cruise ship dress code

I was on a cruise ship and had access to the concierge lounge. We were given the rules associated with the lounge. The rule regarding the dress code included a statement "no short pants permitted after 5:00p.m.". The rule did not elaborate as to whether this applies to men only or to both men and women. I entered the concierge lounge one day with my group around 4:00 p.m. wearing short pants. My girlfriend was wearing plain brown short pants approximately the same length as my short pants. We began eating the food. Shortly after 5:00p.m. the man in charge of the lounge came up to me advising that I must change into long pants. I noticed that a woman was wearing short pants. I indicated to the man that this woman and my girlfriend were also wearing short pants and asked why they were not told to change their short pants (for example to a skirt or dress) since the rule does not specify gender. He did not provide an answer other than to say that I must change or I would be escorted out of the lounge. My question is was I correct in disputing his interpretation of the rule although the rule did not specifically state that "no short pants permitted" applies only to men?

Honor the spirit of the guidelines; don't split hairs over the letter of it. All of you should have been sent packing.

Legs showing on a woman is usually perfectly acceptable in most any situation. On a man, as you found out, not as much.

I would have assumed it applied only to men.

To spagal, perhaps the spirit of the guidelines should be that there not be any sex discrimination and that everyone should be treated equally in so far as providing an elegant atmosphere to the lounge i.e. if men must wear long pants than women should have to wear skirts or dresses and not be accepted wearing plain shorts which looked less dressy than what I was wearing.

To cordelli, its not about legs showing on a woman, its about creating an elegant atmosphere which should be applied to both men and women.

Women can be elegant in shorts if they choose the right ones as we have seen time and time again on red carpets. Men don't have a chance.

No, I don't believe quibbling over the wording of the policy was correct in that situation. You should've known the intent of said policy in advance and I for one am happy to see these sorts of policies being gently enforced.

We were on HAL's Eurodam in January and had access to the Concierge Lounge. One passenger entered and sat there in her bathrobe on at least two mornings. I found that tacky. I didn't complain about it but I wouldn't have done it. There are threads with emotional debates about what's appropriate to wear in F as well. In hotel executive lounges I'll make a point of not wearing shorts or jeans after 5:00 p.m. YMMV.

I removed several posts that were off-topic for this thread. Please stick to the question as posted in the original post.

Thank you,
l'etoile
sr. moderator

I'd be curious to know which line you were using. I have been in conceirge lounges in the past and have never seen (or heard) any mention of a dress code, before, or after, a particular time of day. Although I am not generally in shorts in the evening, that could be the reason why I missed not being told same.

I am glad to see a cruise line enforce their own dress code policy (I won't get into the fact that I'm personally glad it doesn't seem to apply to women, I can look at non-hairy legs all day).

I've been on many cruise lines and generally they don't enforce their own dress code. While I'm OK with them being "liberal" on formal nights, when the dress code says no shorts in the main dining room, to have men (and women) walk past the matre'd without a word just doesn't make sense. Enforce the dress code or do away with it.

As a side note, what did your female companion think about you trying to throw her under the bus?

The cruise ship was Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean). There is a cafe (not the dining area or Windjammer) where it is acceptable for men to wear shorts for breakfast (I don't know about after 5:00pm). However, sleeveless shirts on men are not permitted. The reason for this I was told was because of men's underarm hair that may land in someone's food. I never wear these kind of shirts. However, my girlfriend's son came into the cafe one day and was told to leave because of the sleeveless shirt he was wearing. I certainly don't want anyone's arm hair, or hair from anywhere in my food, but isn't it more likely that hair from someone's head, particularly long hair is more likely to land in someone's food than from someone's underarm? Also, some men shave under their arm, should they be permitted in? Also, what about many european women who do not shave under their arm annd wear sleeveless tops, should they not be permitted in?

I'm always one of those jerks the will nitpick poorly worded policies, and scratch my head about confusing ones. For instance I was at a bar and they had a rule about "no jean shorts" I saw them turn a guy away in jean shorts while there was a guy standing next to me with cloth shorts on. I have no idea why the material makes any difference, but the jeans shorts were being worn by a black guy and the cloth shorts by a white guy. I pray that was just coincidence.

To RickT, I think you have it backwards. I wasn't trying to throw her under the bus since that would mean that I wanted her removed from the lounge and not me. I was merely implying that either everyone who was wearing shorts should be forced to change or no one should have to change.

I would have asked him to call the Captain. If it was an American line (or to/from American waters) - you are perfectly correct in that they cannot discriminate. Whether some would rather see the legs of women rather than yours is not relevant.

I would have stood my ground, let him "escort me out" with a picture of the lounge and then filed against him.

I have a friend on the Cunard where similar happened and he came back wearing his kilt.

I have done this in situation "shoes and socks required" where I wear sandals. The women are obviously not wearing hose or stockings and have open toe shoes. I have a pedicure every week and my nails look better than most women. I threatened to publish the photos and video and got a free trip from the line.

My "men only" health club in Chicago was forced to allow women and now I note there are several "women only". We have had the DA threaten prosecution.

Fred

I noted in recent years in the lounges at Ritzs and 4seasons that many women wear robes in for breakfast. As S&G said, the times they are a changing