I guess I'll never understand the aversion to denim jeans. As long as they are clean and have no holes, what is the problem? We are talking about fabric here!

I can go to an upscale men's shop and pay $135 for a pair of Façonnable jeans and be considered under-dressed, yet if I wear a pair of $15 Haband slacks from the ad in my VFW Magazine I am considered acceptable.

Bing Crosby was once denied a room at a hotel because he showed up in all denim, and the desk clerk (who didn't know it was Bing) felt he wasn't dressed well enough for their establishment. Levi Strauss heard about it and gave Bing a custom-made denim tuxedo.

Dave- My feelings are that people who have a thing against jeans in general are from the generation that dressed their kids in jeans after school to play baseball. They're set in their ways & won't change. They see jeans & something in their brain triggers off red. Eventually they'll die off & the cruise lines will conform to the wishes of the younger generation. The cruise lines couldn't care less how the people dress as long as the bottom line is in the black.
As for myself, I'm sort of in the middle. I'm to old to ware the jeans (which I do) & to common for a tux/suit & tie - I don't dance, smoke, drink (much) but I still like cruising. I guess I missed out on something in my childhood. When I see someone in jeans it doesn't register one way or the other as long as there neat & clean.
I really liked the comment about Bing Crosby.

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The cruise lines couldn't care less how the people dress as long as the bottom line is in the black.

Oh no, don't tell me it is profit driven!

You are correct though. If the bottom line was being adversely affected because of the tux and gown crowd can bet that formal wear rules would be rigorously enforced.

I know people who have never owned a pair of denim jeans. A friend of mine from grade school never wore them. He'd show up for school in slacks every day. He just didn't like the idea of blue jeans. Me? My mother always made me wear dressier stuff to school when I was little. I guess I rebelled when older and jeans are all I wore in high school. Jeans are what I wear virtually all the time - unless I'm in shorts.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dave Beers:

I can go to an upscale men's shop and pay $135 for a pair of Façonnable jeans and be considered under-dressed, yet if I wear a pair of $15 Haband slacks from the ad in my VFW Magazine I am considered acceptable.

endquote

OH NO not the VFW Haband Slacks, I didn't think anybody wore those, it was just an ad.
I have no problem with a well worn pair of jeans. ( I should clarify, a pair of jean that is worn well not one that is worn out) It simply makes my formal Kilt stand out all the more. However, I think that many people miss out on a special event by not taking the chance to dress to the nines. But I see no reason in this day and age to require it on a cruise ship. Just don't give me T-shirts and jeans with holes no matter how much they may have cost.

quote:

OH NO not the VFW Haband Slacks, I didn't think anybody wore those, it was just an ad.

Oh, they are quite popular - especially with the older veterans at the Alabama state convention! The real fashionistas also insist on the Haband two-toned loafers and barong shirt. The quintessential wardrobe for casual nights. I guess the fashion sense of Barney Fife is held in high regard by many Americans.

The people from up north just don't view things that way. I've just about packed away my long pants until next November when it'll be cool enough to ware them again. Even at Sunday services about 75 % now have shorts on & that will grow to 90 % when the snowbirds leave in a few weeks.

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The people from up north just don't view things that way. I've just about packed away my long pants until next November when it'll be cool enough to ware them again.

I am from upstate NY but have lived in AL since 1984, so I have perspective on this. Shorts in upstate NY were something we wore for a couple months and then put away with the bathing suits. In Alabama, we are within a couple weeks of shorts being "the dresscode" until sometime in October. During that time I'll wear jeans only when using my grass trimmer. I'll wear shorts out to restaurants, to the store, to everywhere. I also wear them while on the riding mower, since it is great tanning time.

Oh thank goodness. I was going to have to spend most of my cruising money on clothes just for my 14 an 16 year olds. this new policy is going to save us time and money.... Whoo Hoo... More drinks of the day for MOM!

I like it too. It gives people more options to pack lighter and save money. I have no problem with jeans at all. That is all I basically wear in the winter, and shorts the rest of the time too. I am just not use to wearing jeans in semi-formal settings is all. The times are a changing though about what is socially acceptable attire.

Dwayne

Since I never had a lot of money and never will, cruising was the one place that I was treated like I had money. I could get dressed up (find a nice dress in a yard sale or on sale) and go to dinner, be served a fantastic meal, maybe even be seated with people out of my class. It was like I was able to experience how the other half lived, if only for a short while. RichC, guess I'm one of those old fuddy duddies, I prefer slacks to jeans in the dining room. I wear jeans to work, jeans at home, jeans to go to the store, so it's a real treat for me to get dressed up a bit. But, I'm glad they're making everyone happy, it just seems it's losing a little bit of the class.

