Formal nights:
- 3/4/5 Night Cruises - Usually on Day 2.
- 6 Night Cruises - Usually on Day 2 and 5.
- 7 Night Cruises - Usually on Day 2 and 6.
- 8 - 10 Night Cruises - 2 Formal Nights, Days vary by ship and sailing.
- 11 - 14 Night Cruises - 3 Formal Nights, Days vary by ship and sailing.
On formal nights, proper attire includes tuxedos, suits or slacks (jackets required) for men and evening gowns, cocktail dresses or dressy pantsuits for women. Jeans are welcome in all dining venues during the day, but they're not appropriate in any public venues for dinner or cocktail hour.
MORE DETAILS
Viking Ocean Cruises also eschews formal nights, but requests no jeans at dinner. Virgin Voyages has perhaps the most liberal policy of the big ship cruise lines, saying, “We encourage you to wear more than a bathing suit if you go to a restaurant and kindly consider shoes, but your style is your style.”
MORE DETAILS
Longer cruises have optional formal or semiformal nights. On these evenings, passengers can either wear elegant casual attire or opt for a more formal look, such as gowns, cocktail dresses, dark suits or tuxedos.
MORE DETAILS
Most cruise lines permit wearing clean, nice jeans in the main dining room and specialty restaurant on “casual” and “smart casual” evenings. On cruise lines where there is a formal night, jeans are not permitted in the main dining room. However, you can always eat in the casual restaurants and the buffet.
MORE DETAILS
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.
MORE DETAILS
Cunard Cruises have a reputation for being the most formal cruise line in the world. People often don't book a cruise with this company because they think you have to dress formally every night.
MORE DETAILS
Carnival cruise dress code Carnival is one line where casual is the name of the game. Passengers will be just fine in jeans, T-shirts, tank tops, shorts and bathing suits for their days on board or ashore. At night, nice jeans and nice tops are perfect for eating in the main dining rooms.
MORE DETAILS
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.
MORE DETAILS
There are some clothing items to avoid if you plan to eat in the dining room on formal night. This includes shorts, tank-tops, t-shirts, and swimsuits, as well as flip-flops. If you'd wear it to the pool or the beach, you don't want to wear it to formal night.
MORE DETAILS
Shorts, jeans, flip-flops, hats and T-shirts are prohibited throughout the ship during the evening. As with other lines, cruises in tropical waters tend to make dressing down more acceptable, as do voyages on the line's sailing vessels.
MORE DETAILS
A formal night is an element of traditional cruising where guests wear their finest clothes and enjoy dinner. Many people love having the opportunity to dress up and many have photos taken with the captain. There may be a special formal night menu in the main dining room and there may be additional entertainment.
MORE DETAILS
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.
MORE DETAILS
Dressy shoes It's a good idea to bring just one pair of dress shoes that can go with your outfits for formal nights. I like to bring a pair of gold strappy dress shoes, as they look fabulous with every color of dress (black, white, navy ect).
MORE DETAILS
If you want to attend a “cruise elegant” evening, bring a fancier, more formal outfit. Men can wear suits or dress slacks with a sport coat and dress shirt. For women, cocktail dresses, pantsuits or elegant skirts and blouses are appropriate. Some guests like to go all out with a tuxedo or ball gown.
MORE DETAILS
On one night of your cruise, your cruise director will be throwing a White Hot Night Party… and you're invited! So when packing for your cruise, remember what an amazing photo op this will be and bring your favorite, most fun… even quirkiest white clothing and matching accessories.
MORE DETAILS