# What is appropriate to wear on a cruise? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 17, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994 "2011-01-17T21:05:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/41 "2011-01-20T04:43:22Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Awww, somebody needs a little hooked on phonics! > > What that means in 3rd grade English is _there are hundreds of chairs poolside_ and _there are enough chairs for every single person on board_. Not “there are thousands of chairs by the pool”. > > Getting back to the OP…don’t forget slide-on or thong sandals for the pool! You’ll be walking a distance from your room to the pool, so you don’t want to take your slingbacks with ya 😉 why are you being so rude? you’re not even right about this, so what’s there to be so smug about? ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/42 "2011-01-20T14:56:48Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > Hey! I _was_ a bag picked up laying on a poolside chair.. Story! Must have story! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/43 "2011-01-20T15:10:09Z")
Here’s a tip I learned in Hawaii: Always keep a credit card on you. If you fall overboard, you can reflect the sun off of the little holographic square and maybe alert someone on board. Really. This only works in daytime though. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/44 "2011-01-20T18:24:29Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Few dozen chairs? I obviously haven’t been on the chintzy cruises you have. Mine have always had hundreds of chairs surrounding 3 or more pools as well as various decks and sunny spots; there are literally enough chairs for every single person on board. > > I wasn’t aware Royal moves things for people lately. Obviously that changes things. > > Also, to those recommending multiple dishes, are you nuts? The only people who I’ve seen eat multiple dishes are teenage boys and the morbidly obese. Cruise food alone makes the average person pack on a few pounds in a week (though the OP should be safe in just a few days). But the pool decks fill up fast. Princess Cruises has copped to the chair saving trick and the pool stewards will move personal items after they have been unattended for 20 minutes or more if the pool decks are busy ( basically anytime during an “at sea” day when it isn’t raining.) Then when you come back for your chair you get to “walk the gauntlet” of all the sunbathers who saw you try and fail to be a dick, then you have to hunt down you stuff at lost and found. I’m not a dick so I’ve never saved a chair although I will pick a chair then go get food from the buffet to eat poolside…never gone more than 15 minutes though. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/45 "2011-01-20T20:28:22Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Few dozen chairs? I obviously haven’t been on the chintzy cruises you have. Mine have always had hundreds of chairs surrounding 3 or more pools as well as various decks and sunny spots; there are literally enough chairs for every single person on board. Really there’s literally not. The ships I have been on have 4 pools and (I did some counting and extrapolating) and about 600-700 deck chairs total. When they are all empty and ready in the early AM they seem limitless but since these ships carry about 3000 passengers they fill up fast and there are literally not nearly enough chairs for everyone on board. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/46 "2011-01-21T18:35:09Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Few dozen chairs? I obviously haven’t been on the chintzy cruises you have. Mine have always had hundreds of chairs surrounding 3 or more pools as well as various decks and sunny spots; there are literally enough chairs for every single person on board. Pray tell, then, why you need to stake one out. [ETA: I see **Dangerosa** has already addressed this point.] ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/47 "2011-01-21T19:57:58Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Awww, somebody needs a little hooked on phonics! > > What that means in 3rd grade English is _there are hundreds of chairs poolside_ and _there are enough chairs for every single person on board_. Not “there are thousands of chairs by the pool”. > > Getting back to the OP…don’t forget slide-on or thong sandals for the pool! You’ll be walking a distance from your room to the pool, so you don’t want to take your slingbacks with ya 😉 Hooked on phonics? Seriously lady, wtf is your problem? Because the last ship I was on held 2,000 people, and other people have been on boats twice that size, suddenly I need a grammar lesson? Bwuh? And no, there clearly are not enough chairs on board for every single person on the boat or else the cruise line would not have a policy of moving the belongings of selfish dicks like yourself. This has clearly been pointed out to you in many ways by many people. Feel free to continue behaving the way you are, but you are the asshole here. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/48 "2011-01-21T20:09:44Z")
