Is DCL still doing formal night on 7-night cruises?

[Bunny84]

We’re doing a 7 night Fantasy sailing in April and was curious.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I was upset because we had people in cargo shorts in the enchanted garden. Just wrong. But no cabana so what could they do?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was upset because we had people in cargo shorts in the enchanted garden. Just wrong. But no cabana so what could they do?

Sadly, the suggested dress is just that - "suggested". There are many people who think "it's MY vacation, I'll dress as I want".

It's no longer unusual to see all manner of dress, from t-shirts & shorts to full length formalwear, regardless of theme/formal/whatever suggestion.

 

[caheffe]

To answer your question, yes, they are still having formal nights on a 7-day.

 

[meremac]

They are still doing an optional formal night, they key word being optional. Disney is much more fluid than other cruise lines when it comes to attire (probably because it's so family-oriented), so you'll see a wide range of dress. Some people go all out, others dress a little nicer than they would normally, and some keep it casual. If you don't feel like dressing up, you really don't have to. But if you want to, go for it! Very few people are judgmental about what you choose to wear either way, which is one of the best things about DCL IMO!

 

[Dug720]

Sadly, the suggested dress is just that - "suggested". There are many people who think "it's MY vacation, I'll dress as I want".

It's no longer unusual to see all manner of dress, from t-shirts & shorts to full length formalwear, regardless of theme/formal/whatever suggestion.

This. (Though as someone who hates dressing up (though I will wear a casual dress or skirt for dinner) I don't think it's sad.)

The only line I have seen required "formal" dress any time recently was HAL. Not only did they make it clear you needed to at least be in cocktail wear at dinner, you were expected to remain in it all night if you were doing anything but going back to your cabin.

This was in 2013, so even they may have relaxed it a bit...

 

[Cruising Engineer]

This. (Though as someone who hates dressing up (though I will wear a casual dress or skirt for dinner) I don't think it's sad.)

The only line I have seen required "formal" dress any time recently was HAL. Not only did they make it clear you needed to at least be in cocktail wear at dinner, you were expected to remain in it all night if you were doing anything but going back to your cabin.
This was in 2013, so even they may have relaxed it a bit...

Cunard still requires a dress code after 5 pm for everyone.

 

[bbeagle]

Sadly, the suggested dress is just that - "suggested". There are many people who think "it's MY vacation, I'll dress as I want".

When I went on my first cruise (a non-Disney cruise) - all I packed were shorts, t-shirts, swimsuits. It was going to be warm - no reason to pack anything else. It wasn't until I showed up to a dinner reservation they said we could only get in by wearing formal wear. What??? This is vacation? I never heard of that, and was never informed anywhere pre-vacation, pre-board or even pre-dinner that this was required. I was mad, made a scene, and they would not seat us. There wasn't a sign anywhere where this was policy. Not on the door, not on the reservations, nothing. Everyone else was wearing formal wear, so other people 'knew', but I never knew. It's undoubtedly happened to many other people, so they relax policies instead of cause scenes.

It's the same with the time the ship left dock. I was told 5:00. So I assumed you had to be there by 5:00. It turns out you had to be there between 12:00 and 3:00. I was never informed of that anywhere. We arrived around 3:30 - and luckily they let us on.

Some people know, other people who don't research enough don't know. I hear people all the time who enter WDW for their first trip, that they are upset that all dining reservations are sold out the morning they go to the parks. They never heard that you need to reserve the restaurants 60 days ahead of time. And they sleep in and are shocked that the parks are crowded at noon.

 

[MomOTwins]

When I went on my first cruise (a non-Disney cruise) - all I packed were shorts, t-shirts, swimsuits. It was going to be warm - no reason to pack anything else. It wasn't until I showed up to a dinner reservation they said we could only get in by wearing formal wear. What??? This is vacation? I never heard of that, and was never informed anywhere pre-vacation, pre-board or even pre-dinner that this was required. I was mad, made a scene, and they would not seat us. There wasn't a sign anywhere where this was policy. Not on the door, not on the reservations, nothing. Everyone else was wearing formal wear, so other people 'knew', but I never knew. It's undoubtedly happened to many other people, so they relax policies instead of cause scenes.

It's the same with the time the ship left dock. I was told 5:00. So I assumed you had to be there by 5:00. It turns out you had to be there between 12:00 and 3:00. I was never informed of that anywhere. We arrived around 3:30 - and luckily they let us on.

Some people know, other people who don't research enough don't know. I hear people all the time who enter WDW for their first trip, that they are upset that all dining reservations are sold out the morning they go to the parks. They never heard that you need to reserve the restaurants 60 days ahead of time. And they sleep in and are shocked that the parks are crowded at noon.

