Is there a Bon Vivant trapped inside you?

When I strolled past the onboard art auction, I saw my son's friend Leos, looking dapper in a slim-cut suit, toasting champagne with a group of ladies a bit older than he.

Leos was no longer the casually dressed college kid from back home but a Bon Vivant living large and in charge, a young millionaire on the Riviera, an honest version of Cary Grant's character from "To Catch a Thief."

To some extent, I suppose he was playing dress up, as he might for the Renaissance Fair or "Rocky Horror Picture Show" midnight screenings, and he'd purchased his new suit to make a splash on that cruise, but he brought magic to that event and the rest of the evening not only for himself but to those new acquaintances who all wanted a taste of the good life they'd seen in old movies.

Following the "freestyle" lead of Norwegian Cruise Line, most cruise lines have relaxed their dress codes to attract a wider audience, often abandoning formal nights for country club casual or no dress code at all.

While many embrace this change as less restrictive, some people consider it slouching toward mediocrity.

They cherish the ritual of dressing to the nines for a steak and lobster dinner followed by a festive evening among other elegantly dressed revelers.

If you think you missed your shot at the Golden Age of Cruising when formal balls punctuated romantic evenings in posh surroundings, think again.

Cunard Cruise Line gives you all that and more on three modern, luxurious ocean liners.

Not only do they have two to four formal nights during an average week at sea, they add twists like Masquerade, Roaring Twenties, British Royals or even Buccaneer themes.

Obviously, this is not for everyone, but that's the terrific thing about cruising today: we can find a cruise that is exactly right for YOU.

Other factors besides dress codes influence cruise selection.

Queen Victoria's Royal Court Theatre

Cunard carries a distinctively British flair and attracts a more international crowd that appreciates sophisticated entertainment in luxurious venues.

Children are welcome, but this is not a Disney Cruise. It is geared toward sophisticated adults, people who enjoy cultural enlightenment and stimulating conversations with other informed guests as much as they enjoy fine cuisine and ballroom dancing.

Cunard is quick to point out that Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth are ocean liners, not cruise ships.

They've been designed to slice through oceans at higher speeds and with less roll than cruise ships. 

They've been designed, in fact, to glide through long expanses of ocean, hearkening back to their heritage as the pioneer in transatlantic crossings, which started as intercontinental mail service at record-breaking speed and gradually added well-heeled passengers who wanted fast passage between America and Europe.

By the late 19th Century, Cunard ships were carrying many of our ancestors to Ellis Island. 

Today, Queen Mary 2's Transatlantic Crossings remain their best-known itinerary, but the Queens also make epic World Cruises and European cruises.

Perhaps you were not aware that they also do a limited number of Canada/New England cruises and, in winter, cruise to the Caribbean roundtrip from New York City.

Cunard is obviously a more natural choice on the East Coast, but people from other parts of the country should consider a trip to the Big Apple followed by a Cunard cruise for a sophisticated twist on the Caribbean.

Speaking of the Caribbean, I invite you to to explore Which Caribbean Island's Best for You?

If Cunard seems to be a dream come true, there are some deals right now that can make this dream immanently affordable, surprisingly so for such quality. 

And if you think you might not be quite ready for Cunard, consider that my friend Tom, who's been known to wear bandanas on his head that don't match his board shorts on Caribbean cruises called his voyage on Cunard the best vacation ever. You don't have to get dressed up all the time to relish a touch of class.

Cheerio