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Formal night?


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25 minutes ago, CraniumDrain said:

I keep seeing people post about packing for formal night. I can’t find anything about there being formal night on my cruise (Harmony). What are we missing about this?

Hello @CraniumDrain !

Formal nights are generally a part of all cruises and are not posted ahead of time. You can be pretty confident of the actual nights by looking at a recent Cruise Compass from Harmony with the itinerary that matches yours:

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compass?ship=1071

If you look at the top right-hand corner of the cover page on each day's Cruise Planner, you will see the appropriate attire for that evening...

image.png.407aef6ce7b043b4d2a01952d3eb1cf2.png

 

The number of nights varies based on length of cruise, ship, etc. Harmony will likely have 2 formal nights since most itineraries are 7-nights. The actual days could change based on the specific itinerary (eg. Western vs. Eastern Caribbean).

Here is some info pulled directly from RC website:

Formal nights:

  • 3/4/5 Night Cruises - Usually on Day 2
  • 6 Night Cruises - Usually on Day 2 and 5
  • 7 Night Cruises - Usually on Day 2 and 6
  • 8 - 10 Night Cruises - 2 Formal Nights, Days vary by ship and sailing
  • 11 - 14 Night Cruises - 3 Formal Nights, Days vary by ship and sailing
  • 15+ Night Cruises - 3 or 4 Formal Nights, Days and number vary by ship and sailing
  • Oasis and Allure - Day 2 and 5 on Western itineraries and Day 2 and 6 on Eastern itineraries
  • Empress of the Seas - Formal Nights are not offered on some sailings

Actual link: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/formal-dress-code-guideline

 

Have a great time!

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Thanks, very helpful info!

one clarification...it seems to be tied to dining. Does this formal attire apply to anywhere for that night (dining or other) or only for the specialty cost-based dining options?

Another way to ask...if I don’t have any cost-based dining planned for the formal nights, is it not applicable to me,

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  The formal nights in the MDR has been debated on here for years.   I have seen everything from shorts, Tshirt and flip flops to tuxedos.  If you have on nice slacks and a button up shirt you will be fine.  If you are really worried what people think of you,  by all means wear a coat and tie.  You will not be turned away from the dining room not wearing a coat and tie.

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49 minutes ago, CraniumDrain said:

Thanks, very helpful info!

one clarification...it seems to be tied to dining. Does this formal attire apply to anywhere for that night (dining or other) or only for the specialty cost-based dining options?

Another way to ask...if I don’t have any cost-based dining planned for the formal nights, is it not applicable to me,

You're welcome!

The dinner dress code guideline listed on the Cruise Planner is specifically for the MDR for that evening. Generally speaking, the dress code in Specialty restaurants is more toward the "neat" (pants, collared shirt, shoes, etc.), for lack of a better term, or even formal side regardless of the evening since they are considered more upscale dining options. It varies based on the specific restaurant... Sabor or Izumi may be casual while 150 CP, Chops Grill, etc., may be more toward nicer wardrobe. You won't be turned away either way unless your attire is inappropriate/offensive.

As @MikeK mentioned above, people tend to do what they want... some people dress casual on formal nights in the MDR while others still dress formal on casual evenings! Dress code is subjective and just a recommended guideline.

Also, many folks like to dress up on formal evenings because they take tons of pictures in the MDR and throughout the ship in front of various backdrops.

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1 hour ago, JohnK6404 said:

Hello @CraniumDrain !

Formal nights are generally a part of all cruises and are not posted ahead of time. You can be pretty confident of the actual nights by looking at a recent Cruise Compass from Harmony with the itinerary that matches yours:

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compass?ship=1071

If you look at the top right-hand corner of the cover page on each day's Cruise Planner, you will see the appropriate attire for that evening...

image.png.407aef6ce7b043b4d2a01952d3eb1cf2.png

 

The number of nights varies based on length of cruise, ship, etc. Harmony will likely have 2 formal nights since most itineraries are 7-nights. The actual days could change based on the specific itinerary (eg. Western vs. Eastern Caribbean).

Here is some info pulled directly from RC website:

Formal nights:

  • 3/4/5 Night Cruises - Usually on Day 2
  • 6 Night Cruises - Usually on Day 2 and 5
  • 7 Night Cruises - Usually on Day 2 and 6
  • 8 - 10 Night Cruises - 2 Formal Nights, Days vary by ship and sailing
  • 11 - 14 Night Cruises - 3 Formal Nights, Days vary by ship and sailing
  • 15+ Night Cruises - 3 or 4 Formal Nights, Days and number vary by ship and sailing
  • Oasis and Allure - Day 2 and 5 on Western itineraries and Day 2 and 6 on Eastern itineraries
  • Empress of the Seas - Formal Nights are not offered on some sailings

Actual link: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/formal-dress-code-guideline

 

Have a great time!

on our 7 night cruise,the 6th night we will be docked in France, will there still a Formal night?

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13 minutes ago, markm said:

on our 7 night cruise,the 6th night we will be docked in France, will there still a Formal night?

There are typically 2 formal nights for a 7 day cruise.  The nights could be changed based on your itinerary (ie it is possible to be nights 2 and 5 for you).  You may want to look at previous cruise compasses to see what was done in the past.

 

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On our recent Eastern Caribbean trip 19 May, there were two formal nights.  So women wear a dress, and men wear long-sleeve shirts and slacks, plus coat and tie if you can manage them.The idea is to look nice because that makes the experience in the main dining room fun for everyone.  I now pack a wash and wear suit rather than a tux, but you can dress up elegantly. if you like.  If you don't like wearing church clothes to dinner, there are many other venues, such as the WindJammer and the Solarium Bistro.   My wife and like the entree options on formal night, so even when our luggage was lost a few years ago, we attended the first formal in less-than-our best clothing (what we wore on the plane plus a few clean items from the ship's shops).  We explained our predicament to the waiter and our table mates, and no one gave us a hard time. 

 

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On 6/2/2019 at 8:55 AM, CraniumDrain said:

Thanks, very helpful info!

one clarification...it seems to be tied to dining. Does this formal attire apply to anywhere for that night (dining or other) or only for the specialty cost-based dining options?

Another way to ask...if I don’t have any cost-based dining planned for the formal nights, is it not applicable to me,

I love a formal night. I usually stay dressed up  after dinner and hit a few of the nicer bars / clubs or casino (i might ditch the tie though)

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I think my 12 night med cruise only had 2 formal nights judging by the very very old cruise compass I've seen and the vlogs from last year on YouTube.  I get mostly dressed up but not crazy.  I think it's easier for women.  I don't want my husband to pack a sport coat because if the weight/packing space and he won't wear just a dress shirt and tie so polo shirt and khakis it will be and I will be dressed up more!  It's all good and enjoying the cruise/doing what makes you comfortable is the important thing.  Though I still don't like flip flops and shorts in the mdr I would never say anything to anyone!!  It's their cruise too! Jane

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