What to Wear on a Cruise: The Ultimate Guide

Table Of Content

• What to Wear on a Cruise
• Celebrity Cruises Dress Code: "Chic" is the Key Word
• Casual, comfortable attire
• Understanding The Cruise Dress Code: Casual Vs. Formal Dinner Attire Explained
• What to wear on a Cruise Sea Day
• What to Wear on a Mediterranean Cruise Excursion
• Tips on What to Pack for a Cruise and Dress Code

Generally speaking, Caribbean cruises are all about relaxing, letting loose, and having fun. Similar to other European outfit ideas, I would encourage you to stick to more neutral colors and save the bright colors and bold patterns for your Caribbean sailing. Of course, these are just ideas for what you could consider wearing on formal night. This isn’t to say that you can’t dress to the nines in black-tie or evening gowns; rather, it’s truthfully no longer the standard. This is especially true if you’re sailing on a shorter cruise to the Caribbean or Bahamas. If you’re having trouble figuring out what to wear on a cruise, don’t worry, we’re here to help.

What to Wear on a Cruise

When it comes to planning a vacation, a cruise is often an exciting and popular choice. Whether you’re embarking on a tropical adventure in the Caribbean or exploring the stunning fjords of Alaska, a Carnival cruise promises an unforgettable experience. One of the highlights of a cruise is undoubtedly the dining options available on board. From casual buffets to elegant specialty restaurants, Carnival offers a wide array of culinary delights to cater to every palate.

Celebrity Cruises Dress Code: "Chic" is the Key Word

Disney Cruise Formal Night Guide - WDW Magazine

Disney Cruise Formal Night Guide.

Posted: Tue, 11 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

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. On formal nights during a cruise, I find that men tend to dress up a bit. Most men will wear dress pants, a dress shirt, and a jacket, or a suit. Most people do get a little dressed up for dinner even though they don’t go all out formal.

Casual, comfortable attire

Bathing suits are likewise not permitted in the ship's restaurants and lounges; shirts and shoes must be worn in all indoor public areas. And what exactly does your cruise line consider formal enough for your formal night dress code? Few issues create as much confusion among cruisers as what they are allowed to wear onboard, especially the when and where of it all. On cruises that depart from the U.S., expect a more casual vibe, with jeans, T-shirts and bathing suits ruling the day. At night, you'll be fine with nice jeans and a collared shirt or a sundress, although you might want to dress up a bit more to match the ship's ambiance.

Most of the time, first and last evenings of your cruise, will be a casual dress suggestion. To pack for casual nights onboard your Caribbean cruise, women can look to bring bright sundresses, tropical patterns and colorful outfits. I love to pack my dresses that are bright colors, like pink and yellow - these are just quintessential Caribbean cruise outfits for me. Although the dress code on Holland America Line ships is technically "cruise casual," you'll rarely spot anyone looking disheveled or like they just rolled out of bed.

Like I previously mentioned, after lounging at the pool deck, I like to get dressed up in a nice sundress to have a sunset cocktail before dinner. I usually head straight to dinner in the same dress and never had any problems. Men on the other hand have more rules like long pants and collared shirts. With these guidelines, you’ll never be turned away from the dining room or feel out of place with other cruisers. The benefit to this is keeping organized, which makes unpacking so much easier, on the first day of your cruise. If you’re cruising with kids, you can have them put a bathing suit on under their clothing.

What to wear on a Cruise Sea Day

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. In restaurants, the cruise line asks passengers to not wear beach attire such as shorts, sarongs or flip-flops.

It’s also typical for people to coordinate with their tablemates, so the entire table tends to dress similarly. For example, you may have a table where everyone is dressed in tuxedos and evening gowns or an entire table where the women are in cocktail dresses and men are in suits. Wearing shorts is generally not appropriate for dinner cruises, unless specified as part of a casual dress code or for specific thematic cruises. Business casual doesn’t mean office attire, but it does mean slightly nicer attire in terms of a cruise dress code.

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. Men can also start with a base layer, such as a thermal shirt, and layer it with a sweater or a fleece jacket.

Consider pairing your outfit with a stylish necklace, a statement bracelet, or a fashionable handbag. These accessories can add a touch of sophistication to your overall look without compromising on comfort. Nothing would stop you in your tracks like heading down to dinner in a pair of shorts and then realizing everyone else is dressed up! If you don’t want to dress up for the evening, then you certainly don’t have to do so.

The vast majority of Royal Caribbean’s European sailings start in April or May and end in September or October. Accessories such as scarves, gloves, and hats are essential to keep your extremities warm.

Here are some tips that will help you decide what to wear on a cruise to get ready for smooth, stylish sailing. Disney Cruise Line is synonymous with children, and children like to be comfortable. With that in mind, just about anything goes in terms of dress on The Mouse's ships, which tend toward casual in spite of their stellar service and high price point. At night, nice jeans and nice tops are perfect for eating in the main dining rooms.

It does make a great time to take family photos and have memories that will last a lifetime. A casual dress for ladies, or a nice pair of pants and a stylish top is perfect. A good suggestion for men is a polo style shirt and pants or a pair of dark jeans. Most Alaska sailings will be 7-nights long, so you can expect to have two Formal Nights during your Royal Caribbean cruise. Keeping with our theme of packing for cool weather, we’ve selected a few outfits that would be perfect for Formal Night on your cruise.

At Holland America, formal nights can range from evening gowns to cocktail dresses for women. As for men, tuxedos, dinner jackets, or dark suits with a tie for men. Casual attire includes jeans and collared shirts for men and sundresses or pants with blouses for women. No caps, tank tops or bathing suits are permitted in the main dining room or specialty restaurants, and footwear is always required. The Disney evening dress code applies to the main dining rooms at dinner.

For women, however, capris, sundresses and knee-length skirts are always acceptable, while men can't go wrong with khakis, golf shirts and button-ups. Take along a cardigan or an attractive pullover for cool sea breezes. We’ve taken dozens of cruise and know that for those unfamiliar with formal night, it can feel a bit unnerving trying to figure out the ins and outs of dressing up. At the same time, some people don’t want to dress up at all and prefer to know what other options they have. I find that a lot more cruises are ditching formal dinners and instead have an “evening chic” dress code which can mean dressing elegant and sophisticated in your way.