it's not just cruises where dress code is poor

[emjay45]

Emjay, they might have thought that you were a plant. From Michelin, perhaps?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZvGxnmkzEc

Cheeky I can assure you in those days I was sylph like.

[Mo2013]

No way are people who accept the suggested code (or guidelines if you prefer) snobs or Mrs Buckets. They are going along with the suggestion. And why not? Does not going with the suggested code mean that people who don't dress up are slobs? No? Well then. People who have no interest in embracing the dress code are probably the same people who have dumbed this country down. The passion shown by some is enlightening.

[Not so ancient mariner]

Frank
you wear what you like
and so will I
but I refuse to kow tow to people who resort to spouting the rules, when they use those rules to lie to make a point
dress codes are totally different to choosing what to wear because you are comfortable
please do not mistake one for the other.
if a restaurant has a minimum dress code, such as gentlemen have to wear long trousers and a shirt fine
but that does not mean I have to wear a tie and jacket
same with formal nights on ships NOWHERE does it say I have to adhere to wearing a tux. yet time and again people try to make out ,that people who wear what they want coz they are comfortable are sticking 2 fingers up at the rules
my humble suggestion is that those sad individuals read the rules and stop making up lies to suit their tired woeful outdated arguments

Just so there are no misunderstandings these are cut & pasted from the P&O website:

The dress code helps to set the tone of an evening on board the whole ship, and generally most guests enjoy the ambience generated.
Black tie nights on board are an opportunity for ladies to wear glamorous evening wear including cocktail dresses, ballgown or even a smart trouser suit. For men, a dinner jacket or tuxedo are the norm, but a dark lounge or business suit and tie can be worn as an alternative. You can also wear formal national dress or military uniform.

The dress code applies to a majority of public areas after 6pm and helps to set the ambience of the evening. It is strictly enforced in the following areas:

Adonia: Andersons, Crow's Nest, Pacific and Ocean Grill restaurants.

Arcadia: Intermezzo, Crow's Nest, Meridian and Ocean Grill restaurants.

Aurora: Andersons, Crow's Nest, Alexandria, Medina and Cafe Bordeaux restaurants.

Azura: Blue Bar, Planet Bar, Meridian, Peninsular, Oriental, Sindhu and Seventeen restaurants.

Oceana: Magnums, Ligurian, Adriatic and Cafe Jardin restaurants.

Oriana: Andersons, Crow's Nest, Peninsular, Oriental and Ocean Grill restaurants.

Ventura: Red Bar, Metropolis, Cinnamon, Safron, Bay Tree, East and The White Room restaurants.

[Andrea S]

A 5 star establishment quoting' no dress code' would surely still expect their diners to be reasonably dressed.,

[Mo2013]

"The dress code helps to set the tone of an evening on board the whole ship, and generally most guests enjoy the ambience generated." Think that says it all really. IMO those who don't bother bring down the tone and damage the ambience created by others. There will always be those who don't give a damn.

[Silver_Shiney]

"The dress code helps to set the tone of an evening on board the whole ship, and generally most guests enjoy the ambience generated." Think that says it all really. IMO those who don't bother bring down the tone and damage the ambience created by others. There will always be those who don't give a damn.

Well said, Mo

[arcadialover]

Frank
you wear what you like
and so will I
but I refuse to kow tow to people who resort to spouting the rules, when they use those rules to lie to make a point
dress codes are totally different to choosing what to wear because you are comfortable
please do not mistake one for the other.
if a restaurant has a minimum dress code, such as gentlemen have to wear long trousers and a shirt fine
but that does not mean I have to wear a tie and jacket
same with formal nights on ships NOWHERE does it say I have to adhere to wearing a tux. yet time and again people try to make out ,that people who wear what they want coz they are comfortable are sticking 2 fingers up at the rules
my humble suggestion is that those sad individuals read the rules and stop making up lies to suit their tired woeful outdated arguments

Just so there are no misunderstandings these are cut & pasted from the P&O website:

The dress code helps to set the tone of an evening on board the whole ship, and generally most guests enjoy the ambience generated.
Black tie nights on board are an opportunity for ladies to wear glamorous evening wear including cocktail dresses, ballgown or even a smart trouser suit. For men, a dinner jacket or tuxedo are the norm, but a dark lounge or business suit and tie can be worn as an alternative. You can also wear formal national dress or military uniform.

The dress code applies to a majority of public areas after 6pm and helps to set the ambience of the evening. It is strictly enforced in the following areas:

Adonia: Andersons, Crow's Nest, Pacific and Ocean Grill restaurants.

Arcadia: Intermezzo, Crow's Nest, Meridian and Ocean Grill restaurants.

Aurora: Andersons, Crow's Nest, Alexandria, Medina and Cafe Bordeaux restaurants.

Azura: Blue Bar, Planet Bar, Meridian, Peninsular, Oriental, Sindhu and Seventeen restaurants.

