Getting ready to leave two weeks from today for the Mariner.

Getting very excited !!

Deciding what to pack now that my husband has decided to embrace Formal Night (or as he calls it "Executive Night") --- So the question is:

What's your favorite outfit, look, etc. that you've sported on Formal Night??

Mahalo nui loa and have a grrrrrrreat day !!

I prefer wearing a penguin suit, although dark suits look very sharp as well. I'm not sure how to describe women's wear on formal nights other than that they tended to be "dresses."

I guess I can go either way. I enjoy Penguin Suits but also have a dark suit.

I am not sure what I will take on MINT.

I have to admit though that I HATE ties. It is not a matter of going against the norm, but I simply hate wearing them. I believe them to be an outdated piece of clothing accessory. (my opinion) My Tux, in fact, has a tasteful black button in place of the tie. Would this be unacceptable on a formal night?

I would love to hear everyones' opinion regarding my tux though. If I need to wear a tie, or it would be more acceptable to do so, I will happily do wear one.


Anthony

Oh your Tux would be fine button and all! Many have reported on the formal nights that half are in tuxes and half in dark suits.

My formal night outfit is a dark suit - very dark green/almost black to be exact. Toyed with the idea of purchasing a tux at one point but as you know, there's almost no use whatsoever for a tux in Hawaii ... :)

Masaki

For formal nights (when I cannot avoid them) I wear a very dark blue/black pin stripe suit which is double breasted, along with dress shirt, tie, dress shoes, and the whole nine yards. I think the double breasted coat gives a bit of a "nautical look." Heck, maybe they will think I'm part of the senior staff and won't make me get off the ship. Oh, but then, they'd put me to work. Bummer!

Thanks,
Richard :ohmy:

Gentlemen,

As always, you have been soooo helpful. Mahalo nui loa as we say here in the Islands.

Ladies, I'd love to hear from you as well so I know what the heck to pack.

Would a black silk Harari ball gown skirt and sheer sleeveless shell over a black silk tank be appropriate.

Can you wear your good jewelry too. Black tahitian pearls for example??

Thank again.

Gentlemen,

As always, you have been soooo helpful. Mahalo nui loa as we say here in the Islands.

Ladies, I'd love to hear from you as well so I know what the heck to pack.

Would a black silk Harari ball gown skirt and sheer sleeveless shell over a black silk tank be appropriate.

Can you wear your good jewelry too. Black tahitian pearls for example??

Thank again.

Hi Aloha Cruiser,

You can certainly take your good jewelry. I tend not to. You just don't know what might happened. Your silk ball gown skirt sounds lovely. Would love to see a picture of it.

Beth

Well, I have no experience at this, I am a formal night newby, and don't dress formally in my normal life, ever, but, my husband has his brand new dark suit, so...

I am wearing black velvet pants, a champagne coloured cap-sleeve top, with a slinky black and gold metallic knit jacket.

I am definitely taking my Tahitian pearl earrings this time--when I went back to Tahiti last year I did not take them, because I couldn't find my original receipt, and was afraid of customs, but this time, they are going!

Wandra: Your outfit sounds wonderful - I only took dressy pants and tops - you see a little bit of everything so need for anyone to stress over their choice - Joanna

Joanna, thanks, I agree, it's not worth stressing.

By the way, I got the glittery top at one of our local second-hand clothing stores (I shop there all the time.) It cost me $10 (CDN!), and it looks like a million bucks. Not over the top, subtle and sophisticated.

I have a friend who shops consignment stores all the time and she has great clothes! Joanna

On a funny note, since we are all traveling together more often now, us girls have made a pact to not notice that we wear alot of the same outfits for formal night! Many of our formal night pictures have me attired in the same sequined dress.....I think it's time to retire that one!

Karen: Consign it if you feel you need to retire it - it will someone else much pleasure - Joanna

I always ware a plain black dress and dress it up with jewelry. My DH wares a dark suit. An we are just fine and fit in with the rest of the crowd. I have seen guys ware a black or white silk Tshirts with their tux no tie and it look great.

Carolyn

ICK!! :mad: I hate formal nights, but Todd said I have to wear a suit on the MINT. @#%*!

Karen,
NOOO...don't retire it...it looks great on you! Of course, with that figure, what wouldn't!! :nw:

KILT!!! :b: )
Or, as my avatar hints, full top hat & tails, monocle optional. :D

Phil:
That is truly a great look for formal night. Question: how do you pack the top hat?

