What does FORMAL really mean?

[NewportCat]

What is acceptable attire for formal night? My DH owns a tuxedo but is digging in his heals about wearing it on our EB repo cruise. I am wondering what people really wear. Also what about semi-formal? And how about ladies' attire? I am thinking we want a few dressy family photos...yes?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Forever42]

We haven't been on a 7-night yet, but for our formal night we plan on buying DH a used tux and me a full length evening gown We love dressing up.

 

[lillygator]

honestly - as long as you are covered - it's fine.
DH wore a tux two nights on the WB ---- wore shorts (much to my dismay) to many a dinner....but his dress shorts looked way better than some jeans, sweat capris and many other attire we saw.

really wear what you are comfortable in. More often than not you will be fine.

 

[dahuffy]

This is what we wore to Semi Formal dinner/Palo on our last 7 night.

 

[RoadTripFanatic]

I've not done a 7 night cruise on Disney but I have on other cruise lines. It's whatever makes you happy. Some cruise lines do mandate a shirt and tie to enter the dinning room. (Not many do this!) DH usually takes a suit. He owns a tuxedo but he never takes it on a cruise! I will usually wear a cocktail length dress for formal night but I have worn a full length formal. As far semi-formal on a Disney Cruise I saw a lot of what I would call dressy church attire. I wore a pair of dressy capri's and a silk shirt. I didn't feel like wearing a dress.

 

[luv that cruise]

We have been on, i've lost track, close to 15 cruises. not big on dressing up and are quite comfortable mixing and matchin black skirt, dresses, and pants with comfortable flats for dinners, including formal night. you will see a range from formal wear to as casual as i described. husband does kahaki and golf shirt for everything including palo. it's fine. i don't know about everyone else but i don't really notice what everyone else is wearing, except to admire the people who really dress up.. beautiful, just not my thing.

 

[Anal Annie]

On our 7 n we rented the tux for DH. Since it was there and we had paid for it, he wore it on both formal and semi-formal night. I brought a suit for DS - he wore the full suit on formal night and just the pants with a shirt & tie for sem-formal night. I brought a black tea length dress with a scarf/wrap from a previous holiday party for formal night and a dressy dress from a "destination" wedding to wear on the semi-formal night. We tried to follow the recommended dress attire for the entire cruise. This summer we're going on the Wonder which I hear is less dressy so we won't go to those lengths.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

On our 7 n we rented the tux for DH. Since it was there and we had paid for it, he wore it on both formal and semi-formal night. I brought a suit for DS - he wore the full suit on formal night and just the pants with a shirt & tie for sem-formal night. I brought a black tea length dress with a scarf/wrap from a previous holiday party for formal night and a dressy dress from a "destination" wedding to wear on the semi-formal night. We tried to follow the recommended dress attire for the entire cruise. This summer we're going on the Wonder which I hear is less dressy so we won't go to those lengths.

If the men wear a jacket for the formal, would that be good enough? My dh wears a tie/suit everyday to work, I'm sure he's gonna want a break on the cruise. Second thought, will the jacket be too hot?

 

[HiddenMickeys]

If the men wear a jacket for the formal, would that be good enough? My dh wears a tie/suit everyday to work, I'm sure he's gonna want a break on the cruise. Second thought, will the jacket be too hot?

I think, unless you want to be among the best dressed in the room, go for what is comfortable for YOU. Again, everyone has a different idea of comfortable. Personally, I think dragging my bulky suit jacket (i'm a big guy) along will (a) take up a lot of space, and (b) it will be too hot. I plan on wearing my suit pants, along with a button down shirt and tie. Thats it. Do I think I will see people in Tux's and Jackets? Sure. But I'm sure I will also see people without ties, and perhaps even without long pants, and I am ok with that. Again, it's all about what YOU would feel comfortable with.

 

[tmk0730]

While we haven't been on a Disney cruise yet I think I know what we are wearing. DH will be in dress pants, dress shirt, & tie. I will wear a black cocktail dress. We will probably wear the same exact thing on semi-formal night too. I actually enjoy getting dressed up but with the new airline restrictions I know we have to pack light. (especially since we will be in WDW for a week prior...lots to pack) So that's what we are planning, and I'm hopping that it's ok! Have fun planning!

Edited to add: Another reason I'm not worrying about it too much is because for our honeymoon we cruised NCL and went all out with tux and formal gown. Only about half (if that) of the people were dressed that formal.

 

[scoper]

We were on 7 day Western Carribbean cruise 2006. Most of the people wore jacket and tie for formal night (same as semi-formal night). Many had suits. Very few wore tux. Not many gowns on the ladies, mostly summer dress, etc. With luggage restrictions on airlines, packing light is key and for the men to bring a tux and sport coats is a hassel. One jacket is all I take with different ties, pants and so on.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

While we haven't been on a Disney cruise yet I think I know what we are wearing. DH will be in dress pants, dress shirt, & tie. I will wear a black cocktail dress. We will probably wear the same exact thing on semi-formal night too. I actually enjoy getting dressed up but with the new airline restrictions I know we have to pack light. (especially since we will be in WDW for a week prior...lots to pack) So that's what we are planning, and I'm hopping that it's ok! Have fun planning!

Edited to add: Another reason I'm not worrying about it too much is because for our honeymoon we cruised NCL and went all out with tux and formal gown. Only about half (if that) of the people were dressed that formal.

On our cruise thisis what we wore- DH was in dress pants/dress shoes, white shirt and black tie... I was in black cocktail dress. (girls were in dresses- son was dressed same as DH except his tie was blue) We didn't really feel out of place except maybe in line for the pictures before dinner. LOL But once in the restaurant we didn't feel out of place at all- and I'm still glad we got the picture made- it's the best picture we have from our whole trip! (we didn't stop often for pictures- hardly at all really LOL)

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

This is what we wore to Semi Formal dinner/Palo on our last 7 night.

ooh I like your dress!