Dress Codes when Cruising

[tgh]

Last cruise I packed a light off white jacket , wearing it with a colourful long sleeved shirt but no tie on formal nights.
I like the look and I am also taking it on the Dawn next month.
I stood out like a sore thumb as the majority of other senior citizens donned their customary uniform.
My dress met the code and there was no attempt by the maitre'd to hide me , in fact we opened a few group tables over the cruise.
How many males cast an envious eye at my courage I could not tell , but many accompanying females directed a steely gaze in my direction.
Refusing to actually wear a jacket when the expectation is very clear that you should, is…………. ( not redacted just bored with the hysteria…)

 

[RooFlyer]

Refusing to actually wear a jacket when the expectation is very clear that you should, is ( not redacted just bored with the hysteria…)

Ummmm …. Has anyone actually said they have refused to wear a jacket? Or is that observation part of the hysteria as well?

 

[Daver6]

White nights are a big thing with P&O as well https://www.pocruises.com.au/experiences/at-sea/entertainment/themed-events/bianco-white-event

They should just go for Dinner en Blanc and get you to bring your own dinner too

 

[drron]

As a pompous guy in a penguin suit I have never had trouble interpreting the dress code on Silversea. Since Covid there has always been some men who have refused to wear a jacket on formal nights and only occasionally have they been given jackets which most carry to the table and put it over the back of the chair.

As well even before Covid dining in La Terraza or Kaiseki in those ships that have it did not have Formal as the dress code but a jacket was required. Nearly half the men would not be wearing a jacket.
In Kaiseki on the Muse even I would be sans jacket as it is a Teppanyaki restaurant in the evening.

However even I will be leaving Silversea after our 2 bookings. One of the reasons being the disappearing dress code. Mainly though for the number of cancelled cruises and poor itineraries. About to book on Crystal. Have already been in touch with our favourite Silversea Cruise Director who now is on Crystal and is at present rostered on the cruise we are looking at.

 

[Port Power]

So much passion - like the Qantas dress code thread.



LoL. And the maître d should have a rattan cane to beat the offenders with as he sends them on their way.

_________________

Personally, I think asking for a tuxedo to be worn, let alone wearing one while on a cruise in the Caribbean is faintly ridiculous. But I get it, many people like such dressing up and its a known SilverSea thing. My butler (another faintly ridiculous concept) goes about in starched shirt and bow-tie, and was in tails on the first day (I'd best avoid any penguin jokes here, as there aren't any in Greenland apparently).

But if a cruise line wants to specify a dress code, they can damn well give its customers the courtesy and respect of specifying it in a way that can be understood, even for those of us who haven't done the SilverSea 'cruise cruise' thing (as opposed to expedition cruises).

I remind everyone of the dress code that's been specified for my cruise (and someone said their website says the same).

View attachment 421555

The first para, for gents, simply does not say what the code actually is. The code actually is (for gents) inter alia "After 6pm in inside bars and restaurants gentlemen should wear a tuxedo .. etc ..... or a jacket per the Elegant Casual dress code'. Actually, on checking, that code is equally ambiguously written but we'll let that go.

There have been so many demonstrable faults and arguable problems on this expensive 'luxury cruise' (did someone say Contiki? ), I am not inclined to cut them any slack on their cretinously written dress code.

I'm travelling round-the world over about a month. I have packed a puffer jacket (known, by the way as a Tassie Tuxedo ), a puffer vest, a raincoat, umbrella, jumper, gloves etc for the majority European winter portion of it. I almost brought a jacket along - I usually travel with one - but it was just too much. For the Caribbean portion of my trip, I packed shorts, T shirts, swimmers etc. The idea that I should pack a tuxedo or even a jacket just for the 3 Formal nights of the cruise is just plain dumb.

TL;dr: If they want me to respect a dress code, they should respect me by writing it in a clear and correct way. Otherwise be prepared for me to take the mickey out of it (which is all I'm doing, really).

EDIT: Anyone wondering why this post is rather pointed can read my TR part on today's Aruba excursion (upcoming).

You should get a few people together to wear their suits and coughtail dresses to breakfast, loudly lamenting to the Maître d’ that doesn’t he think dressing so is a bit much all day?

 

[tgh]

The per diem rates I have looked at on Crystal are pretty high, enjoying their success with higher fares

 

[drron]

The per diem rates I have looked at on Crystal are pretty high, enjoying their success with higher fares

Well what I am looking at is a cruise that replaces next years cancelled SS cruises Mumbai-Mahe-CPT. A Mumbai-Mahe-Mombasa cruise is basically the same price as our cancelled SS ones. Same number of days and instead of a Superior Verandah (30sqm + 8 sqm verandah) we get a Sapphire suite with balcony (40sqm + 10 SQM balcony.
Plus 5% off as first timers, an extra 5% off + freelaundry having been on SS for more than 30 days plus an extra 10 % off if I can get a Crystal passenger to introduce me. They would also get a discount.
And we will probably have as CD our favourite from SS.

