That’s pretty much me. I’m almost always a super casual dresser but I don’t mind dressing up as long as I have clothes that fit. The problem is, unless the room is really cool, I’ll be squirming all night long to take my jacket off at the table. I can wear the jacket to get in, but you better let me take it off and put in on the back of my chair! My idea of dressing up is a pair of slacks and short sleeved Tommy Bahama shirt.
What do you do for work? 
I look forward to it on the rare occasions that it happens because it’s fun. But I’m one who definitely feels like they’re wearing a costume pretty early into the evening. I’m truly a jeans, hoodie and hiking boots kind of girl.
As long as you’re happy eating in the buffet or having room service for supper, you don’t have to dress for dinner. The dress code is for the formal dining room(s). Much as I hate being in other than jeans and t-shirts, the meals and service in the dining room are worth the fuss of dressing less sloppily. And since most people seem to prefer the dining room, the buffet isn’t bad at all for supper.
For the money, you really can’t beat a cruise for a vacation. OK, I’m done hijacking my thread.
Getting dressed up for dinner out would just be an uncomfortable countdown to when I spill something down my outfit. No thanks.
I feel awkward when I get dressed up. But after it’s over, I can usually recognize that I had a good time.
I finally bit the bullet and bought some very nice fitted suits. And all the proper accoutrements.
They are still uncomfortable as hell, and I hate them. I will only wear them for funerals and weddings, if I must. The shoes alone are silly bullshit from what is practical. And the rest of the on-som is as well. Totally pointless and uncomfortable.
If I can’t shovel snow in it, or go to the beach in it, I don’t want it.
More trouble than it’s worth. I simply can’t be arsed.
I enjoy it especially because it gets my tomboyish wife into nice clothing. I wish I had a job that I could wear a suit for every day because I look so much better in one.
I don’t hate it, but getting dressed up has never done anything for me. I used to for trade shows, but not any more. Definitely for my daughters’ weddings and funerals.
When we took the QE2 36 years ago a suit was very handy. I didn’t take one on more recent cruises (Princess and NCL) and never missed it. If there was a formal night it was not heavily publicized, and the way NCL splits up dining it makes no sense anyhow.
But the big factor is that when you are packing for 10 days or two weeks, space is at an essence and a suit is not worth the other stuff I could put in my bags instead.
Hate it. “Formal” clothing for women is just flat-out physically uncomfortable, leaves way too much skin exposed (aka you freeze to death), and can be physically damaging (high heels) plus women are expected to smear their faces with makeup so I basically refuse to wear it. Mostly I wear sweats. My idea of dressing up is to wear a clean t-shirt, non-mud-covered zero drop running shoes, and try to remember to brush my hair.
I do it so rarely that I do enjoy it slightly. For me its one of those rare treats I allow myself now and then.
Why would you assume the other cruise guests are pretentious? Why assume anything about them at all?
Dining room captain and bartender at a very exclusive “City Club”.
I’m not really talking “half naked” as these dresses are mostly much longer than my typical dress. (Although, let’s face it, my typical “dress” is a tennis dress. I am normally in jeans or shorts or slacks.) Bare arms, yes. Bare legs, no. But they are not made out of warm fabrics.
The last time I ended up wearing my husband’s blazer, I was actually wearing a jacket that went with my dress. Not revealing at all. Shortsleeved, silk. Navy blue to match my dress, and the color my arms were turning.
I hate it. I rented a tux for each of my sons’ weddings. My daughter chose a less formal but my wife insisted I buy a suit for the occasion. Waste of money; maybe they can cremate me in it.
I’ve never even met anyone pretentious on a cruise. Cruises today are not 1930s musicals with music by Cole Porter, after all.
On the QE2 were were at a big table, and the Chief Engineer and Deputy Chief Engineer alternated at our table. Now that was real interesting. I do know the food for passengers is a lot better than the food for the crew.
There are different kinds of dressing up. I don’t like formal dress, on me or anyone else. It’s antiquated nonsense, and looks weird on most people. However, if I was a Cosplayer (and I’ve acted on stage where this is true too) I would love to dress up in formal attire, putting on a deliberate display, inhabiting a particular character, or evoking an era. It still feels weird, but it’s fun. Whereas in regular formal occasions I just feel self-conscious and want to leave.
The only things I dress up for these days are weddings and funerals. I only have one jacket that fits, a navy blazer. But it it is very adaptable; with dark pants, white shirt and dark tie, funerals are covered. Weddings I wear a light slacks, colorful vest and bow tie. Depending on the relationship to the betrothed, I’ll spring for a new vest and tie, and it’s like a whole new outfit. I do like getting dressed up, precisely because I do it so rarely.
Someday I will buy a new suit, but for now, interchangeable pieces are the way to go. And most of the time, the host is just glad to see me wearing a tie.
I draw the line at the shoes, however. I hate dress shoes, so no matter the occasion, I have a couple pair of clean, new skate shoes that I wear. What can I say, I am becoming a rebel in my dotage.
I don’t like getting dressed up (and now I’m retired, I can wear what I like. 
)
I did buy a smart suit for my first cruise as I felt other people would appreciate that.