Suit vs. Tux

[El Capitan]

We have friends that just returned from the 7 day west coast cruise in June. They rented a couple of tux's for the formal nights. I am not a tux person but own a couple of nice suits. I understand that there is a dress code and that they frown upon people that don't follow it but can't really kick them out.

Question is, suit or sportcoat and tie good enough for the formal nights?? Come on all you experienced DCL veterans....

 

[daisy112878]

We were going to rent a tux for Dh for our sept. cruise but have now decided not to. For one thing, I can't find a dress that would go with his tux. Secondly, I could spend the money on a tux rental and a new dress on other things while on the cruise (like the spa!!! )

My DH is wearing his black suit with tie on formal night. I'm wearing a red sprapless dress. For semi-formal he's going to wear his suit pants, white collared shirt, and tie (maybe) and I have another dress to wear. We will be a little more dressed up then the other nights. I think your suit or sportcoat will be fine. (but this is also my first cruise) At least everyone on my cruise said what we were bring would be fine so I see no difference in what you're wearing.

 

[El Capitan]

Thanks for the reply Daisy. Out cruise is not until March, so we will know whether you guys did good before we leave. My DW is also concerned about matching a tux on the cruise ship.

 

[Eeyorefan12]

Question is, suit or sportcoat and tie good enough for the formal nights?? Come on all you experienced DCL veterans....

You will see MANY more suits than you will tuxes. (Actually, we didn't see any tuxes on the grown-ups...only a couple of kids we noticed in our dinner seating.) A suit is just fine, if that's more convenient or comfortable for you.

No one who works for Disney will be frowning in you in any way.

CB

 

[geffric]

on all three of our cruises, DH has wore a dark suit and he did not feel out of place. There were many more suits than Tux's.

 

[tkd lisa]

A dark suit will be fine. On our two longer cruises, for late seating, I typically see about 15% tuxes, 40-50% dark suits, 10% military dress uniforms, 10% sport coats, and the rest dressed more casually.

On our 10 day cruise, the family seated behind us wore cut offs and sweats EVERY night including formal. Particularly fetching was the mom who had a sweatshirt that said "Coach" over skimpy shorts with "Cutie" on the back. And since she was unavoidably in my line of sight at AP during the show, I have to say that I can kind of understand now why people do get upset about what others wear.

 

[logan1_2000]

The dress code has inspired so much entertaining exchange on the boards. I applaud the OP who has obviously read the information about formal and semi-formal night, and is seeking input on what is appropriate. She seems to be hoping that the less formal options are acceptable, but I sense she started the thread wanting to comply and not buck the suggested dress code.

Disclosure--I'm a tux guy when I get the chance, its fun and classy.

Dark Suits do outnumber tuxes, and thats just fine. Sport coat...hmm, my vote is for a nice blue blazer if not going to go w/ a suit, but I encourage a dark suit. But really, any respectable sportcoat and tie meets the spirit of formal night. I'm a little more formal again on semi formal night, as I do think a gentleman ought to wear a jacket of some kind on an evening dubbed semi-formal. But there will be many who do the tie w/o the jacket.

This thread seems to have given you a variety of responses but all from folks who are within a fair interpretation of the dress code.

And I'm glad there are others who understand that seriously casual in the sightlines ruins the ambience of a formal occasion, and part of the reason for a formal occasion is so that ambience will be a part of the total experience. oops, was on my soapbox for a minute there...

 

[MrsMork]

My gentleman also wears a tux. Not only adds to the ambience, but we don't have to pack it. Well worth the few dollars it costs to have it waiting in our stateroom and removed for us at the end.

 

[callahanjulie10]

My DH owns his tux and I have purchased a couple of Disney ties/vests/or cumberbuns. It makes for a GREAT picture and he always gets the compliements There are many men who wear suits (which DH doesn't own!), and to tell you the truth, I have never noticed what others are wearing. We are big into the pictures on formal nights since at home, we don't do the family portraits- just don't have the time. I also have quite a few formal dresses, which I really enjoy wearing. Do what you feel comfortable for you but if you want to wear shorts...go to Topsiders! They serve the same food and will bring it to your table just like in the "formal" restaurants.

 

[tvguy]

I did not see a single tux in our dining room. All suits (oh, and one guy in a sweat suit, and THAT was most dressed up he got all week).
First cruise in 7 for me that I didn't see a few tuxes, I just figured because it was Disney that is was a bit less formal.
I rented a tux for my first cruise, only time I ever took one. But that was a VERY VERY VERY formal 14 day Caribbean cruise on a 500 passenger French ship that REQUIRED tuxes for formal dinners, and no alternative dining available. But believe it or not, that was a business trip, and the company paid for the tux.

 

[Mdtigger99]

I think the only people who “frown” upon how others dress on a cruise is a few found on this forum. I’ve never seen or heard of anyone experiencing any issues whatsoever. From tails to t-shirts, I’ve seen it all. I don’t let other people’s choice of wardrobe dictate my mood. I’ve worn a tux or just a tie, if that’s going to ruin someone’s vacation, that’s something they will have to deal with, it doesn't bother Disney.

 

[KensJen]

Who do you rent a tux from that will be delivered to your stateroom? Just curious, thought it might be fun to get DH in a tux again...

 

[Skaught]

If you owned your own tux, would you bring that over a suit? And would you still need the suit for something else?

Scott

 

[brack]

After our first cruise I went out and bought a tux. I also take a dress suit. We like to dress up for dinner but we also bring "island wear" for the one themed night.

The answer to the question of whether to wear a tux, a suit or t-shirt is based on whether you want to "play the cruise game" or do you want to be outside.

I disagree with the thought that if someone's vacation is lessened by my being unwilling to dress up is their responsibility to overcome. We are all a part of the experience and can affect someone else.

 

[lbgraves]

We did witness a dining room manager addressing the next table regarding their dress...tanks with hair showing & running shorts & they loudly argued that they didn't care. Of course coming in an hour late like that made it obvious they wanted to create a sceen.

 

[woody73]

Question is, suit or sportcoat and tie good enough for the formal nights??

I have worn either a tux or a dark suit on formal night.

Woody

 

[callahanjulie10]

My DH always brings his tux and has never brought a suit. I would think one or the other. He usually brings a pair of khakis, blk pants, tux and then different shirts and a few ties to mix and match. Of course some nights he just wears polo shirts- no tie.

 

[El Capitan]

You all have great information. Obviously this is a much talked about area.

Bumpity BUMP!!

 

[NowaSki]

Ok, here's a humorous story. A few years ago my older brother took his family on a 3-night DCL cruise. They are big Disney fans, been going to WDW nearly every year for the last 15 years. Now, my brother is a blue collar guy, I don’t think he owns a suit, maybe a tie. He is also the kind of person that will read everything backwards and forward until he has it completely understood and memorized. Well, he somehow missed the dining room dress code info in the DCL information before they left for there vacation. They had spent a few days and WDW and only packed shorts and t-shirts. When they got on the ship and saw the dress code info on the Navigator, he panicked! My brother is also a stickler for the rules! So, the whole family went down to the shops and bought some shirts and pants, boy did this blow his budget.

On his second cruise (with my family as well), he actually had a sports coat for semi-formal night.

BTW, I wore a dark suit (w/ Disney tie) to formal night on our 7-night cruise. We are planning a 7-night cruise in 2007 to celebrate my parent’s 50th anniversary, and I hope to get everyone to agree to get Tuxes.