What to Wear on a Costa Cruise – Examples and Enforcement
Costa Cruises have the reputation of being on the casual side when it comes to cruising and dress codes but do Costa actually have dress codes and what do they entail?
In this post, you’ll find dress code guidelines for all parts of a Costa cruise and we will look into if the dress codes are actually enforced.
This post is based on my experience cruising with Costa Cruises.
What Is The Dress Code on a Costa Cruise?
Do costa cruises have a dress code during the day.
The dress code during the day is very casual, just your typical wardrobe.
T-shirts, shorts, and sundresses. It can be chilly on deck and breezy in the evening so be sure to pack plenty of light layers. Flat recommend flat shoes for strolling the decks.
“Tasteful T-shirts” and shorts are acceptable in the dining room during the day. From that, I think you could assume that T-shirts with offensive slogans may be frowned upon!
This is pretty standard within the cruising industry, even the cruise lines with the strictest evening dress codes do not have dress codes during the day.
Comfortable shoes are essential for exploring ports of call. Sensible to take a light jumper/sweater or layer up, so you will be prepared for all eventualities.
Take the weather forecast into account before you leave the ship – sunglasses, hats or even rainproof jackets may be needed.
Some cultures may require you to cover up more than you normally would on holiday. There appears to be no guidance on this on the Costa website.
It is sensible to be aware of the traditions in the countries you are visiting. In some Middle Eastern countries modesty in clothing is expected so consider packing of light and loose clothing that covered the tops of your arms and legs. It may be best to avoid wearing any shorts or tight-fitting clothes and to take a head covering ashore.
If unsure about the countries you are visiting, visit a Government foreign travel advice website for further advice regarding dress codes.
Do Costa Have Formal Nights ?
Costa Cruises have formal nights of sorts, these are called Elegant Evenings.
Although Costa describes their restaurants as luxurious, they also say the atmosphere is “relaxed.”
They suggest men wear a dark suit or tuxedo, and women wear an evening gown or cocktail dress during their “Elegant Evening.”
Costa Also Have Informal Nights
Costa suggests long trousers/pants and a long sleeve shirt for gentlemen – with or without a tie. They suggest a dress or trouser/pantsuit for ladies
Do Costa Have Themed Evenings?
Costa have themed evenings.
They suggest you bring white, red and green clothing and accessories for their “Italian evening.”
They also hold a “White Night.” and recommend that you bring white clothing to wear to dinner.
They also hold a White Night party later in that evening.
Are There Other Dress Restrictions on Costa Cruises ?
In restaurants, the Costa asks passengers to not wear beach clothes (shorts, sarongs or flip-flops) and shoes are always required.
Although Costa does not mention wearing jeans in its written policy, denim and jeans are allowed in the dining room, according to a Costa spokesperson.
How Many Elegant Evenings/Formal Nights Will There be?
Most 3 and 4-night cruises have one formal night.
Most 7-night cruises have 2 formal nights, most 10-night cruises have 3 formal nights, and two week cruises are likely to have four.
Is Dressing up Compulsory on Formal Nights/ Elegant Evenings?
Whilst not compulsory, it is recommended that guests follow the evening’s dress code in restaurants and bars from 6 pm. Costa appears to be pretty relaxed on dress codes, but the amount of formality may vary from ship to ship.
It’s unlikely that you’d be prevented from entering a restaurant or refused service if you are not dressed in your best clothes!
Some guests have even reported seeing people in the dining room in shorts on elegant nights.
If you prefer casual dress you can always dine in the buffet where it is even more relaxed, or take advantage of room service.
There is no need to participate in elegant nights at all.
If you want to avoid elegant nights, here’s how: You Can Skip Formal Nights on a Cruise – Here’s How
Are Dress Codes Strictly Enforced on Costa Cruises?
Costa do not appear to strictly enforce dress codes.
Whilst they would encourage you to adhere to their suggested dress codes, guests have reported that some guests arrive at the dining room for Elegant evenings dressed in shorts and t shirts!
The newer the ship, the more relaxed the dress code seems to be the rule.
Does the Dress Code Apply to Everyone?
No mention is made on the Costa website of dress codes for children but Costa do have a suggested “packing list” for adults and children.
What Should Children Wear on a Costa Cruise?
For Boys: It suggests you should pack a shirt, trousers or suit for boys to wear on their cruise. Generally speaking, boys would be fine to wear a polo shirt and chinos on the Elegant evenings or casual nights.
For Girls: The packing list suggests a dress/skirt or smart trousers/top would be fine to wear on formal or informal nights.
Some families love the opportunity to dress up and I’ve seen small children wearing full tuxedos and bow ties which are adorable. On Costa it would appear that really, anything goes for kids!
What Should Teenagers Wear on a Costa Cruise?
Teenagers: There is no mention at all of the Costa website of dress codes for teenagers, they are very unlikely to be turned away from any restaurant for not adhering to the correct dress code!
Trousers/pants, chinos, and a shirt would be acceptable, but if they want to dress up in a suit or tuxedo, that would be fine too!
Does the Dress Code Apply When Visiting the Speciality Restaurants?
There is no set dress code when visiting speciality restaurants.
You can wear clothes to suit the dress code on board for that evening. Wearing casual night clothes on a formal evening is unlikely to be frowned upon!
Dress codes are not strictly enforced, wear what suits you within reason, maybe show some respect and use some common sense, just don’t arrive in flip-flops and shorts for a speciality meal and you’ll be fine.
Can you Skip Formal Nights /Elegant Evenings?
You can absolutely skip elegant evenings.
If you’re tired or you’re just not feeling in the mood to dress up, there are always alternatives for passengers, and you won’t be alone. Rather than dine in the main dining room, you can always eat in the buffet or maybe on your balcony via room service.
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What to wear on a cruise: daytime, formal nights & more.
Experts share their top recommendations for versatile cruise clothing.
What to Wear on a Cruise
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Know what types of clothing, shoes and accessories are best to wear on a cruise.
When it comes to cruising in style, packing the right attire for every occasion is essential. Including a few key versatile items on your cruise packing list will prevent your suitcase (and the limited closet space in your stateroom) from becoming overcrowded – and keep you looking appropriate for all events.
Although most cruise lines outline their suggested dress codes in the FAQ sections of their websites, be sure to also review the specifics of your cruise itinerary. Not only will the destination and weather factor into what you should wear on your cruise, but you'll also want to know if formal nights require black-tie attire, themed dress parties need costumes or shore excursions necessitate unique clothing or footwear.
