Cruises and food/ dress codes etc

[Pinkfrocks]

We are looking at cruises - P&O for example- but have been put off by the dress code and formality that seems part and parcel- that's just not us at all. But the bonuses of a cruise appeal- no air travel, hopping off at a new place straight from the ship etc, no driving.

What's the deal with meals? P&O does say they also offer casual dining options so is it possible to choose that 7 nights out of 7, or 6 out of 7?

There is no way I'd want to wear a ball gown because I'd never wear it again and TBH the whole regimented approach just sticks in my throat- seems a bit like up market Butlins.

Can anyone reassure me?

You can do Norwegian cruises with p and I from Southampton.

We went on Oceana in May and loved it. Booked on Azura for next year

We looked that Oceana one, it was one of the few that fitted school holidays, but opted for another Royal Carribbean one, leave tomorrow.

Thanks for that info :) we'd def book a room with a window and a balcony if poss.

I'm not great with heights and while I could cope with a window and managed on deck a balcony would be a step too far. We've gone for promenade staterooms that overlook a giant interior atrium instead. Costs a lot less too.

Re norovirus, staff stood guard at all the restaurant entrances with antibac gel and EVERYBODY had to have a squirt. We also had to use the gel every time we got back on the ship. There were a lot of staff working very hard to keep things clean.

Yes, that was another downside for me, I have eczema on my hands and the gel really aggravates it. Needs must however.

I have skin problems & they were happy for me to use a bathroom & wash my hands thoroughly rather than use the gel

I tried that at first but it was a palaver going to the bathroom if you weren't coming straight from the stateroom and then explaining every time, so I just went with it. Suncream aggravates my hands too, so I just tend to accept that the eczema will be worse in summer, I always travel with hydrocortisone cream.

I don't go near suncream either I guess the ships must be different as there was a loo next to every dining room (with helpfully place towels to open the door with & then throw away - so your hands stayed clean)

A holiday park near us has gone hands free on the loos, doors, flush, taps, soap & dryer

There were loos reasonably nearby but not right by the entrances, they did have bins just inside the door IIRC. The hands free thing is a great idea. I just can't not use suncream and I have to help the DCs with theirs too.

We went on Celebrity Eclipse from Southampton , which was a lovely holiday .
Yes , I got excema from the sanitising hand gel .. But it cleared up
Yes , get a balcony . I could happily have spent 2 weeks sitting there watching the sea and the approaching ( or leaving ) ports
Chinos and shirt , and a knee length dress sound fine For you and DH

Off to plan my next cruise ....

This balcony lark- looking at the pics there seems to be only a small rail separating you from the ocean:(
Is that right? DH suggested that the rooms and balconies might be 'set back' so that the drop was onto a deck rather than the sea- is he right or misguided?

Not set back on the side ( looks a bit like a floating tower block )
I think the ones at the end are set back though
DD (13 at the time refused to go on the balcony )

I'm now sitting on Deck 11 in Southampton, looked at the balconies of all the ships as we arrived (4 sailing today) and yes, pretty well all flush. I think the staggered ones at the ends are probably the v.expensive suites.

It's just so easy compared to flying, arrive, unload bags to be taken on board, short walk to terminal and on board within half an hour of arriving.

I don't have a head for heights so think a window would be my limit :)

Enjoy your hols When

very basic question- where do you park when boarding? How long does it take from car parking to boarding?

We got free parking with P and O when we booked so it was a doddle. Drive to terminal, met by staff who take your cases off you, they then the car and park it.

You go into the terminal to check in and we boarded within 20 mins of arriving. Cases are at your room within a few hours.

When we got back we collected our cases, then went to the car park across the road from the terminal to pick up the car.

I have been on P&O. On a 15 night cruise, there were 4 formal nights. It doesn't have to be black tie though. If you don't want to dress formally, then there are other dining options on those nights with no dress code. On other nights, the dining rooms are smart-casual. Long trousers and open neck shirt for the men and dress or trousers & top for women.

You could look at Norwegian Cruise Line...they have no formal nights at all on their cruises.

I've only ever had balcony cabins. Most have been set back but some are straight 'drops' to the ocean. You'd have to try quite hard to fall in though. Unlikely to happen accidentally unless you're doing something you really shouldn't be.

I've cruised with 5 different cruise companies and normally wear a black dress and bling it up a bit. DH usually wears chinos and a shirt and tie. Some people do get really dressed up but we make the minimum effort and look fine. Once everyone is sat down DH looks like all the other men in his white shirt and still feels comfortable. My teen boys wear a polo shirt.

We went on a 7 day P&O cruise last year. There were two black tie nights where everyone gets in their glad rags. On the other nights, you had to dress in smart casual if you wanted to dine in the waiter service restaurant. It was quite laid back, a maxi dress and nice sandals were fine, for example. On any of the 7 nights, you could instead go to the self-service restaurant and dress how you liked (well, no swimwear / bare chests but pretty much anything else). The food in self-service was ok, lots of choice. We did this most nights as had 2 under two year olds so didn't feel comfortable in the smarter restaurants.

OP, get yourself on cruise critic. They have ALL the answers

We are just back from our first cruise. I had all the same reservations as you OP. I hate the snobbery attached to formal dining and the tips culture.
I chose a Thomson cruise and stay. Flew to Majorca and went around the med.
We have teenagers and they loved it, I think I made the right choice because on the one (optional) formal night they thought everyone in full evening dress looked ridiculous.

Well, just got back, had a fabulous fortnight. Formal nights were definitely not stuffy and dress varied from open necked shirts to black tie for the men and trousers top to full length ballgown for women.

We had a promenade cabin (overlooks the interior of the ship) but were able to have a look round the balcony one opposite us this morning, as the occupants disembarked earlier than us, the balcony was bigger (deeper) than I expected and I think I could have coped with it.

Have you booked yet? Just wanted to add all lines are different. Our favourite cruise was with Oceania which has much smaller ships than the big companies. I think they're more like the small, intimate hotel. Oceania also has no formal nights and no set dining times, as you arrive at the dining room each day (whatever time you please), you are asked whether you wAnt to share or if you want to join a larger table. The food quality was vastly better than any other line we've been on too.
Of course, they don't have climbing walls, ice rinks & all that jazz but depends what's important to you.