From DCL's Web site

[ducklite]

"Aboard the 7-Night Caribbean Cruise there are two evening dinners that require more formal, or "black-tie-optional", attire. Tuxedo rentals are available in advance for these special dinners."

It's too bad that they don't enforce their "requirement" in the dining rooms. Other than extraordinary circumstances (lost baggage, disability, etc.) of course.

There are several options to anyone who doesn't want to dress up for dinner. I don't think that anyone books a cruise without knowing what attire is requested, expected and "required". It's in the brochure, it's on the web site. If people don't want to dress up, perhaps they should rethink their vacation plans.

It truly diminishes the "experience" when you have a table of people who don't dress appropriately for the circumstances. It shows a lack of respect to ones fellow passengers and the DCL. I find it hard to believe that anyone who can afford a cruise either doesn't own at least a sport coat and trousers, or can't afford to rent a tux.

Disney tries very hard to make everyone comfortable, but if they are going to set rules, they need to learn to enforce them.

Anne

 

[4cruisin]

Dear Ducklite,

I respectfully must disagree with your post. I was on the 3 day Dec. 2001 and never felt insulted because someone beside me at dinner did not dress a certain way. I agree that since the line requests no shorts, etc. at dinner, guests should abide by that rule, but I do not think guests should not be allowed to dine in the restaurants just because they are not dressed up enough.

There were four adults in our party, and we always dressed according to DCL guidelines for each restaurant. At Lumiere's, my DH and BIL both wore jackets and ties, I wore a dressy pant suit, as I am not comfortable in a dress, and I think my sister wore a dressy pant suit or dress. At AP & PC, again, we dressed to DCL guidelines, but that was our choice.

I am not going on vacation to judge how other people dress. As long as they are well mannered and groomed, I would never judge someone on how well dressed they were. I am more interested in where people come from and what is interesting about their lives. We can all learn something from someone else.

That's just my opinion.

PS We had such a wonderful time on our first cruise, we immediately booked the 7 day eastern in Jan. 2003.

Regards.

 

[bweppner]

Anne,

Without trying to be an elitist, snob, etc., I would have to agree with you. My family and I just came back from the 4/6 Magic and we wholeheartedly participated in the "Black Tie" events. It's not often that I get to wear my Tux and it was really no addtional effort to bring it along. I had swimwear, shorts, one linen sport coat, a couple pairs of pants, and my Tux. I wore the Tux on Sun. and Thurs. and had plenty of clothes for the rest of the trip. We also still saw a fair amount of other cruisers in formal attire.

I understand that for some going on a cruise is to be relaxing, fun, etc. But aren't most of us adults here? I don't believe it's too much of an effort to get in the spirit of cruising tradition and dress for dinner. Some traditions need to change to reflect the times, but not all.

(OK, now I'm bracing for the flames... )

 

[BethA]

I think you are right. On our cruise last year some adults came to the formal nights in tank tops and shorts. They should respectfully request they dress properly or dine at an alternate spot. If you don't want to dress up there are plenty of other choices.

 

[gottaluvdisney]

I feel the same way 4cruisin feels. I am not Joan Rivers out there to pick out the best and worst dressed of Disney Cruise Line. If people want to come to dinner without a tie and jacket, so be it.

I feel there is a difference between 'request' and 'recommend'

Disney Cruise Line does request that no jeans, shorts, and t-shirts be worn in the dining rooms. To me this means that you should not do it as they are requesting your not to.

DCL recommends the dress attire for the other dining rooms. So if someone shows up in Tritons/Lumiere's with a button down shirt and tie, but no jacket - I am fine with that as that person is dressed nicely like they request, however is not wearing the recommended jacket.

Big difference IMHO

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by gottaluvdisney
I feel the same way 4cruisin feels. I am not Joan Rivers out there to pick out the best and worst dressed of Disney Cruise Line. If people want to come to dinner without a tie and jacket, so be it.

I feel there is a difference between 'request' and 'recommend'

Disney Cruise Line does request that no jeans, shorts, and t-shirts be worn in the dining rooms. To me this means that you should not do it as they are requesting your not to.

DCL recommends the dress attire for the other dining rooms. So if someone shows up in Tritons/Lumiere's with a button down shirt and tie, but no jacket - I am fine with that as that person is dressed nicely like they request, however is not wearing the recommended jacket.

Big difference IMHO

If you go back and read what I quoted from their site, they don't suggest or reccomend anything, they REQUIRE. Too bad they don't enforce it.