Whether you'll be lounging by the pool or attending a glamorous dinner, our list of must-have items and suggestions from industry experts will help you navigate dressing for your next cruise vacation.
For relaxing sea days, prioritize comfort above all else. Depending on your planned activities, any of the following casual options are considered acceptable attire:
- Skirts or skorts
- T-shirts and tank tops
- Breezy lounge pants
- Bathing suits
- Cover-ups
- Sun hats or baseball caps
Travel writer Jill Schildhouse always packs her VOTEPRETTY sundress . "This is my go-to cruise workhorse," says Schildhouse. "It's light and breezy, and the pockets come in very handy." She adds that the sundress can be worn to casual dinners on the ship or on shore excursions, and it can even double as a swimsuit cover-up. "I've taken it all over the world and it always arrives wrinkle-free," she says. Schildhouse has received many compliments on this classic sundress, which is available in multiple colors.
Sheri Griffiths, host of YouTube series CruiseTipsTV , suggests wearing comfortable, broken-in shoes on a cruise. She recommends avoiding brand-new footwear during your voyage to prevent blisters and daily discomfort. A basic sneaker can be worn for just about any cruise itinerary, from Alaska to the Caribbean . Griffiths says, "We love these Adidas Stan Smiths because they wear in quickly and have a timeless style."
Read: The Top Walking Shoes for Travel
In the evening, most cruise ships adopt a dress code in their main dining rooms and specialty restaurants that incorporate smart-casual or resort-wear attire. The following clothing choices will suffice:
- Maxi dresses
- Elegant tops
- Long- or short-sleeved button-down shirts
- Polo shirts
- Blazers and ties (typically optional, unless otherwise stated)
- Shawls or wraps
- Closed-toe dress shoes
- Sandals or heels
Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief at Cruise Critic, shares her best advice for cruise footwear. "I always pack my Rothy's shoes for any cruise because they're infinitely comfortable, work as both a formal and [an] informal shoe and can be tossed in the laundry if they get dirty." She notes that she has several pairs, but two of her go-to styles are The Point and The Ballet Flat . McDaniel adds that the shoes work in every occasion, from strolling along the ship decks to perusing cobblestone streets on shore. "I bought both [pairs] 5 years ago, and they look as new today as they did out of the box despite literally hundreds of hours of wear," she says.
Jason Leppert, founder of YouTube channel Popular Cruising , always packs his signature Hawaiian shirts to wear day or night. He says, "I love the RSVLTS collection because they can play casually with shorts or more dressy with slacks for dinner."
Formal Nights
While more casual these days, cruise formal nights still call for a bit more sophistication and style. Appropriate options include:
- Cocktail dresses
- Evening gowns
- Dress shoes
Ashley Kosciolek, senior cruise writer for The Points Guy, always packs a gown or a fancy cocktail dress for a formal night. "I work from home and don't have a reason to dress up otherwise, so I look forward to it." Still, Kosciolek is a firm believer that travelers should wear what is most comfortable for them while on vacation. She adds, "My dinner won't taste any better or worse based on what others are wearing."
Mikkel Woodruff, editor of cruise site Sometimes Sailing , always brings her Omega Sailing Bracelet on cruises. She says, "I like to bring jewelry that reminds me of the ocean and being on the sea." Woodruff appreciates the bracelet's versatility, noting how easily it can go from shore excursions to formal evenings to everyday activities.
Explore cruise deals on GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.
Shore Excursions
When heading off the ship for a shore excursion, opt for comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear to make the most of your adventures on land. Consider packing the following items:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Mesh water shoes
- T-shirts or tank tops
- A waterproof jacket
Freelance travel writer David Swanson shares his favorite versatile cruise shoes. He discovered a comfortable pair of Danner multitasking shoes that worked for dinners, casual events and multiple days of cycling on a recent European cruise. "I didn't think I'd find something to do dual duty, but I love this comfy pair from Danner, an outdoor brand [that is] new to me but has been around since 1932," says Swanson.
Paul Thornton, host of The Joy of Cruising Podcast , always packs his Coofandy linen shirts and shorts for hot Caribbean days and breezy cruise ship evenings. "I love Coofandy because they enable this senior to look 'youthful' on the beach and excursions," says Thornton. He adds that the brand is also his go-to retailer for White Party-themed nights on board.
Read: Beach Packing List
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Cruise Line Dress Codes
Dress codes can vary significantly from one cruise company to the next, so it's a good idea to check with your specific line before filling up your suitcase. Once you're on board, be sure to read the daily program for reminders about the dress codes required at the events and dining venues during your voyage.
Azamara Dress Code
- Daytime: Fairly casual attire is suitable throughout Azamara 's ships during the day. However, baseball caps, distressed denim, tank tops and bathing suits cannot be worn at Discoveries, Aqualina and Prime C restaurants (and shoes are required).
- Evening: At night, women typically wear casual dresses, skirts, pants, capris, blouses and knit tops, while men are welcome to wear collared golf and polo shirts, shorts and pants. Sport coats are optional. Note: There are no official formal nights on Azamara's voyages.
- Themed Nights: Be sure to pack an all-white outfit for Azamara's signature White Night dinner and deck party.
Carnival Cruise Line Dress Code
- Daytime: Pack casual, comfortable attire to sail with Carnival Cruise Line , such as T-shirts, polo shirts or relaxed tops paired with shorts, capris, khakis or jeans. Athletic wear paired with a lightweight sweater or jacket are suitable for those looking to stay active.
- "Cruise casual" attire for men typically suggests longer dress shorts, pants or jeans and a collared polo shirt. Women usually wear sundresses, blouses, skirts, dress shorts and capri pants.
- "Cruise elegant" typically translates to dress slacks, dress shirts and sports coats (suggested) for men, with some wearing suits, ties or tuxedos. Women choose dresses (party or cocktail), pantsuits and elegant skirts with blouses, while some may wear evening gowns. Kids should follow the adult dress code, opting for school dance- or party-appropriate attire. Note: Jeans, men's sleeveless shirts, shorts, T-shirts, sportswear, exercise clothes, baseball hats, flip-flops and bathing suits are not permitted. The number of "cruise elegant" evenings varies based on the length of the cruise.
- Carnival Journeys cruises feature a "Throwback Sea Day," where guests can relive the '80s by day (outfits included) and dress up for a themed Captain's Cocktail Party by night.
- Cruises between early December and Christmas Day feature an "Ugly Sweater Contest."
