Cunard - do people dress up that much?

[damemaggiescurledupperlip]

We knew it would be smart rather than casual, but slightly taken aback by the email about three themed ‘gala evenings’ and cocktail attire for the ‘ordinary’ evenings. I guess we didn’t do our homework!

was expecting to get by in the main with smart wide leg black trousers and silk shirts. Surely that will do for “ordinary’ nights?

has anyone any recent experience?

I'm currently on a Cunard ship.
The outfit you describe will be fine for the 'smart attire' evenings even in the grills, equally some guests wear cocktail style outfits every night and also fit in.
If you are bringing a male partner they will need jackets for evenings.
The casual venues (pub and buffet) don't seem to have much dress code imposed at all now, so, as people move around the ship you'll see some very casual individuals.
The gala evenings have been pretty glamorous - particularly the masquerade night- but generally it is the guests who spend the evening in the Queens Room (i.e. ballroom dancers) who go full on, the rest of us are just wearing black tie/evening dress.

Thank you! That is just what I wanted to know. Happy not to go full throttle but I do t want to be the only one

Were you in the Med, can I ask? And if so were the public areas very air-conditioned or more neutral?

I can answer that
myself now: farking freezing

Oh dear 😬😆

I've been twice on Cunard. The air-con is good. What you describe will be fine, clothes-wise. They just want you to look pretty smart at a minimum for the formal and cocktail evenings, which are really named so in order that those who want to go all out, can.

And if you want to be casual, you can always go for the buffet dinner or the pub, instead of the dining room.