dress code @ dinner

[Dody64]

Hello, 

 

We are cruising next March on the Independence.  I've only cruised once before on the Disney cruise line and my husband has never cruised.   We will be with a group of about 20 other friends..     My husband is concerned about the dress code at dinner.  We have the 6pm dinner..  he usually always wears shorts, year round..   I've explained that he may need to wear slacks like khakis to dinner with a nice shirt..   now he's worried about if he will need "dress" shoes or will his sandals be ok with his slacks.. no flip flops but regular leather sandals. 

 

Any suggestions would be welcomed.. 

 

 

[arebee]

No real dress code, during formal night they would rather you at least wear a shirt with collar and long pants close toed shoes would be nice too.  If anything you'll get looks from other passengers.  If he doesn't want to dress, go to the windjammer.

[Todd]

Again they have a official dress code. In short no shorts, t-shirts, flip flops for Dinner, but it depends upon the ship. I have seen people in all dress at different times. The only time the dress codes are never enforced is the first night (Except for Grand on ships with Grand) because most passengers do not have luggage by dinner time. 

 

 

Q:  What are the dress codes onboard? A: 

Onboard Dress Code 
Smart Casual: Ladies: Skirt or pants (no holes, rips or tears) with a blouse. Gentlemen: Pants (no holes, rips or tears) with a collared shirt. 

Formal: Ladies: Cocktail dress or pantsuit. Gentlemen: Suit (black tie is optional) 

Note: Swimsuits, robes, bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps and pool wear are not allowed in the main restaurants or specialty restaurants. T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops are acceptable for lunch. 

 

Link

[Matt]

I think your sandals will be fine.  As you noted, they are not flip flops, but leather sandals.

 

The reality about dress codes in the MDR is they are largely overlooked. There are certain "red flags" that will more than likely get you denied access: tank tops, bathing suits, some hats, etc but things like shorts and shirts are often overlooked.

[jticarruthers]

You may have something said on formal night, but should fine the rest of the time.

 

As Todd noted they have a rule, in practice they almost never follow it though.

[Jacki_MEI]

I have a husband who refuses to dress up on vacation, so I understand! As others have mentioned, they do have a dress code, but it's mostly just a suggestion, not really required. I saw men in khaki shorts and polo shirts in the main dining room each night of our cruise. Specialty restaurants are stricter with their dress codes, and formal nights you may want to just visit the buffet.

Have a great time!

[Candocruises]

One of the things that impressed us when we started cruising 15 years ago was how nice it was to be able to dress up and enjoy being amongst an entire ship of passengers all trying to look their best.  You did not dare go to the MDR in the evening unless you were in compliance with the "evening dress' recommendation.  Over the last few years this standard has not been enforced and in fact most nights it looks no better than your local McDonalds at lunch time, and sometimes even worse than that.  RCL should return to their previous standards.  For those slobs who are just to stressed out by having to get dressed up while on vacation RCL should rope off a section of the MDR or possibly dedicate the upper floor to accommodate those who wish not to look descent and come to the MDR to "eat" instead of a dining experience.  

[FManke]

1 hour ago, Candocruises said:

One of the things that impressed us when we started cruising 15 years ago was how nice it was to be able to dress up and enjoy being amongst an entire ship of passengers all trying to look their best.  You did not dare go to the MDR in the evening unless you were in compliance with the "evening dress' recommendation.  Over the last few years this standard has not been enforced and in fact most nights it looks no better than your local McDonalds at lunch time, and sometimes even worse than that.  RCL should return to their previous standards.  For those slobs who are just to stressed out by having to get dressed up while on vacation RCL should rope off a section of the MDR or possibly dedicate the upper floor to accommodate those who wish not to look descent and come to the MDR to "eat" instead of a dining experience.  

