Desperately Seeking Celebrity/Horizon Evening Wear Advice

[Chick & Ellen]

Hi There,

 

We JUST booked on the Horizon Western Caribbean Cruise for Jan 21, so we have only 3 weeks to prepare. We have read the posts on clothing in the "ship fashion" thread but noticed that the advice varies widely based on the line/ship. We also carefully read the wonderfully detailed posting by caribbeanbound which was very helpful. Nevertheless, we are hoping to get some advice for our specific situation from people who have recent and/or extensive experience sailing on Celebrity and/or Horizon.

 

We booked this trip because we wanted the benefits of crusing (transport, food, and lodging taken care of) and also because we are very interested in the ports of call, especially Panama. We knew that cruises require some dressiness but were surprised to read about tuxedos, 5 dressy nights, etc. We are extremely casual people - Chick more so than Ellen. Here is what we own that is not casual:

 

Ellen

• one lovely full length gown (worn to fancy weddings)
  
• one lovely knee length dress (worn to casual weddings)
  
• one pair of dressy shoes (worn to both)
  
• several pairs of decent slacks and blouses (worn to work - office)
  

Chick

• one tie
  
• one pair of high-quality dress slacks (dark grey almost black)
  
• one high quality white dress shirt
  
• no jacket at all (the one he wore recently was "retired")
  
• no other pants except for jeans (he has some in black, beige... keeps them neat and wears them with a belt or aloha shirt for 'dressy casual' events)
  
• one pair of dark brown loafers (he has foot issues and has to wear rubber-soled shoes - he has worn these shoes to fancy events)
  

 

I'm sure you can see our dilemma. We certainly don't want to go out and buy lots of clothes we will barely use; nor do we want to miss out on the dinners, which sound like one of the highlights of the on-board experience.

 

Here are our questions:

1. Can we assume that it is 3 formal, 2 informal, and 5 casual?
   
2. Given our cruise and our clothing list, what would you suggest that we buy/pack/do for our evening wear?
   
3. Can Ellen wear her short dress on formal nights, and her office clothes on informal nights?
   
4. We know Chick needs a jacket; he thinks that if he buys a dark jacket and a second shirt, that he will be all set for the 5 non-casual nights. Ignoring the hygiene issues involved, do you think he can get away with wearing a dark jacket and pants (not a suit) for the formal nights?
   
5. Will Chick's shoes be ok for the formal/informal nights?
   
6. Can he wear his (black or beige) jeans on casual nights?
   

Many, many thanks to anyone who takes the time to read, consider, and respond to this thread. Happy New Year to all!

 

Best regards,

Chick & Ellen

 

[About us- Chick has crewed on commercial fishing and sailing vessels, never been on a cruise liner; Ellen was a passenger on the Veendam way back in 1982 and a crew member on SeaEscape's Scandanavian Dawn in 1992. Does that make us newbies?]

[steveweese]

I always wear a short dress on formal night.

[joramrose]

Rent Chick a tuxedo!!!!

The ship offers that service, and you will love seeing him all dressed up.

Cheaper than going out and buying something.

 

Your long dress and your short dress probably both are OK. So wear one of them twice. No one will notice.

 

Or, if you feel you must purchase something, get a really frilly glittery top for one of your office pants. Or buy a pair of black velour or crepey pants or long skirt -- they are on sale right now everywhere for mostly under $20.

 

Good grooming goes a long way toward making anything you wear presentable. Main thing is, feel comfortable and have a great cruise!!!

 

love

joan

 

P.S. Do remember to bring warm 9EVEN HOT) weather clothing. It gets pretty hot in Panama!

[Chick & Ellen]

Joan, you are right, I do like to see Chick dressed up! but I didn't know that Celebrity rents tuxedos! do you know how much they charge?

 

I was thinking about renting a tuxedo here at home too....

[hdawson]

I will be on the same 10 day cruise in Feb. I will wear my tux for the three formal nights as will at least 40% of the men. 59% will be in suits. I thought there were 3 informals but you may be correct. I'll wear a sport coat or blazer and probably without the tie which is now considered optional. The casual nights, I'll be in dockers and collared sport shirt/polo and of course real shoes. Remember, this itenerary is hot even in winter. Jeans are not cool or kewl. Celebrity is one of the dressier cruiselines and you are expected to remain in your dinner attire for the whole evening when in public rooms. This will be my 5th Celebrity cruise and second time on Horizon. Also, a tux is a suit and not any more uncomfortable than any other suit.

