Cummerbunds and black shirt studs,

[Mervyn and Trish]

I find mine useful in the second half of the cruise to hold my belly in. A sort of cummercorset.

[Manoverboard]

I have a couple of black cumberbands plus a tartan one that comes out on New Years Eve with the White Jacket.

Have worn these guys since 1980 whatever but the question is .... which way up should they be worn, pockets / pleats facing up to catch the soup or down to allow it to drip onto one's trousers.

Where have you been MOB? I thought you had gone AWOL

Fraid not CMG. you'll have to put up with me for a while yet.

[Boris+]

I have to admit though that I'm getting a bit tired of having to get all gussied up just to go and have a drink or dinner - so I'm sorely tempted on our next outing to dine in on a formal evening, maybe invite some friends in and do it on a smart casual basis.

Em

[cornmillgirl]

Fraid not CMG. you'll have to put up with me for a while yet.

Thats okay I just noticed you had not been posting for a while

[Dancing Queen]

Fraid not CMG. you'll have to put up with me for a while yet.

Thats okay I just noticed you had not been posting for a while

He'll have been swanning off somewhere exotic CG but is far too modest to say, so where have your travels taken you this time Moby, hope you had a wonderful time

[Dancing Queen]

I have to admit though that I'm getting a bit tired of having to get all gussied up just to go and have a drink or dinner - so I'm sorely tempted on our next outing to dine in on a formal evening, maybe invite some friends in and do it on a smart casual basis.

Em

Em, it's one of the joys of cruising

Regardless of what the dress code of the evening is or whether you were dining in or out surely you would still shower put a bit of 'slap'on, do your hair etc etc so what difference does it/should it make if it is formal or whatever.

Not directed at you particularly but tbh if people don't want what cruising has to offer then book a week in Ibiza or Falaraki (sp)

Just to add that even after 25 years cruising I still enjoy the formality and it is never an effort to 'make the effort'

[Boris+]

I'm just tired and worn out - so at the moment it's not one of the joys of cruising for me. However, if you enjoy it, then that's great and I hope you have a wonderful time.

When we go on our next cruise we just want to get away from it all. As far as doing the sort of holiday you suggested - well it's very kind of you to make a suggestion, but I can't see that happening until hell freezes over.

So, it's going to be wonderful quiet evenings in, no partying - just a few friends in for dinner etc.

Em

[Manoverboard]

Fraid not CMG. you'll have to put up with me for a while yet.

Thats okay I just noticed you had not been posting for a while

He'll have been swanning off somewhere exotic CG but is far too modest to say, so where have your travels taken you this time Moby, hope you had a wonderful time

Ah DQ, you have me bang to rights as always ... 2014 and so ... was it Thailand, Cape Town or even B&Q, Yeovil Branch

[Quizzical Bob]

I'm just tired and worn out - so at the moment it's not one of the joys of cruising for me. However, if you enjoy it, then that's great and I hope you have a wonderful time.

When we go on our next cruise we just want to get away from it all. As far as doing the sort of holiday you suggested - well it's very kind of you to make a suggestion, but I can't see that happening until hell freezes over.

So, it's going to be wonderful quiet evenings in, no partying - just a few friends in for dinner etc.

Em

We're with you, Borisplus, neither of us ever needs to put on any slap up nor do our hair. For the gentlemen formal evenings can be a very uncomfortable few hours. Who on earth wants to put on an overcoat just to go for a drink or have dinner?

[Boris+]

QB - this year we feel that if we are going to be on holiday then we wish to do as little as possible, and that includes getting all gussied up.

Em

[Quizzical Bob]

QB - this year we feel that if we are going to be on holiday then we wish to do as little as possible, and that includes getting all gussied up.

Em

indeed, BP, we just want to sit and watch the world go by and be waited on hand and foot.

[wolfie]

I have to admit though that I'm getting a bit tired of having to get all gussied up just to go and have a drink or dinner - so I'm sorely tempted on our next outing to dine in on a formal evening, maybe invite some friends in and do it on a smart casual basis.

Em

Em, it's one of the joys of cruising

Regardless of what the dress code of the evening is or whether you were dining in or out surely you would still shower put a bit of 'slap'on, do your hair etc etc so what difference does it/should it make if it is formal or whatever.

Not directed at you particularly but tbh if people don't want what cruising has to offer then book a week in Ibiza or Falaraki (sp)

Just to add that even after 25 years cruising I still enjoy the formality and it is never an effort to 'make the effort'

I agree DQ.

We had 20 formal nights in our worldie and even when the whole table debunked to the buffet, we all wore, as did others, formal wear.

[Boris+]

I'm with you QB - what we are almost yearning for is: no early mornings (nice lazy start to the day), no real schedule to have to work with, just relaxing, and above all watching the water go by, and watching that sun go down.

Em

[Gill W]

With regard to cummerbunds, I think they draw attention to the mid section - a place where some cruisers need to divert attention away from.

[Quizzical Bob]

With regard to cummerbunds, I think they draw attention to the mid section - a place where some cruisers need to divert attention away from.

They are there to cover the join between the shirt and the trousers and also to hide the white triangle that might show when the jacket is buttoned (one button only, please chaps). The principle of a formal Black Tie dinner suit is that all the joins should be covered: shirt buttons hidden or covered by studs, shiny strip over the trouser seams, no pocket flaps. Most formal dinner shirts only have the fancy stuff part of the way down and the lower area is plain because it is intended to be covered by the cummerbund. There should also be a pocket square, the whole look is not complete without it.