Wow, "slobs", that seems a little harsh. If you feel this way, maybe RCCL isn't the right cruise line for you anymore. Maybe you would feel more at home with the cruise passengers of let's say, Crystal Cruise Lines. If RCL is going to overlook their own rules, for whatever reasons, I don't see why we have to stress about it. Everybody is paying, what they can or what they want, to be on that cruise. Somebody else should not be dictating, what they wear, especially if RCCL doesn't care.

I'll see the rest of you in the "slob" section, as I won't be too stressed to get dressed up for dinner, I'll be too relaxed!

[Neaxan]

I might enjoy to dress up from time to time - but on most nights I don't care. Dress jeans, a nice shirt or blouse is about all I can muster regularly. What I really can't fathom is how anybody would want to call the more casual crowd 'slobs' or restrict them to another part of the MDR. No matter what dress I'll be wearing, I don't give a damn about other passengers clothing. So if you want to relax and wear shorts, t-shirts or whatever, you're more than welcome to do so at my table. It won't lessen my dining experience in any way. If you want to dress up, feel free to do so - but many people have to conform to a dress code at work already, I can relate if they don't want to bother on vacation.

[DocLC]

I, for one, have given up packing a suit or even a jacket when cruising.  Since I need to fly to take a cruise, it's just not worth the effort of packing a jacket that adds weight and takes up valuable luggage space.  I will dress up a bit (dress pants, dress shirt, and tie), but for me that's it.  For some, though, this isn't considered formal enough, but I'm not going to let what others think change my style of dress until the cruise lines start mandating a dress code.  And rest assured, there will always be people who criticize, but there will also be others who will dress much worse and likely be allowed into the main dining room.  I've noticed this since my second cruise in 1996 when a family showed up wearing t-shirts printed with tuxes on them and were allowed into the MDR on formal night.

Personally, I'd love for all of the cruise lines, including Royal, to simply go with resort casual (pants, closed toed shoes for men, and a collard shirt) and be done with it.  Ironically, this is what most of the luxury cruise lines require now.

[tiny260]

I'm with DocLC, I used to bring suites, ties the whole ensemble, but as weight restriction came in to play on airlines I now leave the suite and tie at home and bring nice slacks and button down shirts. I have dress restrictions at work, but it doesn't really impose on me during a cruise to dress nice. I mean, I have either been on deck all day or on an excursion so I'm hot and sweaty, so I clean up and but on clean clothes for dinner.

Now don't get me wrong, usually after dinner and walking around people watching I usually go back and throw some shorts on so I can go to the casino and lose some money.

I have always had one unspoken rule since I watched the dress code changing on the ships, I told myself that I might dress casually but that I would never wear shorts to the MDR, I thought I was going to have to break that on this last cruise because one piece of luggage hadn't showed up by later in the afternoon, no worries it finely showed up.

I was also pleasantly surprised that when we went to dinner (Liberty OTS, May 28, 2017), it didn't matter if it was MDR or specialty dinning, everyone was dressed a minimum of what I would call smart business casual, the whole cruise. even when people were probably running low of options on the last night.

[Matt]

I like wearing a suit, but I completely understand why someone like @DocLC would opt not to because of the travel considerations. 

One hack to get around this is to wear your suit on the airplane. Less to pack and you look great compared to everyone else on the flight!

[DocLC]

54 minutes ago, Matt said:

I like wearing a suit, but I completely understand why someone like @DocLC would opt not to because of the travel considerations. 

One hack to get around this is to wear your suit on the airplane. Less to pack and you look great compared to everyone else on the flight!

Maybe if I was flying first class. But, then, I'd also be booking a suite. ;)

[FManke]

2 hours ago, DocLC said:

Maybe if I was flying first class. But, then, I'd also be booking a suite. ;)

Maybe once you get your own blog, DocLC.

[rjac]

Oh, this discussion has become so sweet........

[DocLC]

2 hours ago, FManke said:

Maybe once you get your own blog, DocLC.

Actually, I did start a blog: MyCruiseCourse.com where I'll be live blogging my British Isles cruise on another cruise line. 

