The era of FORMAL NIGHTS is fading rapidly...

If you don't own a suit you need to consider Greyhound buses for your
travel! Don't stink up my table(I'm a senior!!!)

> There was a time when virtually 100% of the men attending a profesional
> baseball game wore a suit and a hat. "Sport shirts" were for sports, and
> "tennis shoes" were for tennis.
>
> And in those years, when the grand liners of history served only the
> affluent, EVERY night was formal night. "Dressing for dinner" was
> mandatory in the prime of the Queen and on the superb Cunard ships, and
> men who never asked the cost of anything would arrive with luggage that
> included several tuxedos or dinner jackets plus a box of their favorite
> cigars, as their wives brought an array of splendid gowns. They often
> traveled with their servants...
>
> Today, the vast majority of people who go cruising don't own formal wear.
> Many don't even have suits, and if they did retain something from their
> business history it probably no longer fits. And some of today's cruisers
> ARE servants - on vacation...
>
> I think the days of "formal nights" are numbered, and the dress code will
> be ignored more and more frequently. Eventually, most lines will go the
> way of Oceania, which gives up nothing in food, service, and ambience and
> diners are welcome in khakis and a golf shirt. That environment is
> certainly pleasant, just less pretentious.
>
> Of course, there are some who truly enjoy "dressing for dinner", and for
> them there will be ships - or perhaps specific cruises - that promote
> formal dining and the supposed elegance that goes with it.
>
> As for my wife and me, we're about to spend almost two weeks on an Oceania
> cruise, with a few days ashore at each end. We'll each use ONE small
> rolling bag - that will handle my dress khakis, and her sequin'd jeans
> suit.
>
> Ike
> ...tuxless - it'll never fit again!

On Oct 6, 2:08 pm, Ike <binarydot...@> wrote:
> There was a time when virtually 100% of the men attending a
> profesional baseball game wore a suit and a hat. "Sport shirts"
> were for sports, and "tennis shoes" were for tennis.

And Women uesed to was clothes on a wash board in a bucket.
Ice was delivered daily to keep your frig cold. News Papers were a
nickel. Times have changed

>
> And in those years, when the grand liners of history served only
> the affluent, EVERY night was formal night. "Dressing for
> dinner" was mandatory in the prime of the Queen and on the
> superb Cunard ships, and men who never asked the cost of
> anything would arrive with luggage that included several tuxedos
> or dinner jackets plus a box of their favorite cigars, as their
> wives brought an array of splendid gowns. They often traveled
> with their servants...

Now you arrive by Air Plane for $69 then to the pier in a taxi
with your carryon luggage and rolling
suiter. Suitcases so big that they don't fit into trunks of cars.
Wearing shorts a tee shirt and drunk off your as* from $5 airline
drinks.

>
> Today, the vast majority of people who go cruising don't own
> formal wear. Many don't even have suits, and if they did retain
> something from their business history it probably no longer
> fits. And some of today's cruisers ARE servants - on vacation...

Casual Fridays are now Monday thru Friday. Why, because the
days of the white shirts and ties are long gone. Even at IBM! Suits
and
ties don't even belong on Wall Street. Why should they on Vacations?

>
> I think the days of "formal nights" are numbered, and the dress
> code will be ignored more and more frequently. Eventually, most
> lines will go the way of Oceania, which gives up nothing in
> food, service, and ambience and diners are welcome in khakis and
> a golf shirt. That environment is certainly pleasant, just less
> pretentious.

Here here. As it should be. I think any Caribbean cruise should
get rid of
Formal Nights and at most just be semi formal. A shirt and tie is all
that should
be required. Those days of the full tux at dinner are over. Who are
you trying
to impress?

> Of course, there are some who truly enjoy "dressing for dinner",
> and for them there will be ships - or perhaps specific cruises -
> that promote formal dining and the supposed elegance that goes
> with it.

By all means if they want to dress in Full Formalwear they
shoud.
Just don't begrudge me for not. To each their own.

>
> As for my wife and me, we're about to spend almost two weeks on
> an Oceania cruise, with a few days ashore at each end. We'll
> each use ONE small rolling bag - that will handle my dress
> khakis, and her sequin'd jeans suit.

You should eat where ever you want. Dress as you want. Just so
long as you don't show
up to Formal Night in a Tropical Shirt and Sandles you should dress as
you
like. Just be respectful of those around you. I no longer bring the
full Tux for
Formal Nights. Pants, Shirt & Tie. I'm respectful to those around me
and make
the effort to remain in the dress code for the evening. I don't ned
to impress anyone
or put on aires that I'm someone I'm not. You should either. Nor
should you feel guilty
for it.

> Ike
> ...tuxless - it'll never fit again!

Unless your back in 1938 its not needed.

> Casual Fridays are now Monday thru Friday. Why, because the
> days of the white shirts and ties are long gone. Even at IBM!

This is a Human Resourse trick to lower your self esteem so they can pay you
less.

Peanut Ike wrote:

>men who never asked the cost of
> anything would arrive with luggage that included several tuxedos
> or dinner jackets plus a box of their favorite cigars, as their
> wives brought an array of splendid gowns. They often traveled
> with their servants...

"Trudy, I would like tea waiting for me in my room when I return."

"Yes, mam."

In article <1191709924.342748.56970@r29g2000hsg.. com>, Rick
<ricker64@> wrote:

> Casual Fridays are now Monday thru Friday. Why, because the days of
> the white shirts and ties are long gone. Even at IBM! Suits and
> ties don't even belong on Wall Street. Why should they on Vacations?

Suits and ties are still standard business attire in the Northeast.

