Mutiny! Cruise passengers in fury as scruffs take over at sea: Holidaymakers demand a return to more formal dress for dinner
- Passengers' biggest complaint is rise of 'cruise casual', a survey has found
- Others complain about mobile phones being used during evening meal
- Boorish passengers eating and drinking too much on all-inclusive cruises also come in for criticism
- Seven in ten cruisers would welcome a return to formal evenings on board
It was once considered unthinkable to arrive for dinner on an ocean cruise dressed in anything but black tie or an evening gown.
But, as declining social standards have spread to the high seas, many cruise passengers are growing aghast at a trend towards a much scruffier mode of dress.
Their biggest complaint about their voyage is the rise of ‘cruise casual’ as travellers shun jackets, ties and dresses and instead turn up to the evening meal in flip flops, baseball caps and ripped jeans, a survey found.
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Passengers' biggest complaint about their voyage is the rise of ‘cruise casual’ as travellers shun jackets, ties and dresses and instead turn up to the evening meal in flip flops, baseball caps and ripped jeans (file picture)
Others complain about mobile phones being used during dinner, and boorish passengers eating and drinking too much on all-inclusive cruises.
Seven in ten cruisers said they would like to see a return to formal evenings on board, according to a poll of 1,500 travellers by website Cruise.co.uk.
Most said this was because they would like to see other guests dressed up and looking smart to suit the occasion.
Two-thirds of those questioned said they were offended by passengers who are rude to cruise staff. And 45 per cent 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, while almost half said they get most annoyed by those who hog the sun loungers.
Etiquette expert William Hanson said he understood the desire for a return to an era of formality.
He said: ‘Cruising remains an expensive means of travelling the world, and for this reason many prefer a slightly more formal approach, especially in the evenings. It is therefore always worth doing full research into the cruise you are about to book to see if it meets with your expectations.
‘There’s no point booking a family cruise and then being annoyed that there are no black tie dinners, and vice versa. Any dress code that the ship has should be adhered to and followed to the letter. No one is above the dress code.’
Seven in ten cruisers said they would like to see a return to formal evenings on board, according to a poll of 1,500 travellers
He urged passengers to pace themselves with alcohol. He said: ‘Cruisers’ legs will wobble enough as the ship glides across the ocean. There’s no need to double the wobble by going overboard with the alcohol consumption.
‘Yes, you are there to enjoy yourself but not at the expense of the enjoyment of others. That’s part of the deal with a cruise – it’s not just your holiday, it’s everyone else’s.’
Sukie Rapal, marketing director of Cruise.co.uk, said: ‘Cruising is still a highly expensive type of holiday, and this is part of what drives the urge for a return to formal standards, particularly in people of a certain age who are looking for a special occasion to dress up for.
‘If you want a really formal black tie dining experience versus a more casual affair, then it is important to make sure you pick the right ship.
‘The difficulty is that some ships blur the lines between both standards, with a mix of people walking around in black tie and others in shorts and T-shirts, which can look strange.
‘On this type of cruise, the main thing is that people respect the standards of evening dress, and don’t turn up in scruffy attire, as this can ruin the experience for everyone else.’
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