Cruise Talk: Formal wear on Princess

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Topic: Formal wear on Princess

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 10-23-2011 01:43 PM

I've just returned from my 43 cruise, (Star Princess 12 days, Barcelona to Venice) and the first one for which I packed no formal attire. Desirod has mentioned on another thread that the cost of extra baggage is getting high, and it was for that reason that we packed no such clothing. I know too that some think Princess is a bottom end cruise line, but I disagree with that, finding them similar in nature and passenger demographics to Celebrity and Holland America. There were 550 fellow Canadians, just over 800 Americans, and over 1000 others from all over the globe, mostly Europeans. On the 2 formal nights, there were very very few tuxedos and evening dresses, and few suites/blazers/sports jackets. Most men wore what is ofter referred to as resort casual attire. I saw no ultra casual attire such as jeans/short etc in the dining room, although the Horizon Court buffet was nearly full of such clad folk. Perhaps "formal" attire is disappearing, and for me I welcome the change.

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 10-23-2011 01:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Grant:
[...] Perhaps "formal" attire is disappearing, and for me I welcome the change.

Maybe, formal attire is simply changing. e.g. at the State Opera in Vienna the number of gentlemen wearing a tuxedos is declining, however, the attire is still rather formal.

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 10-23-2011 01:57 PM

In reading my own post, I realize that some might think that I was incredibly cheap and that $25 was not too much to pay for the extra piece of luggage that formal wear would have caused! However, due to a strike with the original air carrier, and with just 3 days to go before departure, I had to scramble and piece together 4 different air bookings to get to and from the ship, with extra baggae fees per person coming in at about $160 for the entire journey!!!

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 10-23-2011 02:12 PM

I like to wear on formal night:

dress shirt & tie
vest sweater
dress slacks
dark socks and shoes.

The jacket takes up too much space.

Women on Oceania wore dress/skirt or pantsuit outfit with a nice top, neckace and earrings, nobody wore formal gowns.

Partner and I wear dress/polo shirt and slacks.

from www.modernetiquette.com

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 10-23-2011 02:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Grant:
In reading my own post, I realize that some might think that I was incredibly cheap and that $25 was not too much to pay for the extra piece of luggage that formal wear would have caused! However, due to a strike with the original air carrier, and with just 3 days to go before departure, I had to scramble and piece together 4 different air bookings to get to and from the ship, with extra baggae fees per person coming in at about $160 for the entire journey!!!

Oh, we still think that you were cheap. Maybe not incredibly cheap but cheap.

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

jetwet1
First Class Passenger
Member # 6361

posted 10-23-2011 09:40 PM

I have to say, I am one of the few people I see that still puts on a tux for formal nights, nearly everyone else I see has on suits or just slacks, shirt and tie.

While I have spent the last 5 years dressed in suits for work, breaking out the tux is still something special for me, the wife thinks I am nuts, but she thinks this while deciding which of the 5 gowns she will wear...........

Posts: 608 | From: Las VEgas | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged

Globaliser
First Class Passenger
Member # 4153

posted 10-24-2011 07:21 AM

I have personally never understood why taking a dinner suit should cause any extra baggage fees. A man should be able to pack for a 7-14 night cruise with formal nights into one wheelie suitcase that still comes in well under 50 lbs in weight. If you haven't worn everything at least once during the cruise, you've brought too much!

Posts: 1869 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

jetwet1
First Class Passenger
Member # 6361

posted 10-24-2011 05:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Globaliser:
I have personally never understood why taking a dinner suit should cause any extra baggage fees. A man should be able to pack for a 7-14 night cruise with formal nights into one wheelie suitcase that still comes in well under 50 lbs in weight. If you haven't worn everything at least once during the cruise, you've brought too much!

True, but then you add in the wife who must have a different outfit for each night, a choice of formal wear and enough shoes to make Emelda Marcos envious and you see the issues.

Posts: 608 | From: Las VEgas | Registered: Mar 2006 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 10-24-2011 05:51 PM

A blue outfit and a beige outfit with 2 shirts can work for 4 formal nights.

blue/blue/ shirt 1
beige/beige/ shirt 2
blue/beige/ shirt 1
beige/blue/ shirt 2

2 suits still adds 50% to luggage weight and volume for a 7 day trip.

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

Johan
First Class Passenger
Member # 4458

posted 10-25-2011 04:10 PM

Hello, I follow Ernst here.
The nature of 'formal' is changing, as fashion and ways of dressing is always changing (50 years ago, a tuxedo was not formal wear).
The wearing of a tie, for example has gone completely out of fashion, and I feel very old when I wear one these days, whereas till 5 years ago I wore one every working day. Last year I went to some "very" posh restaurants in London, and the only men wearing ties were the waiters, and since then I almost discarded them.
I remember reading somewhere about complaints about '60's Cunard, that it was only for the transatlantic voyage men had to pack 'White Tie' formal wear, so there was a change there.
"Pullmantur" is certainly massmarket, but it was clear that on the "gala" evening almost everyone was 'dressed up', though there was not a tuxedo in sight, and yet it was very festive.
On the QE2 i wore a tux, otherwise it was twon suit and tie, ore a blue blazer - it depends on where you are. I would only wear a tux on the QM2 or perhaps another cunard ship (if I ever sailed on one). Otherwise I think I 'd feel overdressed.
J

Posts: 1895 | From: Antwerpen, Belgium | Registered: Feb 2004 | IP: Logged

rem-dk
First Class Passenger
Member # 5121

posted 10-25-2011 04:52 PM

I am maybe a bit old school, but I like to wear dark suit and tie on formal nights.
And I see many others on my age (58) in dark suits, but of course many more in more casual dresses.
On the job I wear blue working dress with dirty hands every day, so for me its great to feel the difference, and I dont think it is a problem with the baggage.
Why not fill the suitcase :-)

Best regards
René

Posts: 268 | From: Fredensborg Denmark | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged

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