 

[zig]

Well what I am looking at is a cruise that replaces next years cancelled SS cruises Mumbai-Mahe-CPT. A Mumbai-Mahe-Mombasa cruise is basically the same price as our cancelled SS ones. Same number of days and instead of a Superior Verandah (30sqm + 8 sqm verandah) we get a Sapphire suite with balcony (40sqm + 10 SQM balcony.
Plus 5% off as first timers, an extra 5% off + freelaundry having been on SS for more than 30 days plus an extra 10 % off if I can get a Crystal passenger to introduce me. They would also get a discount.
And we will probably have as CD our favourite from SS.

Happy to 'introduce' you if you like.

 

[MARTINE]

Chess: Carlsen disqualified in New York after refusing to change out of jeans

The world No 1 was defaulted from the World Rapid Championship and has also chosen to withdraw from the World Blitz saying ‘it became a matter of principle’

www.theguardian.com

… speaking of dress codes

 

[VPS]

Chess: Carlsen disqualified in New York after refusing to change out of jeans

The world No 1 was defaulted from the World Rapid Championship and has also chosen to withdraw from the World Blitz saying ‘it became a matter of principle’

www.theguardian.com

… speaking of dress codes

Too old - he's 34

 

[MARTINE]

Too old - he's 34

That’s how to implement a dress code

 

[sanne]

Well what I am looking at is a cruise that replaces next years cancelled SS cruises Mumbai-Mahe-CPT. A Mumbai-Mahe-Mombasa cruise is basically the same price as our cancelled SS ones. Same number of days and instead of a Superior Verandah (30sqm + 8 sqm verandah) we get a Sapphire suite with balcony (40sqm + 10 SQM balcony.
Plus 5% off as first timers, an extra 5% off + freelaundry having been on SS for more than 30 days plus an extra 10 % off if I can get a Crystal passenger to introduce me. They would also get a discount.
And we will probably have as CD our favourite from SS.

We too are trying Crystal for the first time. We received the 5% first timers plus the 5% for more than 30 days on Silversea but was knocked back for the Crystal passenger introduction discount….not combinable with the other discounts we were told. This was via our TA who emailed Crystal and copied us in so we could see their reply. So I’ll be interested in the response you get.

 

[k_sheep]

Went to Antarctica on Ponant. We did NOT pack formal gear; we were traveling for a couple months including hiking in Patagonia, skiing in Finland and a whole lot in between. Formal gear did not make the cut (I think that was the heaviest my bag has ever been - it was 14kg from memory at its heaviest!).

Not a problem but yes we elected to go to the buffet rather than the restaurant on the fancy nights.

 

[drron]

We do have a very persuasive and persistent TA.
Unfortunately Crystal doesn’t do Virtuoso cruises. Our TA and one of her staff are 2 of 20 Australian TAs in the top 5% of Virtuoso cruise sales.
But Azamara has similar Africa cruises and are cheaper so a bargaining chip.

 

[Port Power]

We do have a very persuasive and persistent TA.
Unfortunately Crystal doesn’t do Virtuoso cruises. Our TA and one of her staff are 2 of 20 Australian TAs in the top 5% of Virtuoso cruise sales.
But Azamara has similar Africa cruises and are cheaper so a bargaining chip.

My TA is also in that top 5%. They are worth their weight in gold when things go wrong, and with negotiations! I did an onboard tour with champagne reception on Crystal earlier this year hosted by my TA and have been looking for an opportunity to book a cruise ever since. Unfortunately there have been conflicts with my existing bookings, but I am patient. And I don’t care about dress codes, because I like to dress up!

 

[RooFlyer]

Not a problem but yes we elected to go to the buffet rather than the restaurant on the fancy nights.

I don't think Ponant has any prohibitions do they? Just encouragement on the gala nights? So was this just your choice so you could dress comfortably?

 

[zig]

We do have a very persuasive and persistent TA.
Unfortunately Crystal doesn’t do Virtuoso cruises. Our TA and one of her staff are 2 of 20 Australian TAs in the top 5% of Virtuoso cruise sales.
But Azamara has similar Africa cruises and are cheaper so a bargaining chip.

Crystal was a Virtuoso cruise when I last cruised with them (Jan 24), as I received the choice of Virtuoso port excursion or OBC. Perhaps it has changed since then? Unfortunately at the time Crystal wasn't offering the Silversea 'match', and I only received 2.5% discount as a past Crystal guest.

 

[Scarlett]

That’s how to implement a dress code

And that’s how to respond to them!

 

[jb747]

Tell me again how much I never need to go on a cruise.

 

[RooFlyer]

Tell me again how much I never need to go on a cruise.

I suspect expedition cruises would be more your style. Fantastic photography opportunities and, depending who you go with, no or the barest of dress codes.