This Postcard Patter is all about the formal night aboard your cruise. Now, I have been fortunate enough to have travelled on many cruises and for me a highlight of the cruise for me and my family, particularly my 5 year old son who loves donning a dinner suit, is formal night. On my most recent cruise, there was no formal night per se and it afforded a really laid back vibe for our holiday and my husband particularly enjoyed not packing his suit carrier! There are cruises were informal is the way forward and even on other cruise lines which have a dedicated formal night, you do not need to get dressed up. However, if you are new to cruising, I hope that this blog inspires you to look forward to your first formal night. If like me, you are already passionate cruising, I hope to reignite your formal night fires, give you an opportunity to reminisce your favourite formal night memories.

Formal night; a time to embrace your inner Grace Kelly or Sean Connery, go on, even though your day to day attire may be more Miami Beach, formal night is one of the most magical evenings aboard your cruise, so embrace it. Cruising dated back to an era of sophistication and glamour, you dressed for dinner and the tradition of formal night really does sweep you back to romance of those days; generations aboard come together for the splendour of the evening, laughter and good times resonate the bars and entertainment areas and it really is spellbinding.

The anticipation of formal night builds during the day; the spa aboard is a hive of activity and excitement as guests have booked in to have their hair styled in that ‘special way’ or for those hands to be treated to a relaxing manicure – you’re on holiday and you deserve it! All cruises lines offer a laundry service for those last minute pressing of the all-important suits. For the gentlemen, a suit is required, now for some, the sophisticated dinner suit along with the waistcoat and bow tie are the preferred choice, however, you can wear a dark suit and tie and channel a more modern look. Children aboard are not to be left out, it so heart-warming to see the beaming smiles of boys in their suits, admiring their reflections in the enchanting glass interiors of the various elevators.

Ladies, formal night is a wonderful opportunity to wear an outfit, perhaps one that you have dreamt of or have in the wardrobe but have not had to the occasion to do so yet, well this is it. The fashion world really is your oyster; ankle length or cocktail dress, the array of dresses are mesmerising in their beauty. With the flashing lights of the endless cameras, it is really like walking onto a film set of Hollywood days gone by or the first night premieres of the latest blockbuster. Little girls become princesses for the night; Cinderella and Belle are no contest to the little cruisers, their excitement is infectious.

So, you are in your finery, glamour and grace oozing from every strut, what else does formal night mean? Well, it often coincides with a special, sumptuous feast aboard the ship’s restaurants. The popping of champagne bottles is accompanied with delicacies such as lobster or Beef Wellington. Cruise ships with on-board speciality chefs have delicious menus designed by their namesake for example Marco Pierre White. The restaurant truly encapsulates the elegance of formal night; the waiting staff wearing their finest waistcoats, even the finer details of luxury blooms adorning the dining tables add to the excitement.

With your culinary appetite satisfied, you might wish to indulge in some top class entertainment, perhaps a show in the theatre, listening to your favourite music in a bar or just people watching in the atrium. Formal night is the in pinnacle of any cruise and the Cruise Director will ensure that the entertainment aboard is suitably fitting for such a special evening; an exhilarating West End style show or an awe inspiring classical score in an opulent bar. For the young at heart, the ship’s nightclub provides an uplifting and vibrant venue to dance away the hours.

So, there you go, formal night aboard a cruise ship; does it live up to expectations? Absolutely! Nowhere else can you be voyaging to your next amazing destination whilst being embraced by fine dining, word class entertainment and an atmosphere which is intoxicating and exhilarating in equal measure. On that note, I am off to perfect my Martini making skills – shaken but not stirred!