How formal is formal?

[Leleluvsdis]

Hey y'all!!

DH and I are planning a disney cruise and with prom season coming to a close, I am always on the lookout for dress for a cruise and no better time then when they mark all of the prom dresses down. My question it, how formal is formal and semi-formal night for disney? Pictures would also be appreciated. We have done several carnival cruises and you see a little bit of everything, but I love to dress up, and would love to be able to on our disney cruise as well. Thank for you help!!

 

[llqool]

We dressed up for our 7 day Alaskan cruise: floor length gowns for my friend and me, formal dress blue uniform for my husband (active duty military) and a tux for my friends husband. We did see quite a few people in full length gowns that evening, but also cocktail length and also cruise casual. So it varies widely.

 

[youalleverybody]

For formal night, I wore a velour-ish dark purple dress, off the shoulder sleeves, that came to just below my knees. My daughters wore princess costumes/dresses. DH wore a Tuxedo, and sons wore dark slacks, dress shirts and ties. A few were even fancier than us, and a few were less. We felt great about how we looked and had fun. Enjoy!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

For formal nights (as well as semi-formal) I've worn a floor length ball gown (with and without tiara), cocktail dress with (and without) fancy jewerly, and dress slacks with sparkly top.

I've seen everything from ball gowns (prom dresses) to jean on formal night. So, while it is supposed to be a fancy dress night, you won't be denied access to the MDRs if you're not.

I think the opportunity to buy a new dress shouldn't be passed up.

 

[3Mickeys]

As formal as you want it to be!
We did a 7 night and for formal I was in a floor length dress, dh in a suit, boys in ties, daughter in her first communion dress. Semi-formal night I was in a cocktail dress, dh in suit, no tie, boys in dress shirts and pants - no ties, daughter in party dress. Here is formal night:

On our 5 night they do "dress-up" night. I was again in a floor length, though more casual than formal night. Dh and boys in dress pants and shirts, Daughter in dress. This was "dress up" night.

Go ahead and dress up, have photos taken, it's half the fun. And great memories.

 

[NMMickeymom]

I agree that you will see all levels of formal. I plan to wear a long gown for formal night (nothing poofy ) and my girls will be in prom/easter type dresses. No Tux for hubby but a nice coat and tie. I might add that having been on both Disney and Carnival we have found people on the Disney ships seem to dress up more. I only wore cocktail dresses on Carnival. We love to hit the after season sales for fun dresses. Happy Shopping!

 

[Leleluvsdis]

Thanks everyone! I don't do anything puffy, but I love love love silky and floor length!!! From what I'm gathering also, if DH should be fine in shirt and tie? He doesn't have a jacket but is debating on getting one soon well at least I am for him haha

 

[ilovetexas]

I'm sorry, I can't post pics of my dress because we don't leave until Saturday. It's floor length, black, not poofy, and has a brooch at each shoulder (collarbones, really). DH will be wearing his black tux. Those outfits are for Remy and formal night.

For semi-formal and Palo, DH will wear sport coat and tie, while I wear....something....I haven't decided yet. A nice dress of some sort. He would wear a suit but packing a full suit AND a tux AND a sport coat + pants for a seven day cruise seems a bit much.

Dress up, have some fun! Go poofy, wear a tiara....you can't get away with that on other lines....take advantage!

 

[RedxPanda]

I too have found bargains during prom season! I will be wearing 2 of my past purchases during our 1st cruise next week. None are floor length, but 2 of the 4 dresses I am bringing for dinner/brunch are more casual dresses and 2 are the 'prom' type.. all knee-ish length. I am short and long dresses don't seem to work well for me.

These dress up nights, from what I can tell and from past cruises on other lines, are meant to be for fun. Wear something you are comfortable in, you might like to purchase a photo of, etc.

Oh and DH will be wearing a long sleeve shirt and tie that somewhat coordinates with what I and are DD are wearing! I want some cute family portraits! We decided jackets are overkill... on a cruise... in may ... in the Bahamas.

 

[DisneyBasket]

We wore the clothing we wore for our daughter's wedding for formal night on our 7 day Alaskan cruise last year. We took advantage of the photographers that night and had a number of photos taken, some of which where quite good. I say wear what you like and enjoy being dressed up! There were four couples at our table, two dressed up and two did not, it did not matter one bit. We enjoyed our evening just as much.

 

[Wailea]

We wore the clothing we wore for our daughter's wedding for formal night on our 7 day Alaskan cruise last year. We took advantage of the photographers that night and had a number of photos taken, some of which where quite good. I say wear what you like and enjoy being dressed up! There were four couples at our table, two dressed up and two did not, it did not matter one bit. We enjoyed our evening just as much.