On my son's first cruise, we did fly first class and had a suite, which was quite nice. but since 2009, though, as I'm too frugal and want to cruise more. 

[FManke]

10 minutes ago, DocLC said:

Actually, I did start a blog: MyCruiseCourse.com where I'll be live blogging my British Isles cruise on another cruise line. 

On my son's first cruise, we did fly first class and had a suite, which was quite nice. but since 2009, though, as I'm too frugal and want to cruise more. 

How did you ever get him to cruise again with the commoners?

[DocLC]

3 hours ago, FManke said:

How did you ever get him to cruise again with the commoners?

He was only just turning 2 at the time, so he has no memory of it. His dream, though, is to take a world cruise and to so stay in a crown loft suite. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

8 hours ago, DocLC said:

He was only just turning 2 at the time, so he has no memory of it. His dream, though, is to take a world cruise and to so stay in a crown loft suite. 

Hey !  That's my dream, too !!!

[cruise-y]

This topic comes up all the time.  In fact, on the Cruise Critic blog, there was a heated snob discussion on tacky formal wear (like pink leisure jackets and white dress shoes) that looked "worse" than khakis and polo shirts.   In a big city in the hot and sticky south, it is perfectly respectable for a man to wear slacks, a collared shirt and nice leather sandals to a modern, expensive, up-scale restaurant.   No need for suit and tie.  The women are in pretty sundresses and sandals too.   See: Miami, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Rio, New Orleans, Athens, Rome..... That's very common and would also be presentable on a warm Caribbean cruise.  Leather sandals (not flip flops or shower shoes) are perfectly ok.   Don't have toe jam.

[cruise-y]

You are on vacation in the Caribe.  Not going to the Met.

[Farminger]

I like the idea of a formal/semiformal night of dining. Not a huge stickler for the dress code,as some people's idea of formal is totally different than mine or others, but at least make the effort to look presentable. 

Heck, go big...

Kilt up, laddie

[BrianAlt]

11 hours ago, Farminger said:

Kilt up, laddie

Um, keep the kilt down.  Thanks much.

[BillHoo]

16 hours ago, Farminger said:

.......Kilt up, laddie

[RestingBird]

I, personally, hate seeing people in shorts in the MDR, especially on formal night, and I, like your husband, wear shorts and flip flops year round.  I was raised to believe that dinner on a cruise, minus the buffet, was a fancy occasion, and should be treated with respect.  I've heard and understand arguments against dressing up, but there's my 2 cents.  On our cruise out of Boston we kept it low key dress up, due to luggage limits with flying up there.

[FManke]

4 hours ago, RestingBirds said:

I, personally, hate seeing people in shorts in the MDR, especially on formal night, and I, like your husband, wear shorts and flip flops year round.  I was raised to believe that dinner on a cruise, minus the buffet, was a fancy occasion, and should be treated with respect.  I've heard and understand arguments against dressing up, but there's my 2 cents.  On our cruise out of Boston we kept it low key dress up, due to luggage limits with flying up there.

I personally will be wearing nothing less than Dockers and a collared shirt for dinners. But that's just me. You cannot force people to be who or what they aren't. People are going to wear what they want unless they are forced to wear something different. The dining rooms don't have dress codes, but have dress suggestions. If RC was concerned with dress codes, they would have their staff's enforce dress codes. But they don't want the backlash from all the cruisers who don't want to have to dress up. Some people I'm sure feel they shouldn't be told how to dress. They are spending money like everyone else and maybe more. '

I know one thing though. I won't let whatever somebody wears or doesn't wear affect us or our experience.

[DocLC]

I just wish they'd either (a) enforce the dress code, or (2) do away with the dress code. There's no reason to have a dress code if no one is going to enforce it.

 

[FManke]

2 hours ago, DocLC said:

I just wish they'd either (a) enforce the dress code, or (2) do away with the dress code. There's no reason to have a dress code if no one is going to enforce it.

 

I agree absolutely. Rules are only rules if they are enforced.