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

Table Of Content

• Carnival Cruise Line
• What To Wear on a Cruise Vacation (day, evening & formal night)
• Formal night dress code for men:
• Suits and Tuxedos
• Must-Have Tips for Cruising With Babies, Toddlers, or Small Kids (From Someone That’s Done It)
• New Amex offer could get you hundreds of dollars in points for booking a Carnival cruise

You can get away with wearing jeans to the Main Dining Room on formal night. However, it’s a good idea to make sure the jeans are fairly nice and do not have any holes or rips in them. A dark-washed jean will look more formal, although you will likely not be turned away with any type of jean. Depending on the length of your cruise, there may be one or more formal nights. Each cruise line will have different guidelines on when formal nights will occur, but they will never be held on the first or last night of a cruise due to luggage handling concerns. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines.

Carnival Cruise Line

The dress is fully lined, with a padded bust area that makes bra-wearing optional. Around the top, it feels like slightly sticky rubber, so it doesn’t fall down at all, even when dancing. Of course, you could wear a strapless if you like some extra support.

What To Wear on a Cruise Vacation (day, evening & formal night)

Formal night can be the part of a cruise that you are nervous about as you don’t know what to wear. In the ultimate cruise formal night guide, I’m going to walk you through it. Sailing through the gentle waves under a starlit sky, the Princess Cruises formal nights invite you to a realm where elegance is the dress code. During the day, Viking's dress code calls for casual and comfortable attire, including shorts and jeans. Swimsuits, shorts, cover-ups and exercise attire should be reserved for poolside, in the fitness center and on the sports deck.

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Formal night dress code for men:

Whether it's bingo, buffets or ballgowns, some things are just synonymous with at-sea getaways. It's also important to note that the formal night rules are not really enforced, and there is a great deal of flexibility provided. In this video I share more information about how to plan your outfits for a 7 day cruise. It’s full of real tips that you can use as you’re planning what to wear on your upcoming cruise. If you’re cruising with kids, you can have them put a bathing suit on under their clothing.

Suits and Tuxedos

Cruise ship formal nights are often a cause for concern for many first time cruisers. Worries over what to pack and what clothing is and is not allowed can be stressful. This bracelet-sleeve lace cocktail dress features eyelash lace at the scalloped hem and an elegant v-neck at the back, making it perfect for a formal night updo. Add gold chain link earrings and kitten heel pumps for a polished evening ensemble. You don’t have to dress up for formal night on a cruise if you don’t want to. On relaxed cruises like NCL and Royal Caribbean, over half of the guests won’t dress up.

We provide expert advice, insightful reviews, and comprehensive guides to help seasoned and novice cruisers create their ideal sea journeys. Whether you desire adventure, luxury, or exploration, High Seas Cruising is your compass to unforgettable cruise vacations. Whether you are cruising to celebrate a special occasion or cruising as a family, you won’t find a better time to get your photo taken. The ship’s photographers will set up in public areas with assorted backdrops or selected backgrounds. Scenes might include an image of the ship, black velvet, or a tropical beach. This adorable striped party dress in shades of pink, champagne, light blue and navy is an unfussy formal night choice for a little girl.

We’ve also answered many frequently asked questions about formal nights on cruises, the traditions and offored suggestions showing what people might wear on formal nights. Since cruise lines can really differ on what type of attire is expected on formal nights, it’s important to check your cruise line’s dress codes to make sure you pack the appropriate cruise wear. It was common for men to be dressed in tuxedos and ladies in long evening gowns. While it used to be just for formal evening gowns and tuxedos, these days almost anything except for shorts (and sometimes even those) will pass the dress code.

New Amex offer could get you hundreds of dollars in points for booking a Carnival cruise

Formal night is certainly the most dressed up evening attire required on your Royal Caribbean cruise, but it is not as ornate as you might imagine. 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. A casual dress for ladies, or a nice pair of pants and a stylish top is perfect.

How many formal nights do cruises have?

The empire cut and ruched detailing make this dress a flattering option for ladies of every shape, from petite size 8s to plus-size 30s. With a choice of 16 different colours, there’s one to suit every skin tone. Your daily cruise planner, which is delivered to your room each night, is your go-to for daily (and nightly) happenings, including when and where they all take place. The voyage through possible mishaps prepares you to circumvent minor bumps, ensuring your evening sails smoothly into the horizon of memorable experiences. Stepping into this grand affair requires a finesse adorned in attire that resonates with the night’s royal essence.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships do not have irons in each stateroom because of the fire hazard they create. However, guests are able to have clothing pressed or dry cleaned prior to formal night. When you arrive in your stateroom on the first day of the cruise there should be a paper there with information about laundry, dry cleaning, and pressing services. Suit jackets and ties are not required, although many guests will choose to wear them. Guests looking to dress up even more can wear a tuxedo, but again, this is relatively uncommon.

There might not be a single event on a cruise that can cause as much stress as formal night. Jeans, T-shirts, shorts and tennis shoes are not allowed in any public area in the evenings, apart from the pool area. In addition, passengers who would like to participate in theme nights are encouraged (but not required) to dress according to a specific theme. Examples include the White Party, Gatsby Night or the '60s and '70s-themed Flower Glory Party. Essentially, it is clothing that is a bit nicer than you might wear on other nights of the cruise.

Following the pre-dinner events, guests proceed to the main dining room for a formal dinner experience. The dining room is often decorated to reflect the elegance of the evening, with exquisite table settings and attentive service. After dinner, passengers can attend special shows or performances tailored for formal nights, such as Broadway-style productions or live music events. Cruise ship formal nights are specific evenings during a cruise where passengers are expected to dress up in formal attire for dinner and other evening activities. These formal nights have become an integral part of cruise ship culture and offer a unique experience for passengers to indulge in elegance and glamour.

Some may opt to completely forego formal night and head to the buffet instead. That being said, you'll rarely be turned away from the ship's dining room, even if you do not dress up. Usually, you will see people wearing anything from tuxedos and ballgowns to slacks and a button-up shirt and sundress. Even if there is not, dressing up to fit the style of the restaurant is smart. So while it’s ok to dress casually at a burger joint on the ship, you’ll want to dress a little nicer if you go to the formal Italian or seafood spot for dinner.

Norwegian, for instance, you may see a night with a dress code "dress up or not" or "Norwegian's Night Out." If you don’t want to dress up for the evening, then you certainly don’t have to do so. If you decide that shorts and a t-shirt are as formal as you want to get, you won’t be alone. You’ll find people around the ship dressed up, having drinks, taking formal pictures, and enjoying dinner and a show. Think of it as a special event where many passengers have an elegant “date night” that’s more memorable than just another dinner on the ship. When packing for formal night on a cruise, I choose dresses made of wrinkle-resistant fabrics like polyester or spandex.

This gorgeous cocktail dress is a good example of a dress that you can wear on any cruise for formal night. It also fits perfectly well on any cruise line, from Princess to Celebrity Cruises and from Carnival to NCL. This flattering long cocktail dress is available in several colors, including black. It’s high neck and beautiful detail along the skirt, make this simple design a winner for any cruise line formal night.

While all of the 21 mega ships across the MSC fleet have a casual vibe, each ship has its own personality. MSC Seaside's dress code, though similar on paper to the line's other ships, has specific rules for its array of unique evening venues. You may find slight differences between the dress codes on MSC Meraviglia, MSC Magnifica, or MSC Belissima, each according to their individual offerings.