Poll: What we actually wear on formal nights on Carnival

[mrsbean1990]

Are there any cruise lines that do not have "elegant" or "formal" nights?

 

Really, the last thing I feel like doing on a Carribean vacation is putting on a dress and heels. ;)

[mosel]

My husband, sons and brothers all wear a tux for the nights whatever they are called. A tux is always " Elegant" either on a "Cruise" or not. Cindy

[Milaandra]

4 people voted for "Oops! Ignore this last option." :D

 

I voted my DH's preference. We're stubborn and refuse to acknowledge the relaxing of formal nights just as we have finally discovered crusing...

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

When we first started cruising, it was my goal to dress as simply as possible for formal night. It was, however, Cheryl's goal to change that. :rolleyes:

 

After a few cruises she finally convinced me to rent a tux. I did for a couple of sailings, then went ahead and purchased one. We enjoy dressing for the occasion together. Having said that, the tux only comes along on 7+ night voyages, and we typically dress down (relatively) for shorter sailings. Especially on 3 nighters (Sensation), which are considered by many to be weekend get-away booze cruises, we don't see the point it dressing to the 9's when many others are doing anything but! (edit: we still are, on average, more "nicely appointed" than most around us)

 

As John Heald pointed out in his blog (today): he does not see where the manner of dress of someone near him makes him enjoy his Warm Melting Chocolate Cake any less. While that certainly is true... I personally like to see that others, enjoying the same dining experience that we are, take at least some measure of care with regard to how they present themselves. Alas, I suppose that not everyone else has a "Cheryl" to keep them (or get them) on the straight and narrow...:D

 

Tom

[mosel]

Hey I have my kids keeping ME on the straight and narrow. I foolishly suggested we not bring the tuxes on our Alaska cruise because we were also taking fancy clothes for my son's engagement dinner in the Supper club. Boy, It was very close to a lynching. My boys love a chance to wear their tux and jump at the chance whenever they can. Of course now my odest wears his dress Navy uniform one night for me. I think he looks so handsome in it and I am so proud of him. Cindy

[Curt Jerome Wild]

TnTnFlorida - great poll!

Very well done, and you've gotten a great sample.

 

I dress anywhere from my Full Formal Tartan, to Tux, to Suits...

It just depends on the cruise, and most importantly the PICTURES that MCJW and I want to get!;)

It's not just about dinner for us, it's about the evening, and about the chance to get free picture opportunities from some of the great Carnival photographers.

If they turn out great we buy them, if they're not that great we don't.

It's certainly a great value for a professional photography session, that you can take or leave (which you can't do if you book something on land).

It really doesn't matter to me how dressed up or not anyone else on the ship is that evening, we don't have a problem with being "Best Dressed".

 

That being said...

Just for those who want a new packing option for their sport coats, suits, and tuxes...

Since there seem to be new regulations, and subsequently a lot more concerns about space and packing...

 

I thought I would share this technique for packing a suit or just a jacket.

I've done this for years, and it saves so much space.

 

This is also for those people who are considering NOT packing a suit or tux - because they are concerned that garment bags are too big or bulky, etc.

 

With this technique, there is no packing reason to leave the suit behind.

This barely takes up any space, and retains the integrity of the suit's shape.

(I'm sure this would work for women's suits as well).

Click on this thumbnail, then on that page (to the right) where it says "Full size"

to get to a 5x7 printable size, in case you want to try the visual directions:

 

Here's one directly linked:

 

Hope this helps someone in the future. Pass it on!

 

[red lobster]

Are there any cruise lines that do not have "elegant" or "formal" nights?

 

Really, the last thing I feel like doing on a Carribean vacation is putting on a dress and heels. ;)

I was recently on a NCL cruise and you could dress up if you wanted, but at the MDR we ate in I saw almost nobody in formal wear.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I was recently on a NCL cruise and you could dress up if you wanted, but at the MDR we ate in I saw almost nobody in formal wear.

