How Formal is Formal

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stufus

Guest
Just how formal should my dresses be. Are we talking knee length cocktail, full length slinky or full blown ball gowns? Husband has bought a tux...!!!!!! I've invested in a selection of every imaginable colour and length but husband says i will need at least FIVE cabins to store them all in. I do enjoy getting snazzied up but really need advice on whats what and really will have to reduce the amount i'd planned to take. Also on non-formal nights just how casual does it get. Will hubby look out of place wearing a suit but without a tie? I dont really do casual but dont want to look out of place. Also... totally against my religion but..........would any one notice if i was to wear the same dress twice? !!!!!!!! ARGGGGGHHHH Can't believe i've even asked that. All replies welcome. All you women out there must know what i'm going through. By the way we have opted for personal choice dining.
 
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Sharkin

Guest
While my wife and I prefer to dress according to the suggestion, you will see a wide range of styles. The buffet area being the exception, all of the other dining areas are quite elegant and a suit, with or without tie is always appropriate. I wear a tux on formal nights and the wife an evening gown. For the other nights a suit and tie, or slacks and button down shirt depending on our mood. As I said earlier all manner of dress will be worn by others, but it is a nice dinner and I feel I should dress accordingly. I am sure you will get a lot of response to your question, so get ready.
 
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Cruise cutie

Guest
Hi..I'm 44 and Hubby is 54..we do the tux,gown on Formal nights.and a suit .no tie or dress slacks open neck dress shirt on the others..I wear a nice street dress type outfit / sun dress on casual night...I wear cocktail slinky for semi-formal night...AWAYS in pumps / heels at dinner..we are on Princess because we LIKE to dress up.,go DANCING..(DH Is a foot taller than me ..hence the Heels each night..;).).. etc,.and it does tend to be nicer at night clothes in the Dining room...sigh..like Sharkin says you will get a mixed bag of everything..but our group of 3 couples tends to be dressier..and we power shop specials at TJ Maxx,Marshall's ,David's Bridal and E-Bay..and our hubby's all got tuxes 2 cruise ago too.:grin....we buy one formal portrait from each cruise as our 5 kids whine if they don't get an updated photo of Mom and Dad all dressed up,relaxed and dressed to the teeth..=love..My Princess cruise..roll on February!!....We know lot's of people whine about the formal stuff or wiggle out of it by saying "it's my vacation and I'm going to do what I want and not follow the dress code..=dunno.Fine whatever floats their ship..we dress 'cause where we live it's few and far between hauling out my makeup,heels,fancy jewelry from my late grandmother ..and putting on my best bib and tucker..Have fun!!..:daisy...Joanne



Post Edited (06-30-04 11:35)
 
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JacquieP

Guest
Almost anything you mentioned would be fine. I haven't seen too many ball gowns, but if that's waht you want, it wouldn't really be out of place. On the P@N@M@ cruise, most of the guys wore tropical print shirts or open collar dress shirts on the "smart casual" nights. Red always makes Einstein beautiful vests to wear with his dress shirts.
 
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cruiserdru

Guest
You will see men in dockers and polo shirts on casual night, women may be the same or slightly dressier.

Depending on the length of the cruise and the timing of the formal nights (we have 3 on our upcoming Hawaii 15-day cruise), many ladies repeat their formal outfits. Beautiful clothes are meant to be worn more than once.

Many ladies will also go the beaded top and long black skirt/chiffon pants route for formal and take different tops to save on packing and shoes.

If you have the clothes and the packing space, and especially if you love to dress up, go for it.
 
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sodostan

Guest
Get as dressed up on formal nights as you want...even the most formal of attire is not out of place. Any length is okay...you will see them all.

On casual nights, most men wear open-collared sport shirts, or collared polo shirts, and nice slacks. Women, including myself, stick mostly to comfortable but nice-looking slacks and tops.

Don't worry too much...just enjoy the cruise.
 
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kruznut

Guest
:wave On formal nights my husband wears his tux and i wear evening gowns. I love getting dressed up from head to toe it just makes me feel a little special ! :cheers Happy cruising everyone ! =bigwave =bigwave
 
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carolinarockman

Guest
Formal is formal. In the booklet that you'll receive from Princess prior to your sailing, the dress code is spelled out there. As stated in the previous posts, you will see all manner of dress-up or lack of dress-up on formal nights. A Tux for men or White dinner jacket with tux pants is always in style. No Tux - no problem. A dark suit is in order then. If you like to get dressed-up ( any we do) you will really enjoy formal nights as everyone looks elegant. You ladies have a world of fashion to choose from for formal dress. Us guys are limited to a few traditional and some not so traditional attire. On formal nights there will be a number of photographers in various settings on the ship for your formal photographs. They really do a good job. Also while you are dining on those nights they will come around to each table and take some more formal photos. Great fun! Great photographic memories.
 
