Whatever has happened to the formal in formal night??

[cruisebuddy]

Cruizer, though I feel you are trying to disagree just to disagree, I will agree with one point you made - RC should be the one to enforce their own rules. The problem is, most times they do not. Why bother posting "suggested attire" when you are not going to enforce it, right?

So when you walk down to the dining room on formal night and NOT dressed formally, hopefully they will adhere to their own suggestions and remind you of the excellent repast in the Windjammer and suggest dining there because you are not dressed appropriately. That would be fair to all. It's fair to me because I would be dressed appropriately for formal night, and also fair to you because you choose not to, even though it is the suggested form of attire.

Like I said, water under the bridge. Let's move on.

 

[Cruizer]

I am not disagreeing just to disagree. I draw the line at people who feel they have some right to dictate how others should act. This is just the dining room version of road rage in my opinion. All the dining rooms have doors. Once someone is past the door no passenger should be allowed to make another passenger feel bad. If it is a safety or health issue, then bring it to the attention of the maitre d'. If the maitre d' is doing his/her job, then (s)he will be standing at the door and stopping the people who do not meet the dress code.

Since that isn't happening, we basically have two dress codes. One is published on the daily Compass and the other is the one the staff allows. We all know that. We also all know that there are cruise lines that do require passengers to comply with the dress code if they are going to eat in the dining room.

If dress is important to someone, then perhaps one of the cruise lines that enforces their dress code would be more to that person's liking. Personally, there is at least one cruise line I would like to try, but will not because of its dress code.

As far as I am concerned, sailing on Royal Caribbean and then complaining about the lax dress code is like going to Las Vegas in July and then complaining about the heat. You know its is there, if you don't like, don't go.

Royal Caribbean is not the only cruise line with a lax dress code. Carnival has a lax dress code and NCL just about did away with its dress code. Personally I don't like the no jeans rule, but I pack two dress pants instead of a suite and tie when I cruise on NCL.

I have no problem with the staff enforcing the dress code. I do have a problem with passengers enforcing the dress code. I also have a problem with those who feel the dress code should be followed while providing advise on how to smuggle alcohol to those who ask. If rules should be followed, then stop giving advise to those who are asking for the best way to get around the rule. Otherwise, learn to live with the situation as it exists.

Vote with your wallet and see what happens. Based on what I saw on the Freedom OTS, I'm guessing a very significant percentage of RCI's passengers would enjoy a more relaxed dress code.

 

[ToniRock]

I agree.. We were just on Carnival Victory and people actually showed up in shorts.. on formal night
No kidding

 

[Gayle V]

Hi Cruizer, Thanks for the kind words. Sometimes we actually do agree. When we don't, well that's what makes an interesting discussion.

I must say, I have noticed a lot of your posts lately and simply put they are quality posts. I might not agree with everything you say (I don't), but whether I agree or not, you say what you have to say very well. I am impressed

 

[mailew]

I, as previously noted would like to see the dress code enforced for formal nights.However,
I can't help wondering that if the coded were enforced, would the formal dining room be full,half full, or pracically empty,and how crowded would the Windjammer be. Also, how would it affect the galley?
Could this be why RCI enforcement of the dress code is so relaxed?

 

[Cruizer]

As I said in my review, there were less people in the dining room on the second formal night on the Freedom of the Seas than there were on the last night when tips are handed out.

 

[cruisebuddy]

For my fellow cruisers who have followed this debate and who DO follow the suggested attire guidelines, I give up. I've tried but I give up.

It blows my mind that some people would thumb their nose at the guidelines of a cruise. It is suggested that you do not smuggle alcohol on board. I don't. Do not smoke in non-smoking areas, I wouldn't (I don't smoke, but if I did I would follow the rules). Don't save seats in the theater, we don't. So, if you don't want to dress formally on formal night, don't. But at the same time, don't come into the dining room when it is suggested that you are dressed formally. Don't ruin it for those of us who DO follow the guidelines.

True, it's your vacation and your vacation dollar, but it is my vacation too and I choose to adhere to the guidelines. I just don't see the problem.

Yes. it would be great if RC would enforce their own guidelines, but then again, why should they if everyone obeyed the guidelines in the first place.

As for lax dress codes being the norm, that is one reason why NCL is not our first choice in cruising. Our next cruise is on NCL because RC wants $400 more per person for a cruise that is actually one day shorter than the NCL one we are booked on. But that is another story. HAL, here we come.

 

[sheilauk]

.........As far as I am concerned, sailing on Royal Caribbean and then complaining about the lax dress code is like going to Las Vegas in July and then complaining about the heat. You know its is there, if you don't like, don't go................

This is why i brought up the question in the first place Cruizer! When i first started cruising with RC a few years ago formal night meant formal night. Noone wore anything other than formal wear. It wasnt a problem then. Standards shouldnt be allowed to slip.

Thanks Cruisebuddy we are clearly on the same wavelength (no pun intended!)

