Monday, April 1, 2024

What Should I Wear on a Cruise? A Guide to Cruise Line Dress Codes

dinner attire for cruise

Resort casual is the realm of boat shoes and leather sandals and is often a gray area for would-be cruisers. For women, however, capris, sundresses and knee-length skirts are always acceptable, while men can't go wrong with khakis, golf shirts and button-ups. Take along a cardigan or an attractive pullover for cool sea breezes. Some lines specify clothing, while others offer only guidelines, leaving sartorial decisions to your best judgement. In general, however, it is best to err on the side of formality, eschewing jeans and flip-flops for something a little nicer.

Packing For Your Vacation Plans

While the name might be “formal” or “elegant” night, you won’t be out of place as long as you dress nicer than a t-shirt and shorts. Remember, the cruise lines want you to enjoy yourself and not be worried about if you should be in a tuxedo. We’ve taken dozens of cruise and know that for those unfamiliar with formal night, it can feel a bit unnerving trying to figure out the ins and outs of dressing up. At the same time, some people don’t want to dress up at all and prefer to know what other options they have. For women, you can look at wearing long sleeve dresses; even a sweater dress would be perfect for Alaska.

How to Pack your Cruise Outfits

Make sure you’re dressed when shopping onboard, playing in the casino, or having lunch at the buffet. Perhaps when you learned there would be formal nights onboard, you had nightmarish flashbacks to ill-fitting prom tuxes and figure skater-style sequin dresses. What to wear on your Caribbean shore excursions will depend on what activities and adventures you have planned. Consider packing a lightweight waterproof jacket for your days off the ship. So if you are just hanging out around the ship — having a drink in a bar, playing in the casino, watching an evening show — then you are perfectly fine dressing down. While many people participate in formal night, a considerable chunk of passengers don’t.

Does Everyone on the Ship Dress Up?

Dressier nights on a cruise, known as formal or gala evenings, allow one to dress up and celebrate. Cocktail dresses, evening gowns, tuxedos, or suits are appropriate for these occasions. It’s a chance to showcase more elegant and sophisticated attire while enjoying a special evening onboard. Dressing up on a cruise is not mandatory, but it can enhance the overall experience and add to the festive atmosphere onboard.

Daywear Onboard: Warm, Sunny Days

Cruise Etiquette: What's the Dress Code These Days? - Condé Nast Traveler

Cruise Etiquette: What's the Dress Code These Days?.

Posted: Tue, 19 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Tank tops for men, flip-flops, baseball caps and visors are not permitted in the main dining room or any of the specialty restaurants. When the hot sun is shining, shorts, T-shirts, bathing suit cover-ups, sleeveless or tank tops and casual sun dresses or maxi dresses are ideal options for cruisewear. By the pool or on any of the outside decks, expect to see just about everyone in a swimsuit. (In Europe, expect to see your fair share of Speedos!) If your ship offers recreational activities such as a rock-climbing wall or basketball court, remember to pack socks and sneakers.

PLAN FOR FUN

The dress code for formal nights on a Princess Cruise is tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits for men and evening gowns, cocktail dresses or elegant pantsuits for women. Smart-casual attire includes pants and open-neck shirts for men and skirts or dresses, slacks and sweaters for women. During formal nights, women often opt for cocktail dresses, elegant evening gowns, or dressy pantsuits. Men typically wear tuxedos, suits, or dress shirts paired with slacks and a tie.

Comfortable Shoes

dinner attire for cruise

These materials allow air to circulate, preventing you from feeling overheated. Since flip flops are not allowed in the evening, make sure to bring comfortable shoes or sandals to wear during dinner in the main room. If you’re planning on doing a lot of walking around the ship during days at sea, it’s a good idea to pack a pair of sneakers or other comfortable walking shoes. Sneakers will also be useful if you try out a fitness class or use the gym equipment in the ship’s state-of-the-art fitness center. This is an easy clothing item you can drape over your shoulders to dress up an outfit, or to warm you up if you’re outside and there is a chill in the air.

Teenagers can dress casually on a cruise most of the time, but should follow dress codes in the main dining room. Oceania and Azamara are elegant, but not formal, however Silversea does have formal nights. There are a couple of exceptions out of the mainstream cruise lines, that fall on either end of the cruise dress code spectrum. If you’re going on a tour or sightseeing shore excursion, there will likely be a lot of walking involved. Dress comfortably for the weather and make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Step into Summer: Affordable and Fabulous Sundresses for Women

This can include nice slacks, a blouse for women, khakis, and a polo shirt for men. Packing light is an essential skill when it comes to traveling, and a dinner cruise is no exception. By packing strategically and focusing on mix-and-match pieces, you can create multiple outfit options with a limited number of items.

If you are visiting any jungle environments, watch out for mosquitos. Wearing long pants or skirts can help you avoid some uncomfortable itching later. Overly faded jeans or ones with tears and holes are also not permitted in the dining rooms. If you prefer to stay very casual throughout your evening meals, you'll need to stick to the buffet and outdoor casual dining spots. If so, kids who are 12 and younger can wear nice shorts to any of Norwegian's onboard restaurants. In the worst case, even if you don’t see any notice at all, you will definitely not miss the fact that many people are dressed up when you head to dinner that evening.

If you decide that shorts and a t-shirt are as formal as you want to get, you won’t be alone. Alaska is also the perfect destination for a jumpsuit with pants or pantsuit to keep warm. Most Alaska sailings will be 7-nights long, so you can expect to have two Formal Nights during your Royal Caribbean cruise. Keeping with our theme of packing for cool weather, we’ve selected a few outfits that would be perfect for Formal Night on your cruise.

Men should consider wearing a suit and tie on Formal Night, according to Royal Caribbean’s guide. A long-sleeve collared shirt with a tie, paired with nice dress pants, can also work well on Formal Night. Again, in my experience, Europeans dress more polished and on-trend than anywhere else I’ve cruised.

So, embrace the casual nature of your cruise vacation and enjoy the freedom to dress comfortably while you explore and unwind during the day. The duration of your dinner cruise plays a significant role in determining how much clothing to pack. It’s crucial to consider the length of your trip to ensure you have enough outfits without overpacking unnecessary items.

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