- Costumes are suggested for Halloween cruises between the end of September and October. However, when choosing a costume, keep in mind that full masks are prohibited (masks covering half of the face are allowed).
Celebrity Cruises Dress Code
- Daytime: During the day, smart casual resort wear is suitable throughout Celebrity Cruises ' ships. (Think: sundresses, shorts, polos and button-down shirts paired with sandals, low heels and loafers.) Bathing suits with cover-ups, T-shirts, tank tops, hats and sunglasses are only appropriate poolside. Cruisers should avoid wearing these items in the dining areas.
- Evening: Most evenings, guests are expected to wear comfortable yet tasteful attire. This entails dresses, skirts, long pants or jeans, stylish tops and button-down shirts. Shorts and flip-flops do not meet the evening dress code. Depending on your voyage, there will be one or two formal nights that require "evening chic" wear. Passengers can dress to impress in formal gowns, tuxedos, cocktail dresses, dressy jeans or blazers.
Costa Cruises Dress Code
- Daytime: During the day, Costa Cruises ' passengers may wear casual clothing like T-shirts, shorts and sundresses. Beach clothing and flip-flops are not permitted in ship restaurants. Depending on the itinerary, some shore excursions may have specific dress codes.
- Evening: Most nights require resort attire; however, Costa hosts one or two Elegant Evenings per cruise, when men may wear dark suits or tuxedos and women can wear evening gowns or cocktail dresses.
- Themed Nights: Costa recommends that guests pack white clothing for its White Night events and white, red and green clothing and accessories for its Italy-themed evenings.
Cunard Line Dress Code
- Daytime: Shorts, T-shirts and sundresses are appropriate daytime wardrobe options on sailings with Cunard Line . Swimwear is acceptable by the pool but should not be worn in indoor dining areas.
- Evening: In the evenings, passengers are asked to wear smart attire, which includes dress shirts and trousers for men, and cocktail dresses or sophisticated tops and skirts for women – similar to what you'd choose for dinner at a trendy restaurant or a special occasion. Voyages lasting seven nights host at least two Gala Evenings, during which guests are requested to adhere to a more formal dress code.
- Themed Nights: Gala Evenings employ themes ranging from specific colors (such as black and white or red and gold outfits) to the roaring '20s to masquerade balls.
Disney Cruise Line Dress Code
- Daytime: On Disney Cruise Line sailings, cruise casual attire is acceptable during the day; outfit options include sundresses and shorts and tees. Swimwear and tank tops are not permitted in dining venues.
- Evening: After the sun sets, polished attire like collared shirts and jeans without rips are acceptable. Bathing suits, tees, tank tops and sports attire are not allowed. Adult-exclusive dining venues on Disney ships call for elegance; formal or semiformal wear is recommended.
- Themed Nights: On three- and four-night sailings, there is typically a pirate-themed deck party and one optional dress-up night for guests of all ages. Sailings lasting seven nights or longer add one formal and one semiformal night, when women may wear a formal dress or pantsuit and men can opt for a suit or dress pants with a jacket.
Holland America Line Dress Code
- Daytime: Plan on wearing casual attire aboard Holland America Line 's ships during the day. When indoors, guests must wear shirts, cover-ups and footwear.
- Evening: On most nights, smart casual clothing is acceptable. However, in table service restaurants, shorts, bathing suits, distressed jeans and tank tops are prohibited. Grand Voyages cruises host formal nights, when suits and dresses are appropriate.
- Themed Nights: Once per cruise, Holland America hosts an Orange Party in celebration of King's Day. Pack your favorite orange clothing and accessories for this event, which honors the cruise line's Dutch heritage.
MSC Cruises Dress Code
- Daytime: Guests of MSC Cruises dress fairly casual during the day in T-shirts and shorts.
- Evening: Collared shirts, dresses and tailored pants are expected at night in the main dining rooms, specialty restaurants and entertainment venues. There is one optional Gala Night, when varying levels of elegance are acceptable. Guests should wear what makes them feel comfortable, ranging from tuxedos or ball gowns to dressy jeans and polo shirts.
- Themed Nights: MSC hosts a White Night Party (where guests wear all white) and a Sunshine Party, where guests don cheerful colors.
Norwegian Cruise Line Dress Code
- Daytime: During the day, plan to wear cruise casual attire like summer dresses, jeans, khakis, shorts and casual shirts on Norwegian Cruise Line voyages. At the buffet and outdoor restaurants, swimwear can be worn with a cover-up and footwear. In dining rooms and specialty restaurants, Norwegian does not permit tank tops for men, jeans with rips or tears, flip-flops, baseball caps or visors.
- Evening: In Norwegian's upscale specialty restaurants, smart casual attire is the norm. Women can wear slacks, jeans, dresses, skirts and tops, while men should opt for jeans or slacks, a collared shirt and closed-toed shoes. Children ages 12 and younger may wear shorts in all restaurants. On each cruise, there is one particular "Dress-Up or Not Night," when guests can wear fancier clothing (if they choose).
- Themed Nights: Pack an all-white outfit for the White Hot Party and formal attire for Norwegian's Night Out.
Princess Cruises Dress Code
- Daytime: In Princess Cruises ' restaurants and public spaces, casual resort wear is required. Shoes must be worn in the dining areas, and pool or beach attire, ball caps and frayed jeans are prohibited in restaurants.
- Evening: On most nights, smart casual attire is acceptable in restaurants. However, on formal evenings, women may wear evening gowns, cocktail dresses or elegant pantsuits; while men may opt for tuxedos, dark suits or dinner jackets with slacks. The number of formal nights per cruise depends on the length of the sailing.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Dress Code
- Daytime: Elevated resort wear, including jeans, shorts, T-shirts and tennis shoes, is appropriate before 6 p.m. on Regent Seven Seas Cruises ' ships.
- Evening: At night, elegant casual attire is recommended. Women typically dresses, pantsuits or slacks paired with blouses or sweaters; a collared shirt and dress pants for men is the norm, with the option for sport jackets and ties. On cruises lasting 16 nights or longer, there are two evenings when guests can choose to wear formal or semiformal attire. Wardrobe choices include dark suits and cocktail dresses or tuxedos and gowns. Note: On the last night of every voyage, the dinner dress code is "relaxed casual" to accommodate guests packing for early morning flights.
Royal Caribbean International Dress Code
- Daytime: A relaxed, casual style is acceptable during the day on cruises with Royal Caribbean International . However, swimwear should be limited to the pool deck.