Tux rental I think is $85 for a seven day cruise including two formal shirts. Not sure if it's different for a 10 day cruise.

One more thing I've noticed lately is a sign posted with the evening's menue outside the dining room. No Jeans or Shorts permitted in the dining room.

I have a picture of the sign if you would like to see it.

[Chick & Ellen]

Thank you Mr. Dawson - especially for the the "cool/kewl" remark, we needed to hear that; I think we will invest in some dockers.

 

regarding "real shoes", are you saying that Chick's loafers are no good - even for informal nights?

 

thanks again!

[hdawson]

Loafers are fine for casual and informal nights. You may have time to buy a tux from a local formal wear store and have it altered. Often they sell for as little as a single rental. I got mine, like brand new, from ebay. If this is your first cruise, I caution you. It's addictive, so buying is probably a good investment if you can get it on sale. I'm sure you will leave the ship in good shape and with an adequate supply of those great filets that I so look forward to. Oh, and the made onboard daily croissants are to die for.

[joramrose]

Does anyone really LOOK at the shoes?

 

If you have shoes you feel comfortable in, and they are not really way out of line, wear them. Your feet will be under the table on formal night anyway, except when you are walking tothe dining room, and there is such a crush few people will be looking down and no one will be pointing fingers at your shoes.

 

Even if you go in your fancy duds to the shows (and I am sure you will) it will be dark in there and unless you are sitting with your feet up in the air, who is looking at shoes?

 

Having said that, I agree that choosing the right footwear with whatever outfit is the best policy. But there are too many people who have to wear special shoes (like with rubber soles!) that anyone would be rude to criticize even if they do notice.

 

Hey, enjoy your cruise! You don't want to be way out of line and deliberately violate the dress code -- some folks get uptight with folks who do that. But again, the cruise is a holiday to be enjoyed.

 

Go, and have fun with my blessing!!!!

 

love

joan

[marco]

Instead of renting a tux, I'd buy an inexpensive (maybe on sale) suit, for $20-$30 more than what a tux rental is going to be. He WON'T be out of place in a suit, and he'll have it to replace that "retired" sport coat, anyway.

[roscoesdream]

I would like ro hear more comments on the shoes issue. I would like to wear loafers (black) but do not want to out of place. What do more of you think on that issue.

[Sailstan]

If your looking for a reasonable tux; go to uniformalwearhouse.com, very nice tux's, cheaper than renting. I have purchased several tux's from them and great people to deal with.

[Chick & Ellen]

Thanks to steveweese, joramrose, hdawson, marco, roscoesdream, and Sailstan for taking the time to share your experience and opinions. What a wonderful board!

 

I am intrigued by the idea of buying a tux; thanks for the URL Sailstan, what an amazing resource - only a few bucks more than the rental.... I have to admit, though, it's overwhelming - single button, double button, single breast, double breast, cumberbund, vest... we are casual people here! it's like Greek.

 

Less than 24 hours ago, I got my husband to agree to wear a tux; now we're thinking about BUYING one! Oh, the power of the cruisecritic forum.

 

I wonder if we will end up addicted to cruises as alluded to by hdawson? We just moved to Tampa, which was really what motivated us to look into cruising. Pretty easy to just hop aboard.

 

Regards,

Ellen

[Spender Nui]

I think Marco has a good thought. An inexpensive dark suit will be fine for formal nights. The suit jacket can double as a sport coat for informal nights. This way he won't need to buy a formal shirt, cummerbund or bow tie. He'll also have a suit to wear to the next wedding.

[Char]

Hey Chick and Ellen :D

 

I have one comment on the shoes. You said the ones you pictured are dark brown. Brown shoes don't go with a black tux. So maybe he can buy a black pair that are comfortable and will go with any dressy suit, tux or sportcoat attire. Enjoy your cruise!!

[hajekfam]

Thanks to steveweese, joramrose, hdawson, marco, roscoesdream, and Sailstan for taking the time to share your experience and opinions. What a wonderful board!

 

I am intrigued by the idea of buying a tux; thanks for the URL Sailstan, what an amazing resource - only a few bucks more than the rental.... I have to admit, though, it's overwhelming - single button, double button, single breast, double breast, cumberbund, vest... we are casual people here! it's like Greek.

 

Less than 24 hours ago, I got my husband to agree to wear a tux; now we're thinking about BUYING one! Oh, the power of the cruisecritic forum.

 

I wonder if we will end up addicted to cruises as alluded to by hdawson? We just moved to Tampa, which was really what motivated us to look into cruising. Pretty easy to just hop aboard.

