We like "informal".It's what we're used to living where we do where we go to dinner every night.(Not that men have to wear jackets; they don't except for special dinners). But I just think Regent is now trying to please the younger crowd who hate dressing up. Us elders (hm!) like to dress up a bit. I especially think men look much better with a jacket and tie on for the formal occasions. Just the opinion of one of the older passengers.

I had more than enough Tux events when I was working for a living - please spare me the stuffy, anachronism of a prescribed dress code for adults while on vacation. Good judgment should govern dress - nobody wants to stand out as a slob and will behave accordingly. After a few years of hauling the formal things along on Regent cruises, we simply stopped and dined in the suite on formal nights - also turned down Captain's Table invites on those cruises. We'll be on the PG for a 3 week B2B in October - the dress expectations are clear - CCC all the way. BTW, we were on a 4 week B2B on Oceania recently. It was a good experience and CCC throughout added to it.
BTW,I always bring a jacket (and even a tie), but a Tux? No longer!
A related question - how can we banish from the face of the earth those ugliest of creations called "muscle shirts"? These are even worse than base ball caps in the dining room.

I definitely prefer Elegant Casual. I found shopping and packing for the formal nights on the world cruise to be stressful, as I had nothing in my closet to speak of that was appropriate and there were obviously many nights where we dressed up. If others prefer to dress formally, I think that's fine. It is, after all, a vacation that we're paying for and I think everyone should feel comfortable dressing as they prefer (within reason) as opposed to following a rigid dress code.
We've booked the May 26th SFO to Vancouver Alaska cruise and I was disappointed to see that we have to factor in formalwear for this one.

We voted for no change.

Cheers! Ray & Penny

We like the concept of no formal nights for short cruises. For longer cruises, we really don't mind getting dressed up. Actually, it's nice to be able to wear our formal clothes to some place other than charity events. On short cruises we have never had a problem on formal nights - Jim wears a suit (which he also wears for informal nights) and I just pick one of my more sparkly (is that a word?) outfits. We have never brought formalwear with us for seven day cruises and we have never been made to feel out of place or that we had to spend the night in our suite.

I vote for casual. I used to enjoy formal nights but with luggage restrictions; it is just not practical. We do have some beautiful photos taken on formal nights that grace our home and bring back lovely memories. I do enjoy seeing all the guests dressed up; but would rather be a fly on the wall and watch than participate.We are living in a whole new world now. I remember when we first moved to Vegas people would dress up to go to shows. Now it is anything goes. It is kind of sad; but this is the way of the world.

I have thought about what has been said and what I said - - not that there will be any votes counted - I vote for what Ray and Penny said !!!

There is an old saying - - "If it is not broken don't fix it"

I fail to see why Seven Seas has to be run like Oceania - - after all they are TWO Different Cruise Lines.
Thank you.

They are two different cruise lines, Rod. I agree completely. Run them differently, as they will appeal to the maximum number of folks. Cheers, Anne

I really had to think about this issue before I voted. No one could be more casual people than John and I, I don't think. However, I like the idea of a night or two on a longer cruise that is a little special, in terms of dining experience -- a general feeling of something extra in dining options, like the usually enhanced menu in the Compass Rose on formal nights. That said, we've never taken a tux for John (only a dark suit) and certainly not a gown for me (horrors!), and the comments about packing difficulties for formal wear certainly are valid. So, after all of that, I think I would most enjoy a two-tier system on longer voyages, with something akin to the Regent "informal" dress being the second tier rather than "formal." That way people could dress more formally if they wanted, but informal attire would be acceptable. I also would be in favor of making informal/formal attire "suggested" rather than required, and perhaps only in dining venues (other than La Veranda). I don't like the idea of mandating attire, and I don't like the idea that someone might not feel comfortable going to a lounge or show if not dressed in a coat and tie. My impression is that most people would honor a suggested dress for an evening, and if they felt strongly against it, so be it, no harm done.