- Evening: On most nights, guests wear smart casual attire, which includes collared or button-up shirts, dresses, skirts, blouses and pantsuits. Jackets, sports coats and blazers are encouraged but not required. On formal evenings and for the Chef's Table dining experience, cruisers are expected to wear black-tie attire, which includes tuxedos, suits with ties, cocktail dresses and evening gowns. The number of formal nights per cruise depends on the length of the sailing.
- Themed Nights: Offered on cruises lasting four nights or longer, themed nights may include toga parties, masquerade balls, decade themes and black and white nights.
Silversea Cruises Dress Code
- Daytime: Casual attire akin to what you'd wear at a five-star resort is suitable during the day aboard Silversea Cruises ' ships.
- Evening: Evening attire is categorized into three groups: casual, informal and formal. On casual evenings, women wear pants, blouses, skirts, and casual dresses, while men wear open-neck shirts and slacks. On informal evenings, ladies often choose dresses or pantsuits, and gentlemen typically wear jackets (ties are optional). Formal night is always optional; if you choose to participate, outfits may include cocktail dresses, gowns, tuxedos and suits. The number of formal nights per cruise varies by voyage length.
Seabourn Cruise Line Dress Code
- Daytime: Casual resort wear like jeans and shorts are welcome in all lounges and dining venues on Seabourn Cruise Lines ' ships. Athletic apparel and swimwear should only be worn in the pool area, on the deck or at the spa and fitness center.
- Evening: After 6 p.m., the dress code is "elegant casual." Men are expected to wear slacks with collared shirts or sweaters (jackets are optional), while women can choose pants, skirts, pantsuits or dresses. Elegant jeans are allowed in all dining venues except The Restaurant. On formal evenings in The Restaurant, men may wear tuxedos, suits or slacks and jackets, while women can opt for evening gowns and cocktail dresses.
Viking Ocean Cruises Dress Code
- Daytime: On Viking Ocean Cruises ' ships, casual daytime clothing such as shorts, pants, jeans and comfortable walking shoes are acceptable. Athletic wear including exercise clothing, swimsuits and cover-ups may only be worn in the fitness center, pool zones and sports deck.
- Evening: While there are no dedicated formal nights, the dress code after 6 p.m. calls for elegant casual attire for all dining venues, lounges, bars and theaters. Jeans are not permitted (with the exception of the World Cafe, where the dress code remains casual in the evenings). For women, wardrobe options include dresses, jumpsuits, skirts or slacks paired with elegant tops. Jackets and ties are optional for men, but trousers and collared shirts should be worn in the evenings.
Virgin Voyages Dress Code
- Day or night, cruisers on Virgin Voyages ' ships are encouraged to wear attire that expresses their personal style. Just note: In restaurants, bathing suits are not permitted, and shoes are necessary. There are no formal nights; guests can dress up or down, depending on what makes them feel their best.
- Themed Nights: Pack something scarlet red for the Scarlet Night Party, which occurs once per voyage.
Why Trust U.S. News
Dana Freeman is a highly experienced cruise writer who embarked on her first cruise with her grandmother when she was just 12 years old, and she hasn't stopped since. Having sailed on more than 20 different cruise lines and completed over 30 voyages, Freeman's cruise expertise spans from small ships accommodating only eight passengers to massive ones accommodating over 5,000. To curate this article, she leveraged her extensive knowledge of the cruise ship industry, combined with her strong research skills.
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Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International
The fashion scene at the Rising Tide aboard Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas.
Cruise outfits: What to wear on each cruise line
A rundown of what kind of wardrobe works best on your cruise.
Patti Pietschmann
Los Angeles
CruiseClout score: 95.0
Trying to decide what outfits work best for an upcoming cruise? After many years of cruising, and seeing many style trends come and go, I can attest that your cruise wardrobe comes down to just three things: Your cruise line, your itinerary and your fashion mood.
You should know that many cruise ships assign a designated evening dress code each day — casual, informal, formal — that takes effect in public rooms and restaurants from 6 pm onward. Daytime, thankfully, is always an easy-breezy casual look.
Don't think that the Fashionista Police are on the lookout for violators at every turn — you're on vacation, after all! And some ships are more rigorous about enforcing the dress guidelines than others. But nobody wants to be tapped on the shoulder by a maître d' with a gentle suggestion to slip on a more appropriate sport coat.
The "Before You Go" section, available on cruise lines' websites after you've booked your cruise, usually provides details along with fashion suggestions. Typically on a seven-night ocean cruise you can count on two formal nights, a couple of casual evenings and one or three or four semi-formal occasions. Mediterranean cruises generally prove dressier than Caribbean, Mexican Riviera or French Polynesia journeys.
For river cruises, the vibe is more casual, given that there's one lounge on board and no one is expecting you to slip on an evening gown or three-piece suit.
Remember, you can always skip out of formal nights on ocean ships by dining at one of the casual eateries on board or ordering in — a choice we've made several times in our balcony staterooms with sumptuous views of the sunset.
What ‘look’ to expect on the major cruise lines
Here's our take on how to match your Fashion IQ with the following cruise lines. We'd love to hear what your experience has been, so please weigh in below in the comments!
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival's dress code is all about casual. You'll see T-shirts, sandals and tank tops around the ship by day, while at dinnertime you can't go wrong with slacks or jeans and a short-sleeve shirt for the guys and a nice blouse, skirt or pants and flat shoes for the women. The rule is no cut-offs or swimwear during dinner, thankfully.
- Celebrity Cruises
Casual by day, resort chic at night. The line also has formal nights but leaves the option up to the passengers if they want to wear a suit or not. Many women like to doll up a bit and some men will do the same. The days of the tuxedo are long gone, though.
- Costa Cruises
Casual by day, not overly dressy at night.
- Crystal Cruises
Stylish resort wear by day, elegant by night. Men can get away with a dark suit, though you may spot the occasional tuxedo on formal occasions.
Cunard Line
Dress codes on Cunard tend to be a little stuffier than most. The look is still informal in the day in public rooms and casual on deck, slightly formal at restaurants at lunch and more dressy at dinner.
Disney Cruises
Relaxed is the name of the game. Casual by day and resort casual by night.
Holland America Line
Casual by day as is the case on most ships. Evenings are for smart resort wear. The line does a casual elegance theme on some nights when guys generally opt for a sport coat, dress shirt and dress slacks or a business suit (with and without neckties). Women are asked to wear cocktail attire, evening gowns, elegant skirts, pantsuits and blouses — but can pretty much go as they choose. Personally, I like to get dressed up on those nights; it just feels good.