This is reminding me of my husband and I taking out first cruise in Alaska for our honeymoon over a decade ago. We showed up at the cruise check in place in anchorage without having even booked transportation to the port—did not realize it was an hour away from the check in place! We bought bus tickets on the spot but I still laugh thinking how little planning I put into our vacation compared to a vacation these days. We were college kids who had never taken a vacation on our own before and had no idea what we were doing beyond booking flight, cruise, and excursions thru the cruise line! I didn’t even know there were stage shows and activities on the ship and never went to a single one—then again, it was our honeymoon so we had our own kind of entertainment

 

[Dug720]

Cunard still requires a dress code after 5 pm for everyone.

I figured. I haven't even looked at them - I'm not that fancy.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

I figured. I haven't even looked at them - I'm not that fancy.

Neither am I but, I would like to take just one cruise on a Queen to experience something different, something traditional.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I feel that originally formal wear was a must for all 3 meals when cruises began as a vacation option. Daywear was a big category in apparel decades ago, I think it turned into cruise wear(fancy/elegant but comfortable). Sadly over the years many don’t want to participate. But those that do can’t convince those that don’t to participate except maybe on wedding or cruise. Since Cabana is available can’t we have just one meal where we can feel super pretty and have a handsome significant other and get a few pictures?
I know, I’m a dinosaur. Mark my words, the day is coming when pajama pants and slippers or socks in the plastic sandals will be allowed in the dining rooms. Thankfully the grass over my pine box will be thick and full then. I don’t want to see the “Walmart shopper’s” that people laugh about now, to become mainstream cruisers of the future.
Okay “I’ll get off my soapbox now”. I’ll bet some don’t understand that reference. Just a testament to my age.

 

[CarolynU]

I’m a dinosaur too. I first cruised out of Florida in 1981. Cruise ships were small and the internet for research didn’t even exist. So I went to a library and read books on travel and cruising in particular. I found out about the dress code, tipping and all sorts.
I was seasick and never cruised again until DCL in around 2009.
Ships were bigger, rocked less, and there was still a dress code. I enjoyed it. It was a contrast to the theme parks. Casual during the day, shower clean up and look nice for dining, and on a special eve you got really fancy. I’ve continued to cruise, and as my formal wardrobe has expanded to include glitz and sequins so the requirements have loosened, so that now there’s very little difference between Cosmic Rays and Lumieres, and on one occasion Palo evening dining, where the next table were wearing dirty jeans with holes, runners, t shirts and bandanas on their heads as it was pirate night.
However, as a family even with little children we still dress up in smart casual every evening and without fail every time we bring the children in to eat we are complimented on their appearance by the dining team. We wear formal clothes on formal night. Always a long gown for me.
I have vowed to cruise on Cunard once just to experience cruising as it used to be.

 

[Bunny84]

To answer your question, yes, they are still having formal nights on a 7-day.

Thanks!

 

[CastawayCayLover]

I’m a dinosaur too. I first cruised out of Florida in 1981. Cruise ships were small and the internet for research didn’t even exist. So I went to a library and read books on travel and cruising in particular. I found out about the dress code, tipping and all sorts.
I was seasick and never cruised again until DCL in around 2009.
Ships were bigger, rocked less, and there was still a dress code. I enjoyed it. It was a contrast to the theme parks. Casual during the day, shower clean up and look nice for dining, and on a special eve you got really fancy. I’ve continued to cruise, and as my formal wardrobe has expanded to include glitz and sequins so the requirements have loosened, so that now there’s very little difference between Cosmic Rays and Lumieres, and on one occasion Palo evening dining, where the next table were wearing dirty jeans with holes, runners, t shirts and bandanas on their heads as it was pirate night.
However, as a family even with little children we still dress up in smart casual every evening and without fail every time we bring the children in to eat we are complimented on their appearance by the dining team. We wear formal clothes on formal night. Always a long gown for me.
I have vowed to cruise on Cunard once just to experience cruising as it used to be.

Wow, we've never seen this. We've seen people turned away at Palo for inappropriate attire, incredible to think this was allowed pirate night or not.

 

[CarolynU]

Wow, we've never seen this. We've seen people turned away at Palo for inappropriate attire, incredible to think this was allowed pirate night or not.

Yes I must admit that I was shocked and did mention it to the maitre d on the way out, but he just shrugged his shoulders and said that there was nothing that he could do because DCL had changed their policy to allow jeans!! What he meant I expect was that he didn’t want an altercation so said nothing.

 

[Jsoenning]

We went on a 6-night December 2021 cruise on Disney Wonder and they had an optional semi-formal night but it wasn't announced. Not indicated on the app. Folks we saw stated their waiters had informed them the night before but ours didn't so we had our own semi-formal night another evening.