How to Dress for Dinner: Formal Cruise Dresses 2024 Style Guide

formal dress cruise dinner

Don't get me wrong, there were definitely some people dressed to the nines; however, there were just as many people sporting casual attire, such as shorts and t-shirts. In fact, the first night of the cruise tends to be the most casual. It's hard for cruise lines to implement any kind of dress code or theme, as bags can sometimes be delayed, and passengers will have to go to dinner in their embarkation clothes. Like the name implies, formal night is the evening on the cruise when guests tend to put on their best, rather than wearing something more casual to the ship's dining room. As we mentioned above, if you don’t want to change out of your shorts and t-shirt on formal night (or any other night of the cruise), the buffet is a great dinnertime option. From reading this, it may seem like a tuxedo and evening gown are the standard outfits that most passengers will be wearing on formal night.

Do You Have to Dress Up Every Night on a Cruise?

On short cruises of five nights or less, there may be no formal night. Some cruise lines have very relaxed attitudes to formal nights, and you’ll find that many people opt to wear casual clothes on these nights. Usually, each evening will be designated as either casual or formal and most people choose to wear the attire that suits the dress code for that night. During the golden age of ocean liners, guests staying in first class cabins were required to wear formal attire after 6 PM in all public areas of the ship. In the early decades of modern cruise travel, women wore evening gowns and men donned white tie in the evenings. Bathing suits are likewise not permitted in the ship's restaurants and lounges; shirts and shoes must be worn in all indoor public areas.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The number of formal nights varies based on the length of your cruise. The rule of thumb is that a week-long cruise will have two formal nights during the trip (i.e. Day 2 and Day 5). For instance, instead of the main dining room you can head to the buffet or one of the 24-hour restaurants around the ship.

Designer Cruise Dresses

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. Deciding what to wear on a cruise port day, will depend on your plans and excursions. If you’re going to the beach, you can wear a bathing suit under a light sundress or cover up.

Some dress codes can be “resort casual,” “smart casual,” or “formal” for certain events or daytime wear. Even if casual dress is allowed in the dining room during formal night, you might feel out of place with others wearing suits or evening gowns. Just as the name implies, formal night is the evening on the cruise when the dress code goes from the casual style that’s normal around the ship to more elegant.

Norwegian Cruises Dress Code: It's Freestyle, So Just Do You

Anything from unripped jeans to dress pants with nice blouses or button-downs is acceptable. If the dinner cruise has a casual dress code, you have more flexibility in your outfit choices. However, it’s still important to dress neatly and avoid wearing anything too casual or sloppy. For men, a pair of khaki pants or dress slacks paired with a button-down shirt is a great option.

Hip-Hugging Royal Blue Gown

formal dress cruise dinner

Cruise lines and luxury cruise lines are your place to make a statement with the type of designer cruise gowns and styles you bring along with you. Staying on top of the trends is another factor to consider when finding the right cruise ship dresses. Typically, there are one or two dinners aboard the ship that require formal wear, mainly dinners. Depending on how long your cruise is, there will be somewhere between one and three dinner nights where formal wear is the dress code. Other events that may require you to dress up formally could be the casino or shows.

Hawaii Cruises

It’s easy to wear a bra with this dress and it’s flowy around the middle so you don’t feel squeezed in. She’ll feel like a princess on formal night with this long-sleeved tutu dress featuring 3D appliqué flowers. Pair it with sparkly flats and a jeweled headband to amp up the fairytale look. This sleek charcoal sheath dress features ruching at the waist and an embellished halter neckline that adds just a hint of sparkle. Add a pair of black strappy heels and a crystal cuff bracelet to complete your formal night look.

formal dress cruise dinner

What is Considered Formal Wear?

Biggest Packing Regret on My First Cruise: Formal Dress - Business Insider

Biggest Packing Regret on My First Cruise: Formal Dress.

Posted: Tue, 18 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

For women, dresses, or skirts or slacks with sweaters or blouses are recommended. Jeans are not permitted in dining venues, apart from the World Cafe. The dress code at Remy, the other adults-only specialty restaurant (only on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy), is a bit dressier.

Flip-flops for men in the dining room generally aren’t allowed. A good guideline is to dress as you would at a nice restaurant at home. For men, this can include dress pants or khakis and a nice polo, short or long sleeve buttoned shirt. For ladies, a casual dress or pants with a pretty top is perfect.

Comes in a ton of different colors, but is the most expensive dress on the list at $120. To learn more about what sort of dress is and isn’t allowed during formal night you can read our article here. There might not be a single event on a cruise that can cause as much stress as formal night. Below, we’ve covered some of the most frequent questions about formal night on a cruise.

Whether you’re shopping for cocktail dresses for cruises or you just wanted a bit more advice on evening cruise wear and how enforced the rules are, I hope this guide has helped. This stunning long evening gown is covered with intricate sequin detailing. It would make the perfect formal night dress for women of all ages, suiting everybody from teenagers up to 50 plus, 60 plus and beyond. As long as you don’t have dinner in the main dining room or a specialty restaurant with a formal night dress code, you don’t need to dress up for formal night.

It’s a chance for passengers on the ship to put on their best and have an evening out that feels more special than just going to grab dinner in the dining room. Smart casual also strongly discourages jeans -- even nice ones. On cruises that depart from the U.S., expect a more casual vibe, with jeans, T-shirts and bathing suits ruling the day. At night, you'll be fine with nice jeans and a collared shirt or a sundress, although you might want to dress up a bit more to match the ship's ambiance. If you’re tired after a long day of cruising or you’re just not feeling in the mood to dress up, there are always alternatives for passengers, and you won’t be alone. This is your night to shine in cocktail dresses or floor length gowns.

While the main dining room is the spot for formal eating during the evening, you won’t go hungry if you decide not to take part in dressing up. Every cruise ship offers a number of different places to eat, with many casual dining options for those who aren’t getting fancy for the evening. 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.

This fun dress just screams “cruise” while also being perfect for formal night. There are a variety of colors, but none as perfect as this coral one for only $30. If you’re going on your first cruise, figuring out what to wear for the formal events can feel like a daunting task. There’s the Captain's dinner, dinner in the main dining room, and other snazzy cruise events you want to stand out for. Specifically, if you plan to visit any of the higher-end specialty restaurants on the ship, such as the steakhouse, then there may be a dress code. As well, there are almost always announcements from the cruise director throughout the day sharing what is going on during the day and evening.

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