To Dress Up or Not: Guide to What to Wear on Cruise Formal Night

Table Of Content

• What Should I Wear on a Cruise? A Guide to Cruise Line Dress Codes
• What is Considered Formal Wear?
• Norwegian Cruise Line dress code
• Classic Sleeved Long Gown
• Discover the magic of a Disney Parks family vacation from one of our knowledgeable online panelists.
• Heading to Port? The 9 Must-Have Things to Bring With You
• Best Dresses for Cruise Formal Night

For women, a waterproof trench coat or a rain jacket paired with pants or a skirt is a practical choice. Choose footwear that is waterproof and has good traction to prevent slipping on wet surfaces. Men can opt for a waterproof jacket or coat, paired with pants or jeans. Waterproof boots or shoes with rubber soles are ideal for navigating through wet conditions.

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

Most cruise ships have formal nights because guests enjoy dressing up, enjoying fine dining and having professional photos taken. Most cruise ships are elegantly styled and it’s nice to dress up in a glamorous way to match your surroundings and have a fun evening. On Carnival cruise formal nights, known as "cruise elegant" nights, cruisers wear everything from slacks with nice shirts to tuxes and ball gowns. However, most passengers stick to clothes that fall somewhere in the middle.

What is Considered Formal Wear?

The answer is that it is far more likely to be enforced in specialty restaurants than in other venues. You may also find that the shorter the cruise, the less formal even formal night becomes onboard. Where the ship sails may also play a role in how passengers tend to dress. For example, the overall dress code on Carnival Legend sailing a Canada/New England itinerary is more likely to be dressier than a three-day getaway cruise from Sydney on Carnival Splendor. All other nights are listed as "smart casual," which means sundresses or pants with flowy tops for women and nice jeans or slacks with collared shirts for men will suffice.

Norwegian Cruise Line dress code

Formal Cunard Dress Code Still a Great Fit on Cruises - Cruise Critic

Formal Cunard Dress Code Still a Great Fit on Cruises.

Posted: Sun, 12 Jun 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Plus, the ruched bodycon style will enhance your curves and give you a more flattering figure. As with most dresses with glitter or sequin, some reviewers do complain about it being itchy. When preparing for your upcoming cruise, you will want to make sure that you have an outfit for formal night. For just $40, you have your option of more than a dozen colors and will look stunning on your cruise. Guests may also choose to get their hair styled or get a manicure prior to formal night. The salon onboard in the Vitality Spa has services including updos, blowouts, shampoo and style dry, manicures, and pedicures.

If you’re taking a seven-night cruise, the second formal night might be the second-to-last evening of the sailing. The number of formal nights on a given cruise will depend on the length of the cruise and the cruise line you’re sailing. With that being said, here’s a general guideline of what you can expect (but check your specific cruise line for the exact answer). Each cruise line has its own definition of what formal night attire entails, so to give you an idea here’s what a few cruise lines say you should wear.

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Even on cruises with a formal night, guests' attitudes towards it may be more relaxed. Norwegian, for instance, you may see a night with a dress code "dress up or not" or "Norwegian's Night Out." A five-night cruise or shorter will likely have one formal night. Expect two on a six to eight-day voyage, and two or three on a voyage that’s nine to 13 days long. If you’re on a two-week cruise or longer, plan for at least three to four formal nights or more.

Royal Caribbean to Retain Formal Night on Longer Cruises - Cruise Critic

Royal Caribbean to Retain Formal Night on Longer Cruises.

Posted: Wed, 09 Oct 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Discover the magic of a Disney Parks family vacation from one of our knowledgeable online panelists.

Tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits for men and gowns or cocktail dresses for women are suggested for formal nights. Note that formal nights are always optional on the line's weeklong sailings in the Baltic, Mediterranean and Alaska. Men may wear slacks with collared dress shirts or sweaters, but jackets are optional. Women should choose dresses, pantsuits or skirts or slacks with nice tops. Women have quite a few more options than men when it comes to outfits for formal night.

You can also consider adding a pocket square or a stylish tie clip to elevate your look. In this post, I’ll explain everything you need to know about formal nights on a cruise, how they work, and what you will need to wear. Each cruise line is different, so I will help break down the dress code of the major cruise lines. A casual dress code means includes casual pants or nice jeans for men (no holes), along with a nice shirt or polo.

Best Dresses for Cruise Formal Night

The most popular clothing is cruise casual, and passengers are free to wear whatever they'd like with an emphasis on comfort. Celebrity Cruises maintains a dress code that's best described as chic-casual. The demographic on board tends to be a bit more upscale than what you'll find on Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian. That means khaki shorts with nice button-downs are more common than jean shorts and tank tops, although you won't be out of place in the latter. Khaki pants or shorts with loose-fitting, short-sleeve, button-down shirts or even nice, plain T-shirts work well for men. Women might opt for khaki shorts or palazzo pants with a nice top or a sundress.

Jeans are welcome in all dining venues during the day, but they're not appropriate in any public venues for dinner or cocktail hour. The dress code on Regent Seven Seas ranges from casual to formal. But in the evenings, the dress code is almost always elegant casual, with the exception of the final evening of each cruise (which is casual). Think of our formal dress code as a night out in your best black-tie look — suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns are all acceptable options.

In the dining rooms, items such as shorts, pool wear and baseball caps are not permitted; shoes must be worn at all times. Jeans are permitted as long as they aren't fraying and don't have holes. 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. If you’re someone with a petite figure and don’t want to be swallowed up in a large gown, this is the perfect dress.

When preparing for a dinner cruise, it’s important to consider various factors to ensure you have the right attire and essentials. In this section, we will cover some valuable packing tips that will help you make the most of your cruise experience. To complete your dinner cruise attire, don’t forget to accessorize! Accessories can elevate your look and add a touch of personal style. Opt for versatile pieces that can be easily mixed and matched with different outfits. If you’re cruising in colder climates or during the winter season, it’s important to bundle up and dress in layers to stay warm.

Consider options such as low-heeled or flat shoes, as they offer both comfort and stability. Several cruise lines don’t have formal nights, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, Azamara, Oceania Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas. However, there may be an optional dress-up night on your sailing. Cruise lines that have formal nights don’t specify that women need to wear a dress on those evenings.

Dressy evening separates, like an elegant top paired with a matching skirt or trousers are fine for formal night. Some cruise lines do require a jacket and tie to enter the main dining room on formal night. I’ve included ideas for men, women, and kids—with options ranging from semi-formal to black tie.