MSC Cruises
Casual by day, chic resort wear in evenings to dressy duds on formal nights.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Casual by day, typical cruise wear at night, maybe a little dressy at Cagney's but not overly so.
- Oceania Cruises
Country club casual is the theme night and day, no tuxedos ever expected.
Paul Gauguin Cruises
All you need by day on Tahitian cruises are bathing suits, shorts, sarongs and jeans. By night the women often opt for chic tropical outfits (think French Riviera casual chic) while the guys slip on aloha shirts and slacks. For shore excursion or touring on your own, you'll see lots of shorts, T-shirts and even bathing suits.
- Princess Cruises
At Princess, the style is casual by day, smart resort wear at night. For formal nights, you'll see tuxedos, suits or jackets and ties for the men. About half the women I’ve seen on more than three dozen cruises dressed up, while too many others donned muumuus or silly frocks. (Come on, ladies, up your game!)
- Regent Seven Seas
Country club casual is what this uptown cruise line is all about. You can wear jeans, shorts and the like during the day, but no denim at night. You will feel right at home with nice slacks and shirts or blouses, cocktail dresses or pantsuits at night. Some folks do doll up but it's up to you just how dressy you want to be. I like to dress for dinner, it just feels right.
- Royal Caribbean
With thousands of guests on all sorts of large ships, the general rule of thumb is casual by day, a mixed bag at night, leaning more to suits than tuxedoes on formal night.
Casual chic by day, tres chic by night. Perhaps half the men will wear tuxedos and every woman will dress to the nines either in a cocktail number or long gown.
Casual chic by day; striking and stunning at night. Lots of tuxedos and gorgeous gowns plus plenty of bling on display, especially on formal nights.
- Virgin Voyages
Casual chic by day; playful and smart by night. If it has an edgy vibe, all the better. No formal nights on a Virgin cruise.
- Windstar Cruises
Yuppie, Gen-Xer, Armani, Gap — nary a tuxedo or suit in sight. You’re OK with Dockers, jeans, Aloha shirts, sundresses, preppie pants for men at night and linens or casual silks for women.
What has been your experience? Any different?
Updated from an earlier post.
Patti Pietschmann I'm the LA Travel Diva and spend time cruising with first mate Richard, traveling the world, reviewing fine restaurants, going to plays, movies and events. It's the good life.
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What to wear on a cruise: Cruise attire and cruise line dress codes
Editor's Note
Have you ever had that nightmare where you're at work, in school or giving an important presentation only to look down to discover you're only wearing underwear (or worse, nothing at all)? If you're new to vacationing at sea, knowing how to dress for a cruise can be confusing and just as potentially embarrassing if you're not prepared.
Packing acceptable attire for a cruise is simple if you remember a few general rules. Here, I'll break down some safe options if you're unsure, and I'll give an overview of the cruise dress codes for each of the "big eight" cruise lines.
What do people wear on a cruise?
You can't go wrong with resort-casual clothing for sea days when you'll remain on board your ship. Although some lines will be more or less casual than that, it's a good baseline. What is "resort casual" though?
Khaki pants or shorts with loose-fitting, short-sleeved button-down shirts or even nice, plain T-shirts work well for men. Women might opt for khaki shorts or palazzo pants with a nice top or a sundress. In most cases, nice jeans (dark wash with no holes) will also work well.
On most ships, this clothing will also be acceptable at night in the main dining rooms. For extra-fee restaurants, you might choose to dress up a bit more. Collared shirts or long-sleeved button-downs are acceptable for men, and slacks with a blouse or a dress for women are acceptable.
For formal nights, which are optional on many lines' ships, men will want to bring a collared, button-down shirt at the bare minimum. For something a little more snazzy, bring a jacket to wear over your shirt, with or without a tie. Some men opt for suits or tuxes. For women, pantsuits and dressy pants outfits are a great choice, as are party dresses or even ball gowns.
Although most lines have eased dress codes on formal or "elegant" nights, jeans are generally not allowed in the main dining rooms. Cut-off shorts, baseball caps and flip-flops are banned at all times — not just on formal nights — during dinner in the main dining rooms.
Related: 7 cruise ship packing mistakes you want to avoid at all costs
Another key piece of clothing to bring is a bathing suit. Whether you're headed to a warm-weather destination and plan to laze by the pool or on the beach, or you're visiting somewhere chilly but want to take advantage of your vessel's hot tubs, it's an item you won't want to forget. Note that cover-ups are required for entry at all restaurants and dining rooms, with the exception of walk-up poolside window-service venues.
For shore excursions — particularly those in more rugged or active destinations that require a lot of walking — comfortable, casual clothing and sturdy footwear are a must. Bring layers for cold climates and moisture-wicking fabrics for places where it's warm or where you expect to work up a sweat.
Finally, check to see if your cruise line has any special theme nights planned. If so, you might want to pack an outfit for the white party or '80s night.
Carnival cruise dress code
Carnival is one line where casual is the name of the game. Passengers will be 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.
On Carnival cruise formal nights, known as "cruise elegant" nights, cruisers wear everything from slacks with nice shirts to tuxes and ball gowns. However, most passengers stick to clothes that fall somewhere in the middle.
Voyages of six nights or longer will have two "cruise elegant" nights, while those five nights or shorter will see only one.
Celebrity Cruises dress code
Celebrity Cruises maintains a dress code that's best described as chic-casual. The demographic on board tends to be a bit more upscale than what you'll find on Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian. That means khaki shorts with nice button-downs are more common than jean shorts and tank tops, although you won't be out of place in the latter.
For dinner, you'll want to dress it up even more, as the line has a smart-casual dress code at night in most restaurants, including the main dining room. Anything from unripped jeans to dress pants with nice blouses or button-downs is acceptable.
Related: 20 must-have items I won't cruise without
Are there formal nights on Celebrity cruises? Yes, the line holds one "evening chic" night on every sailing of six nights or fewer and two on voyages of a week or more. The dress code encourages passengers to go all-out with tuxes and evening gowns. However, most men choose slacks with collared or button-down shirts and jackets, sans ties. Most women choose slacks and nice blouses, sundresses or party dresses.
Disney Cruise Line dress code
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. These cruises tend toward casual in spite of their stellar service and high price point.
