What if you don't like formal wear?

[Johnthed0g]

As I said, if you don't get it you just don't get it..no point.

[capasamari]

I have certainly tried sitting down when trying on a posh frock in the changing room!! I didn't buy one dress I quite liked as it was beaded and really prickly to sit on, though fine for standing around looking glam. I didn't think I could cope sitting for a whole meal in it though!!

 

Carol x

[LibraLass41]

Not on P&O my experiance over th past 3/4 years is that adherence is better or the same as when we started.

 

On formal nights 90 to 95+% wear DJ's and the rest a dark suit.

 

:):)Happy Cruising:):)

 

 

 

:cool:

 

Dai

 

Totally agree with Dai - Most men in Tux, a sprinkle in a smart suit and tie.

Thats the P&O way, I can't understand why the OV pax are coming on this pando site and telling us we are not dressing right , or making fun of us, on our cruiseline. It can only be stirring and we really shouldn't bite.

[Esprit]

I've never been on Ocean Village (but did sail on the old Arcadia -now OV1) and dress formally in both a black dinner jacket and white tux' whenever possible (staying in that attire all evening).

 

Clearly I don't get the diner thing. I dress to compliment my wife and we enjoy ballroom/latin dancing after our meals rather than sitting at the table all night long.

 

Perhaps when we get older we may see the merits of chatting into the small hours but we prefer to socialise with new found friends during the daytime & evenings at the bars/clubs where the ambience is to us more entertaining.

 

We've enjoyed our four P&O cruises and always recommend them to first timers but the itineraries have become so repetitive we've broadened our cruise line options.

 

Happy cruising everyone

[History addict]

We go in circles on this thread as neither really understands the others point of view.

 

I, and others who prefer the OV brand, have come across to this site to see if it is the viable alternative that the Carnival Group seem to be suggesting. We are not here, on the whole, to taunt or bait the P and O regulars as has been suggested.

 

Also many of us do get the pleasure of dinner as opposed to eating. Dai - I agree a good table can make a cruise (had this supreme pleasure earlier this year on a Nile cruise) but also a bad table can spoil dinner every night (2005 cruise with 2 drunken incoherent table companions on a formal cruise)

 

A number of us have tried to explain that we can do and have done formal dining, it just isn't what we prefer. We were just trying to find out if the buffet on P and O ships is truly informal or whether the dress code still applies. Only one or two folk have (and I think mischievously) stated that they would deliberately flout the dress code. The majority of us are here to find out exactly how the dress code is applied throughout the P and O fleet to see if the overall experience would suit us.

 

Personally I believe that if you join a particularly cruise then you should go along with the dress code. I am happy with the dress code but don't like to eat to a timetable so P and O may suit me however others may be happy with the set dining times but not the dress code. No one would dine in a 5* hotel in tee shirt and jeans so we shouldn't think it acceptable on a cruise ship where there is an expected dress code.

 

I think everyone just needs to understand there is more to the cruising market these days than top end formal cruises and cheap mass-market informal cruises. There are a lot of shades of grey in between, which is why you need to ask a lot of questions when you change cruise lines (have you read the OV reviews where people come back and seem surprised there was no waiter service!).

 

Every time people re-state the stereotypes on here then the other folk have to rush to defend themselves (and yes, I've done this too) and everything gets heated again. I am sure the vast majority on here all agree that if a cruise line and/or a particular cruise ship has a specified dress code and that we are allowed to ask questions to understand how this is applied but then agree to abide by whatever the code is then we will have found that we don't actually have any fundamental differences.

[moopy]

I have just read this whole thread and am back to square one wondering what my daughter can wear on formal nights. I have the dresses and glitz but...........my daughter is gay, hell would probably have frozen over before she would wear a dress again. I wouldn't like to think that when we walk into the restaurant heads would turn in shock because she is wearing a trouser suit. I am stumped at what to do for the best. We will of course buy her the very best suit we can find to please the more formal passengers eye's.

We booked Ventura for lots of reasons, my daughter does not fly and she wanted to see some nice places. She finishes Uni in September and the Med cruise is October, perfect as it covered a smashing itinerary and sailed from Southampton. The ship sounds like it will be a wonderful first experience for us both..........then I read how complicated it is to please the regular cruisers with what you are wearing on formal nights. I have a wonderful 26 year old, with personality and humour and I am beside myself wondering what is she going to wear on four nights of this cruise.

I agree with posts that say it would be a real shame not to attend these lovley nights, so we are going to go to them. But please can someone give me some idea of what would be acceptable for a gay lady to wear and not feel an outcast, I would be really grateful.

[Alberich]

I have the dresses and glitz but...........my daughter is gay, hell would probably have frozen over before she would wear a dress again.

 

You seem to think that your daughter would be looked down on for not wearing a dress. Well, I can't speak for P&O, but she wouldn't on Cunard - normally considered even more formal - providing that she wore something formal. Women can look stunning in a well cut suit - so concentrate more on "formal" and less on "frock"........

