Earlier today, Cunard Line announced that they will be updating their current dress code while at the same time, “encouraging the loosening of ties on its less formal nights.”
Research with existing passengers and luxury travelers generally has led Cunard to strengthen the Lineâs commitment to special occasion dressing three times a week on its Transatlantic Crossings and twice each week on sailings to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, and beyond.
However, in response to growing travel trends, Cunard is adjusting its advice on dress codes for other nights. The result:Â along with two or three formal nights each week, there will be four or five âinformalâ evenings where jackets are required but ties will now become optional.
âThe glamour of dressing to the nines is a hallmark of travelling with Cunard, and distinguishes us from the mass of cruise operators where dressing up has become a thing of the past. Formal nights are a chance for the ladies to sparkle in cocktail dresses or full-on evening gowns, while for the gentlemen, dinner jackets â or tuxedos or dark suits â always bring a touch of sharp, 007-type style to the occasion.â said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line.
Passengers opting out of evening wear on formal nights will be welcome in the shipsâ main buffet restaurants and in the adjoining Winter Garden or Garden Lounge bars, but not in other areas of the ship, out of respect for their fellow guests. This change from the previous evening dress codes of âformal,â âsemi-formalâ and âelegant casualâ to just âformalâ and âinformalâ will take effect before the Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria set out on their main sailing seasons in April / May 2013.
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Photos and press release courtesy of Cunard Line.
One reply on “Cunard Relaxes Dress Code, What Do You Think?”
I missed this story when it first came out in March, 2013. I was afraid that this is what would happen as soon as I heard that Cunard was reflagging their ships from Brittish to the Caribbean. I have done three Transatlantic crossings on Cunard and except for the first and final nights when everything was still packed, we did formal every night. It is what made the crossing special. I have done two other crossings, RCCL and Celebrity, where not every night was formal. Of course the voyages were a great time, but just not at the same level as the Cunard Queens. However, for doing a Caribbean or Hawaii cruise, I don’t think I would want to do that much formal wear. Transatlantic crossings ARE the destination and deserve a little more respect. Otherwise I would just fly to Europe.