Do you have to dress up to eat on a cruise ship?

You'll see suits and ties, tuxedos or evening gowns, but don't have to go so formal yourself. Shorts (including cutoff jeans), T-shirts, sportswear, flip-flops, bathing suits, caps and men's sleeveless shirts are never permitted in the main dining room or specialty restaurants during dinner.



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To Conclude: If you do want to go on a cruise and skip formal night this is completely fine. Guests who don't want to attend formal night are able to eat in the buffet, other restaurants or have room service delivered.

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When a full meal is served, especially if it's a seated dinner, you are more likely to be expected to wear something more formal. Cocktail attire is probably best – so trousers and a blazer or a suit with or without a tie for men, and a short, mid, or long dress for women.

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Guests don't have to dress up at any point on a Royal Caribbean cruise if they don't want to. Royal Caribbean does have formal and smart casual nights where there is a dress code in the main dining room but cruisers are able to eat in the buffet or other dining venues without adhering to the dress code.

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Dinner or “smart casual” attire If you're having dinner in the main restaurant or any meal at one of the specialty restaurants, you'll follow a “smart casual” dress code on most nights. This means long pants, jeans, a dress or skirt, a stylish top, or a button-down.

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Jeans and baseball caps are not allowed in the restaurants for dinner. On informal nights, jackets (ties optional) for men are recommended, while women can opt for dresses or pantsuits. Tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits for men and gowns or cocktail dresses for women are suggested for formal nights.

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Readers say their cruise essentials are bathing suits, cute coverups, lightweight tops and bottoms, and flip flops for lounging by the pool or spending time at the beach. Lightweight sundresses are always a great option, as they can be worn exploring during the day and then dressed up for dinner at night!

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Day: Casual shirts, shorts, trousers and beachwear are ideal. The main restaurants require a casual wear dress code for breakfast and lunch, however you may wear shorts in either the Kings Court (Queen Mary 2) or Lido Restaurant (Queen Victoria & Queen Elizabeth).

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Most people scale things back to four to six pairs of footwear for seven to 14-night cruises. Some can get away with only three pairs if packing light. However, more options will give you flexibility and allow you to pair different styles with your outfits.

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When you go through security you will set your carry-on bags on the x-ray machine like you'd find at an airport. Checked luggage is also X-rayed behind the scenes. Usually further inspection isn't required unless the security staff finds something dangerous or prohibited.

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If you like to have dinner on the table the minute you get home from work, stick to your regular routine. Choose the early dinner seating—it usually starts around 6 p.m. But if you like to lounge around a while or hit the gym after work, you might prefer a later setting, which typically starts at 8:30 p.m.

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Dress casually, and don't be surprised to see tropical wear on Caribbean cruises or even groups in matching T-shirts.

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Many cruise ships have self-service laundry facilities on each deck, including washing machines, dryers, ironing and detergent. Passengers can also use the ship's valet laundry services for a fee, which includes washing, pressing and dry cleaning. Alternatively, guests can hand wash and dry within their cabin.

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Casual Daywear For laid-back days spent walking around the ship or port, you'll want to have a good selection of comfortable and casual clothing. Check the weather, and stick to a cruise packing list with a good selection of shorts, jeans/khakis, sundresses/skirts, T-shirts (both long- and short-sleeved) and tank tops.

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While climates will vary depending on which region you're sailing, expect temperatures to range from the upper 80s during the day to the mid-60s in the evening.

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Casual Looks: Pack at least 4 pairs of shorts, 5 – 7 t-shirts, 3 pairs of pants, 3 skirts, and a couple of day dresses. Dinner Attire: Bring enough smart-casual looks for 7 nights.

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Pack one outfit for every day, or plan to do laundry on your cruise ship. I like to look for ways to reuse pieces to save space. For example, I'll dress up a top with a skirt or dress pants for dinner, then wear the same shirt with jeans in port the following day.

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Many first-time cruisers don't realize that they won't be able to go directly to their staterooms upon boarding. Pass the time while you wait for your room to be ready and for the ship to set sail by enjoying lunch on the Lido Deck of the ship. This is a great way to make sure you aren't starving by dinner time!

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At this point, cruise lines have eased restrictions such that wearing a mask is largely optional. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention allowed its voluntary Conditional Sailing Order to expire in January 2022.

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