Have you ever experienced that terrifying dream where you’re at work, in school, or delivering an important presentation, only to realize you’re just in your underwear (or even worse, completely naked)? If you’re not used to taking cruises, figuring out the appropriate attire can be perplexing and equally embarrassing if you’re unprepared.
Packing suitable clothing for a cruise becomes straightforward when you keep a few basic guidelines in mind. In this section, I’ll outline some reliable choices for those uncertain about what to bring, and I’ll provide a summary of the dress codes for each of the major eight cruise lines.
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What attire do individuals wear on a cruise?
You can’t go wrong with resort-casual attire for sea days when you’re staying on the ship. While some cruise lines might be more or less casual, this is a solid starting point. But what exactly is “resort casual”?
Men might consider wearing khaki pants or shorts paired with loose-fitting, short-sleeved button-down shirts or even simple, stylish T-shirts. Women could choose khaki shorts or palazzo pants combined with an attractive top, or a sundress. Generally, neat jeans (dark wash without any rips) are also a good option.
On the majority of ships, this attire is typically suitable for evening dining in the main dining rooms. In specialty restaurants that require an additional fee, you might consider dressing up a bit more. Men can wear collared shirts or long-sleeved button-downs, while women can opt for slacks paired with a blouse or a dress.
For formal nights, which are optional on many cruise ships, men should at least bring a collared, button-down shirt. To elevate the outfit, consider wearing a jacket over the shirt, either with or without a tie. Some men prefer to wear suits or tuxedos. For women, stylish pantsuits and sophisticated pants ensembles are excellent options, as well as party dresses or even ball gowns.
While many cruise lines have relaxed their dress codes for formal or “elegant” evenings, jeans are typically prohibited in the main dining rooms. Cut-off shorts, baseball caps, and flip-flops are not permitted during dinner in the main dining rooms at any time, not just on formal nights.
Related: 7 mistakes to avoid at all costs when packing for a cruise
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Another essential item to pack is a swimsuit. Regardless of whether you’re traveling to a sunny location to relax by the pool or beach, or visiting a colder place but still want to enjoy the hot tubs on your vessel, it’s something you shouldn’t leave behind. Keep in mind that cover-ups are necessary for access to all restaurants and dining areas, except for walk-up poolside window-service spots.
For shore excursions, especially in more rugged or active locations that involve extensive walking, it’s essential to wear comfortable, casual clothing and sturdy shoes. In colder climates, dressing in layers is advisable, while moisture-wicking fabrics are ideal for warm areas or when you anticipate sweating.
Lastly, find out if your cruise line has scheduled any special theme nights. If they have, consider packing an outfit for events like the white party or ’80s night.
Carnival Cruise attire guidelines
Carnival is a cruise line where casual attire is the norm. Guests will feel comfortable in jeans, T-shirts, tank tops, shorts, and bathing suits, whether they are on the ship or exploring on land.
During the evening, stylish jeans and elegant tops are ideal for dining in the main restaurants.
During Carnival cruise formal evenings, referred to as “cruise elegant” nights, guests dress in a range of attire from slacks with stylish shirts to full tuxedos and evening gowns. Nevertheless, the majority of passengers opt for outfits that are moderately dressy.
Journeys lasting six nights or more will feature two “cruise elegant” evenings, whereas those lasting five nights or fewer will include only one.
Celebrity Cruises’ attire guidelines
Celebrity Cruises enforces a dress code that can be characterized as stylish-casual. The passenger demographic is generally more sophisticated than that found on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian. As a result, khaki shorts paired with nice button-down shirts are more prevalent than jean shorts and tank tops, though wearing the latter won’t make you feel out of place.
For dinner, you’ll want to elevate your attire further, as a smart-casual dress code is enforced in the evening at most restaurants, including the main dining room. Suitable options range from unripped jeans to dress pants paired with stylish blouses or button-down shirts.
Related: 20 essential items I always bring on a cruise.
Are formal nights available on Celebrity Cruises? Yes, the cruise line hosts one “evening chic” night on every voyage lasting six nights or fewer, and two such nights on trips of a week or longer. The dress code suggests that passengers dress up in tuxedos and evening gowns. However, most men opt for slacks paired with collared or button-down shirts and jackets, without ties. Meanwhile, most women opt for slacks with nice blouses, sundresses, or party dresses.
Attire guidelines for Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line is closely associated with children, and they prefer to be comfortable. With this in consideration, there are very few restrictions on dress code aboard Disney ships. Despite the exceptional service and high cost, these cruises generally have a relaxed atmosphere.
During the day, it’s quite common to find people wearing jeans, shorts, T-shirts, or bathing suits. This trend continues into the evening, where jeans and T-shirts are just as prevalent as more formal clothing like slacks and button-down shirts.
The exceptions are the “dress-up” nights onboard — two on sailings lasting a week or longer and one on shorter trips. For these occasions, Disney Cruise Line (DCL) recommends that men avoid wearing jeans and opt for jackets. Women are encouraged to wear dresses, skirts with blouses, or pantsuits.