 

[Cruizer]

[quote sheilauk]Standards shouldnt be allowed to slip. [/quote]

People change and so do standards. If standards never changed, Africans would still be considered property, not people. Women would not be allowed to vote. More and more business have done away with the suit and tie culture. Now the mass market lines realize that people go on a vacation to get away from the dress requirements of everyday life. A cruise is a vacation for most people. Even one of the luxury lines has done away with the formal dress code.

There are still cruise lines that require a formal dress for dinner. Obviously Royal Caribbean is not one of them, or you would never have started this thread. You can always vote with your wallet if you choose.

 

[PH8]

[quote Cruizer]

If standards never changed, Africans would still be considered property, not people. .[/quote]

Hate to say this,but ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Why bring that up???:

 

[Cruizer]

[quote PH8][quote Cruizer]

If standards never changed, Africans would still be considered property, not people. .[/quote]

Hate to say this,but ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Why bring that up???:[/quote]

It is just an example of changing values or standards. There are lot more examples of this. For example, the Olympic games used to be nude. After a certain Super Bowl half time show it is not likely that there will be any nude Olympic games in the near future. Flying on airplanes used to be considered extremely dangerous. Now, it is the drive to the airport that is considered dangerous. Even the ships used to be for transport. Now the airplane is for transport and the ships are becoming destinations themselves. Ships used to have a class system, and the classes did not mix. Now, once you are out of your cabin, everyone is equal. A list of the standards or values that have changed in the last 231 years would be a very long list. Why do you have a problem with my mentioning this?

 

[ROSS]

[quote Cruizer]The problem with an online poll is the people responding make up less than 1% of the cruising population, and it is not a random selection. It is like trying to decide an election based only on the absentee ballots.[/quote]

AHHHH...we did a little investigation on that point too and found that by and large...the poll matched the opinions of other RCI enthusiasts from various sites. Sure...the sample was not broad enough but it did indicate that most RCI enthusiasts...with more than one RCI cruise under their belt...preferred adhering to the suggested dress. The funniest thing was that the numbers were in the solid 90s on other sites...and I believe that included this one on CRUISE ADDICTS...LOL!!!

 

[Cruizer]

[quote ROSS][quote Cruizer]The problem with an online poll is the people responding make up less than 1% of the cruising population, and it is not a random selection. It is like trying to decide an election based only on the absentee ballots.[/quote]

AHHHH...we did a little investigation on that point too and found that by and large...the poll matched the opinions of other RCI enthusiasts from various sites. Sure...the sample was not broad enough but it did indicate that most RCI enthusiasts...with more than one RCI cruise under their belt...preferred adhering to the suggested dress. The funniest thing was that the numbers were in the solid 90s on other sites...and I believe that included this one on CRUISE ADDICTS...LOL!!![/quote]

I don't dispute the numbers. Only that the poll was not scientific. The responders are not randomly chosen. As I said, it is like trying to determine election results based only on the absentee ballots.

 

[PH8]

[quote Cruizer]

It is just an example of changing values or standards. There are lot more examples of this. For example, the Olympic games used to be nude. [/quote]

I give up on this thread..

 

[frito]

I know there will never be a satisfactory solution to the " dress codes " issue on cruises.
However I have to say this: I would be willing to bet that if the dress " code " for dinner said not to worry about clothes, just everyone show up naked--- there would be some who would show up in coat and tie-- just to be different. :wave P)

 

[Cruizer]

 

[sheilauk]

I give up - you just dont get it.

 

[PH8]

[quote sheilauk]I give up - you just dont get it.[/quote]
Like I said...

[quote PH8]

I give up on this thread..

[/quote]

 

[cruisebuddy]

[quote PH8]

I give up on this thread..[/quote]



Ditto. Someone wants the last word so have at it. This debate will continue to rage on as long as people have the opinion that they can do what they want regardless of the stated guidelines. Very sad.

And sheilauk, I know what you're thinking. If standards (people) change, God save the Queen!

 

[ROSS]

[quote Cruizer][quote ROSS][quote Cruizer]The problem with an online poll is the people responding make up less than 1% of the cruising population, and it is not a random selection. It is like trying to decide an election based only on the absentee ballots.[/quote]

AHHHH...we did a little investigation on that point too and found that by and large...the poll matched the opinions of other RCI enthusiasts from various sites. Sure...the sample was not broad enough but it did indicate that most RCI enthusiasts...with more than one RCI cruise under their belt...preferred adhering to the suggested dress. The funniest thing was that the numbers were in the solid 90s on other sites...and I believe that included this one on CRUISE ADDICTS...LOL!!![/quote]

I don't dispute the numbers. Only that the poll was not scientific. The responders are not randomly chosen. As I said, it is like trying to determine election results based only on the absentee ballots.[/quote]

This was not an election to see if we should have formal dress. It was a poll to see how experienced RCI cruisers felt. More than 93% of the respondents (on 3 different sites including this one) wanted the "Suggested Dress" adhered to. What we really found was that the most vocal opponents of formal dress were a distinct minority...and you don't need a "scientific" poll to ascertain those numbers...they were overwhelmingly in favor of formal dress. The direction of formal dress on RCI will not be determined by an election...it will be determined by the dedicated repeat passengers.