Whatever has happened to the formal in formal night??

[sheilauk]

errrrrr Ally you are missing the point completely. There is a dress code on these ships for dinner in the main dinng room ie casual, smart casual and formal. It is not meant as an option it is a guide as to how you are to dress on these nights if you wish to dine in the main dining room. Im not judging anybody but formal nights are part of the cruise culture and if you dont wish to partake then eat elsewhere and stop spoiling it for everyone else. It kind of ruins the effect if youre in your long dress and jewellery and some idiot at the next table is in jeans and a short sleeved shirt. As i said before you are completely missing the point.

[allypad]

Apparently I am missing the point - because I can have just as nice of a time in my formal dress - even with the "idiot" dressed in blue jeans at the next table. I also enjoy dressing up on formal night - to get my photos taken, etc... I just don't get bent out of shape if someone doesn't - I can even have fun with people at my table in blue jeans and me in a formal gown. I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this one. Judge not lest ye be judged...

Ally

[sheilauk]

oh dear......again if you dont want to partake in formal night EAT ELSEWHERE

[allypad]

OH MY - again, why can't you just live and let live???? I DO dress formally, but I don't get my panties in a wad if someone else doesn't! Don't you have better things to worry about than how other people DRESS for God's sake??

[frito]

Ok, let's try to look at it this way :
You know up front that a certain amount of decorum is expected on your cruise. One or two nights you are expected to dress halfway decent to enjoy a special night or two in the dining room. If you are one of the handful who purposely disregard that expected dress code and show up in cap, jeans, etc., then you are basically telling everyone that you don't give a sh#t about yourself or your fellow cruisers and you will damn well do as you please.
In the real world, we all have to deal with people like this on a daily basis and most of us would like to see ,at least just for a night or two, everyone act mature, decent and leave the " me " attitude in the cabin for a few hours.
If someone wants to call attention to the fact that they are uncouth, crude, uncaring, don't give a sh#t, etc., then they could go to the buffet naked--- that would get their message across even better !! :wave

[allypad]

I'm afraid I still don't agree with you - but to each their own. I don't get wrapped up in what other people do. As I said earlier - we all can just agree to disagree...

[diceareout]

It does sound that this post is the "all about me" but it seems that the one's dressing up are more "the me's". Have you considered the fact that a white dress shirt may be the best that they have? Or maybe this is their first cruise and are not aware of formal nite. I went on a cruise and sent my tuxedo down to be pressed and the cruise line lost it--should I stay in my cabin because I cannot dress up. I paid my money for all the festivities on the ship and I will enjoy them no matter what. I am on vacation and I will do the activities that make me happy. Just because someone puts on a 3-piece suit does not make them a good person. Every convict wears a suit to his trial.

[sheilauk]

'''''I paid my money for all the festivities on the ship and I will enjoy them no matter what'''.

Thats the 'me' attitude!.. to hell with everyone else is what some people think!

This is not about being a good person or being a bad person or being a snob or whatever..........its just about following the cruise lines suggestions. After all surely you wouldnt go to a wedding, where it specifically says 'morning suits' on the invitation, in jeans and short sleeved shirt??! Enough said.....

[Gayle V]

Ignorance is no excuse and highly unlikely and the posters here obviously have no claim to it as an excuse. As the information is in the brochures, and on the web page, and in the docs, (which you are required to read) and clearly mentioned right here. And you still intend to underdress? That's not lack of knowledge.

If you spend thousands on a vacation that specifically stipulates formal wear will be needed, then you need to consider the cost of a suit as part of the cost of the vacation you chose. If you can't afford a simple suit, then why on earth are you wasting so much money on a cruise ?

And if the cruise line lost your tux then they should have provided one of their rentals for you to use, You should have spoken up. They have them onboard. (Not to mention they also should have reimbursed you the cost of the tux.)

And that is not the situation being discussed, anyway, is it? We're talking about people choosing to disrespect their fellow passengers and chosing to devalue the entire formal experience for everyone, by dressing inappropriately for formal dinner.

And I keep hearing people say that they personally don't care how the other people dress, nor do they understand why we do. As if understanding is a required component of following the rules.

We want to experience the special formal evening we paid for. (And which you agreed to when booking the trip.) Why is it necessary for you to understand? Why can you not just do as you are supposed to do? Why can you not just do as you agreed to do? Why is it not enough for you to know that you ARE devaluing the the experience for others?

And you do know this. You know it the only way you can know this, we said as much. Why is that not enough to stop you from ruining the experience we value?

---------------------------------

Here, let me make one more stab at making you understand:

Suppose we all buy tickets to the big game (baseball, football, whatever sport you really love). You get to go to the game only once every year or two. Me too, I don't go much.

I think I'll wear my huge straw hat, the one with the big wide brim. And I'll bring my umbrella for extra shade. I really don't much care if the lady in front of me brings one too. My pleasure will not be diminished if I can't see the playing field.

I'll have plenty of fun anyway, talking to my girlfriends and eating hotdogs and beer and playing my broadway music really loud on my mini-boom box. I really don't understand why you want to hear those annoying announcements anyway. I don't listen to them. I paid for my ticket and I'm going to enjoy my day, my way.

And I don't know why that guy behind me is complaining so much. The ushers at this park didn't stop me from bringing my hat and umbrella or radio, so clearly that means it's OK and that there's no reason for anyone to object. If they did't throw me out, than it's OK with everyone. Right? I mean I'm still having fun so he's gotta be having an OK time too. I just don't understand why he doesn't just let me enjoy myself.

Do you get it now ? How about just a little ?

[cruisebuddy]

WOW indeed! I am in total agreement with sheilauk, and to diceareout, you're on the right track with me too. If a dress shirt is the nicest thing you have, by all means, wear it. But for those of us who enjoy the whole cruising experience, INCLUDING formal night (which is a tradition that dates back a long way), then please, at least wear that dress shirt and tie. I own my own tux, and my wife enjoys shopping for her gown before a cruise. We look forward to formal nights. That's why we do NOT recommend NCL with their "optional" formal nights.

For those who think it's all about me, or shouldn't mind if the jerk at my table is wearing jeans on formal night, you are missing the boat. And hopefully it is the boat that I will be on!

All jokes aside, I understand that some people may not have the means to wear something fancy (though they DID have the means to buy a ticket in the first place). All I ask is that you think about the whole mystique of cruising and just think of it as wearing your Sunday best. If not, respect those of us who DO follow the apparel suggestions and dine at the buffet.

As a side note, and one that hasn't been addressed on this thread, if the cruiseline is going to establish a dress code (or suggestion, if you will), then ENFORCE IT! If the rules state that there are to be no shorts in the dining room at dinner, then enforce the rules. RC has been looking the other way lately, from what I have seen.

PS- and don't even THINK you'll get away with overly casual attire at dinner on Cunard. NOt gonna happen!