Yes, people still dress up on cruises, but the "rules" have become significantly more relaxed and varied across different cruise lines. Most mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian have shifted toward a "Resort Casual" standard for most nights, where sundresses or slacks and collared shirts are the norms. However, they almost all still feature "Formal Nights" or "Elegant Evenings." On these nights, about 50% to 70% of passengers will dress in cocktail attire, suits, or even tuxedos and ball gowns, largely for the sake of professional photography and the tradition of the captain’s gala. If you prefer a truly formal environment, "Luxury" lines like Cunard (The Queen Mary 2) maintain a very strict evening dress code that requires jackets for men and formal wear for women in the main areas. Conversely, "lifestyle" lines like Virgin Voyages have replaced "formal night" with themed parties like the "Scarlet Night," where people dress creatively in red but not necessarily formally. In short, while you are rarely required to wear a tuxedo in 2026, dressing up remains a cherished part of the cruise experience for those who enjoy the glamour of a high-seas vacation.