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sindsea
Guest
First time cruisers (of course), I see where adults should "dress" for dinner each evening (dresses, long pants, etc). How about kids? Do I need to pack "dress" pants for my 7 & 16 yr old?
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seagarsmoker
Guest
Yes, children follow the same dress requirements during the evening as adults.
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seamom
Guest
Dinner is nicer to see boys wear long pants though I don't think dress pants are required on casual nights...........a clean pair of khakis or and a collared polo shirt or tropical print.
On formal nights I have seen everything. Suits and tuxes are great if you can afford them as they grow so fast, but I have found I can pick up a lovely pair of dress pants, matching shirt, tie and vest cheaply at Sears and he looks like dynamite...and from what I saw, fits in very well as several didn't bother at all and that spoils the specialness of the evening. Mine is 10 so I usually only get one wear out of dressing up so you may not want to spend much.
Not so sure about the 16 year old whether the vest outfit would be enough, but perhaps he would get enough use of the jacket for formal night and job interviews etc. to make it a more worthwhile investment?
Post Edited (02-24-04 13:29)
On formal nights I have seen everything. Suits and tuxes are great if you can afford them as they grow so fast, but I have found I can pick up a lovely pair of dress pants, matching shirt, tie and vest cheaply at Sears and he looks like dynamite...and from what I saw, fits in very well as several didn't bother at all and that spoils the specialness of the evening. Mine is 10 so I usually only get one wear out of dressing up so you may not want to spend much.
Not so sure about the 16 year old whether the vest outfit would be enough, but perhaps he would get enough use of the jacket for formal night and job interviews etc. to make it a more worthwhile investment?
Post Edited (02-24-04 13:29)
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Lady Jag
Guest
Yes, pants are required for kids in the dining room for dinner, even on casual nights. They are very specific about this in the Princess Patters. You can always rent tuxes for them if you don't want to pack or buy a bunch of clothes.
What our sons like the best is to eat in the dining room a few nights. On the other nights, they prefer eating at the buffet or pizza/hamburger place. They've even ordered room service a couple times for dinner so they could make it back to the kids' program on time. There's a lot of options for parents and kids!
What our sons like the best is to eat in the dining room a few nights. On the other nights, they prefer eating at the buffet or pizza/hamburger place. They've even ordered room service a couple times for dinner so they could make it back to the kids' program on time. There's a lot of options for parents and kids!
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seamom
Guest
Yes...Lady Jag..agree..now that you mention alternatives to eating. The first cruise, Jer joined us a few nights including formal but it was difficult for him at seven to get through a long meal sit as he's the highly active type and food is not a high priority. He'd prefer to be with the kids program but the waiters were an enticement as they were so nice and playful with him.
Last year, at 10, Jer made a friend a little older and they would go off to the buffet and get dinner by themselves most nights. He loved it! We'd have breakfast and some lunches together and he came to a formal dinner with us but he LOVED the independence as we are very close and together for all meals at home.
The benefit was late sitting for us while he was in the kids program and we could enjoy a long leisurely adult conversation and laughs.
You can also to personal dining to be more flexible with mealtimes to suit you and your child's timetables!
Last year, at 10, Jer made a friend a little older and they would go off to the buffet and get dinner by themselves most nights. He loved it! We'd have breakfast and some lunches together and he came to a formal dinner with us but he LOVED the independence as we are very close and together for all meals at home.
The benefit was late sitting for us while he was in the kids program and we could enjoy a long leisurely adult conversation and laughs.
You can also to personal dining to be more flexible with mealtimes to suit you and your child's timetables!
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Lady Jag
Guest
When the kids would eat in the buffet or get pizza, we'd sit with them and talk about their day - what they did, what was the most fun, what they're going to do this evening, etc.
They'd finish eating, I'd go back to shower and get ready for dinner and by the time I was out of the shower, they were ready for my husband to take them to the kids' program. DH would stop and put our names in for Personal Choice and by the time he'd drop the kids off and come back to the atrium, I'd be there and our table would be ready. It was really a nice way to work the dining arrangement. Most of all, the boys were happy they didn't have to sit down to a 2 hr. dinner and eat food they didn't really want every night.
Now that they're a little older (14 & almost 12 yrs.), they like eating in the dining room about 80% of the time, but when they were in the 8-12 yr. old kids' program, they couldn't wait to get back to it. Good luck with it - I'm sure you'll do fine with all the choices Princess has! :thumb
They'd finish eating, I'd go back to shower and get ready for dinner and by the time I was out of the shower, they were ready for my husband to take them to the kids' program. DH would stop and put our names in for Personal Choice and by the time he'd drop the kids off and come back to the atrium, I'd be there and our table would be ready. It was really a nice way to work the dining arrangement. Most of all, the boys were happy they didn't have to sit down to a 2 hr. dinner and eat food they didn't really want every night.
Now that they're a little older (14 & almost 12 yrs.), they like eating in the dining room about 80% of the time, but when they were in the 8-12 yr. old kids' program, they couldn't wait to get back to it. Good luck with it - I'm sure you'll do fine with all the choices Princess has! :thumb
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cleacat
Guest
i have been on many cruises 12 to be exact and each year i wear some thing fancy to the formal nights last year i wore a black skirt ,black cami and a long sleeve see through blouse and that was when i had just turned eleven and i fit right in also you can wear sporty dresses and two peice skirt and dress top sets { can be found at walmart and at the jcpenny juniors department}
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randy
Guest
I have only been on one Princess cruise, on the Grand Princess. On that sailing, anything seemed to go in the dining room. I saw jeans, polo shirts, t-shirts, suits, sports coats, a golf shirt with a clip-on tie, and even a tux here and there. Seemed the crowd dressed more uniformly on Carnival! Formal night had the same mix as any other night, although the guy across from us with the jeans did wear a burgundy dress shirt (no tie or coat)! Kids can look good any night in a button-down shirt--add dockers for smart casual and a tie for formal and you are in like Flynn! Ours (12 at the time) wore a suit for formal, same coat (blue) with khakis for informal, and a polo shirt (same khakis) for casual. Looked like a million bucks, only took two shirts, one suit and a pair of slacks to do a 7-nighter. Rest of the time he was in his shorts and T-shirt!
