Because you might need everything from tennis shorts to a tuxedo and night dresses to evening dresses, packing light for a cruise has always been a challenge. And since most cruise lines now offer a greater mix of formal, informal and casual evenings at sea, it has become even more difficult to decide what to pack.
On most cruises during a standard 7 night cruise 2 out of 7 nights would be formal attire in the main restaurant for dinner. Most cruises ships give you the option of choosing to participate - if you do not wish to then simply eat in one of the other restaurants on board. In all cases shorts and t-shirts are not permitted in the main restaurant for dinner.
During the day however in all cases it is the norm to dress as you would in a regular hotel beach resort. For excursions sensible shoes, a hat and sunglasses are advisable to get the most out of your adventures. There is no need to worry about taking towels for the beach as these are usually available from the poolside areas.
Here is a rundown on evening dress codes for some of the most popular cruise lines:
This cruise line is strictly informal and brings the freedom of a regular beach holiday on board for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are no set dining times and tables to sit at. The main restaurants are self service style buffet restaurants and there are some speciality restaurants where one pays a small cover charge and makes a reservation. In this case you would dress as you would for a smart restaurant at home. Look out for the 24 hour dining restaurant. This cruise line does not hold any formal evening s on board.
Their motto is “The cruise for People who don't do cruises". That says it all and the approach to attire on board is the same as Island cruises. Although bare feet, bare chests and swimwear in the restaurants are frowned upon. This cruise line does not hold any formal evenings on board.
This cruise lines takes the traditional approach to attire on board. In the evenings it is preferred that gentlemen wear a jacket although open necked shirt would suffice. Smart jeans, trousers and shoes are acceptable. For the formal or gala evenings a dinner suit or regular business suit would be required for the gentlemen and a cocktail dress or trouser / skirt suit would be suitable for the ladies.
"Truly Italian" is the motto of this cruise line with the traditional approach to formal, smart casual and casual attire. However the average Italian is known for designer labels, the latest in smart casual wear and glitzy glamorous evening wear. Dinner suits are not the norm on formal nights but sharp business suits and coordinates up to the eyeballs are. Cuisine on board is typically Mediterranean style and there is a choice to opt out and dine in the buffet restaurant if you wish.
Freestyle cruising – their tag line says it all. Do as you please you can take or leave the formality during the formal nights on board. There are no set dining times and tables to sit at – but there is a magnificent choice of restaurants to choose from. On board you find that restaurants are either self service buffet style or dine by reservation and so the dress code approach would be that of either dressing to go to a Pizza hut or dressing to go to a smart restaurant. For some (not all) of the dine by reservation restaurants on board there is a cover charge. Look out for the Teppenyaki oriental restaurants on board.
The approach to attire is that of many cruise lines with a couple of formal evenings per week in the main restaurant - where Dinner suits or regular business suits are suitable for the men. Cocktail dresses or skirt / trouser suits are suitable for the ladies. Alternatively opt out of formality an eat in the varied Windjammer buffet restaurants. Look out for the Chops Grill speciality restaurants on board for mouth watering melt in your mouth steaks.
On formal evenings, for ladies this is the opportunity to wear something dressy and glamorous such as a cocktail dress. For gentlemen dinner suit or regular suit and tie is fine. For informal evening’s men choose to wear any thing from jackets, open necked shirts, polo shirts and jeans. For smart casual evenings open necked shirt and trousers for the men (jackets not required) and for the ladies casual separates or dresses. P&O request that sportswear (eg: track suits / trainers) are not worn in the evening.
P&O offers 3 dining options on board: Freedom dining which is any time dining without a set table and dining time. Club dining is for the traditional set dining table and time. Finally select dining which is dining in speciality restaurants where one pays a small charge and makes a reservation.
Cunard is usually considered as extremely formal although you can get away with not having to wear a suit at all on board. However a Cunard cruise is an occasion and the chance to step out and dress up. The advice would be to go with the flow and wear dinner suits and cocktail dresses on formal nights, perhaps take a regular business suit for semi formal nights and some trendy casual jackets, shoes and trousers for the med and skirt / trouser suits for the ladies on smart casual nights. On the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria there are main restaurants, buffet restaurants and dine by reservation restaurants to give you lots of choice and freedom.
Formal dress or resort wear is required in the dining room. Proper formal attire includes a tuxedo, suit and tie, or jacket, tie and trousers. For women, evening gowns, cocktail dresses and trouser suits are appropriate. Casual resort wear includes sport shirts and slacks, skirts and trouser suits. Shorts, T-shirts and bathing attire are not permitted in the dining room during dinner. For those guests who do not want to dress up, the Lido restaurants have a more casual dress code. Look out for the 24 hour pizzeria.
During 'smart casual' dining evenings, guests should dress as they would for a fine restaurant at home. This includes pants and open-neck shirts for men, and skirts or dresses, slacks and sweaters for ladies. T-shirts, shorts, halter tops and jeans are not permitted in the dining room and shoes must be worn at all times. Formal evenings in the dining room require a tuxedo, slacks with dinner jacket, or suit for men. Women should wear evening gowns and cocktail dresses.
Comfortable, relaxed clothing is appropriate for designated 'casual' evenings. This includes jackets and optional ties for men, and dresses or trouser suits for women. T-shirts, swimsuits, tank tops and shorts are not allowed in the dining room, Pinnacle Grill, Lido Restaurant or public areas during evening hours. Swimwear is suitable for dining at the Terrance Grill near the pool. On formal evenings, suits and tuxedos are suggested for men; women wear cocktail dresses and gowns.
CRYSTAL CRUISES
The Crystal dress code applies to all public areas of the ship after 6 p.m. Proper attire for formal evenings includes dresses and gowns of fashionable length for ladies, and a tuxedo, dinner jacket or dark suit and tie for gentlemen. Informal attire is appropriate for most nights on board the ship. For ladies, evening dresses, cocktail dresses or pantsuits are fine. Men should wear sport coats and slacks, with ties optional. Casual nights are based on days in port and the time of departure. On casual evenings, more relaxed attire is appropriate, including casual dresses and pantsuits for women, sport shirts and trousers for men. Jackets and ties are not required.
Formal night attire includes a tuxedo, dinner or dark suit for men and evening gown or fancy dress for ladies. Informal nights feature a jacket and tie with trousers for men and informal dress or trousers and blouse for ladies. Gentlemen are welcome to wear a polo shirt and trousers, while ladies can wear a trouser suit or sporty outfit, on casual nights. Specialty restaurant dining requires a jacket and tie for men and dress or trouser and blouse for women every night. Jeans, shorts and casual daywear are allowed in all dining venues before 6 p.m.
Country club casual (resort-style attire) is fine for daytime on board the ship and ashore, but shorts are not appropriate after 6 p.m. in any of the public rooms or lounges. Depending on the itinerary, evening attire also can be country club casual, informal (sport coat and tie recommended for men), or formal (black tie optional). The dress code for Alaska, Bermuda and Tahiti sailings is always country club casual. Bathing suits and beachwear is not allowed in the restaurants at any time.
THE YACHTS OF SEABOURN
Guests aboard the luxury ships of Seabourn experience the special atmosphere of formal evenings and the more informal ambience of other nights. On formal nights, tuxedos and dark suits are appropriate for men; evening gowns or other formal attire are recommended for women. Elegant casual evenings feature slacks with a jacket over a sweater or shirt for men; sundresses, skirts or pants with a sweater or blouse for women. Casual wear is welcomed in the Veranda Cafe on evenings when dinner is served there. This includes slacks and a sweater or shirt for gentlemen; skirts or slacks with a sweater or blouse for women.