It's not uncommon to see jeans, shorts, T-shirts or bathing suits during the day. Unlike most other lines, the same goes at dinnertime, with jeans and T-shirts just as common as dressier attire like slacks and button-downs.
Exceptions are the line's "dress-up" nights — two on sailings of a week or more and one on shorter voyages. For those, DCL suggests that men avoid jeans and wear jackets. Women should go with dresses, skirts and blouses, or pantsuits.
Related: The 5 best cruise lines for families
Some of Disney Cruise Line's added-fee restaurants, such as Remy — one of the most expensive alternative eateries at sea — require jackets for men and don't allow jeans.
Each Disney sailing features a Pirate Night; cruisers wishing to participate should pack their best swashbuckling gear. As is standard at Disney parks, you're also likely to see large numbers of costumes and mouse ears at all hours of the day.
Holland America Line dress code
Although the dress code on Holland America ships is technically "cruise casual," you'll rarely spot anyone looking disheveled or like they just rolled out of bed. Most passengers tend toward resortwear or, at the bare minimum, nice jeans with pressed T-shirts.
The casual dress code carries through to dinner, but HAL cruisers often dress up a bit more. This includes collared shirts or button-downs (sometimes with jackets) and slacks for men and slacks with nice tops or dresses for women.
As for Holland America formal nights, on sailings shorter than a week, there will be one "gala night," during which travelers don evening or ball gowns, suits or tuxedos. Voyages of eight to 13 nights will see two gala nights, while any cruises of two weeks or longer will have three chances to dress to the nines.
MSC Cruises dress code
What to wear on MSC cruises largely depends on the crowd with whom you're sailing. On European cruises, your fellow passengers are likely to dress up more often — even during the day; skimpy resortwear and designer bathing suits often grace the pool deck as far as the eye can see. On those voyages, dinner is an even more fancy affair, with elegance as the norm. Expect to see glittering dresses and stylish pants and button-downs with dress shoes, even when it's not a formal night.
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 ambience.
Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
Are there formal nights on MSC cruises? Absolutely. They're called "gala dinners," and they appear at least once per voyage, but the number can vary by itinerary. The dress code is strict, with the buffet the only place that will allow T-shirts and shorts. You'll fit in best in a ball gown, cocktail dress, suit or tuxedo.
Norwegian Cruise Line dress code
Norwegian , which pioneered the concept of "freestyle cruising," prides itself on allowing cruisers to dress as they please, providing a "come as you are" atmosphere during the day and at night. The most popular clothing is cruise casual, and passengers are free to wear whatever they'd like with an emphasis on comfort.
The only exception is at dinner, when a smart-casual vibe encourages travelers to avoid torn clothes or suggestive or skimpy outfits.
In a nod to Norwegian's laid-back style, NCL formal nights — dubbed "Dress Up or Not" nights — provide a chance for you to get dolled up. However, it's not required, and you won't be turned away from the main dining rooms if you choose not to participate. Passengers have been spotted wearing everything from jeans and T-shirts to ball gowns and tuxes, and all coexist in perfect harmony.
Princess Cruises dress code
Princess ' casual daytime mindset means you can wear the same types of clothing on board as you would during a day ashore — activewear, beachwear and jeans or T-shirts are totally fine.
Princess' formal nights are special because the line is one of the few industry holdouts in that it still has an official formal night. Its passengers enjoy a more traditional cruise experience, and they relish the romantic vibe that a formal night can provide. With that in mind, the line doesn't mention super-fancy garb like ball gowns or tuxes; instead, it advises suits or slacks with jackets for men and cocktail dresses or pantsuits for the ladies.
On voyages of less than a week, passengers should plan for one formal night, while sailings of a week to 13 days will have two, and cruises two weeks or longer will have three.
All other nights are listed as "smart casual." This means sundresses or pants with flowy tops for women and nice jeans or slacks with collared shirts for men will suffice.
Royal Caribbean dress code
As is the case with Carnival and Norwegian, Royal Caribbean is a casual line during the day. Like Disney Cruise Line, it caters to a lot of families. Translation: Wear what allows you to have the most fun in the most comfort. Expect to see shorts or jeans with T-shirts or tank tops and bathing suits or beachwear almost exclusively during the daytime.
At night, you might want to put on something a little less comfortable, but it's certainly not required unless it's a formal night. (Like Princess, Royal still has those.) The confusing part is that the line has three different dress codes, all of which are loosely enforced: casual, smart casual and formal. The ones that show up on your voyage will depend on the length of the cruise.
The only difference between the first two is that smart casual recommends pantsuits for ladies and jackets for the guys, but skirts or trousers with blouses or collared shirts are fine in both cases. Smart casual also strongly discourages jeans — even nice ones.
Royal Caribbean formal nights have the highest expectations for passengers, urging them to wear their finest cocktail dresses, evening gowns, suits or tuxes. As with the line's smart-casual dress code, jeans are not allowed in the main dining rooms on formal nights.
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- Costa Cruises
Dress codes for Costa
By total2010 , November 1, 2011 in Costa Cruises
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Please advise with your experience about Costa dress codes: ie. do men have to wear suits on formal nights? How about a sport jacket or blazer with dress pants/shirts/ties do?
Also, for women: do people really dress up for formal nights on this cruise line ships?
We have been to RCL and Princess but never on Costa
Thanks for your help, we are leaving next week Nov 11
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Capricruiser
You won't be refused entry to the MDR on gala nights unless you're wearing shorts with a tanktop and flip-flops. Most of the male passengers do dress up with everything from tuxedos to dark suits to sports jackets with or without ties. The ladies wear anything from long gowns to pants and a blouse. Don't worry, just go and enjoy yourselves.
You do not need to wear formal suits on Gala nights. We just got back from Costa Magica cruise and on formal nights I also saw men wearing t-shirts and jeans.
The majority of the people was wearing smart-casual clothes. There were some women wearing long dresses, but most of them were wearing short, cocktail dresses. The men were dressed with pants (various colours) and a shirts. Some of them were wearing ties, but not too many. I did not see any tuxedo.
Southoffranceman
That is very useful info as we are backpacking around South America for three months then taking Costa Pacifica from Santos back to Europe..we wont be tacking too much formal ware..I guess I will have a pair of trousers and a couple of shirts max...rest will be tee shirts shorts cargo trousers etc....if really necessary we can buy some stuff while in Rio but I am not really inclinded to do so. Also not so worried if we stand out a bit. anyone got any views...am I going totally in the wrong direction here ??
thanks for your help we can light pack now
thanks for your help on this
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What to Wear on a Cruise Formal Night: Cruise Line Dress Code
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For many cruisers, cruise ship formal nights are the elegant highlight of their voyage. And yet, one of the most frequent questions we receive revolves around what to wear on a cruise formal night. You may wonder what to expect from a cruise ship’s formal night, are they mandatory, and how many formal nights are there?