Thanks,
Richard

And for those of us mother of the grooms (or brides), one CAN wear that dress again! I'll be on a back to back this summer and have no problem wearing the same dress for both formal nights. Now I have to find that thread on CC about tux rentals as I think that may be the way to go for my husband who would have no use for a suit these days. Our retirement life is way too casual (and warm!). Yes, I know I should have written it down. Maybe I did...somewhere!!

The great thing about that top hat is, it's collapsible!

MaggieSL, there is no tux rental on RSSC. You'd have to do that beforehand.

Thulewx...as I said before, love the monocle!

Ladies: Don't forget to bring a nice wrap if you are wearing strapless/sleeveless top...perfect if you are going out on deck or if it gets a tad chilly in the dining room.

I found a great dinner jacket, new tux pants and a new tux shirt for Peter(the jacket and pants are 100% wool from Bill Blass, the shirt is 100% cotton ) also from Bill Blass) at www.etuxedo.com. We spent less than $300 for the entire set (shipping included) and we even got a free garment bag to boot. As a matter of fact, Peter liked the new shirt a lot better than his old Robert Talbot, and that says a lot! Imagine that Nordstrom started at $600 for the dinner jacket, $150 for the pants and $125 for the shirt!! I'd higly recommend it!

JHP: I know the tux rental would be prior to the cruise. One of the topics had mentioned tuxedo stores that had this service at a reasonable fee.
Would be a nice service on board though wouldn't it?

Prior to Song of Flower merging with Radisson in the mid 90's, tuxes were available onboard.

Maggie, you are right, it would be a nice service. But I doubt on a Radisson cruise it would get much interest, since the ships are so small and the men come on the ship pretty confident that they have what they need. I will just add this here as an afterthought. On our first Diamond cruise, Jes and I went shopping the morning of embarkation in San Juan, and she found a wonderful pair of black palazzo pants (not sure of the spelling) to go with a really pretty top she had brought along. They were way too long,(even with the spikey shoes I bought her!) and so when we got on the ship, there was a tailor aboard! He met with her, did the alterations, and she was all set to go on formal night! I didn't have to open that little sewing kit, and the charge was minimal, if at all!

JHP:
Have you looked at Mint Roll call yet?
:D

I need help with buying a tux! Are the satin stripes on the pants bad or good? Is polyester bad or good? (I have always been taught never to buy anything polyester)

I like the look of this jacket and the price is certainly cheap. Heck, if I buy alot of Italian shoes while in Italy, I can dump this suit overboard to make room! ;)

Mark is due for a new Tux and I don't want to pay alot as they get dated in a few years. This guy had every size but what I needed, a 38 regular. I just emailed him to ask if he had my size but before I buy it, I wanted to get some opinions.
Is Mark going to shine like he is wearing plastic wrap because it's polyester?


Tuxedo description

Polyester is not good. Wool is what you are looking for.

Todd, I sorta think I already knew that was the answer!

I am looking for a wool one now.

<img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

When I travel, I take a black skirt (long) and tank with a matching Jacket and pants - ala Chico's Traveller's style. I could probably make 10 or more outfits from those 4 basic pieces that work from Formal Night to poolside coverup. Add a few scarves, some jewels (costume or real) and a wrap and voila! My husband wants to know why then I need 3 suitcases for a cruise. He gets one.

Karen - what Todd said. :)

Masaki

I agree Karen.

Phil:

Your top hat and tail idea has really stuck in my mind. If you don't kind, I may consider immitating you. I think it would make formal night fun, instead of the bore I now too often find it.

Another question. What is the etiquite concerning when to wear the top hat, and when to take it off? For example, does one dine in the top hat, or remove it?

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Richard,

I would think the rule with any hats for gentlemen apply...that is, no hats on the gents at dinnertime!

Yep, I believe no hats on gents in the dining room. For ladies it's okay, considered part of your attire.
Karen, do you guys have Men's Warehouse up there? They carry there own brand all the way up to designer's. Basic wool tux goes for $200 and change.

I wore the whole outfit two different nights on the QM2 maiden voyage, and I would normally remove the hat whenever in a room (pub/commodore lounge/dining room) and wear it on the promenade (pronounce it Promenahhd when wearing a tophat ;) Of Course! ) and in hallways. If you go by military standards, one doesn't wear a hat indoors at all, unless bearing arms.

Aloha Cruiser your silk ball gown skirt and shell sound perfect! As was stated you see a little bit of everything. I have worn long dressy dresses in the past, but I am going with a short elegant dinner suit this time for our Diamond Med cruise in July. My husband wore a tux for our last formal night, but he is doing a dark suit this go round.

Sue