glamorous that's even better. Thanks for all the help.

 

And as far as having to choose wisely if pregnant, I think the right choices can look just as beautiful even if it's not actually a gown. People are always excited about a new baby and you'll be hearing plenty of congratulations and no one's going to be paying attention to the fact you're not wearing a gown because they'll be focusing on how you're glowing! :)

[DocF]

A point to consider here is that John Heald is starting to get a bit grumpy about the crews not enforcing corporate dress policies among other things. He has enough influence with Carnival to get this done. I would suggest if you want to eat in your cut-off blue jeans and your Dale Earnhart #3 forever tee shirt, you should consider the Lido deck buffet.

 

Doc

[MrPete]

It's the cocktail hour, plus dinner, and then some continue to be dressed for the show.

 

For the cocktail hour, it is the chance to schmooze with your fellow pax, all while (just like at weddings) everyone looks to see what everyone else is wearing (Michele Obama probably won't be there).

 

We love looking at the fancy things people choose to wear. And then also picking out the oddities, and boy, do you see some doozies sometimes.

 

Also, you have a chance to get your pix done, some of the best we have ever taken. We are pix whores, and love looking for that best shot. Sometimes there's more that one.

 

Then, it's off the the dining room.

 

We used to continue being dressed for the show, but not lately. SOmetimes we skip the show, throw our swimsuits, and go swimming.

[themarm]

it appears that cocktail dresses are the perfect answer to this debate. you are dressed up, and do not risk feeling like one of the few overdressed people on the ship.

[AnnieB925]

You'll be perfectly fine in a gown. I like gowns also and typically bring one gown and one cocktail dress. Gowns are very much in style this season, so I suspect we'll see more of them on cruises.

 

I like to dress up but I'm wondering if a lot of women still wear gowns or whether I'd be more appropriately dressed in a cocktail dress. Any opinions? Would I be out of place in a gown? It's been a few years since my last cruise when most men at least had suits on and women still wore at least a cocktail dress but a lot of women wore gowns. Has that changed a lot?

[Senoj84]

It's just for dinner. They have formal pics you can take before and after your dinner so may want to stay dressed. You can change clothes right after dinner if you like or stay dressed for the night. I had late seating dinner so I would stay dressed for the show depending on how comfortable my dress/shoes were. :)