It’s Like Dining With The Royal Family !

Before you embark on a luxury cruise ship, you think about where you are sailing to? What’s on-board? What’s the food like? And what to wear? Or should I say, some people think about what they wear. Others it seems as though they just don’t bother about what they have on, day or night.

Cruising over recent years, (for some cruise lines) have become more and more informal during the evening and especially at dinner. This has now become a big debate for a lot of passengers, who wish to see a more formal attire during dinner. And not to see other passengers come dressed in there shorts and t-shirts.

I referred to the point of dining with the Royal Family, although you are obviously not dining with the English Royal Family, most passengers would expect some formality, and formal evening wear.

However it turns out to be quite the opposite, and like dining with quite the opposite Royal Family too. Maybe ladies should forget about their beautiful evening cocktail dresses, and pack their onesie’s for dinner.

I am very much on the side of the formal evening wear for dinner. If you cannot make an effort on board a beautiful luxury cruise ship, sailing the seas, then when can do you dress up? And it looks as though other passengers agree.

Seven in 10 cruise passengers would like to see a return to formal evenings on board, according to a poll of 1,500 travelers by our company.

Most said this was because they would like to see other guests dressed up and looking smart to suit the occasion.

45% complained about noisy passengers ruining the relaxing cruise for everybody else.

Four in ten admitted they lose patience with families who have young children on board.

Each cruise line is different, that’s why it’s so important to find the right one for you. You can’t just try them all to see what suits. Formal or informal? Kids or no Kids? I ask every passenger I book what they are looking from their cruise. Then as a cruise specialist I’ll match there requirements to the right cruise. That’s the most important part, get the wrong ship and not only will you not enjoy your experience but others won’t either.

Passengers complain about mobile phones being used during dinner, (which is also my pet hate) and eating and drinking too much on all-inclusive cruises. Well I say, if you don’t like the All Inclusive cruises, then don’t go on that cruise.

If it’s being advertised as all inclusive, that will suit a lot of people who can budget for their cruise. Especially families, and young families who can relax knowing it’s all inclusive. On the flip side if you don’t like to be disturbed by young children and the all inclusive cruises, then why are you on-board? I understand it’s not always possible to pick a different cruise, but then go with that open mind of what you are going to get.

The debate long continues, take a look at the hot topic “Scruffs at Sea” http://goo.gl/qQbbHh