The dress code for cruise formal night consists of tuxedos or suits and ties for men and evening gowns or cocktail dresses for women. Don’t worry if the formal night isn’t your style. It is usually optional, and most cruise ships have alternative dining options.
In this post, I’ll explain everything you need to know about formal nights on a cruise, how they work, and what you will need to wear. Each cruise line is different, so I will help break down the dress code of the major cruise lines.
Table of Contents
What is a Formal Night on a Cruise Ship?
Formal nights are precisely what the name suggests: they are special evenings during the cruise where passengers dress up in formal attire. On formal nights, passengers dawn fresh-pressed dress shirts, glittering gowns, stunning jewelry, and polished shoes.
The main dining room will often serve lobster, duck a l’orange, prime rib, and other delicacies worth dressing up for to commemorate the special evenings.
The cruise formal night might also be called Captain’s Night, often with photo opportunities with the captain and a speech.
Formal nights are unique to the cruise industry, which may be a change for traditional resort vacationers. The tradition is reminiscent of the golden age of transatlantic cruises when guests were required to dress formally during the evening.
Can you Skip Formal Night?
You can skip formal nights on most mainstream cruise lines. If you’re tired after a long day of cruising or you’re just not feeling in the mood to dress up, there are always alternatives for passengers, and you won’t be alone.
While the formal night is a fun night of elegant dining, photographs with the captain, and a change of pace from the rest of the cruise, you won’t be alone if you decide to skip the occasion. Rather than dine in the main dining room, you can always eat in the buffet or on your balcony via room service.
Many cruise lines don’t extend the formal dress code to their specialty dining restaurants. Consider making a reservation if you prefer to be served and dress comfortably. Keep in mind that many specialty restaurants will cost extra.
Tip: If you skip formal dining, you may be able to find lobster and prime rib served in the buffet.
Formal Night Photographs
Cruise ship formal nights are an excellent time to get professional photos taken – when else will you look this good?
Whether you are cruising to celebrate a special occasion or cruising as a family, you won’t find a better time to get your photo taken. The ship’s photographers will set up in public areas with assorted backdrops or selected backgrounds. Scenes might include an image of the ship, black velvet, or a tropical beach.
While you will have to pay to bring the photographs home, there is no charge to get your pictures taken. If you want to try each scene or see which photographer captures you best, try them all! The final photos cost less than a professional photographer in most cities would charge, and it’s a lot of fun to be in the spotlight, if only for a moment.
Tip: Photo sessions usually have lineups on formal nights. You can generally get in quickly, about an hour before the first dinner service when the photographer sets up.
How Many Formal Nights are on a Cruise?
Depending on the length of your cruise, there may be one or more formal nights. Each cruise line will have different guidelines on when formal nights will occur, but they will never be held on the first or last night of a cruise due to luggage handling concerns.
Most cruise lines will have one formal night on sailings of less than six days and two formal nights on cruises of 7 days and more. Keep in mind that this is a general approximation. Before sailing, you should check your cruise itinerary to see how many formal nights your cruise will have.
What is Considered Formal Wear?
Now that you know what to expect, we need to discuss what to wear on a formal cruise night. The dress code varies between cruise lines.
Some cruise lines are more relaxed than others, while some do not have formal nights. We’ve broken down the formal night requirements of the major cruise lines below.
Formal Night Dress Code by Cruise Line
Carnival cruise line.
Dress Code on Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Cruises’ evening dress code is typically “cruise casual.” Carnival will hold Cruise Elegant evenings with special dress requirements on one or two nights of the voyage. Cruise elegant for men means a dress shirt, dress pants, and the optional sport jacket, suit, tie, or tuxedo. Cocktail dresses, elegant skirts, pantsuits, and blouses are acceptable for women, and evening gowns are an option.
Number of Formal Nights on a Carnival Cruise:
- 1 Day cruise: none
- 2 Day to 5-day cruise: one Cruise Elegant evening
- 6 Day or longer cruise: two Cruise Elegant evenings
- Melbourne Cup cruise: one Cruise Elegant evening
Celebrity Cruises
Dress Code on Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Cruises’ evening dress code is typically “smart casual,” meaning sport shirts and slacks or jeans for men and skirts, pants or jeans, and a casual top for women.
On “Evening Chic” nights, the suggested attire is formal wear. Men should wear pants or designer jeans with a dress shirt, button-down shirt, and the optional sport coat or blazer. Suggestions for women include a skirt, pants, cocktail dress, or designer jeans with an elegant top.
Number of Evening Chic Nights on a Celebrity Cruise:
- Cruise length up to 6 days: one Evening Chic night
- Cruise length of 7 or more days: two Evening Chic nights
Costa Cruises
Dress Code on Costa Cruises: Most nights aboard Costa Cruises ships are casual and allow “resort-appropriate wear.”
On formal nights Costa Cruises’ dress code allows for a dark suit or tuxedo for men, an evening gown or cocktail dress for women
Number of Formal Nights on a Costa Cruise:
- Most 3- and 4-night cruises have one formal night
- Most 7-night cruises have two formal nights
- Most 10-night cruises have three formal nights
Crystal Cruises
Dress Code on Crystal Cruises: Crystal Cruises allows casual attire on its oceangoing cruise ships during the day. After 6:00 pm every night, casual clothing, including robes, baseball hats, swimsuits, cover-ups, and denim shorts, are not appropriate. Crystal Casual attire applies on most evenings, including a collard or button-down shirt paired with dress pants for men, and skirts, blouses, sweaters, and dresses for women. Jeans are also acceptable attire only on these nights.
A Black Tie Optional Evening allows passengers to dress more formally on special evenings. This includes a dark suit and tie or tuxedo for men and a formal cocktail dress or an evening gown for women. It’s requested that men wear a jacket on Black Tie evenings.