Similar topic: Top 5 cruise lines ideal for families
Certain premium restaurants on Disney Cruise Line, including Remy, which is among the priciest specialty dining options on the water, mandate jackets for men and prohibit jeans.
Every Disney cruise includes a Pirate Night, so participants should bring their finest pirate attire. Similar to Disney parks, you’ll probably notice many people wearing costumes and mouse ears throughout the day.
Holland America Line’s attire policy
Even though Holland America ships officially have a “cruise casual” dress code, it’s uncommon to see anyone looking untidy or as if they just woke up. Most travelers wear resort attire or at least nice jeans paired with neatly pressed T-shirts.
The casual dress code extends to dinner, though Holland America Line passengers typically dress up a bit more. Men might wear collared shirts or button-downs, occasionally with jackets, along with slacks. Women might choose slacks with nice tops or dresses.
Regarding Holland America’s formal nights, on sailings lasting less than a week, there will be one “gala night” where passengers dress in evening or ball gowns, suits, or tuxedos. For trips of eight to 13 nights, there will be two gala nights, and cruises of two weeks or more will feature three opportunities to dress in formal attire.
MSC Cruises’ attire guidelines
Deciding what to wear on MSC cruises is influenced by the other passengers on your trip. On European cruises, travelers tend to dress more formally throughout the day. It’s common to see revealing resort wear and designer swimsuits around the pool area. Evening dinners are typically a more elegant occasion, with sophisticated attire being standard. You’ll often spot glittering dresses, stylish pants, button-down shirts, and dress shoes, even on non-formal nights.
For cruises leaving from the U.S., you can anticipate a more relaxed atmosphere, where jeans, T-shirts, and bathing suits are common during the day. In the evening, you’ll look appropriate in nice jeans and a collared shirt or a sundress, though dressing slightly more formally to align with the ship’s ambiance could be a good idea.
Related: A novice’s guide to choosing a cruise line
Do MSC cruises have formal evenings? Yes, they do. These events are referred to as “gala dinners” and typically occur at least once during a cruise, although the frequency can differ depending on the itinerary. The dress code is quite strict, with the buffet being the only location where T-shirts and shorts are permitted. To blend in, consider wearing a ball gown, cocktail dress, suit, or tuxedo.
Dress code for Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian, the originator of “freestyle cruising,” takes pride in offering an environment where cruisers can dress however they prefer, promoting a “come as you are” ambiance both day and night. The favored attire is cruise casual, allowing passengers to don whatever makes them comfortable.
The sole exception is during dinner, where a smart-casual atmosphere encourages travelers to steer clear of ripped clothes or revealing or scanty attire.
Reflecting Norwegian’s relaxed atmosphere, NCL’s formal evenings, called “Dress Up or Not” nights, offer an opportunity to dress up if you wish. However, participation isn’t mandatory, and you will not be denied entry to the main dining rooms if you opt out. Guests have been seen in attire ranging from jeans and T-shirts to ball gowns and tuxedos, all enjoying a harmonious coexistence.
Princess Cruises attire guidelines
The relaxed daytime atmosphere on board allows you to wear the same types of clothing as you would on land — activewear, beachwear, jeans, or T-shirts are all perfectly acceptable.
Princess Cruises’ formal nights are unique as the company is among the few in the industry that continues to maintain an official formal night. Passengers appreciate a more classic cruising experience and cherish the romantic atmosphere that a formal night offers. The cruise line does not recommend extremely fancy attire such as ball gowns or tuxedos; rather, it suggests suits or slacks with jackets for men and cocktail dresses or pantsuits for women.
For trips lasting less than a week, passengers should anticipate one formal night. For voyages that are one to two weeks long, there will be two formal nights. Cruises extending for two weeks or more will include three formal nights.
Every other night is designated as “smart casual.” For women, this entails wearing sundresses or pants paired with flowy tops. For men, it involves nice jeans or slacks combined with collared shirts.
Royal Caribbean’s dress code
Similar to Carnival and Norwegian, Royal Caribbean maintains a casual atmosphere during the day. Much like Disney Cruise Line, it caters to many families. In other words, dress in whatever makes you feel the most comfortable and allows you to enjoy yourself the most. You can typically expect to see shorts or jeans paired with T-shirts or tank tops, and bathing suits or beachwear throughout the daytime.
During the evening, you may prefer to wear something less casual, though it isn’t mandatory unless it’s a formal evening. (Similar to Princess, Royal has these too.) The perplexing aspect is that there are three distinct dress codes on the cruise, each with lenient enforcement: casual, smart casual, and formal. The specific dress codes you will encounter depend on the duration of the cruise.
The primary distinction between the first two is that smart casual suggests pantsuits for women and jackets for men, but skirts or trousers paired with blouses or collared shirts are suitable for both. Additionally, smart casual strongly advises against wearing jeans, even those that are considered stylish.
Royal Caribbean’s formal evenings hold the highest standards for guest attire, encouraging the wearing of elegant cocktail dresses, evening gowns, suits, or tuxedos. Similar to the line’s smart-casual dress code, jeans are prohibited in the main dining rooms during formal nights.
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