For those going on the Holiday cruise, be forewarned that jeans have always been a common piece of clothing worn on that ship - at least since it moved to the "redneck riviera". I've even seen overalls!

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so it's a real treat for me to get dressed up a bit. But, I'm glad they're making everyone happy, it just seems it's losing a little bit of the class.

Penny you can still dress up. Just those who do not want to don't have to. I am sure there will be a good showing of suits and gowns.
As for me I am looking for my Bib Overalls...now where did I put those?

I figured the dress code on the Holiday would be more casual. Don't have any bib-overalls. Guess I'll have to check at Tractor Supply next weekend.

I think one of the reasons the cruise lines have formal nights, in addition to the bow to tradition, is that those are the big nights for the photographers. If you don't spend every night in white tie and tails, you may be more likely to buy more pictures of yourselves in sequins and feathers.

Perhaps part of Carnival's decision was based on statistics from the photography concession onboard? Perhaps they sell as many photos of formal nights as they do of other times and places during the cruise.

Or maybe Carnival is just codifying what everyone is doing anyway.

Sandy

I said this before but worth repeating on this string. A couple of years ago we went on our lst Celebrity cruise and I was surprised after booking and reading the package info that they had two semi formal evenings in addition to the two formal evenings. We had been on a couple of RCI's and only the two formals were common. When I called to asked a representative about this I was told that Celebrity was a cut above and that I may be refused entrance to the dining room without at least a sport coat on those evenings. At the time I was working and wearing a suit and tie every day and really wanted to unwind and not have to be expected to wear the SAME things I had to wear on a daily basis. Well, you can imagine that I did pack the sports coat so that we would be admitted to the dining room and have pretty much counted Celebrity out unless they have changed the policy or have a cruise itinery that I must have. Don't get me wrong, I am not totally against getting dressed up to the 9's, but would like to have some alternatives to wearing a suit and tie or formal wear if I really don't have to. I do love jeans and I am from the North and can't wait to get out the shorts if the snow ever melts and the temps warm up.

Peter1

I enjoy the fancy clothes, but I dont really car what anyone else wears. I doesn't bother me anyway.
Emily

We just returned from the Sensation and I mean if there was a dress code anywhere I didn't see it..the dining room was a scream..the lido dining deck had bare feet and men with no shirts on and ladies in bikini's..and they are weren't what you might want to see. hahah

Not that I should be commenting but from what I'm reading about Carnival there wasn't that much class to begin with. I can't imagine how things will be in the future.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Beers:
For those going on the Holiday cruise, be forewarned that jeans have always been a common piece of clothing worn on that ship - at least since it moved to the "redneck riviera". I've even seen overalls!

Dave, I thought where I lived was known as the original "redneck riviera"?

Not that I am un-happy to pass the title to Alabama and the Gulf States.

Seriously though, I just hope they keep the dining room service, formality, and quality of food at the same level regardless of the dress code.

Dwayne

For years, wearing jeans in the formal dining room was seen as a form of being disrespectful. Again, it wasn't "what" people were wearing but "why" they were wearing it.
Some folks were just doing it to "prove" they could and it did add fuel to the Walmart label that folks have hung on Carnival. It came across as someone being to lazy to bring proper attire for dinner or as being ignorant on proper attire for a "formal dining room" setting.

Now those rules have changed and as long as people are following the rules (any rules) ... that is fine with me.

I do have to laugh about people wanting to bring jeans, because of the airline weight limit and comfort. Which weighs less...a pair of jeans or a pair of Khakis? Which is cooler on a Caribbean cruise...a pair of jeans or a pair of Khakis??

If they are bringing jeans in order not to have to carry "additional clothing"...does that mean they are going to wear the jeans all day in the hot sun on an excursion and then wear them right on into dinner? That's gonna smell good.

Or are they going to pack shorts to wear all day and then wear jeans at night? Again, this negates the "packing light" theory because jeans are not "light" when it comes to weight and space in a suitcase.

Things that make you go ....hum????

As long as I don't ever have to experience Bubba walking through the dining room again with his hairy sweaty exposed beer belly right at my eye level as I am trying to eat...because his tshirt was to short and his jeans were to low.