 

Regards,

Ellen

If you do decide to buy a tux, get a classic look. My husband's tux ( a very classic line) was bought after our first cruise (where he rented a cruise special from a local rental) when we decided cruising was for us. The tux is over 10 years old and still looks great. He has found other uses for it - escorting two of our three daughters down the aisle when there was no groom's father to have to match, a black tie requested wedding we were invited to, charity events that I have gotten tickets to from work, New Year's eve, and other ballroom events that we have gone to from our dance class. He has definitely gotten his money's worth from just cruising. He now has added several different vests or cumberbunds, ties, shirts, cufflinks and studs, as well as adding a white dinner jacket. His per wearing cost ends up being just a couple of dollars each time unlike myself that gets a new dress (that costs much more than his latest addition of vest and tie) every year.

As far as cruising becoming addictive, we went on our first cruise with Celebrity back in 1992 and decided that this was the way to spend a vacation - being catered to and spoiled rotten. We now think of a 7 day cruise as a long weekend get-away.

[dkjretired]

Also, a good idea to bring a sweater or some type of wrap for inside areas during dress up nights. Even though you are in a warm climate they sometimes tend to really pump the Air conditioning on the ship and you actually wind up cold. Also, have something for going from pool area into air conditoning.

 

Don

[hotspur]

A pair of dark grey dress slacks and a dark (navy or black) blazer--with a tie--would work fine on formal nights. No one performs any kind of "inspection" when you enter the dining room and, with the exception of a few fanatics on this board, none of your fellow passengers will care one bit.

 

If you and your husband would LIKE to rent or even purchase a tuxedo for formal nights, then by all means do so, and enjoy it. But do it only for yourselves, not to please anyone else--particularly some of the folks here.

[bongiorno]

I don't know how old Chick is, but a man ought to own a dark suit - choose grey, navy, black. All go with a variety of shirt and tie colors, and some can be mixed with other slacks for a dressy/casual look. A tux is probably cheaper than a good suit. Don't rent, buy! Try Men's wearhouse or local Tux store for best prices. Chick does not have to wear "sneaker" shoes for comfort. Many designer dress shoes are now made with rubber soles. Cole-Haan is owned by Nike and offers a great line of dress shoes that feel like sneakers. If he buys a suit, do not try to make it look like a tux by adding a formal shirt and bow tie.

Good luck.

[smoothdancer]

Now is the time to shop!! Other posters was correct. After New Years all of the formals go on sale, and you can get them for 20.00...no lie!!

 

My husband and I compete in ballroom dancIng and attend a lot of formal functions. I am always on the look out for reasonable formal. I usually buy great items this time of year.

 

As far as the tux, a used rental is the way to go. For under $100.00 you can get a well taken care of tux, that they will alter for free. This is really cheaper than a rental on the ship. They will press if necessary(on the ship) for just a few dollars. My husbands tux was a re-sale rental. He has worn this tux 20-30 times, and it still has not lost its shape. Do go however with the traditional tux, so it does not become dated... And one last tip, they will also alter the shoulder padding. There is a lot of padding, that is not right for everyone.

 

Have fun on formal night....Keep the original shoes!!

[cpayne]

I believe the cruise lines not only rent tuxes, but also the shoes to go with them. If you are unsure whether his shoes will be appropriate or not, rent a pair from the ship. Just an idea....

[bongiorno]

I own 2 tux's, but will not bring on on my Millie 1/16 cruise. One lightweight black suit can be "dressed up" with the right shirt/tie, or "dressed down" with a silk or linin open collar or "T". A dressy/casual black rubber sole shoe will get you through the whole cruise and enable you to pack light. Why would anyone rent (or buy) an ill fitting rental quality tux with armpit stains? I haven't rented shoes since I stopped bowling at 12 years old. And even then, I wasn't crazy about wearing shoes pre-worn by a few hundred sweaty-footed bowlers. Guys, I implore you - stand up for yourselves, in your own shoes and Wear your own clothing.

[Chick & Ellen]

thanks so much to everyone for posting! your advice is much appreciated.

 

I took the advice of several posters and went to the "party wear" section of my local department store - and because it is post-holiday season, I got two semi-formal dresses for $16 each -

 

W :) W !

 

Although we toyed with the idea of renting/buying a tux, we ended up taking the advice of several here and bought Chick a dark navy jacket. As many noted, he *does* need one anyway.

 

Thanks again to everyone.

 

-- Ellen