Dressing for dinner on a cruise ship?

[armel]

In early September, me and a friend are taking a Mississippi river cruise that leaves from New Orleans and goes on the Mississippi for 7 days, stopping each day for excursions on shore, and then returning to New Orleans. The cruise ship is wooden and sounds charming. Our room is the tiniest one. But that was all that was available. It was sold out but they had a cancellation so we were thrilled to get it. It is pretty small just a little over 100 people.

Anyway, we received our passes, information, etc. in the mail the other day. It said that most guests dress for dinner. With the women wearing skirts, dresses or pant suits. It doesn't say a word about what the men wear. It also says for the Captain's champagne dinner, the women are more dressy, even wearing cocktail dresses.

So . . . I reluctantly went to my closet and tried everything along those lines on. Naturally nothing fits. :( And the reason I didn't know right off the bat that nothing fits was because I buy the stuff and simply never, ever wear it. It fit when I bought it a year or so ago.

I really do not want to waste the $ to go buy this type of wardrobe which I don't wear. So I am thinking, the most I will do is wear some nice slacks and blouses that I wear to work. Not what I would call dressy at all. But professional looking. I really just want to bring some capris and jeans and shorts and if I don't dress up for dinner, oh well. Will I feel totally stupid and out of place? or will it not be a big deal?

And I'm getting my traveling companion to buy into whatever I want to do . . . I hope.

[the right answer is . . . don't worry Theresa, you don't need to buy anything - just make do with what you have. :)]

[fstrpstr]

Usually on a cruise there is a little bit of everything. People's taste and style vary. If what you have makes you comfortable, then wear it.

[sneezles]

Slacks/trousers would be ok though I might wear a dressier top than I would to work.

[TieKitty]

Slacks/trousers would be ok though I might wear a dressier top than I would to work.

I would agree with this. I think something a little dressier for the Captain's dinner would be in order...not necessarily a cocktail dress.

I think the guys would be OK in business casual for the regular dinners, but probably a sport coat for the Captain's dinner.

Most important....HAVE FUN!!

[armel]

I talked with my friend. We have agreed that capris is as dressy as we want to be. So now I am nixing the work slacks even. As long as we are both dressed casual, I can live with it.

[I'll just pretend that I never read anything about dressing up.]

Truthfully, it hadn't even occurred to me that would be an expectation.

[TieKitty]

Well, I don't think they will throw you overboard or make you starve if you are not dressed up.:D When we went on our cruise I saw lots of different attire.

[armel]

Well, I don't think they will throw you overboard or make you starve if you are not dressed up.:D When we went on our cruise I saw lots of different attire.

Whew! That's good.

Besides, I figured if I am not dressed nice enough for food . . . there is always liquid nourishment instead. :D

[sneezles]

Well, I don't think they will throw you overboard or make you starve if you are not dressed up.:D When we went on our cruise I saw lots of different attire.

Have never been on a river cruise but you see lots of different attire on an ocean cruise. That said you wouldn't be allowed to dine in the main dining room in real casual attire. On Carnival they announced that on the first evening. Though I do believe women in capris would pass. On the big cruise ships you have a choice of where to eat so that makes it easier.

[BeachBum]

I have never taken a river cruise (sounds like fun) but I have cruised several times in the Carribean. The suggested dress sounds the same.
I know I would feel uncomfortable to be dressed in just regular capris at dinner. It would be one thing if you were seated at a 2 person table (then I may not care so much) but for many cruises you are seated with other people. Part of the fun of cruising IMO is meeting and chatting with other cruisers. I mean you see them all week--it's hard not to strike up a conversation at the bar or whatever. I would feel odd being so underdressed.
In my experience dressing as you were going on a first date to a nice restaurant is the "right" level of dressiness for most nights.
Regardless of what you choose I hope you have a lovely time.

[armel]

Peer pressure got to me. I went to Lane Bryant on my lunch hour (or is that 2 hours). $600 later . . . I left with 3 skirts, 1 floaty pair of black pants, 2 dressy capris, an assortment of tops and blouses.

Why oh why, didn't folks just tell me what I wanted to hear? "Don't worry Theresa, you don't need to buy anything"

I just knew if I went shopping this would happen. But I positively draw the line at buying a cocktail dress for one night on the boat.

[PAMMELA]

Theresa, I'm glad you changed your mind. On our cruise we had 3 formal nights (two were tux for the men). Steve rented a cruise tux package and I brought two cocktail dresses. But unlike you, I just LOVE getting all dressed up so I'm sure that makes a difference. :) You will be glad that you brought some dressy attire. Have a great time!!

[cookieee]

Just make sure you read those daily messages they slip under your door. My DD and I went on a Caribbean cruise some years ago and I thought the "dress up" night was the last night, only to find out it was the first night. Needless to say the dressy clothes we bought never were used.:rolleyes: :D

[armel]

So, just for future reference, if any of you decide to go on the steamboat Mississippi River cruise . . . absolutely no need to dress up. We were the only ones who did except for the Captain's dinner night when everybody did. And in fact, climbing up and down those steep stairs in my cute but killer heels was not fun. And being the only ones in dresses and skirts was not fun.

Now, I wish I had saved my money and not bought anything . . . <sigh>

As an aside . . . I would also say, you might want to wait until you are 70 to go on that cruise also. Since that was the age of the folks on the boat.