I'm going on a cruise and don't have a tux or suit for Formal Night, Will I look like a jerk?..?

No, you will not look like a jerk!!

This topic has been on-going for years. There are always that group of people that thinks you MUST be dressed formally on those evenings and that if you don't, you are ruining their evening. The majority of the people just wear clothes like you have described and they look great and have a better time in the dining room than the "other" group of people. For the other evenings in the dining room, casual is the dress, just no shorts.

My husband and I have taken many cruises and we used to dress for the formal nights and had to pack all of those extra clothes. It got to be such a grind that we started wearing casual into the dining room all the time. No crew member or passengers ever said anything to us. Yes, you might get a look or two from the "formal types", but just ignore them and move on.

We stopped going into the main dining room many years ago and we are now taking all of our meals in the Windjammer Cafe or 24-hour Room Service. The food is great and you are always comfortable in your casual clothes.

Enjoy your cruise!

Unfortunately, many people do not follow the cruise lines' dress codes for the main dining room. Men are supposed to at least wear a dark suit, if not a tux. Many people claim they don't want to dress up, or have some other excuse, but if one doesn't want to get that dressed up, there are always other alternatives, such as room service, the Lido buffet, etc.

Never been on RC but know people who have been and, like most lines, they do not enforce the dress code, as long as you don't show up in cut-off jeans and a wife-beater. Some lines are more traditional and a higher percentage of diners will actually be dressed in formal wear [Celebrity, Holland], which is very nice for those passengers who enjoy the festive atmosphere of formal night. But that's why there are different cruise lines - so everyone can find their niche. Norwegian is the line of choice for those who don't want to dress up at all.

Have a great time on your cruise!

The truth is, if you do wear a tux or a suit, you'll be one of only a few in the whole dining room. I wore a suit I bought at " goodwill " for six bucks and I felt out of place. It is a very nice suit, but my point is that not too many guys are wearing much more than nice slacks and a collared shirt..I agonized over formal night too on my first cruise and I'll tell you, unless you like the cloth napkin on your lap, and a new fork for every dish they bring to you, and dainty portions, and you just have to eat in a five star dining room, being waited on hand and foot, go to the Lido deck and get a great meal that you'll really like, and as much of it as you like.. That formal dining room won't even miss you..You won't pack as much, and you'll enjoy your dining experience just the same...Trust me, my suit won't go with us this next time..The Lido has everything I could ever want to eat in many ways, hot or cold..In my opinion, if you just have to go to the formal dinner, you'll be fine with what you already have..

No, you don't have to be completely formal. In fact, some cruises have casual buffets/restaurants as well, so on Formal Night, don't go to the Formal dinner if you're worried. A nice shirt is fine though.

I just finished going on a cruise recently, and lots of people were dressed like that.

I dressed in dress pants and a casual white shirt and that worked pretty well. So you wont look like a jerk. Promise

You can check and see if they have a Tux rental on board, OR go to a local Tux rental and buy a used tux.........generally in OK condition and go for about $100. W/O a tux, you'll look goofy

Skip dinner in the dining room on formal night. East in another restaurant.

What you have will be fine,

Most of the others dress up, we just wore some elegant work clothes

so don't worry , have fun

You won't look goofy or like a jerk at all, but every gentleman should consider owning a blazer or sport coat.

Enjoy!

I think you will be fine. Ive been on two cruises one i went to the dinner one I skiped.