And just in case you need some sort of proof that what we are all saying, that there is no way a cruise ship has enough chairs for ever single person: [http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/deck-chair-wars-when-so-many-cruisers-turn-into-mr-and-mrs-hydes/](http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/deck-chair-wars-when-so-many-cruisers-turn-into-mr-and-mrs-hydes/) "Realistically there’s no reason for a ship to have enough chairs to allow everyone aboard to sunbathe simultaneously. " “On a recent Celebrity cruise, I noticed that the ship has posted signs stating clearly that deck chairs may be “saved” or “held” with personal belongings on them for no more than 30 minutes.” Hell, just search for “cruise ship deck chair” and you’ll find countless stories of the irritation of people walking around for hours looking for chairs when they all appear to be taken or reserved. Seems like this issue wouldn’t even occur if there were enough chairs for _literally every single person on board!_ :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/49 "2011-01-21T20:23:48Z")
**DivineComedienne** , did you get your question answered? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/50 "2011-01-21T20:56:57Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Few dozen chairs? I obviously haven’t been on the chintzy cruises you have. > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Awww, somebody needs a little hooked on phonics! > > What that means in 3rd grade English is > [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Hooked on phonics? Seriously lady, wtf is your problem? **lindsaybluth** , cut back on the snark, please. State your opinions, but knock off the nasty jabs. Others: No need to respond in kind, as this only escalates the, as has been noted in this thread on the subject of the OP, _dickish behavior_. No warnings. Play nice. **Ellen Cherry IMHO Moderator** ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/51 "2011-01-21T22:00:11Z")
On the Hawaiian cruise I took, I wore a golf shirt and non-jean pants on “formal night”. A number of people dressed up in suits, but there weren’t any tuxedos in evidence, at least not in the dining room I went to. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/52 "2011-01-22T03:56:56Z")
> [@Scuba\_Ben](#): > > Story! Must have story! All I can say **Scuba\_Ben** is I was hot, he was hot and it was hot, hot, hot. Strangely enough we lived only a couple of suburbs from each other, and saw each other for a bit. I’d tell you what ended it, but that’s a train story.. Actually a train _wreck_ story. Truly. It _is_. With a real train. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/53 "2011-01-22T05:57:21Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > **lindsaybluth** , cut back on the snark, please. State your opinions, but knock off the nasty jabs. Well, if we’re playing fair, I did not start things whatsoever. post #13: > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > OP, also make sure you bring a small pool bag you don’t mind stolen (worst case scenario). Here’s why: during the day when you’re poolside, you wanna go right after breakfast (or before, if you sleep in) to get a good chair poolside. You want to claim it with your bag; a towel can be tossed aside, a bag must be picked up and moved which people won’t/don’t do. > > There are tons of chairs, but the primo ones get taken quickly. As soon as you board I would scope out all the pools to figure out which you want to be nearby. Pick a spot in the sun or shade, your preference. > > Do take more than 1 swimsuit. > > Have fun! Here were the subsequent two responses: post #14 > [@treis](#): > > Do not do this. There may be other dicks that claim chairs in this manner, but you don’t have to be one of them. post #15 > [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > I agree, it’s a dick move. And here was mine: post #18 > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > You’re not saving twenty seats in the bleachers of a ball game; you’re saving one chair for yourself. Notice how I did not criticize them or call their their choices/opinions “dicks”. They did. Then, **Onomatopoeia** cleared the whole matter up with this: > [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > This is actually a bad idea, especially on Royal Caribbean, as they’ve instituted a policy of not saving deck chairs after many, many complaints. They will now move your stuff. **ladyfoxfyre** responded with this: > [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > And the pool does not have bleacher-style stadium seating, it has a few dozen chairs that are meant to be used by people who are actually…uh…at the pool. Still a dick move. Again, she affirms the rudeness. I said this: > [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Few dozen chairs? I obviously haven’t been on the chintzy cruises you have. Mine have always had hundreds of chairs surrounding 3 or more pools as well as various decks and sunny spots; there are literally enough chairs for every single person on board. > > I wasn’t aware Royal moves things for people lately. **Obviously that changes things.** So the matter should have been closed as in, I was no longer advocating it because of Royal’s new policy. While I was by no means polite, the word “chintzy” is by no means in the same ballpark as the repeated use of the word “dick”. The matter should have been closed, and yet… > [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > I was just throwing out one figure that I knew to be the case based on the past couple cruises I have been on. But I doubt there are 4,000 lounge chairs next to the pool either 😉 She continues with the snark/rudeness. Third time. Which I do, of course, finally retaliate with, as you cited in your posts. But I was not the one to use the word “dick” nor to initiate the snark. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/54 "2011-01-22T08:56:56Z")