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sailboat

Guest
If you men want to turn out in white tie and tails or a tartan kilt with velvet jacket, here's your chance! In reality, most men wear a standard tux or dark suit and tie. Then there are those guys who wear the collarless shirts with a jewel at the throat. Not my favorite guy look, but I applaud the individuality!

We women have a wider range--with dresses, long and short, feminine tuxes, lovely flowing island dresses, silks and satins, sparkles and sequins! Thank goodness! Not being a rock or movie star I don't get many chances to doll up like this at home! And if you want to indulge that Cinderella fantasy and wear that ballgown, I say go for it. Just think --you will enliven the evenings of many fellow passengers some of whom will smile, some of whom may snicker, but most of whom will secretly be envious of your chutzpah!
 
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randy

Guest
I will have to say that my experience with Princess makes it the second-most eclectic-dressing line we have sailed on (behind Carnival). Everything seemed to go on formal night--from tuxes to (and I am not making this up!) polo shirts with a clip-on tie. Women ran the full gamut from sexy (too) short club wear to sundresses to ball gowns, with what seemed to me to be a preponderance of cocktail dresses. It looked more like a wedding reception in a church social hall than a prom or black tie affair. There were less tuxes than suits, and as many sportscoats as suits, and a large number of guys in just dress shirts and ties--no coats. I think that the opportunity to dress up, have a "fancy night out," and take a few formal shots is worth the embarrasment of having to pull the cummerbund up over my protruding belly all night!
 
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Jeana

Guest
Be comfortable on formal night as well as elegant. I decided not to wear "gowns" anymore on cruises. Takes up too much room in the suitcase and you always have to get it pressed when you get there. I graduated to dressy evening slacks with sequin tops, etc. I'm very comfortable and don't have to have anything pressed when I get on board. I've been set free from evening gowns!
 
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Cruise cutie

Guest
Thats funny Jeana , not funny haha..but funny different..I've never once pressed my gowns.=shrug...I hang them up and they just hang free and escaped steam from the shower into the nearby closet are perfect..I don't put them in luggage..we have a garment bag and in the cleaning plastic from the cleaners stay darn near perfect..I hate HEAVY gowns..so I hand pick for comfort,weight,and, fabric and GLAMOUR..;)....it's so very few times I can even wear a slinky cocktail dress..I'm in Vermont and the local grocery store rarely has formal shopping times..:grin..I know what you mean though about changing to dressy slacks and fancy sequin tops..and they do look :thumb....but for DH Mark and I, it is such a wonderful time to be formal.we are on our "couples cruise" and go dancing at night..=love...enjoy all your cruises...:)..Joanne
 
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stufus

Guest
Dear All
Thankyou so much for the info. Think i'm pretty much sorted now. Just went out and bought loads of everything. Oh well...looks like we'll have a hefty excess charge with Virgin Airways. Once again thanks. PS This is a fab fab fab site.
 
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pandabebe

Guest
Just thought I would add my two cents....

I guess how formal people dress is somewhat dependant on a few things...mainly the type of cruise and the age group.

Being in my mid-20s and cruising w/ several different lines I've found that the longer the cruise and the more exotic the ports (i.e. Panama Canal, Europe, Asia and South Pacific) the more formal people tend to dress (i.e. ball gowns and tuxes). In addition, I've found that the older the crowd the more formal (but the hard part is finding out the general age group of the cruise you're going on but my rule of thumb has been the more expensive the cruise usually the older the crowd).

But to be honest, you should wear whatever you want. Dress as formal as you like! I think the biggest change in cruising over the past 10 years has been the lack of effort cruisers put into formal nights now. On the last cruise my boyfriend and I went on there was a couple wearning slacks and golf shifts on the last formal night (which usually is the more formal of the 2 b/c it's usually the "captins ball").

As for the regular nights I usually wear a shirt and a nice top, but there's nothing stopping you from wearing all your fab dresses....=)
 
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