Vacations are another matter. The formal dinner evenings have been a
cruise vacation tradition. Certainly they would not be part of a
camping vacation. To me the old saying of when in Rome do as the Romans
applies. I find that people are still wearing suits or tuxes on formal
evenings, 95% are doing that--- so I am still wearing my tux. If you
want to be a rebel, fine. I don't care. I choose not to be a rebel in
this matter at this time.

> I don't ned to impress anyone or put on aires that I'm someone I'm
> not. You should either. Nor should you feel guilty for it.

Why would dressing up be putting on airs or trying to impress anyone?

--
Charles

On Oct 6, 7:12 pm, Charles wrote:
>
> Suits and ties are still standard business attire in the Northeast.

Peanut Charles,

No. Ties and slacks are business attire in the Northeast. Suits died
out in the 60's as "standard".

> If you want to be a rebel, fine. I don't care. I choose not to be a rebel in
> this matter at this time.

>From what Rick posted, I don't think he was implying he is a rebel. I
think he was saying it's time to end the trick or treat atmosphere.
We're all grown people here. I think it should be expected and even
required to dress nice, but heck, should we all bring top hats too?
Formal night is really a toast to the ladies; I know they like
dressing up far more than I do -- I have no problem putting on a tie,
but I have no interest in going back to my room after dinner to change
for whatever I have planned for that night (and I know the women have
no intention of going back to change either).

> Why would dressing up be putting on airs or trying to impress anyone?

I agree, it's not putting on airs, but a cruise ship vacation is not
the place to be puttin' on the tux. Award ceremonies, yes. Weddings,
yes. It's make-believe. It's trick or treat. If someone decided one
day, we should all wear tuxes on our birthdays, would you do it? No.
Someone way before us set this "standard" that is just a waste of
packing space, especially considering King Tut's plastic sarcophagus
is fifteen paces from the exit. I'm not packing it. I'm not renting
it. I'm wearing a tie.

- Peanut David

In article <1191715908.113085.135050@50g2000hsm.. com>,
<seahorsep@> wrote:

> No. Ties and slacks are business attire in the Northeast. Suits died
> out in the 60's as "standard".

They are wearing suits as business attire in New York and Washington.
They are wearing suits on Wall Street.

> I agree, it's not putting on airs, but a cruise ship vacation is not
> the place to be puttin' on the tux.

That is you opinion. Most of the cruise lines say a cruise ship
vacation is the place to be putting on a tux. And most passengers are
wearing a dark suit or tux on the formal evenings that the cruise lines
still have on most cruise ship vacations.

You and Rick may dress differently but you are a small minority. As I
have said in other posts over the years it does not bother me if people
don't wear a dark suit or tux on formal evenings. It does not make me
uncomfortable. But I would feel uncomfortable myself dressing that way.
Not that I like wearing a dark suit or tux. I would prefer not wearing
them. Loved the dress on Azamara Journey where there were no formal
evenings. But the dress request is still being adhered to by the
majority on the cruise lines that have formal evenings and at this
point in time I don't feel like being a rebel.

--
Charles

On Oct 6, 8:50 pm, Charles <f...@his.com.remove.invalid> wrote:
> They are wearing suits as business attire in New York and Washington.
> They are wearing suits on Wall Street.

I don't think so.
>

> That is you opinion. Most of the cruise lines say a cruise ship
> vacation is the place to be putting on a tux.

And that is written where? OH, Its right next to where they say
you should buy the ships tours and pay 3, 4, or 5 times the price of
doing it yourself. Since the cruise lines say we should wearing a tux
let me run mine to the cleaners now.

And most passengers are
> wearing a dark suit or tux on the formal evenings that the cruise lines
> still have on most cruise ship vacations.

You may notice this is changing.
>
> You and Rick may dress differently but you are a small minority.

Really? Have you ever been on a Freestyle cruise where formal
and casual dress is seated together? Formal is not the majority.

But I would feel uncomfortable myself dressing that way.

I can see why. You still think a Suit and tie are standard
business attire.

But the dress request is still being adhered to by the
> majority on the cruise lines that have formal evenings and at this
> point in time I don't feel like being a rebel.

What makes me angry is when i'm in a suit and tie or my tux and
the guy at the very next table is in a tropical shirt and flip flops.
Why is he allowed in? Why is he being served? Why isn't the cruise
line enforcing their dress policy? Its not about being a rebel
Charles. If it were I would wear jeans to the dining room. Oh wait
people already do. Yet the cruise lines say its not allowed. Yet its
seen every night at every seating.

Peanut Charles Wrote:

> They are wearing suits as business attire in New York and Washington.
> They are wearing suits on Wall Street.

Charles,

I will agree with Wall Street, but the percentage of business in the
northeast does not recognize a suit as standard business attire.

> You and Rick may dress differently but you are a small minority.

You're wrong. It's not a small minority. It might be a minority
(because I do see more suits than not) but it's a 40/60 minority.
It's an age thing. It will be 70 percent smart casual before you know
it.

In article <1191723014.392903.107850@w3g2000hsg.. com>, Rick
<ricker64@> wrote:

> Thats a bold statement.

It is like the statement that formal nights are fading rapidly. Both
statements are an exaggeration.

I am not saying the day won't come that formal nights are no longer. I
am saying that not dressing formal is still dressing different on the
cruise lines that have them. So I won't dress less than a dark suit or
tux. But as an example, on Royal Caribbean which still has informal
evenings, jacket requested, hardly anyone wears a jacket on that
evening. So I don't either. If the same happened on formal evenings,
that the majority did not wear a tux or dark suit then I would
reconsider wearing a tux or suit. If you and Seahorse want to be in the
vanguard of change I have no problem with that. In this instance I will
be a follower, not a leader :-)

--
Charles