Cruise clothes help!

[Angrybird345]

What trousers (and other clothes) do I buy that aren’t jeans, which I live in, that aren’t too smart or too casual? Going on a cruise in a month and have no clothes for the evening. After a certain time I apparently can’t wear jeans to any restaurants. I’ve got black trousers and a top for the formal night but I’m struggling with what else to wear/buy!

What cruise line are you traveling with? I was on Royal Caribbean last year for a summer cruise and people wore all sorts. Formal nights were fabulous.

Where are you going (general region) and how long will you be away?

Which cruise line are you on?

Also wonder over to the forums on cruise critic as they are invaluable. you’ll learn things you never even wondered about!

Definitely need to know which cruise line. Eg Cunard is much more formal than say royal Caribbean.

We would need to know the cruise line and rough itinerary before advising you. I’ve been on Celebrity, Norwegian, P&O (never again!), Costa and Pullmantur, so can offer specific advice if you let us know more

I’m going on a cruise in a month too!

Where/ which line QOD?

BlubellGal What's wrong with P&O? I'm booked with them for next month...am I going to regret it?

I've just come off a Cunard cruise if I can help. Not as formal as they'd have you believe (or they would probably like tbh!)

abbey44 it’s horses for courses really. It just wasn’t my thing. Too tub thumping British for my liking.

The vast majority of our ship was British and not representative iyswim? I prefer a cruise with a diverse passenger mix - all other lines have offered this. It’s just so homogeneous on P&O which many people really like of course. This may not be important to many but it is for me. It also means everyone is on the same timetable doing the same things. Whereas Americans eat early, Italians / Spanish tend to eat later. Means the flow is better.

The food wasn’t great- all food that British people should like. Pies in the buffet, rolly polly pudding... bit poorly executed. Honestly the worst food I’ve had on a cruise. I stuck to steak and chips in restaurant as it’s dificult to get wrong.

Staff not as happy and friendly as on other lines. Captain quite serious, slow getting on/off ship, all very old fashioned and not as fun an atmosphere as other lines imo.

Activities/entertainment also stereotypically for Brits. That’s fine in moderation - but not everything! Eg Pub quiz, flag waving anthem blaring sail away , shows in theatre themed around England flags etc, Wales rugby etc

Positives were a gorgeous ship (Britannia) a dress code that is respected by all passengers (black tie which I enjoy) free drinks on formal nights, very good cocktails and cheap drinks compared to other lines.

But the biggest plus for me was that they took my daughter every night in the night nursery for FREE! Give you a pager and you collect by 2am. It was worth it for this (only Cunard offers this). Now she is older and can go in kids club, i would personaly prefer to travel on other lines that suit my tastes. I’m not knocking people who like the P&O product- it’s just not for me.

abbey44 if it’s your first cruise I wouldn’t worry too much as you are likely to be impressed anyway (although some people realise they hate cruising and never go again!). You can try a different line next time As I say, the ship was gorgeous and it’s the places you visit which makes it really.

Thanks - yes, it isn't my first cruise, so it's all a new thing for me. Everyone says I'll enjoy it, so I hope they're right, but I have to confess to wondering if I've done the right thing. Still, no backing out now!

I've got my formal dresses sorted - looking forward to those nights - but what sort of things should I take for the rest of the time? How dressy is Britannia as a rule?

Are the shore excursions worth the money, or is it better to join up with other people and do your own thing? I'm going on my own, so I am hoping I won't feel a bit of a spare part.

That should be IS my first cruise - bloody iPad thinks it knows better

I would join in with shore excursions and you will get to meet others. It depends where the cruise ports are if you want to do your own thing. It’s not always convenient or easy.

Dressing for dinner was just dresses when I have cruised. Try smart trousers and silk style tops. Anything from Hobbs, phase 8 or similar will see you through. Chunky jewellery works quite well. There are so many people on board you do realise, in the end, that no-one is looking at you. The little black dress is always ok. Take a wrap. Air conditioning can be fierce.

I have been with P and O (Norway) with my Mum for her 90 th birthday. She enjoyed it! Yes, it’s British and we had flexible dining but it worked ok for us. Food was ok but frankly they are a fairly cheap cruise line so we were not expecting Simon Rogon! In fact on more expensive cruises the food is not up to high class restaurant standard either.