Several others mentioned that the poll didn't offer an in-between option -- such as, elegant casual and informal -- and that's where I would come into the mix if that option had been offered. As it was, I voted for 1-2 formal nights on voyages 14 days or longer, but what I really mean is I like distinguishing one or two nights on a longer voyage as something a little dressier but not necessarily formal. I surprise even myself by not voting for the most casual option, but I realized that when push came to shove I like some nights to stand out as particularly special dining experiences.

What a difficult issue Regent faces. Clearly there is no way to please every single person. Even if two-thirds want elegant casual only, that means that one-third want something else, whether that something is actually a formal night or what now is called an informal night.

We've always hated Formal nights since that involves packing a suit (never brought a tux - just to be worn once). I'm not opposed to Informal though (for those who really want to go all the way in tuxes - it will still have some of that atmosphere). Packing a sport coat isn't really that bad.

We would prefer something like what we have now, (had?), but anything higher than the old "informal" (jackets for men - tie optional) should be region- and itinerary-dependent. For example, Alaska and short Caribbean itineraries would be all elegant casual, as would port-intensive itineraries everywhere. But for long cruises and those with many sea days, and for Captain's Welcome Aboard and Farewell parties, we think dressing for dinner is a fun part of luxury cruising, something that sets it apart. Skip nicer dressing on lesser or non-all-inclusive lines, fine, but not for Regent, IOHO.

Also, it would be great if the Captain's welcome aboard party were held the evening of the first sea day, and similarly, if the going-away party were held where possible on the evening of the last sea day. But whatever you do, Mr. DelRio, please nix the distinction between shirts, particularly when worn with a jacket. Short sleeve dress or casual ('Friday') shirts, golf shirts, dressy turtlenecks or even fancy tees, all are fine, and make no difference, so don't try and find one, PLEASE!

Thanks for listening!

I voted for Elegant Casual but I do think that Formal nights, especially on a crossing, are great fun! Where I don't think they have a place is on port-intensive cruises, be the weather hot or cold! Who wants to get all dressed up for dinner after sightseeing all day?
We are taking the 7th April Monte Carlo to venice cruise and we are (currently) scheduled for a Formal evening the evening we leae Sorrento...not a great idea, I think. Not even any time to go to the hairdresser!!

I think we should have the informal nights where a man can wear a suit and tie or just a sport coat and jacket and the old ccc nights. Women can get away with almost anything on those nights. Gil and I rarely get to put on evening clothes (suit and tie and cocktail dress) anymore and once in a while it is nice to have an occasion to do so. I agree that tuxes are a bit much for the men though. I also believe that it should be completely ccc on cruises of less than 10 or 11 days. - Arlene

We personally enjoy "Dressing Up" once or twice on a cruise. I think all men look handsome in a tux or dinner jacket. However, I think the biggest problem seems to be lack of enforcement of whatever the dress codes are. We are currently on board the Navigator. We were on the Black Sea for the first part of our cruise and it appeared that everyone adhered to the dress code, whether it was CC Casual or Formal. Yesterday we started a new segment in the Med and it seems that it is a little younger crowd with quite a few new to Regent cruisers. Last night there were many people in the lounges after 6 pm in shorts and tee shirts and I saw quite a few men at dinner in the Compass Rose in golf shirts. The killer was today in Portofino at lunch, a man came in wearing swim trunks with bar feet! Needless to say the gentleman was informed that he was not dressed properly! I just hope there is some type of dress code that makes you feel like you are on a luxury ship and not at some cheap beach resort!

We are in favor of dropping Formal nights. We have 3 formal nights on the 15-day Voyager Athens to Dubai, which means too much clothing to pack to wear only once or twice. I have to carry both a suit and dress slacks and sport coat. Maybe formal night could require a tie with the sport coat and slacks.

I prefer the option of

Well, it appears as if the answer is in and for cruises of 15 nights or less the cruise will be all elegant casual (wonder how they arrived at 15 nights - we are booked on the w/b Voyager crossing in 2010 and it is 15 nights....)I may still bring the tux for one or two nights - we enjoy occasionally dressing up (it has been business casual at work for some time). On the other hand, only having to pack a couple of sport coats and slacks is appealing. Well, we have about a year to figure it all out. Jeff