 

That fits with most of what I have read regarding NCL.

 

Tom

[Lausmadel]

This poll was most interesting to read since we are going on our first cruise in a few days. I was confused from what I read so far. I'm relieved and I don't have to worry so much reading that dress pants & shirt are fine for the men. I'll have enough to pack as is with two kids... don't mind to drop the jacket ;-) It's hot enough anyways...

[Flynlo]

Sorry but the poll is completely out of date.

 

There no longer is a formal night on any Carnival cruise. Formal night has been replaced, OFFICIALLY, by cruise elegant night. Among other things, cruise elegant night states that a collared shirt and slacks is fine on cruise elegant nights. There is no longer any pretense that it is a dressy or formal occasion. When Carnival still pretended, but NEVER enforced, that there was a formal night, I wore a tux. Now I would not consider it. I'm considering bib overalls in protest.

 

 

Dont forget your black socks with flip flops!

[TnTnFlorida]

I bought a tuxedo a couple of years ago as it was less expensive than renting one. I now have a white dinner jacket too. Since our next cruise will be before labor day, I will take both the black and white jackets and have a different look for both Cruise Elegant Nights.

 

Despite what many people say here, I think you will find the majority of men will dress in at least a sport coat and dress slacks and plenty will be wearing formal attire.

 

Doc:D

 

My DH also bought a tux a few years back on ebay..VERY cheap! He looks amazing in it, and LOVES the attention he gets when he wears it. :D I don't understand why so many people are against dressing up, and change clothes ASAP. Maybe people are buying dress-up clothes that don't fit well and are therefore uncomfortable.

[stlrboo]

Nowhere for me to vote, as the DS and and I wear slacks/shirt/tie....:o

 

We just got off the Legend on Sunday, and almost felt 'over-dressed'...:eek: Slacks and a shirt seemed to be the 'dress of the day' for Cruise Elegant night.. Other nights, shorts and a shirt seemed to be appropriate attire, as well as slacks and a polo..:)

 

Ate in the Supper Club on a regular nite as well as a formal (CE) nite... Same thing there, except sport coats came out for the 'cruise elegant' nite!:p Others opted for slacks and a shirt....;)

[2sunny]

The answers to your poll are the main reason we do not like to cruise with Carnival. We love the elegance of Formals Nights. DH enjoys wearing his tux and dressing up for me and I love wearing a formal and dressing up for him. We ALWAYS have a GREAT time on formal nights. We do the whole evening dressed up, Martini or Champagne Bar, Dinner, Dancing, Lounges, Casino. I can sit around at home in my shorts and tee shirt. I do not pay $5,000 and go on a cruise to do what I do at home.

 

But that is why there are so many cruise lines - you can cruise Carnival with "Elegant" (I think they use the word loosely) and we shall cruise where they still have Formal (and mean it) Nights!

 

I love cruising - something for everyone.

[TnTnFlorida]

The answers to your poll are the main reason we do not like to cruise with Carnival. We love the elegance of Formals Nights. DH enjoys wearing his tux and dressing up for me and I love wearing a formal and dressing up for him. We ALWAYS have a GREAT time on formal nights. We do the whole evening dressed up, Martini or Champagne Bar, Dinner, Dancing, Lounges, Casino. I can sit around at home in my shorts and tee shirt. I do not pay $5,000 and go on a cruise to do what I do at home.

 

But that is why there are so many cruise lines - you can cruise Carnival with "Elegant" (I think they use the word loosely) and we shall cruise where they still have Formal (and mean it) Nights!

 

I love cruising - something for everyone.

 

We love the formal nights as well, and have only cruised on Celebrity and Princess. We are trying a Carnival Cruise in September because the price was right and we can drive easily to the port. We are staying open minded, but honestly sometimes I feel there are people on these boards who are actually angry at those of us who want to dress up.:( I was happy to see by this poll that there are still about 50% of the people dressing up, so hopefully we will not be scorned by those in flip flops!