PROPER DINING ATTIRE……By Roger Davis

Can you imagine……..Diana actually asked me to write an article on proper dining attire for our
upcoming cruise. Kinda like asking the fox to write up security procedures for the hen house…. or better yet, asking Ozzie Osborne to write an article for GQ magazine. So please remember who’s writing this!!

This is primarily for the guys since I really have no clue what’s appropriate for you ladies. I mean hell, I’m all for a clothing optional cruise package. However, in this case there will be three formal nights and eleven smart casual and above nights on our cruise. So, the following is a direct quote from one of the Celebrity websites along with some of my comments/observations.
Evening Dress Codes

Celebrity’s evening dress codes now include two types: “formal” and “smart casual and above”. The daily newsletter, delivered to your stateroom and available at the Guest Relations/Purser’s Desk, will be your guide to the appropriate evening attire.

Formal Night Attire: Ladies: Evening gown or fancy dress. Gentlemen: Tuxedo, dinner jacket or dark suit. For us guys, renting the formal wear from the cruise line is the easiest……no packing and no cleaning……everything will be waiting in your cabin when you get on board. Of course some of us (directed mainly toward Buzz) may want to bring some special bow tie or cummerbund or cuff links or ?? To order, visit http://www.cruiselineformal.com/ and click on Men’s Apparel then Celebrity Cruise. You’ll need specific information about the cruise (sailing date/port plus your stateroom & reservation number) and, of course, your measurements and a credit card number. Note: if you’re not sure of your measurements, go to a Men’s Wearhouse and they’ll do it for you for free and that inseam measurement is always fun anyway!!
Smart Casual and Above: (wonder who thought up this Gucci term??) Ladies: Skirt or pants (no holes, rips or tears) complemented by sweater or blouse. Gentlemen: Pants (no holes, rips or tears) with sport shirt or sweater. Shirts must have sleeves. I’d like to think I may have influenced this new code (used to be a jacket, shirt and tie for many nights) since I would not wear a tie nor a jacket to the non-formal nights………..way to go Roger.

Note: T-shirts, swimsuits, robes, bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps and pool wear are not allowed in the main restaurant or specialty restaurant at any time. Shorts and flip flops are not allowed in the evening hours. Additionally, guests are asked to follow the “Smart Casual and Above” dress code in the Celebrity Theater for all evening performances.
Dining in jeans detracts from the overall ambience and is therefore not allowed in the main dining room after 6:00 p.m.

Evening dress codes apply to both main restaurant dining as well as specialty restaurant dining.
Before Six: Dining options abound aboard Celebrity. For breakfast and lunch, jeans, shorts and casual daywear are allowed in all dining venues before 6:00 p.m. After 6:00 p.m., this attire allowed only in casual restaurants and cafes.

As I mentioned earlier, remember who’s writing this. If, for some reason you feel I am writing this under duress (and I will be showing up for dinner in my usual attire…..an I BUY JAPANESE SWORDS T-shirt, shorts and flip flops) and you do not follow my advice and are asked to leave the ship at the first available port it will do you absolutely no good to say “but Roger said it would be OK”. Their attitude will only get worse as they recall my name and my “accident” in my last formal wear rental.

Let the eating begin!! Burrrrrrrp!!!

Photo provided by Flickr dcJohn