I can see it being ok to dine at Lumieres in a shirt and tie, especially when it's hot. But to show up in shorts becaues "your on vacation" is plain rude. On FORMAL night, you should wear at minimum semi-formal, a jacket, tie, and slacks.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by 4cruisin
Dear Ducklite,

I respectfully must disagree with your post. I was on the 3 day Dec. 2001 and never felt insulted because someone beside me at dinner did not dress a certain way. I agree that since the line requests no shorts, etc. at dinner, guests should abide by that rule, but I do not think guests should not be allowed to dine in the restaurants just because they are not dressed up enough.

There were four adults in our party, and we always dressed according to DCL guidelines for each restaurant. At Lumiere's, my DH and BIL both wore jackets and ties, I wore a dressy pant suit, as I am not comfortable in a dress, and I think my sister wore a dressy pant suit or dress. At AP & PC, again, we dressed to DCL guidelines, but that was our choice.

I am not going on vacation to judge how other people dress. As long as they are well mannered and groomed, I would never judge someone on how well dressed they were. I am more interested in where people come from and what is interesting about their lives. We can all learn something from someone else.

That's just my opinion.

PS We had such a wonderful time on our first cruise, we immediately booked the 7 day eastern in Jan. 2003.

Regards.

The seven day is definitely more formal. There is no formal night on the three day.

Formal dining is an experience. And people who show up inappropriately dressed detract from that experience. It common courtesy.

I'm not judging people on "how well they are dressed". There's a difference in my mind between being well dressed and being appropriately dressed.

Anne

 

[kpgclark]

I agree with Anne. People should dress up on the formal evenings. For heavens sake, go to Marshalls and buy an inexpensive dress if you can't afford Neiman's. Buy off-season. Buy on-sale. Just buy something dressy. I find it hard to believe that women don't own at least one formal dress anyhow. You can always dress-up a plain black dress. Come on, get with the program!

 

[disney6]

Just adding my two cents. On our last cruise my entire family dressed up on formal nights (although no tux) but I couldn't even begin to say what anyone else wore. I guess I didn't care enough to notice? I actually didn't notice anyone elses attire the entire cruise. I don't think I was in a fog but maybe I was.....

 

[mmouse37]

I do not judge what people wear but I do notice....I would say most people do wear formal attire on formal nights. Unfortunately you will always get a handful who saunter through the atrium, on Formal Night in their tank tops and cut-off jeans....I certainly would not. I truly enjoy dressing up and I agree that it adds to the atmosphere. It is a very classy feeling. DO YOU SEE THE CRUISE STAFF.....THERE ARE ALL WEARING FORMAL WEAR. I would take my cue from them.

If I chose to not dress up then I would not parade around the atrium as one passenger did on our 2/23/02 cruise. He wore this disgusting tank top with his extremely hairy underarms with stains under the arms and these awful shorts.....he helped himself to the complimentary cocktails and just hung around soaking up the scene. His wife was no better...she was even barefoot. Needless to say no one wanted to stand next to them....they had their own little corner with lots of space around them. I feel they were being disrespectful to the Captain, the staff and other passengers being there dressed like that. It was totally out of place. I can't believe that was their best clothes. If you do not want to dress up then dine upstairs in Topsiders. I know not many teens want to dress up but I am lucky with my girls. They really enjoy it and they get to wear those prom and homecoming dresses a second time. It makes me feel better knowing they are getting use out of them. We actually just bought my daughter a prom dress and we both had said the same thing....this would be great for Formal night on the crusie this August!!!

MJ

 

[houseomouse]

thanks disney6, ur a kindred spirit

 

[BethA]

I don't believe that thinking people should follow the dree guide lines is judgemental. If you went to Victoria and Albert's at the GF you would follow the dress code-not show up in beach wear. This should be the same thing.

 

[trishy]

Ducklite is correct about the written "requirement" of DCL to wear appropriate attire to the semi-formal and formal nights. However, the other nights' dress is "suggested". I completely understand people not wanting to bring formal attire. We were on a 24 day trip to WDW last year and did not want to pack for 1 formal night on the cruise - wasn't convenient at all. What we did and will do again probably is book Palos on the formal night. We had appropriate attire for the semi-formal night - that type of clothing we used in WDW also. It shocked us to see the ranges of dress on the formal night (we *peeked* from above). Our semi-formal attire was nicer than some of the clothing wore to the formal night! If DCL doesn't want to offend people by not enforcing their "requirement", I can understand that also. Most of these cruisers will come back again - maybe in more formal attire. I think most of the Non-formal dressers are first time cruisers who simply don't realize the magnitude of dress that people would be wearing that night. With the exception of stained armpit man with hair sticking out the sides, I don't really notice what people are wearing on the regular nights *unless* they are really dressed up - those people seem to stick out more to me.