Don’t expect to meet others who will do their own thing for shore excursions. Cruise passengers are not “get out there” types. They like certainty and someone else making the arrangements! That’s why so many are repeat customs on the same cruises. It’s not adventurous but it’s safe and saves much thinking!

Haha Abbey I guessed you meant first cruise by your post! Cruising is wonderful and one of my favourite things is formal night which P&O do better than any other line (most are dropping it sadly). Don’t be worried about feeling sick, claustrophobic (usual fears) as it’s very unlikely.

Appropriate clothes during the day are casual and evening smart casual. People dress up on formal night (tuxes, cocktail dresses, some long frocks but not full ball gowns). I usually shower when I get back from a day in port, then change into evening wear. I love getting dressed up.

Britannia is a beautiful ship - like a top London hotel. My friend who went at Christmas (I went 18m ago) has just said the food & service had massively improved so that’s good news.

We never purchase shore excursions in Europe- only in the Caribbean where prices are more reasonable. You can DIY. Where are you going? There will be meet up groups on ship advertised in the daily paper- single, friends of Dorothy (LGBT), etc. I haven’t traveled alone, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be too difficult to meet like minded souls also travelling solo.

One of the best lines for solo travel (for future) is Norwegian as they have solo cabins, a dedicated lounge for singles, organised events, people rave about it & cabins sell fast!

Cruising really is for everyone though. I’ve seen all ages, groups, ethnicities, social /economic groups.... as I say less diversity on P&O but still a great range of ages. On our last cruise we hung out with a fun couple in their 60s, we’re in our 30s, just friendly people wanting to have fun together. Lots of people mixing which is really nice. Cruisers are not the stereotype people think of. We’ve seen top BBC journalists, Olympians (on holiday, not doing talks). There are classical music concerts, jazz, musicals, family events, silly competitions poolside...etc. Really there is something for everyone and if you don’t like something going on you can go to a different part of the ship.

Cruise passengers are changing. We always DIY day trips from ports and see plenty of passengers at the local train station doing the same thing. Easy to escape the crowds this way.

By the way, my husband and I really dislike resorts, centre parcs... we liked backpacking before having a family and we love cruising because we can do our own thing so easily. Usually just a taxi ride or walk to local train station and onto see sights, eat great food. Somewhere different every day. Love it.

Abbey go onto cruise critic, sign up, find your roll call & join in (if you fancy it) with it as they’ll have meet ups planned & possible someone will be organising excursions.

Also we do a mix of shore excursions if far from the ship & diy if ship not far from where we want to visit.

Loads of helpful advice ther - thank you!

Off to cruise critic...

^ great idea about cruise critic. You can lurk before deciding whether to introduce yourself to the group on the roll call. You might end up meeting your people this way. I’ve never been to a meet and greet but definitely would try it if travelling alone

This time @BluebellGal it’s Norwegian Been with them before and lots of Americans on board. Meant casual dress at dinner other than on formal night. We were all gussied up and the majority were in mismatched Bermuda’s and t shirts
Last year went with TUI which was all British, more dressy in the evening, not talking cocktail dresses but maxi dresses and make up, but the entertainment was meh. No theatre just in the cocktail lounge with a floor level stage. Just the entertainment crew and a comedian twice.
Norwegian had a full on theatre and acts every night
Asian cruise with 4 at sea daysso we’ll need entertainment!!

QLD yep Norwegian is very casual- more so if there are lots of Americans on board. I don’t care, I dress up anyway! The most formal I’ve see Americans is on Celebrity but that’s probably changed since they made formal night optional

Personally I wouldn’t cruise Thompson- think it’s now called Marella. Older ships, 100% British passengers. Not for me

I do like British people haha - I am one! I just don’t want to be surrounded by British people on holidays as I like it to be different to normal life. Actually I live somewhere cosmopolitan, so I’m used to diversity. I don’t want a product that caters to ‘British tastes’ iyswim

YEah we felt the ship was old and crusty. Spotless and great staff. But very English food and poor salad bars lol

We are celebrity ship fans - we liked it the first time & have seen no reason to change (at the moment). Although I would love to go on QM2.