Dress Code for Dinner

[misty9960]

Is it appropriate for our 10 year old ds to wear khaki polo pleated type shorts that come to the knee with a button down shirt for dinner at night?

 

[DepCor0311]

DCL recommends that long pants (no jeans) be worn at dinner, however...I have seen all types of attire at dinner and have never seen anyone turned away. I don't think anyone would bat an eye at a 10 year old in shorts....My personal opinion is whatever makes you (or him) comfortable.

 

[webray]

Honestly, I would stick with pants at dinner time.

 

[DopeyDisneyDad]

It sounds like your DS will be neatly dressed, and that is acceptable. I would offer to avoid shorts at Triton's, if you are on the Wonder. It tends to be more formal - but not tuxedo formal...: - )

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Without offering any opinions on what you should or shouldn't wear, here's what the cruise line has to say:

from the DCL website
The attire for Animator's Palate and Parrot Cay is casual. Lumière's, Triton's and Palo are more formal. We kindly request that no shorts, swimsuits, T-shirts or jeans be worn in any of our restaurants in the evening.

 

[crisi]

They then have a subsquent line about "young children." I personally wouldn't interpret ten as young.

(but I'm not the dress code police).

 

[jrabbit]

You'll have to take my opinion with a grain of salt because...
For formal nights (Magic) I wear a dress shirt, tie, slacks and heaven forbid sandals and dark socks. On the other nights (except for the tropicalli/mexicalli) the only change is in shirts - I wear a polo those nights. Same for my son who started cruise at age 9. He always finishes dinner and desert as quickly as possible to go back to the room to change and see the towel animal. Next cruise he'll be a teenager and we will see what happens (but he will NOT be wearing shorts to dinners).

So I know that I annoy others by wearing my "casual" attire to the formal/semi formal nights. By the same token I'm annoyed by people comming to dinner in their swimsuits and jeans. Nice shorts don't bother me as much, but then again I think that the guys (age 6+) should be wearing slacks to dinners.

So there you have my schizophrenic take on dressing for dinner.

If you want I can give you my take on the entire clothes "food chain" on formal nights that run the gamut from the tuxes to the swimsuits.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Here's the aforementioned line about young children:

Each parent or guardian would be the best judge of what attire is appropriate for our youngest cruisers. Guests who are age 13 or older would probably be most comfortable wearing attire similar to what is recommended above for all the ship's passengers.

I think it comes down to what you're comfortable with. It's your vacation. If you're uncomfortable being relatively underdressed, then adjust accordingly. In the end, it's up to DCL to decide how strictly to enforce their dress code. I have my personal feeling about how I want to dress, but I really have no opinion as to what anyone else should be wearing. OK, well, I have one, but I keep it to myself, because it's really none of my business....

 

[Rob1559]

Please follow the recommendations of Disney. This subject always resurfaces and I always respond the same. It is nice to see diners dressed appropriately at dinner.

 

[BethA]

When we first cruised my son was 4 and I let him where dress shorts--golf type-- on the nights in Parrot cay. On the next 2 and this year, he only wore shorts on tropical or Mexican night. You see EVERYTHING as far as dress goes, but the rules are there for a reason. My teenager runs to the room to change after dinner, but knows he has to dress appropriately. I feel there are other places to eat if you really don't want to dress up, but that is just my opinion. I'm sure the gentleman at the next table in a sleeveless tshirt and jean shorts with his butt exposed felt differently.
Beth

 

[magic cruiser]

Would capri pants be ok for a woman to wear to Brunch at Palo's?

 

[BethA]

Capri pants would be fine for brunch. You see them in the dining room also.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Originally posted by BethA
I'm sure the gentleman at the next table in a sleeveless tshirt and jean shorts with his butt exposed felt differently.
Beth

Wow! I didn't realize we were on the same cruise!

 

[Farms]

I would think so. although the dress code refers to long pants, we saw quite a few different versions on out cruise. I would thikn that as long as he is nicely put together, that should suffice. Most nights our daughters wore dresses, but one night they wore shorts and it didn't present a problem.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Originally posted by misty9960
Is it appropriate for our 10 year old ds to wear khaki polo pleated type shorts that come to the knee with a button down shirt for dinner at night?

My grandsons will be 9 and 10 when we cruise on the Wonder in August ... I'm planning on dressing them in dressy pleated khaki shorts and button-up shirts or nice polos for dinner at PC and PA, then put them in long khakis for Triton's.

We are a casual family and I'm not crazy about having to buy three kids "dinner clothes" that they'll never wear again ... my granddaughter will be wearing summer dresses, again purchase specifically for the cruise ... nevermind clothes for me.

 

[CAMICKEY]

My DS6 wore a nice pair of slacks and shirt for formal (with a tie)and semi-formal (without a tie). Every other night he was fine in a polo shirt and shorts and sandals. For casual nights I wore sandals and a hawaian pullover shirt. For formal I wore a sport coat, white shirt, mickey tie, dress slacks and nice shoes. For semi-formal night I just wore a nice shirt and skipped the jacket (yes I wore pants). I never felt uncomfortable and what I wore was appropriate for me regardless of what others might say. Too many people are worried what other people wear. IMO just enjoy your cruise and don't worry what other people wear as you will find no matter what the "SUGGESTED" not "REQUIRED" (See any daily navigator) dress is, some people go out of their way to stretch the word "SUGGESTED". And some people can plainly not afford to dress up a whole family for 1 or two nights on a cruise when these closthes serve them no useful function back home. In other words, wear what makes you comfortable and try to stay as close to the "SUGGESTED" dress code as possible. - Mike

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Originally posted by CAMICKEY
In other words, wear what makes you comfortable and try to stay as close to the "SUGGESTED" dress code as possible.

This is the best way I've heard this put, yet!

 

[CAMICKEY]

Thanks Lloyd. - Mike

 

[AngelStar]

Originally posted by CAMICKEY
IMO just enjoy your cruise and don't worry what other people wear as you will find no matter what the "SUGGESTED" not "REQUIRED" (See any daily navigator) dress is... In other words, wear what makes you comfortable and try to stay as close to the "SUGGESTED" dress code as possible. - Mike

I was worried about dress code for certain nights and the various restaurants also, and from the looks of this post, does the Navigator actually list the suggested dress code for each night and all those other details in it?

If so, that would be one less thing to worry about... because there's so much information to think about for the trip, that I was beginning to think I'd have to take notes along, and how this would be very un-vacation-like!

 

[TheWog]

Yes, the Navigator will tell you what the theme of the night is and what is suggested. Formal night, semi-formal, tropicali night, etc. No jeans or shorts is usually the suggestions

Mike put it perfectly.... you are on vacation in the Caribbean... relax and have fun. Dress up completely if you want or be presentable. Pants and polo shirt are fine, kids with shorts and polo shirts are fine as well.