[Andrea S]

QB, That is ultra posh.

[Quizzical Bob]

QB, That is ultra posh.

It's standard Black Tie, which P&O certainly isn't, it's a load of people pretending to be something that they aren't. Ultra posh would be White Tie. I would prefer to have nothing to do with either.

[Delboy]

QB, That is ultra posh.

It's standard Black Tie, which P&O certainly isn't, it's a load of people pretending to be something that they aren't. Ultra posh would be White Tie. I would prefer to have nothing to do with either.

No, nothing to do with people pretending to be anything, it is just people observing the recommended dress code of the evening, as requested by the cruise line. In order to try and create a certain ambiance on board during these evenings, of which normally their are only two formal per week.

If you prefer to have nothing to do with it, nobody is for forcing you, there are other alternatives and as the saying goes, each to their own.

[Quizzical Bob]

QB, That is ultra posh.

It's standard Black Tie, which P&O certainly isn't, it's a load of people pretending to be something that they aren't. Ultra posh would be White Tie. I would prefer to have nothing to do with either.

No, nothing to do with people pretending to be anything, it is just people observing the recommended dress code of the evening, as requested by the cruise line. In order to try and create a certain ambiance on board during these evenings, of which normally their are only two formal per week.

If you prefer to have nothing to do with it, nobody is for forcing you, there are other alternatives and as the saying goes, each to their own.

My main complaint is that there is no alternative if you wish to eat in the MDR and have waiter service. I'm not bothered about Andersons or the Crows Nest. Just give us a small group of tables in one corner , curtained off if you like and with a separate entrance. The everybody's happy

[Delboy]

QB, That is ultra posh.

It's standard Black Tie, which P&O certainly isn't, it's a load of people pretending to be something that they aren't. Ultra posh would be White Tie. I would prefer to have nothing to do with either.

No, nothing to do with people pretending to be anything, it is just people observing the recommended dress code of the evening, as requested by the cruise line. In order to try and create a certain ambiance on board during these evenings, of which normally their are only two formal per week.

If you prefer to have nothing to do with it, nobody is for forcing you, there are other alternatives and as the saying goes, each to their own.

My main complaint is that there is no alternative if you wish to eat in the MDR and have waiter service. I'm not bothered about Andersons or the Crows Nest. Just give us a small group of tables in one corner , curtained off if you like and with a separate entrance. The everybody's happy

My complaint is the number of people who know what the cruise lines dress codes are on board before they book and then try to change them, for those who do not like dressing up, there are many other cruise lines who cater for them. If I don't want to dress up, then I would choose a cruise line which caters for that. They already provide areas on board for those that don't want to dress up, whether you may like them or not, that's a decision you have to make before booking.

[Quizzical Bob]

My complaint is the number of people who know what the cruise lines dress codes are on board before they book and then try to change them, for those who do not like dressing up, there are many other cruise lines who cater for them. If I don't want to dress up, then I would choose a cruise line which caters for that. They already provide areas on board for those that don't want to dress up, whether you may like them or not, that's a decision you have to make before booking.

Yes, we've been round this circle several times. There aren't 'many other cruise lines' and if there were we would be using them. We've done enough cruises with P&O to be in the Baltic tier and we know exactly what the dress codes are and how they have changed over the years. All we ask is that we can have a sit-down waiter-served dinner in the evening without having to put on all the fancy dress. We know what the product is and we cruise despite the dress codes, not because of them. For us it would be a much better product without them, they ruin the ambience of the evening. That is all

[Dark Knight]

well done everyone for providing Frank with some colour in his drab grey life
took 10 whole pages before somebody mentioned "Ambience" which is another myth
dressing up as a penguin, does not change a person, nor does it contribute to anything , other than the march of the clones
Ambience is marketing spin that the gulible and easily pleased trot out to enforce an outdated argument

load of bunkum

[Frank Manning]

Wish you'd never started this Frank? You bet! Its becoming as repetitive as a BT help line.

[Boris+]

I have to sort of agree with Delboy - if it is a formal evening and we want to go 'out and about' onboard, then we go along with the dress code, make no mistake about that. When we have taken the time and trouble and made the effort to go along with the dress code we feel (ok, we know we might be wrong, but it's the way we feel) a bit 'offended' when other passengers completely and utterly blatantly ignore the dress code, but still wish to be 'out and about' onboard.

If it's a formal evening (for example) and we don't want to get all gussied up, we won't go out - more than happy to remain quietly and enjoyable in our suite.

However, there's no way that we would fail to go along with the relevant dress code and then try and use bar/s restaurant/s and theatre/s.

Em

[Quizzical Bob]

I have to sort of agree with Delboy - if it is a formal evening and we want to go 'out and about' onboard, then we go along with the dress code, make no mistake about that. When we have taken the time and trouble and made the effort to go along with the dress code we feel (ok, we know we might be wrong, but it's the way we feel) a bit 'offended' when other passengers completely and utterly blatantly ignore the dress code, but still wish to be 'out and about' onboard.

If it's a formal evening (for example) and we don't want to get all gussied up, we won't go out - more than happy to remain quietly and enjoyable in our suite.

However, there's no way that we would fail to go along with the relevant dress code and then try and use bar/s restaurant/s and theatre/s.

Em

But surely if the dress code only applies to a limited number of venues then these other passengers are not 'blatantly ignoring the dress code'? If, for example they choose to eat in the buffet or a casual dining outlet, then have a drink in the a Terrace Bar and then take in a show in the theatre what is there to be offended about?