Oceana: Magnums, Ligurian, Adriatic and Cafe Jardin restaurants.

Oriana: Andersons, Crow's Nest, Peninsular, Oriental and Ocean Grill restaurants.

Ventura: Red Bar, Metropolis, Cinnamon, Safron, Bay Tree, East and The White Room restaurants.

And long may it last.

[emjay45]

arcadialover I quite agree

[Manoverboard]

We enjoyed a very pleasant lunch in the fairly upmarket Stanwell House Hotel, Lymington, yesterday. It is described as a cosmopolitan and stylish boutique Hotel.

Everybody was well dressed in smart / elegant caj but I would have traded for T shirts and football boots the four refined young mums who were toting their squalking babies throughout the entire meal.

No problem with their clothes, or indeed their breasts, but surely crying babies should be banned from upmarket luncheon venues ?

[The Tinker]

We enjoyed a very pleasant lunch in the fairly upmarket Stanwell House Hotel, Lymington, yesterday. It is described as a cosmopolitan and stylish boutique Hotel.

Everybody was well dressed in smart / elegant caj but I would have traded for T shirts and football boots the four refined young mums who were toting their squalking babies throughout the entire meal.

No problem with their clothes, or indeed their breasts, but surely crying babies should be banned from upmarket luncheon venues ?

I think you are showing your age MOB - when your children are young why shouldn't you take them out with you to eat? We persevered with taking ours out for meals when they were younger and, eventually, they could sit quietly and eat for a couple of hours.
On a personal note now - I much prefer the Adult Only ships

[oldbluefox]

At one time a crying baby was taken outside until it settled if there was any thought its crying may disturb others.

[Wina G]

At one time a crying baby was taken outside until it settled if there was any thought its crying may disturb others.

[Silver_Shiney]

We enjoyed a very pleasant lunch in the fairly upmarket Stanwell House Hotel, Lymington, yesterday. It is described as a cosmopolitan and stylish boutique Hotel.

Everybody was well dressed in smart / elegant caj but I would have traded for T shirts and football boots the four refined young mums who were toting their squalking babies throughout the entire meal.

No problem with their clothes, or indeed their breasts, but surely crying babies should be banned from upmarket luncheon venues ?

I think you are showing your age MOB - when your children are young why shouldn't you take them out with you to eat? We persevered with taking ours out for meals when they were younger and, eventually, they could sit quietly and eat for a couple of hours.

Absolutely - but as OBF rightly said, a crying child should be taken outside to avoid disturbing others. I've been to several fairly decent pub-restaurants and the meal has been spoiled by slightly older children running around the place instead of sitting quietly at their parents' table. It seems that people these days do not know how to train their children.

[Manoverboard]

We enjoyed a very pleasant lunch in the fairly upmarket Stanwell House Hotel, Lymington, yesterday. It is described as a cosmopolitan and stylish boutique Hotel.

Everybody was well dressed in smart / elegant caj but I would have traded for T shirts and football boots the four refined young mums who were toting their squalking babies throughout the entire meal.

No problem with their clothes, or indeed their breasts, but surely crying babies should be banned from upmarket luncheon venues ?

I think you are showing your age MOB - when your children are young why shouldn't you take them out with you to eat? We persevered with taking ours out for meals when they were younger and, eventually, they could sit quietly and eat for a couple of hours.
On a personal note now - I much prefer the Adult Only ships

The four young ladies in question, during a very light hearted discussion, told us that times had changed and we readily accept that of course.

However ...

Mobietta fed ours at home else in private, we also took our children to restaurants AFTER they had learned manners and respect for other diners .. we did NOT spoil the enjoyment of others as part of our kid's training program.

[Frank Manning]

We enjoyed a very pleasant lunch in the fairly upmarket Stanwell House Hotel, Lymington, yesterday. It is described as a cosmopolitan and stylish boutique Hotel.

Everybody was well dressed in smart / elegant caj but I would have traded for T shirts and football boots the four refined young mums who were toting their squalking babies throughout the entire meal.

No problem with their clothes, or indeed their breasts, but surely crying babies should be banned from upmarket luncheon venues ?

Stanwell House Hotel is very good MOB, as is The Mill at Gordlestone. Sympathies; child behaviour is often a problem everywhere these days, and crying babies can spoil the enjoyment of a nice meal. We should meet up one day, we go to Lymington quite often, especially for the Saturday market.

I confidently expect that I shall be classed snob for any remarks about child behaviour! But our children behaved themselves when we were out, as does our grandson. (Of course when they were babies we couldn't afford to go to places like the Stanwell House Hotel.) It only takes a bit fo training early on the get them respecting other people though.