 

[taswira]

I will keep it short but just add my two cents of support for Anne and MJ. I TOTALLY agree with you!

 

[Renee']

I love this topic as it's always a firestarter. Last year it was closed on this board and moved over to the debate board as it certainly can evoke some flames.

The DCL ships are gorgeous, the dining rooms very elegant. I cannot understand why anyone would not want to dress appropriately for dinner. During the day you are in workout clothes and bathing suits, dressing for dinner is a nice change and one well warranted given the atmosphere in which you are dining. I've seen many write that they cannot afford to buy formal wear for their entire family. This surprises me as taking a Disney cruise isn't the least expensive vacation one can purchase so the clothing should be something that is within reason. Then there are those who feel that they wear suits & ties, heels and hose all year long and they don't want to dress-up on their vacation. If they were visiting the parks I could understand but traveling aboard the ship is a different experience completely.

On one of our 7-day cruises we had a gentleman (term used loosely) who graced everyone at dinner in dirty gym shoes, knee high socks, a holey, dirty white tank top (one of those wife beater types ) his under arm hair flailing with running shorts. Now it wouldn't have been bad but this person didn't have the body to be sporting such attire - he was gross. This doesn't ruin your dinner but it sure detracts from the overall dining experience I can assure you.

I don't think anyone can be asked to look like James Bond (some do and they look great!) but an honest attempt at following DCL's guidelines is not unreasonable at all.

 

[mmouse37]

Hey Renee'....did you happen to be on the 2/23/02 cruise????? The guy you mentioned sounds just like the gross guy I was talking about...Oh no...could there possibly be two of them!!!!


MJ

 

[aalan]

my wife and i were on the recent 3/23 cruise and we were delighted to see that a good majority of the people dressed as reccomended on formal nights. i realize not everyone is into dressing up, but its not that often you can wear a tux. so hey, why not? its all part of the cruise experience.

some of the most interesting and intelligent people i know dress like slobs. and i know quite a few shallow and stupid folks who always dress like a million bucks. WHAT you wear has little to do with you as a person.

if someone in a tank top and shorts sat at our table on formal night, first, i would ask him/her to leave. if they wouldn't leave, i would ask to be seated at another table. believe me, i prefere my jeans and t-shirts to dress pants and shirts, but there is a time and place for everything...'nuff said.

 

[Renee']

Hey Renee'....did you happen to be on the 2/23/02 cruise????? The guy you mentioned sounds just like the gross guy I was talking about...Oh no...could there possibly be two of them!!!!

LOL....not we weren't on the 2/23, this was 2 years ago. There must be two of them.

some of the most interesting and intelligent people i know dress like slobs. and i know quite a few shallow and stupid folks who always dress like a million bucks. WHAT you wear has little to do with you as a person.

You are absolutely right - you cannot judge a book by its cover. This however isn't a personality contest it is common sense, common courtesy and doing what is appropriate. Certain places require certain dress. Unfortunately everyone doesn't get it.

 

[ruvidu]

I have posted this opinion in the past and am doing so again,
If you don't own a suit and can not afford to rent a tux, at least wear a nice shirt with a tie. Make an effort to look your best.
I can not imagine any man not owning at least a sport coat.
I am a maintenance technician. I wear jeans and t-shirts when I work, sometimes overalls but I have suits and sport coats.
Last year when getting ready for our first 7 day I looked at renting a tux but opted for a new black suit. I spent about $120.00, took a gray shirt and a white shirt and a couple of ties. Hey, I looked good, not James Bond good, but good.
I am a little town SC redneck, I drive a pickup truck and prefer shorts, t-shirts and flip flops but I do have some class. I think that is the difference in some of the people who show up wearing clothes from their dirty clothes bag.
As discussed before, if you are not happy dressing up go to Topsiders, get some pizza or order room service. Don't force yourselves on those who choose to follow the guidelines and rules.

 

[taswira]

Originally posted by ruvidu
As discussed before, if you are not happy dressing up go to Topsiders, get some pizza or order room service. Don't force yourselves on those who choose to follow the guidelines and rules.

<B>BRAVO!!!</B> Well said!