Rotterdam Dress Code

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balanceok

Guest
Without getting into a heated debate over formal or casual, can someone give me an idea of just how formal the Rotterdam will be on a 10-day Panama Canal cruise in January, 2004?

I'm not a slob, but I do prefer to be relaxed and casual. I'll wear a dark suit on formal night, but I hate to stay dressed up all night for the shows or relaxation. If I change back into dockers will I have to walk the plank?

How uptight are they on HAL these days?

Thanks.
 
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Cruzman

Guest
On formal nights, they request that everyone remain sharply dressed for the entire evening. I have observed however, that many people change into something more comfortable after dinner, and have never seen anyone chastised for doing so.
 
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serendipity1499

Guest
balanceok..We will be on the Amsterdam in Dec. & had the same question..sail7seas advised me to contact HAL Ship Services at 1-(800) 541-1576..They were able to give me No. of Formal, Informal & Casual Nights..Good Luck & Happy Cruising..
 
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lamayboy

Guest
I have sailed Hal many times, and EVERY Formal night I dress in a TUX. I HATE TUXS'...so uncomfortable!!! Anyhow, after dinner, I go straight to my cabin and change into comfortable clothes. I HAVE NEVER FELT OUT OF PLACE!! You will be fine changing, as many others do too. Some do not, but they are obviously comfortable. You have the right idea, dress for dinner on Formal nights, and go comfortable after, you will be fine, and not looked down upon!!!
 
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MortgageChick

Guest
We were on the Rotterdam June this year and promptly changed after dinner on formal nights. I do not feel comfortable in long shiny silver evening gown in the show lounge , and I cannot wear 4 inch heals for longer than it takes to eat dinner. No one said a word and quite frankly we were in the top 10% of those most formally dressed during dinner(long gown, black suit bowtie, tux fronted shirt)

We were on the Rotterdam,Can NE cruise and I could personally care less what people wear to dinner(no shorts/hats/jeans or muscle shirts -those I can't stand in dining room). However, I noted that people were more formal on our Carnival Legend Transatlantic cruise last year on formal night, than they were on the Rotterdam.
 
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sail7seas

Guest
HAL asks that pax remain dressed in whatever is the "suggested dress" for the evening while in the public areas.

While I have seen some folks change, I think that most remain in their formal wear/informal for the evening.



Post Edited (10-19-03 15:49)
 
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connie seabee

Guest
While we remain in dress apparel on formal night, We do not think it's offensive for others to change into more comfortable attire. After all......It is YOUR cruise, YOU paid for it, and YOU are there to enjoy it. What some may call a formal dress others may call informal attire. However, I am not suggesting that one comes to dinner dressed in jeans or shorts.
 
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wendyandbarry

Guest
"Evening dress falls into three distinct categories. Each night a daily program will be delivered to your stateroom announcing the suggested dress for the following evening. Comfortable, relaxed clothing is fine for evenings designated as casual; however, T-shirts, jeans, swimsuits, tank tops and shorts are not allowed in the dining room, Lido restaurant, or public areas during the evening hours. During informal nights, dresses or pantsuits for women and jackets (tie optional) for men are standard.

On festive formal evenings, women usually wear cocktail dresses or gowns and men usually wear business suits or tuxedos. There are approximately two formal nights per week. (Gentlemen: Although business suits or tuxedos are suggested attire for formal evenings, they are certainly not required. You are welcome to wear a jacket and tie on formal nights.) Formalwear for ladies and gentlemen can be pre-ordered for your use for the duration of your cruise. Just call Cruise Line Formalwear at 800-551-5091 to reserve and it will be ready in your stateroom when you board.

In order to complement your fellow guests, Holland America asks that you observe the suggested dress code throughout the entire evening."


This is from the HAL web-site, and should answer all your questions on what HAL wants you to do.

Barry
 
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joe quinn

Guest
I can assure you you will not be the only one changing on formal nights as my wife and I will be on the same cruise and after dinner I will change.

Joe Quinn
 
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manxlady

Guest
I am a lady and I wore a Tux, it was a terrific experience and I felt like a million bucks !
 
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celtica

Guest
I just got off the Rotterdam yesterday from a 10 day cruise. I am a computer engineer that lives in jeans and T-shirts. I changed out of the jacket and tie immediately after each formal meal. I left on the slacks, and put on a polo shirt, did not want to dress down too much.

There must be times when some people must wish everyone stayed formal, and some of the people really look good in nice tuxes and fancy gowns, but I never heard anything said to me. I did try and respect their wishes, and stay as inobtrusive as possible. (Going around groups that were all formal).
 
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peaches

Guest
"There must be times when some people must wish everyone stayed formal..."

Actually HAL itself wishes that all pax respect the dress code for the entire evening, not just some people. You are told in the 'Know BEFORE You Go' booklet and on their website that they would like pax to stay in formal dress for the entire evening (which they recently have expanded to include jacket and tie, which isn't exactly 'formal' to begin with). There are very nice upscale cruiselines that have only informal/casual nights with no formal dress. That might be a better option to book if HAL does not suit your lifestyle.

"I did try and respect their wishes..."

I'm not at all surprised you never heard anyone say anything to you about changing to casual dress. HAL pax are pretty polite and what they are saying may not be what they are thinking. Actually you didn't try to respect their or HAL's wishes at all.
 
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celtica

Guest
Wow, already told off my first day of posting here.

well, dress people up, and some sure get snooty. Oh la te dah, if HAL doesn't fit your lifestyle then change cruiselines ...

(And since I am new, can I assume pax means passengers?)

HAL has a mixed message on the dress code, and tries to play it both ways to keep everyone as happy as possible.

As you pointed out, to keep those wishing to enjoy the formal evenings happy, they say to stay in formal dress all evening. That policy they have had for a long time, and been cutting and pasting it into all the current documents and web pages you mentioned.

But, their recent actions speak louder than words.

They also have "alternative dining" for those who do not chose to dress formally. And, in the absense of a teleporter to go directly from my room to the "alternative dining" area, they must assume that those people will need to walk from their stateroom to the dining room. When selecting this option, if someone goes out of their way to avoid walking past the main dining area and atrium, they are indeed showing respect for those chosing to dress formally, even if they have chosen not too. There is a difference between respect and compliance or conformity.

Also, given the fact that some people will change right after dinner, wouldn't you prefer them to stay as inobtrusive as possible?

As far as passing judgement on other's lifestyles and choice of cruise lines, just dressing up on formal night does not qualify you to do that. Just because I do not enjoy staying in formal attire for an entire evening 2 or 3 times out of an entire cruise is no big deal. Taken as a whole, I have loved all 5 HAL cruises I have taken. (As I think all the other folks who posted that changed after dinner.) Tell me where else I will find that quality food, service and value with no formal nights to put up with. Celebrity might be close on food, service and value, but they have formal nights too.

Peaches: next time you get all dressed up for formal night, take a little tolerance with you too.

Everyone else:
As you can see from others in this thread, some people do change out of the formal attire shortly after dinner.
 
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MortgageChick

Guest
Not only do a lot change ( as we do) many are not sure what formas is to begin with, even on HAL.- LOL
 


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