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Originally posted by vikingcrown:
Besides the most upmarket cruise lines like Crystal and Seabourn, what mainstream cruise lines or cruise ships these days are the most formal - that is that the majority of passengers still don their suits and ties on informal nights.

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Cunard is probably the most formal of any cruise line. A tux is "a must" on any transatlantic crossing ... and not just for one or two nights, but almost every night of the voyage.

Of the mainstream lines, I would say Holland America can still be quite formal, maybe because of the older clientele. Celebrity also attracts it's fair share of tuxes, suits, and gowns (especially on the longer cruises).

Most other lines have gone the casual route. Many offer alternative dining options so you never have to dress up if you don't want to.

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Originally posted by mec1:
eroller - you are wrong. I am afraid that there are only two formal nights on QM2 transatlantic sailings.

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Yep! And I was surprised that I only saw 50% Tux's on 'formal' nights, the other 50% were business suits.

Do ships operating in the Carib, such as 'Voyager of the Seas' have formal nights with Tux wearing taking place?

[ 05-06-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

Yep! And I was surprised that I only saw 50% Tux's on 'formal' nights, the other 50% were business suits.

Do ships operating in the Carib, such as 'Voyager of the Seas' have formal nights with Tux wearing taking place?

[ 05-06-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

Do ships operating in the Carib, such as 'Voyager of the Seas' have formal nights with Tux wearing taking place?

[ 05-06-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

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You will still see some tuxes on Formal Nights, but they are definitely in the minority these days. Most men wear suits or even just a sports coat and tie.

A disturbing trend is that even these vestments seem to disappear right after dinner, as many people change back into shorts and T-shirts to spend the rest of the evening in the shows, casino, and nightclubs! Tacky!

the last evening was "optional" : formal or informal, and there was even more evening wear around.

It depends on the passengers I think.

J

[ 05-06-2005: Message edited by: Johan ]

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Originally posted by mec1:
eroller - you are wrong. I am afraid that there are only two formal nights on QM2 transatlantic sailings.

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This is a change since my crossing on QE2 a couple years ago where four out of six nights were designated "formal" and almost all male passengers wore a tux.

Even on QM2 to the Caribbean (2 or 3 formal nights) most people wore tuxes. I'll stand by my observation that Cunard is still the most formal cruise line, although obviously not as formal as even two years ago.

Greatings Ben.

[ 05-06-2005: Message edited by: Maasdam ]

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

You will still see some tuxes on Formal Nights, but they are definitely in the minority these days. Most men wear suits or even just a sports coat and tie.

A disturbing trend is that even these vestments seem to disappear right after dinner, as many people change back into shorts and T-shirts to spend the rest of the evening in the shows, casino, and nightclubs! Tacky!

Rich

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Ships get real hot inside, especially the QE2. strolling the deck during the evenings in the warm climates makes a jacket uncomfortable.

Rich, recall I wore a summer suit at SeaTrade not being used to Miami heat in March.

Cunard has indeed relaxed its formal requirements.
The suit takes up a lot of space in the luggage and after being in a suitcase it is a $15 drycleaning bill.

Many experienced Cunarders are creative with their formal wear and dinner looks like a Fellini movie with uniforms, tunics, vintage tuxes, white tuxedos, and Liberace outfits. Many women wear vintage gowns, some sequins, or Lily Munster outfits. It makes the cruise more fun.

[ 05-06-2005: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

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Originally posted by Willem H. van der Leek:
If you don't want to buy a tux, you can rent one.

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Think about renting one but opted out. No not fore me.

I want add to it that wat i wear on formal nights is modern with a touch of formality. I think that it is not iff you wear a tux ore not that made the evening buth the way you behave on such occasion.

Greatings Ben.

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Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
The way some passengers dress on QE2 is part of the fun. On one cruise around South America in the early 1990s, there was a, English Lana Turner look alike always sunning poolside. She was in her late 60s, leopard print bathing suit (she had a killer bod) white sunglasses and always smoking a long thin cigarette. Later I found out she was staying in the Queen Mary (or QM suite) with her ancient aristocrat hubby. She was a hoot after we got to know her. What other ship attracts these types of interesting charactors?

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The other one was the t.s.s. Rotterdam 5. She to specially on here longer voyagers she atracts typicall charactors. The story's i read and hear was fun. There is a story about a woman who wear every day the same dresses and evenings the same gowns. Crew worried that she maybe do something horrible to herselff (jumping overboard) Made a story up and they contacted here in here cabin. They told here that they have to check iff there was nothing with the plumbing. So whene they enter here cabin they where surpriced they found out that this woman have a wardrope full with the same dresses. So she was able to weare every day here favorit outfits.

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Originally posted by eroller:
Ernie - who has also "discarded" his tux for a more modern Kenneth Cole "dark suit". A sign of the times I guess.

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Originally posted by CGT:

Who made you do that? And why?

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Actually it was lost coming back from my MSC cruise in January. It won't mention the airline but it happens to be the one I work for! First time I've ever had a bag permanently lost. Frankly I think it was stolen out of baggage claim before I got there but none the less I have been reimbursed for it.

Rather than buy another tux, I decided on a very nice dark suit. I just don't see many tuxes any more and I felt the only time I would need on is on Cunard. When I sail on QM2 or QE2 again I will probably rent one. Other than sailing on those two ships I don't have much of a reason to wear one.

It's unfortunate, but cruising today has become a very casual experience. Soon even a suit will not be necessary on most lines ... and on some like NCL that is already the case.

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Originally posted by eroller:
It's unfortunate, but cruising today has become a very casual experience.
Ernie

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Originally posted by CGT:

I'm glad you agree with me on that!

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I totally agree. Unfortunately I can't single handily change the dress trend onboard. It really follows American society in general which has become extremely casual.

So if you can't beat'em, join'em. I would be willing to guess that even my new dark suit is dressier than what most passengers will wear on the average cruise.

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Originally posted by eroller:
Unfortunately I can't single handily change the dress trend onboard.

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Ernie, all major 'chance' begins with just one person!

I enjoy dressing up, but it is the thing that most cruise virgins are scared of. Once they have bitten the bullet and done it, it no longer holds any fear.

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Originally posted by Weaver:
.. nothing brings down a cruise more than shabby dressers on a ship.

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Well that rules out 99.9% of all cruises.