What a handsome couple! You look stunning and that green looks fabulous on you!

For formal night I will be wearing a long flowy black dress with some bling at the waist, DH will be wearing a long sleeve shirt and tie, and my DD will wear her Rapunzel dress. For semi formal, I will wear a short black cocktail dress, my DH a classy long sleeve shirt and dress slacks, and my DD her Easter dress.
Like the previous posters mentioned, you will see a little bit of everything on board. Since you like dressing up, don't hesitate to go all out! Plenty of people do. I really loved seeing ball gowns and tuxes on our last cruise!

 

[Never to old]

For formal nights (as well as semi-formal) I've worn a floor length ball gown (with and without tiara), cocktail dress with (and without) fancy jewerly, and dress slacks with sparkly top.

I've seen everything from ball gowns (prom dresses) to jean on formal night. So, while it is supposed to be a fancy dress night, you won't be denied access to the MDRs if you're not.

I think the opportunity to buy a new dress shouldn't be passed up.

I am so glad to know that I am not the only one to wear a tiara
I didn't want to pack a dress, so I wore a fancy top and my tiara for formal night

 

[Keurigirl]

It is everything under the sun for Disney Cruises, actually. I'd say the vast majority of folks are more business casual than formal. I was quite shocked by it, actually. Most guys are wearing slacks and maybe a tie, sometimes just a collared shirt and khakis. My husband wore a suit and I wore a gown and I felt REALLY ridiculous and overdressed.

 

[auntie]

We just returned from a four night cruise on the Magic. There was a Semi-formal night. No formal night.
Honestly, I didn't see anyone in floor length gowns. I think that would be a bit overdone for the type of cruise it was.
I assume from what I read here, that on cruises of longer lengths that perhaps the formal attire is worn?..but since I haven't been on one that long I couldn't say for sure.
I brought clothes we didn't wear because I found it to be way less formal that what I've read here in the cruise forum.
While my husband did bring a suit..he didn't wear it.
We did eat at a Palo brunch, and even there..I think I saw one man with a jacket on. Yes, actually they were honeymooners. Most were very nicely dressed. Slacks and a dress shirt. No ties. Even a couple in nicer Tommy Bahama shirts and slacks. Again this was brunch. I believe had we done Palo dinner my husband probably would have worn his suit.
Other than that..the other dining rooms appeared pretty darn casual. That's not to say some people weren't nicely dressed, just not formally dressed. I didn't see anything in the way of what I would consider to be formal wear. Gowns/tux's/suits.
Even the "no t-shirt thing"..we had an entire family (mostly adults) sitting next to us with matching ORANGE T-shirts on.
Most evenings I put on a dressy top with dress slacks. One night I wore a longer white flowy type skirt with a dressy tank.
During the day my husband wore shorts. I wore capris.

 

[bethann77]

well this is my first time posting a picture, so we will see if this turns out. This is what my family wore for formal night on our Western in 2009.

 

[bethann77]

this is what my kids wore for semi-formal night in 2009. I guess we didn't get any pictures of what we wore.

 

[bethann77]

this is what we wore for formal night on our 2010 Eastern.

and semi formal 2010

 

[Patrickprincess]

this is what we wore for formal night on our 2010 Eastern.

and semi formal 2010

The op pics are wonderful. On my upcomming fantasy cruise a seven nighter we will have a formal night and a semi formal night and i plan on dressing up for both nights. for the fromal night a got a new dress took me four months to get but worth it. It's a strapless shorter in front with a train in back with beading in the front. I will also be wearring a traira. I would post a pic of the dress but i still haven't figuared out how to post. So if you want to dress up go for it.

 

[KennesawNemo]

As formal as you want it to be!
We did a 7 night and for formal I was in a floor length dress, dh in a suit, boys in ties, daughter in her first communion dress. Semi-formal night I was in a cocktail dress, dh in suit, no tie, boys in dress shirts and pants - no ties, daughter in party dress. Here is formal night:

On our 5 night they do "dress-up" night. I was again in a floor length, though more casual than formal night. Dh and boys in dress pants and shirts, Daughter in dress. This was "dress up" night.

Go ahead and dress up, have photos taken, it's half the fun. And great memories.

Love your dresses! You have such a beautiful family!

 

[riley2008]

It is everything under the sun for Disney Cruises, actually. I'd say the vast majority of folks are more business casual than formal. I was quite shocked by it, actually. Most guys are wearing slacks and maybe a tie, sometimes just a collared shirt and khakis. My husband wore a suit and I wore a gown and I felt REALLY ridiculous and overdressed.

This is what I'm afraid it will be for us. The boys both have black suits/tux that will hopefully still fit, and I would love for them to wear them in Sept.

I'm considering just planning more "cruise causal".