Topic: Casual / freestyle cruises?

QUOTE:

With airlines only allowing 20 to 23 kgs, I have to think if i realy want to pack something that i might wear only once, I much prefer to take mix and match smart casual with perhaps a nice pashmina to dress it up.I have never felt out of place doing this.

Formal wear is easy for us ladies. We can make a relatively simple outfit really dressy with a few accessories. However the extra weight limit is hard to avoid for the gents as there is no option for them but to add a suit to their holiday luggage.

QUOTE:

Very grateful for a bit of advice please - my girlfriend and I are planning to take our first ever cruise later this year, to Northern Europe (fjords, Baltic, etc), but we're finding it very difficult to figure out which companies and ships might suit our needs.

What we are looking for specifically is a ship that will have a relaxed and informal atmosphere, without dress codes, but still be a relatively civilised and adult environment (ie not a "Butlins on a boat" type of feel!). We both really don't like dressing up and are completely put off by the prospect of formal evenings, tuxedos etc.

I've seen a lot of references to "freestyle" cruising which sounds like it might fit the bill, but the only company I've seen specifically offering this is NCL. Are there any others that might be suitable? Thanks for any help!

Been to the Baltic three times with a forth on the horizon. The formal evenings are part of the fun. We have had all types of people at our table so why be snobbish about dressing up possibly three times on a cruise. You don't have to salute the Captain if he happens to pass you on the ship. The idea of a cruise is to meet others and enjoy the experience,in particular the ports of call. There is no way you can see everything in one day hence our return. A visit to a large ASDA will solve some of your dress problems. Go on,live a little. Why belittle yourself. You would be amazed what you can do with a little thought.

QUOTE:

Very grateful for a bit of advice please - my girlfriend and I are planning to take our first ever cruise later this year, to Northern Europe (fjords, Baltic, etc), but we're finding it very difficult to figure out which companies and ships might suit our needs.

What we are looking for specifically is a ship that will have a relaxed and informal atmosphere, without dress codes, but still be a relatively civilised and adult environment (ie not a "Butlins on a boat" type of feel!). We both really don't like dressing up and are completely put off by the prospect of formal evenings, tuxedos etc.

I've seen a lot of references to "freestyle" cruising which sounds like it might fit the bill, but the only company I've seen specifically offering this is NCL. Are there any others that might be suitable? Thanks for any help!

Royal Caribbean do a Baltic cruise amongst others. Just remember that most ships have an alternative to the formal dining room. On formal nights, if you really don't want to dress up, you can opt for the buffet restaurant. My experience was, that I quite enjoyed dressing up for formal nights (there were only 3 on our 12 day cruise). That said, I also enjoyed the more relaxed dress code on OV where everyone ate in the buffet restaurants but most people were still dressed smartly for dinner.
Jill

We have cruised many times. My partner has never even taken a suit never mind a DJ. He usually wears a jacket / blazer when travelling (likes all he pockets) and uses that on "formal" nights. We have cruised with Carnival, P&O, Fred Olsen and Holland America. Although Holland America is the "poshest" of the lot and I thought it would be all DJs on Formal nights, it wasn't. They are only insistent that no shorts / jeans are worn in the dining room.

Just think what you wear if the 2 of you are going out to a restaurant here in the UK and you won't go wrong.

Have fun and don't worry.
Just remembered: Fred Olsen had weird dress codes and we won't be travelling with them again.

QUOTE:

Been to the Baltic three times with a forth on the horizon. The formal evenings are part of the fun. We have had all types of people at our table so why be snobbish about dressing up possibly three times on a cruise. You don't have to salute the Captain if he happens to pass you on the ship. The idea of a cruise is to meet others and enjoy the experience,in particular the ports of call. There is no way you can see everything in one day hence our return. A visit to a large ASDA will solve some of your dress problems. Go on,live a little. Why belittle yourself. You would be amazed what you can do with a little thought.

Foodtaster, I hope this doesn't seem harsh but your view of cruising is a little antiquated and not shared by everyone. Reluctance to dress for dinner may not be down to a lack of wardrobe requiring a trip to Asda to buy some cheap evening clothes - this could be considered insulting. Some of us have a wardrobe full of evening clothes but don't necessarily want the formal dining aspect on holiday. Your assumptions about these people based on their preference (not necessarily their life experiences) could appear insensitive.

Thanks very much for all the responses, a lot of food for thought there.

Just to clarify, the desire to avoid dressing up and excessive formality is a strong personal preference based on what we both do and don't enjoy, and are likely to find relaxing on a holiday. Its not a question of snobbishness or being scared to "live a little", or not owning or being able to afford a dj - its just that we never have and probably never will enjoy it, and it seems silly to pay for an expensive holiday which would from our point of view be marred by the dress requirement. Although, of course, I appreciate that a great many people do enjoy it and take a very different approach, and that traditionally its what cruising is about for many. My question was intended to find out whether there are any alternative options (of which its looking like there may not be many!).

QUOTE:

Just because there are foral nights doesn't mean you have to wear a tux.
Ok you may not feel comfortable eating in the main dining room but most ships have
other dining options.
Celebrity have introduced select dining which means you can eat anytime from 6 to 9pm.
They also have a casual dining area at the back of the ship.
They have soome great deals for Baltic cruises this year

Where were they listed please ? I have checked on deals for Eclipse and all cabins were sold out except for inside ones available at a higher price than we were quoted for a balcony last year.

:p

QUOTE:

Carnival "Fun Ships" are worth a look if a more casual experience is your choice but they are not operating in Northern Europe this year.

I prefer them to NCL as they still have the option of fixed evening dining as opposed to a queuing system..........Each to their own, but unless you are prepared to pay 'top end' with Azamara, Seabourn and the likes, no formal nights, you are always going to find yourself in a Butlins at Sea cruise experience, to some degree or another with the lower key cruise lines.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH NCL WE WENT TO BERMUDA FROM NEW YORK AND THEY WERE GREAT BETTER THEN MSC AND VERY HELPFUL AND FRIENDLY I WOULD GO WITH THEM

QUOTE:

Very grateful for a bit of advice please - my girlfriend and I are planning to take our first ever cruise later this year, to Northern Europe (fjords, Baltic, etc), but we're finding it very difficult to figure out which companies and ships might suit our needs.

What we are looking for specifically is a ship that will have a relaxed and informal atmosphere, without dress codes, but still be a relatively civilised and adult environment (ie not a "Butlins on a boat" type of feel!). We both really don't like dressing up and are completely put off by the prospect of formal evenings, tuxedos etc.

I've seen a lot of references to "freestyle" cruising which sounds like it might fit the bill, but the only company I've seen specifically offering this is NCL. Are there any others that might be suitable? Thanks for any help!

Dont use NCL unless you are prepaired to pay over the odds for most things we went on cruise with them this christmas never again
Food was cold 90% of the time - choices and mixtures were strange to say the least Christmas Day dinner was Roast Turket served with mashed potato sauted mushrooms and red cabbage we ended up having Turkey & Chips in the garden cafe,
If you wanted anything a little extra cost between $10/$25 dollars per person and on top of all theis the gratuities which were takenb on booking are $12 per day per person
The entertainment left much to be desired
The only good thing about this holiday was the ship
But will not be using this cruise line again

QUOTE:

Just remembered: Fred Olsen had weird dress codes and we won't be travelling with them again.

Elucidate please, what did you find weird about Fred's dress codes?