Don’t go near the ship’s pool! There’s snarks!!! ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/55 "2011-01-22T14:49:33Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > Don’t go near the ship’s pool! > > There’s snarks!!! “Umm… room-service… Ah…Candy-gram…?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/56 "2011-01-22T18:39:23Z")
Is a land-shark costume too casual for dinner? ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/57 "2011-01-22T20:06:09Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > She continues with the snark/rudeness. Third time. > > Which I do, of course, finally retaliate with, as you cited in your posts. But I was not the one to use the word “dick” nor to initiate the snark. LOL. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/58 "2011-01-22T22:06:40Z")
> [@DivineComedienne](#): > > Ay-yi-yi, I had no idea this was so complicated! I just thought I’d hang out and read a book by the pool all day, have a quiet casual dinner at night and go to bed. You can. Last time we went on a cruise (Princess Cruises), one couple at our table were on their 19th cruise or something like that so they got all the inside info, special receptions, whatever. They mentioned something like more than half of cruisers actually never even see the formal dining room. They just do cafeteria, room service, or other places and just skip the dressing up part. Occasionally someone will get uppity about dress in even the informal parts of the ship but, as **WhyNot** astutely points out, she’s probably a bitch anyway. I wouldn’t wear my Big Johnson tee-shirt but plenty of people walking around in jeans and a hoodie. > [@Gary\_T](#): > > There may be a half dozen entrees. The portions are on the modest side. If you or your hubby want a good-sized meal, or you really want both the fish and the steak, this is the thing to know: you may have more than one. Heck, you can get three of one and two of another, or four different ones. You can mix and match too. Princess’ Fettuccine Alfredo was fantastic and was available every night should you not like their rotating entrees. Stuff was so good, though, we got frustrated that we were missing out on decent dishes so the servers allowed everybody at the table to order the pasta for the Appetizer. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/59 "2011-01-23T00:06:28Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > You can mix and match too. Princess’ Fettuccine Alfredo was fantastic and was available every night should you not like their rotating entrees. Stuff was so good, though, we got frustrated that we were missing out on decent dishes so the servers allowed everybody at the table to order the pasta for the Appetizer. This is a good point, a lot of the food is available as an appetizer portion, so don’t be afraid to ask. Also, if you have one meal that is really good, you can make a special request the day before and they will most likely be able to accommodate you. ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994/60 "2011-01-23T22:09:47Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Well, if we’re playing fair, I did not start things whatsoever. > > post #13: > > Here were the subsequent two responses: > > post #14 > > post #15 > > And here was mine: > > post #18 Notice how I did not criticize them or call their their choices/opinions “dicks”. They did. > > Then, **Onomatopoeia** cleared the whole matter up with this: > > **ladyfoxfyre** responded with this: Again, she affirms the rudeness. > > I said this: > > So the matter should have been closed as in, I was no longer advocating it because of Royal’s new policy. While I was by no means polite, the word “chintzy” is by no means in the same ballpark as the repeated use of the word “dick”. The matter should have been closed, and yet… > > She continues with the snark/rudeness. Third time. > > Which I do, of course, finally retaliate with, as you cited in your posts. But I was not the one to use the word “dick” nor to initiate the snark. so, in other words, “SHE[ladyfoxfyre] started it!!” really? also, you skimmed over [this post of yours](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13374126&postcount=38) where you go from snarkiness to just being rude. you didn’t even get a warning, just a mod note to cut it out. you’re acting childish. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-appropriate-to-wear-on-a-cruise/567994.md?page=2)