[LibraLass41]

Moopy

No problem atall with black cocktail trousers and a smart top.

[LibraLass41]

Moopy

No problem atall with black cocktail trousers and a smart top.

[Redboat]

Hi all,

Just booked a cruise with my partner on Ventura and am a little worried about the formal dress code/evenings as we fly back from Barbados and only have a luggage allowance of 23Kgs each, any advice on what to pack for a 15 night cruise to keep us in the weight allowance please

[ovccruiser]

Hi all,

Just booked a cruise with my partner on Ventura and am a little worried about the formal dress code/evenings as we fly back from Barbados and only have a luggage allowance of 23Kgs each, any advice on what to pack for a 15 night cruise to keep us in the weight allowance please

 

You will be surprised what you can get in 23kg. We have flown to US for a cruise and each time our luggage was less than 23kg. Included was for me a dinner suit, a lounge suit, a jacket and a couple of pairs of trousers, usuall underwear, 8 or 10 shirts and polo tops, shorts shaver ties shoes and so on. Can't speak for my wife, but all I know it was under 23kg:D:D

[History addict]

The trick to packing for any trip, whether formal or otherwise, is to plan your wardrobe ahead so that you have many mix and match options to wear. I personally have a cruising wardrobe of clothes in a palette of colours which will all interchange so that I have lots of options.

 

This way you'll have plenty of spare allowance for a lounge suit or DJ - 23kg is actually quite a reasonable allowance, but then I never go on holiday for more than 1 week at a time.

 

In January this year we only had 15kg each on our flight to Egypt, which was a little more of a challenge:eek:

[Tracy67]

Hi Fred!

Well you are off in a week - and I bet you are as excited as we are :D

Bet you never expected this thread to last as long as it has:rolleyes:

 

So have you bought a posh frock? A tux for Mr Fred? Did you get a bargain from Asda or Matalan?

 

What ever you wear have a great holiday and thanks for starting one of the most amusing debates I have ever read!

[ROSEBASKETS]

I've been off for a fortnight cruising round the med and this thread is still going strong! Is this some kind of record?

[ROSEBASKETS]

PS, just a personal request, could Dai B cut down his list of past cruises to a single line, rather than a list, as my old arthritic fingers have become a little sore after scrolling through the pages to catch up, much appriciated, Happy Cruising!

 

 

 

 

 

:)Happy Cruising:)

 

 

 

 

:cool:

 

 

Dai

__________________

 

 

Pictures of Arcadia J813 to Venice

J813 to Venice Pictures

 

J813 From Venice to Southampton Photos

 

Pictures of the QE2 as she Enters the Tyne for the first time. September 16th 2007. QE2 Pictures Here

 

 

Pictures from J625 Spirit of the Caribbean Arcadia 2006 are

..........Here

 

Pictures from Aurora (P&O) Cruise R525 New Year 2005/6 are .........Here

 

Aurora AU112

Arcadia AR223

Aurora R418

Aurora R419

Adonia F507

Adonia F508

Aurora R525

Arcadia J625

Oceana E721

Oriana X718

Arcadia J813

Oriana X820

Ventura N902

 

To Come

Aurora

Arcadia

Oceana

 

 

Gan Canny

 

Dai

[Shelledpea]

Actually joking aside, i think some of you guys who havent been on OV would be pleasantly suprised with the standard of evening atire. The ladies love to dress up no matter what ship they are on.

 

I've cruised on OV a few times and I always take at least one cocktail style dress.

 

One of the reasons I've booked our upcoming cruise with P & O for Christmas is because of the formal wear policy. If we were at home it would be jeans and tops but as I am expecting this to be a formal affair and it will make a nice change to have some pics of the children looking "classy".

 

If I didn't like the formal nights I'd have booked with NCL etc rather than on the Oriana.

 

BTW you'll only ever see my tattoo's if I'm wearing a bikini!! They are placed so I can still wear fabulous clothing without looking brassy!

 

Shelley

[eckmf]

Would you not consider making the effort to join in? You might enjoy it. Its not that hard to dress up a bit. You dont need to go over the top. A bow tie with a dark suit would prob be OK & long dresses for women are widely available- dont have to spend a fortune. On our first cruise we worried about it but I borrowed 2 dresses & got one in a charity shop. Enough (fake) jewllery & I felt a million dollars (but cost about 2 quid!) Its lovely seeing everybody dressed up & you might feel a bit left out if you didnt. Have a go? Either way I`m sure you`ll have a lovely holiday. You just cant beat a cruise!

My Wife and I have decided to give cruising a go after spending the last 15 years visiting and exploring India. We have booked onto the Artemis on the 14th November 2009 foe a trip to the Carribean. We do not mind dressing up and have purchased our wardrobe with this in mind. However on reading your post and the reference to long dresses, my wife is now worrying as its more the cocktail type dress she has and not the long ball gown type, will this present a problem on the formal nights? also on the semi formal nights, what goes? then we come to the casual nights.