Seven Nighter - How formal is "formal" ?

[Jhalkias]

I know there have been posts about this somewhere, but my eyes are getting tired searching for them.

We have never gone on the seven night cruise before, and are wondering how "formal" the formal night or nights are. With both kids along, we are not really in the mood for me to rent a tux, or to get too "formal".

Not opposed to a suit and tie, or jacket and tie. But I wonder if we will be out of place even at that. I also do not want to ruin everyone's idea of a dress-up night, which can be fun. I attend some black tie events here where being underdressed would definitely stick out like a sore cumberbund!

Any advice, is appreciated. If not going to the normal rotation, what is the best option for alternative dining, and not missing out on some of the great food at the normal restaurant - I prefer that to a buffet or pizza and burgers.

Thanks Gang!

 

[DixieDreamer]

I have not cruised yet - but what I have gleaned from reading these boards - that many choose to go with a suit and tie rather than the full formal tux - and are fine. I think something less than that would stand out though. My DH rarely wears a suit (as in funerals and weddings ONLY) so getting him in a suit and tie will be a major event - a tux is out of the question. LOL!

DD and I plan to wear "nice" dresses with appropriate dressy accessories on the formal nights (but not long gowns) as that would be out of place with what my DH will be wearing.

 

[PixieDusting]

We cruised last month, shortly before the holidays. Most men wore a suit on formal night, and most woman wore nice cocktail dresses. There were a few families dressed to the nines (tuxes and formal dresses) but they were in the minority.

HTH

 

[Gretel]

My hubby will be wearing a tux....................

 

[mmouse37]

I have worn long dresses (not too glitzy) on two times on the Magic and my hubby wore a suit and tie. We just brought him one suit with two ties and two shirts.

You will see a very broad range of "formal". Some will have tux's and very formal long gowns. Pretty much everything is acceptable....within good taste.

MJ

 

[LisaTxUsa]

We decided to 'do it up' this time .. I rented a tux for my 11 yr old son (he loves doing what he considers "grown up" stuff) and I bought a long black skirt with a couple of different tops for formal nights.

On the cruise last year I saw everything from khakis to ball gowns!

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

I wore a tux on the formal night. However, as others have noted, the range was quite varied. The only people that stood out like a sore thumb where the ones that showed up in shorts and t-shirt (and IMO, the greeter at the front door should have directed them to Topsiders for the buffet).

 

[AnnaS]

My husand has a black suit he wore with a tux tie. My two teenage sons were navy sports jackets and dockers. My two sons at first did not want to do this. Let me tell you they were glad they did! Everyone was more or less dressed up. If you do not want to do this (which I might consider on our next west. cairib. cruise), why not book Paolo for that night? You will still need a sports jacket though (if I remember right). Have fun no matter what you decide. Not too many other choices, except for room service or deck nine fast food.

 

[candleonwater]

On our cruise in December, I felt SO out of place in just a skirt and sweater that I ate at Plutos for the formal night - but I later heard that Topsiders served the same food as the restaurant (don't really know if it was true or not).

Next cruise my daughter and I are going to dress to the 9's! Just for fun!

 

[sandee]

I agree with Firefighter Mickey. Anyone in shorts should have been sent up to deck 9. On our formal night the dining room was close to 50 - 50 on tuxes and suits and we ladies all looked pretty darn good ;-)...but at a table near us there were 2 women and a guy all in cut off jeans...short cut off jeans. The one woman was 50ish and she was doing her best to look like Daisy Duke, right down to the two pony tails. I felt sorry for the other couple at their table who were really dressed up and looked great. The "dukes of Hazzard" should have been directed to TopSiders. I wasn't really too excited about getting into such a dressy dress but if I had decided this wasn't for me, I'd have either gone with Room service or topsiders. (By the way, I could have gotten by with a lot less dressy dress and not felt out of place.)

 

[Denine]

If you don't want to wear a tux, a dark suit is quite acceptable. DH and I are those that dress to the 9's, but we love doing it. He even wore his tux to Palos.
The only ones that look out of place are the ones that don't even try to dress up. Again, they should be directed to Topsiders. Disney, are you reading?

 

[Denine]

If you don't want to wear a tux, a dark suit is quite acceptable. DH and I are those that dress to the 9's, but we love doing it. He even wore his tux to Palos.
The only ones that look out of place are the ones that don't even try to dress up. Again, they should be directed to Topsiders. Disney, are you reading?