Hi All

We are cruising on Celebrity Century soon and we are confused about the dress code for semi-formal evenings. The Celebrity say that men need a tie for semi-formal evenings. Is this strictly true? Would an open neck shirt be OK? It does seems a little odd to wear a tie and not a suit.

TIA

Paul

Hi Paul, and welcome to cruise-chat.

We were on Century last month. Both jacket and tie were requested of the gentlemen on these nights, which Celebrity refers to as Informal. (The others are Casual and Formal.) My husband wore either a suit or sport jacket and dress slacks, both with shirt and tie. I believe most of the gentlemen were similarly attired.

Hi, Lisa

Thanks for responding.

Well that's a first my experience of other cruise lines of the same style Celebrity has been the 'Informal' nights an open neck shirt is OK something of a disappointment that one.

Paul

I just returned from the Summit. I don't believe you will be turned away from the dining room if you wear a shirt with collar but no tie. The cruise lines set the ambiance with the dress code. Have your tie handy in your pocket. When you come into the entrance area to the dining room if you notice everyone dressed with ties, then maybe you want to step back and slip it on. If you see others with opened collar shirts then proceed to dinner. While cruise lines set the dress code for guidance, they still don't want to offend people.

We just got back from the Milleniem, Informal nights suggest jacket and tie. We were on for 12 nights the atire kept getting more casual, there were only one casual night (the first one) I like to get dressed up but not every single night. I wore a jacket and tie half the time and half just a collered shirt.
Neat is the key. I saw guys with a jacket and tie with sneakers, not good.
Mark O'C

Hi Paul,
I have been speaking with Celebrity about this. I do not like to dress up on cruises. They told me that on informal nights, dress slacks and a collared dress shirt would be acceptable.

Acceptable? Of coarse the cruise line will say this. The only line they will draw are shorts, they will ask you to go change. What is acceptable is very subjective. If I were at a funeral and some one came in with jeans and a tee shirt, I would not care! Thank you for your concern and blessings. Would I go and pay respects dressed down? No I would not; because I would consisder it disrespectful. A cruise vacation costs alot of money and that person or group should have the right to feel comfortable as they see fit. But how about the other group that also pays alot and wants their experience to be special and elegant on a few evenings? It is a personal choice but having regard for others should be considered while choosing.
On formal nights I dress black tie and do not have a bad opinion for those who do not, but the very small few who are very casual I do ask myself, "they couldn't even try to make the night special?". After dinner go straight to your room and get comfortable....Most do! Then let's party.

I was on the Celebrity Century the first two weeks of August 2007. On informal nights, most men wore suit jackets or sports jackets, some with tie, some without. I even saw men with just dress shirts, no jackets. On rare occasions, one or two wore khakis and a polo shirt eating in the dining room but stuck out like a sore thumb. The main dining room on the Century is elegant, the waiters in their special uniform provided terrific service, and so being dressed up made my dinners memorable. But I did what Mark O said--I gussy'd up, thoroughly enjoyed my meal and my dinner companions without a worry of whether I was underdressed, then changed into casual attire for many nights of fun after dinner. Just remember--you are on vacation and it can be as great and memorable as you want it to be. Bon Voyage!