Church dress codes in Europe

See, clearly that was the tourist's fault. They should have told security, "I'm a DCL guest, and since I've paid so much for my cruise, I don't have to do anything I don't want to do. If I want to wear swimsuits and flip-flops while either touring a famous cathedral or dining in a MDR (or Palo), I'm entitled to do so." I'm sure that security would have realized the error of their ways. :rotfl2:

This was not on a DCL cruise - and the Magic was not at Civitavecchia that day. (I was on Brilliance of the Seas.)
 
I get not wanting to look glaringly like a tourist, but I think I'd draw the line at doing all that walking in dress shoes.

Shoes are actually one of the biggest giveaways in Europe for spotting a tourist. Nonetheless, you are correct you are not going to draw a line and the most important thing is to wear comfortable walking shoes. You are going to walk a TON. I never wear "dress shoes" in Europe, but a nice pair of casual shoes that are not tennis shoes.

Plus, no one is going to deny you entrance into any sites because of your footwear. I suspect no one in Europe has ever mistaken me for anything other than American before I open my mouth and certainly not after. We just like to try and dress similarly.
 
I wonder if Disney spends so much time in Monaco and Monte Carlo just because they think people want to shop at high end places....I get it, but I spent all my money on the cruise and airfare, no money left in the bank for Prada!!!!

I was just reading a trip report from someone on another board who got turned away trying to shop in the high end places on Capri. She said she felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.
 
Being disrespectful of the requirements for dressing appropriately is a very ugly American thing to do. Please cover shoulders and knees in all churches. We Americans dress much more casually for church than Europeans.

Also we were in Monaco on our own a few years ago. My husband could not get into the casino just to look around without a jacket. He was wearing pants and a polo shirt. Monaco is not that interesting. I’d suggest getting up to Ez. The drive and the town are both spectacular with views you will never forget.
 


Look at all the world experience, amazing and thanks for your insight! I'm going to do dresses or capris and carry a pashmina in my bag. DH will wear pants in Rome and at the Barcelona Cathedral. I'll put the ball in his court for the other places with the caveat that he might be turned away. We are not going to the casino so we don't have to worry about that. I found a tour that will go to Nice and Eze with short stops in Monaco and Monte Carlo; I hope I can get enough people to join with me though. I wonder if Disney spends so much time in Monaco and Monte Carlo just because they think people want to shop at high end places....I get it, but I spent all my money on the cruise and airfare, no money left in the bank for Prada!!!!
Make no mistake - if you do the DCL tour of Eze, Monte Carlo, and Monaco, there is VERY little "time" to shop or gamble (or do anything else). Seriously, click on my trip report in signature and scroll down past Barcelona to read about how little time we had in each of those destinations, despite it being a full-day tour. Compared to Rome, which was also a full-day tour where we never felt rushed, we were so much more rushed and hot and barely had time to see or do anything.
 
It's pretty standard in churches all over Europe. While some might be less strict than others, assume it's the case everywhere. I usually wear khakis or lightweight pants when I tour. I burn easily so I don't like to tour in shorts and DH won't wear shorts to tour around; he only wears them at the pool, at home or at the beach. I always carry a very lightweight short-sleeved jacket that can easily roll up and fit into a small cross-body purse so I just whip it out when we go into a church and put it back in when we leave. I do it even if no one asks me or is strict about it; I figure it's just respectful since that's the norm in Europe.
 
Make no mistake - if you do the DCL tour of Eze, Monte Carlo, and Monaco, there is VERY little "time" to shop or gamble (or do anything else). Seriously, click on my trip report in signature and scroll down past Barcelona to read about how little time we had in each of those destinations, despite it being a full-day tour. Compared to Rome, which was also a full-day tour where we never felt rushed, we were so much more rushed and hot and barely had time to see or do anything.

I went back and read your trip report, very helpful and beautiful. Your excursion to Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Eze sounds awful, I'm so sorry. Thanks for sharing your experience though. Really gets me going on an alternative plan.
 


Does tennis shoes = sneakers? If so, I will look like a tourist. I live in my sneakers until I "dress up." :)
 
Does tennis shoes = sneakers? If so, I will look like a tourist. I live in my sneakers until I "dress up." :)

Correct, tennis shoes, running shoes, sneakers. They are all the same. That said, it is not that they don't wear sneakers. They just wear different styles.

https://www.shopandbox.com/blog/french-sneaker-brands/

The classic Nike, New Balance, etc. that you see in America, you are not likely to see being worn by Europeans.
 
Europeans laugh at Americans in our big white tennis (or running) shoes. They call them "marshmallows".

In general, adult Europeans take much more care in their dress than adult Americans. When there I try to dress a bit more chic so as not to stick out.
 
Correct, tennis shoes, running shoes, sneakers. They are all the same. That said, it is not that they don't wear sneakers. They just wear different styles.

https://www.shopandbox.com/blog/french-sneaker-brands/

The classic Nike, New Balance, etc. that you see in America, you are not likely to see being worn by Europeans.

Interesting sneakers - thanks for sharing. I'm still going to wear my reliable ASICS - but I most certainly will wear Capris and Tops that are respectful to the churches.
 
LOL, he also refuses athletic pants. He's wearing pants in Rome. I just didn't know if he had to wear pants in Monaco also.
I wore shorts last year for every excursion on our 10 day Med Cruise and I was able to enter every church that we visited (including the one in Monaco). I was required to remove the hat that I was wearing in a few of them; but otherwise my shorts were long enough to cover my knee's and the tee shirt that I wore were fine. There were some other people on the excursions that were told that they had to cover there shoulders and maybe one or two that were wearing skirts or shorts that were too short and not allowed in; but that was it.

Psy
 

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