lack of staff and poor dress code control

Yes but then they'd have to think of other ways of annoying people, just to be bloody awkward!

The cruise companies Have a Recommended or suggested dress code it is the passengers for whatever reason dress otherwise.We keep reading they do not enforce the dress code why should they your on a holiday not boot camp,as for this drivel about not not wanting to drink and eat with some one in shorts never in 11 cruises seen that being worn in the main restaurant for the evening meal,have seen semi formal being worn on formal night but whats the big deal it did not upset me or anyone else?

recommended is asking you to conform. for those who decide not to do so often shows a lack of manners and respect for others.its no different than cutting people up while driving or disterbing your neighbers with loud music. for those who do not like dressing up there are ships that are for you

Recommended or Suggested is a polite way of stating the dress code & anything less is insult to your host, in this case the cruise company. Unfortunately the modern trend of 'I'll do what I like & stuff you lot' is the very reason behind the scumbag society that we all now live in. It's up to all of us show respect for our host, & not try a & push the envelope because the wording is 'recommended or suggested'. You stated in 11 cruises you've never seen anyone in shorts in the main DR. I wish I could say the same. On a number of Caribbean cruises out of the U.S. in recent years, slobs in baseball caps & shorts on formal night in the main DR & I have complained their & then to the Maitre De to no avail. I am not talking of bottom end cruise lines either, but the so called 4* lines. Sadly as one dress code is dropped, all others drop as well, & smart casual becomes builders bum jeans & rag bag T shirt. Sorry I'm ranting here so I'll stop now.

I am afraid that it is a simple matter, as in most aspects of society nowadays, that MONEY TALKS! With the huge expansion of cruise lines recently, building larger and larger ships, there is not a hope in hell of them coming anywhere near filling these ships with well behaved, smart, respectful, co-operative people wanting to emerge themselves totally in a luxury lifestyle for the duration of their holiday. So, in effect, the cruise lines have had to drop their standards in order to fill this huge capacity. With cruises now being advertised widely across all media forms with the message of " Do exactly what you what, when you want", in order to get those bucks rolling in, what hope is there for the traditional cruiser? Not a lot! Happy cruising.

I totally agree with all of your response & the reasoning behind the lowering of dress standards. MY response was in reply to Buckley's initial comment 'They do not enforce the dress code, why should they, you're on holiday not boot camp'. Whilst cruise lines still include Formal Nights it's up to everyone to comply. If you don't want Formal, go on a line like Island, OV etc. If as you say 'do exactly what you want, when you want' then remove formal from the dress code completely, eliminate the confusion & ill feeling that arises from it & stop the whingers like me going on about it. That said I firmly believe that formal will be dead & buried on the 'Popular' 4* lines in the next few years. Some of us remember when Gentlemen were not allowed in the dining room ANY night, except first & last night, without a jacket on. I'm not suggesting we go back to those days as a lot of us prefer to fly to our cruise ship these days & with 20kg luggage restrictions pretty well the norm, it just ain't possible.

Yes, that is one of the main reasons that I so love cruising from my home port of Southampton and avoid fly cruises. I can take lots of Jackets and Dinner Suits, and try to look smart EVERY evening! Happy cruising.