[Dark Knight]

i wondered how long it would be before somebody trotted out the "ambience line" another myth from the marketing deparment

so basically you who support the dress code are saying that people behave and act differently coz they are dressed up? and you look down on people who do not dress up ,as they are sticking 2 fingers up at the rest of the clothes horses and ruining the ambience
well if that is not rampant snobbery... I dont know what is

clothes do not make an evening nor do they make a person......if some lout wears a DJ at a wedding, he is still a lout, if some chavette wears a dress for a party she is still a chavette

and as the dress code does not apply to all areas of the ship, then it is hardly that important, dress codes are an affectation to try fool people into thinking some venue or event is posh nothing more

[emjay45]

A few years ago my son and I were eating a meal in restaurant. We were the only ones in, until a young woman came in with 2 little boys. She ordered drinks for them all from the waitress, then took out her mobile phone and chatted to whomever, while the 2 boys ran around the restaurant tables. As they got to our table and fully intended doing the same. I said 'NO' sit down and behave!! The mother then got of her phone stood up, collected her boys and said she thought this was a 'family' restaurant. I replied it was but the playground was outside not inside. She left in a huff saying that she thought MY attitude was appalling.
Yes times have changed and I know I've said it before but they haven't changed for the better.

[Mo2013]

I'm sorry to say that a lot of people's attitude these days is 'I'll do what I like, where I like, whenever I like'. 'It's my life and I'll do what I want.' 'No-one is going to tell me what to do'. That is why people do not control their children, quite simply they don't give a damn about anyone else. Not many people do give a damn about anyone else. That is why yobs use foul language at a football match, they don't care about those children hearing their swearing, quite a lot of people in society have absolutely no sense of responsibility to others, and that includes those who just can't bring themselves to go along with what the majority of other passengers do.

[Dark Knight]

untill the prevailing dress code is compulsory, all this drivel about joining the herd is just that
drivel, it has nothing to do with going along with anything
it is called freedom of choice and some people may not wish to join the herd and that is their right and their perogative
and no amount of whining is going to change that

any discussion about dress codes and what is appropriate ,where is flawed, coz everyone has a differening idea of what is acceptable theses days

[Not so ancient mariner]

i wondered how long it would be before somebody trotted out the "ambience line" another myth from the marketing deparment

The assumption that something with which you disagree must be a myth is worthy of another member of this forum who, I believe, is currently cruising on Oriana.

[Mo2013]

I go to my local indian restaurant every Friday. The tables are covered with white crisp tablecloths, there is silver cutlery and gleaming glassware. Yet people come in looking like they've walked off a building site. Some people have style, others don't. I would not go out in what I wear during the day when I'm doing housework, neither would I go to the footie in what I wear to go out to dinner. Some people have a good sense of what is appropriate dress for the occasion, some people have no sense of that at all. Calling people names, and describing their views as drivel does not enhance an argument. I just think of a little child who is being asked to do something who replies 'why should I'? As I said earlier, the angry abusive response says a lot.

[david63]

DK - much of what you say is true, however where you have a dress code as with P&O (other cruise lines are available) and that dress code is spelt out in words of one syllable then (a) everyone should conform to the dress code as appropriate in the areas where it is required (in fact there is a dress code for most of the ship most of the day) and (b) such dress code should be enforced.

One of the main problems both on and off ships is that where a dress code is specified then it is not enforced which gives some people the idea that they can wear whatever they want wherever they want.

[Dark Knight]

NOTSO
i have yet to see a proper explanation of what anticiapted ambience is? and have yet to see clothes make a jot of difference to any ambience ,anticiapted or not

it is a made up phrase used by marketing geeks to impress the gulible into thinking that a DJ and a nice dress makes a difference to a cruise

IMHO, it is a load of cobblers

[Silver_Shiney]

For me, an "anticipated ambience" is the expected "feel" of the occasion. I'm as slobbish as they come but I like to dress up in a DJ on formal nights because, for me, it feels special. I go expecting a genteel atmosphere, with everyone making an effort to be polite. I agree that one can still be polite in paint-slplattered overalls but if I'm standing at a bar next to workmen who have obviously just finished their labours on a building site I half-expect to hear coarse discussion and foul language. That is the "anticipated ambience" I would expect in that setting.

Sorry, DK, but I think you're on your own on this one, mate. As for calling it a myth, I'm afraid that does make you seem the same as the forum's resident [append description of reader's choice....]



My kids, too, were trained to behave when out in public, and to consider the feelings of others. Sadly, as Mo rightly says, many in society have adopted a "stuff you, I'm alright Jack" attitude.

[Manoverboard]

NOTSO
i have yet to see a proper explanation of what anticiapted ambience is? and have yet to see clothes make a jot of difference to any ambience ,anticiapted or not

it is a made up phrase used by marketing geeks to impress the gulible into thinking that a DJ and a nice dress makes a difference to a cruise

IMHO, it is a load of cobblers

.... and yet somebody, an inverted snob I would suggest, has convinced you DK that a dress code adds nothing to any occasion.

For me you are equally wrong as there are many events where the dress code makes all the difference albeit you do not need to be a part of it because you wouldn't fit in.