Number of Black Tie Optional evenings on a Crystal Cruise:
- 7-day cruises (or less): Crystal Casual only, no Black Tie Optional evenings
- 8– to 10–day cruises: Up to one Black Tie Optional evening
- 11– to 13–day cruises: Two Black Tie Optional evenings
- World Cruises, Holiday voyages, and Crossings may be scheduled differently
Cunard Line
Dress Code on Cunard Line: Most nights aboard a Cunard cruise ship, request “smart attire.” The dress code goes into effect from 6:00 pm onwards. On these nights, acceptable smart attire simply means a dress shirt and trousers, a skirt and a top, or a cocktail dress.
Gala Evenings aboard Cunard Line cruises are highly anticipated and often themed. When sailing with Cunard, you will find themes such as Roaring 20s, Red and Gold, Black and White, and Masquerade Ball. During Gala Evenings, guests are asked to observe a black-tie dress code. The requested attire is dinner jackets, tuxedos, formal dark suits for men, and cocktail or evening dresses for women.
Number of Gala Evenings on a Cunard Line Cruise:
- Rule of thumb: One Gala Evening for every three days of sailing
Disney Cruise Line
Dress Code on Disney Cruise Line: Most onboard restaurants are “cruise casual,” so casual cruise attire, such as shorts and T-shirts, is allowed, except for swimwear and tank tops. Most cruises have special theme nights that provide opportunities to dress up for a one-of-a-kind family photo.
On some nights aboard a Disney cruise, the ship will hold a special themed night, including a pirate theme, dress-up night, or semi-formal night. During dress-up night, the cruise line recommends dress pants with a jacket or a suit for men and a dress or pantsuit for women during dress-up night.
Number of Formal Nights on a Disney Cruise:
- One cruise casual night
- One pirate night-themed deck party
- One optional “dress-up night.”
- The first night is cruise casual
- One optional dress-up night
- The final night is cruise casual
- One pirate night or another themed deck party
- Three additional cruise casual nights—no swimwear or tank tops
- One formal and one semi-formal night
Holland America Line
Dress Code on Holland America Line: Most nights aboard a Holland America cruise are “resort casual.” Guests visiting their fine dining restaurants must follow casual resort attire, including a collared shirt and pants for men (jacket and tie preferred) and dresses, shirts, or pants for women. Jeans are allowed on resort casual nights as long as they are not distressed but prohibited on Gala Night.
Gala Night is a time for passengers to dress up and experience fine dining aboard a Holland America cruise. The formal Gala attire includes dress pants with a jacket or a suit for men and a dress or pantsuit for women
Number of Gala Nights on a Holland America Cruise:
- 7-day cruises or less: 1 Gala Night
- 8 to 13-day cruises: 2 Gala Nights
- 14 to 20-day cruises: 3 Gala Nights
MSC Cruises
Dress Code on MSC Cruises: In general, casual wear is appropriate aboard an MSC Cruise, except for the formal “Gala evening,” which requires a suit or jacket and tie for men and cocktail dresses for women. The ship’s public areas don’t permit shorts, t-shirts, and swimwear after 6:00 pm. Jeans are acceptable if they are not torn, ripped, or otherwise distressed.
Number of Gala Evenings on an MSC Cruise:
- 4 to 6-night cruises: 1 Gala Evening
- 7 to 9-night cruises: 2 Gala Evenings
- 10 to 14-night cruises: 3 Gala Evenings
- 15+ night cruises: 4 Gala Evenings
Norwegian Cruise Line
Dress Code on Norwegian Cruise Line: “ Cruise casual” is usually acceptable aboard a Norwegian cruise. Cruise casual includes jeans, khakis, shorts, and casual shirts for men and summer, and regular or capri pants, casual dresses, skirts, shorts, and tops for women. For dinner in one of the onboard upscale restaurants or the main dining room, collared shirts and pants or “nice” jeans for men, and pants or jeans, dresses, skirts, and tops are standard for women.
Norwegian Cruise Line does not allow passengers to wear tank tops for men, baseball caps, flip-flops, or visors in the main dining room or specialty restaurants.
Number of Formal Nights on a Norwegian Cruise:
Norwegian Cruise Line does not have an official “formal night;” however, “Norwegian’s Night Out” is the cruise line’s optional version of a ship-wide event. There is no dress code associated with “Norwegians Night Out.”
Princess Cruises
Dress Code on a Princess Cruise: Evening attire aboard Princess Cruises is typically “smart casual,” which includes dresses, skirts, or trousers with a t-shirt or blouse for ladies, trousers and shirt, or polo shirt for gentlemen. Like many cruise lines on this list, the restaurant does not allow swimwear and shorts.
For formal nights on Princess Cruises, acceptable formal wear includes an evening gown, cocktail dress, or pantsuit for ladies and a suit, combination, or dinner jacket for gentlemen.
Number of Formal Nights on a Princess Cruise:
- 5 to 6-night cruises: 1 formal evening
- 7 to 13-night cruises: 2 formal evening
- 14 to 20-night cruises: 3 formal evening
- 21 to 28-night cruises: 4 formal evening
- 29-night or more cruises: Minimum of 5 formal evening
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Dress Code on a Regent Seven Seas Cruise: Daytime attire aboard a Regent Seven Seas Cruise is typically casual and consists of resort-style clothing. After 6:00 pm, the dress code is almost always “elegant casual,” except for the final evening of each cruise, which allows passengers to dress in casual attire. Elegant casual requests passengers to wear slacks and collared shirts, blouses, sweaters, pantsuits, skirts, or dresses.
After 6:00 pm, t-shirts, jeans, tennis shoes, and shorts are not permitted in public areas of the ship, except for the pool.
Longer cruises have optional formal or semi-formal nights where passengers can wear elegant attire or a more formal look (dark suits, tuxedos, gowns, or cocktail dresses.)
Number of Formal Nights on a Regent Seven Seas Cruise:
- 16 or more nights: 2 or more formal nights
- Cruises less than 16 days are always “elegant casual.”
Royal Caribbean International
Dress Code on Royal Caribbean: Most nights aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise are smart-casual, including collared shirts and slacks for men (jackets, blazers, and sports coats are recommended but optional) and skirts, dresses, and blouses or pantsuits for women.
Formal nights on Royal Caribbean consist of suits and ties or tuxedos for men and cocktail dresses and evening gowns for women.
No tank tops, caps, or bathing suits are permitted in the main dining room or specialty restaurants, and footwear is always required.
Number of Formal Nights on a Royal Caribbean Cruise:
- 3-5 night cruises: 1 formal night
- 6+ night cruises: 2 formal nights
Seabourn Cruise Line
Dress Code on a Seabourn Cruise: The daytime dress code for Seabourn is typically casual attire, and shorts and jeans are acceptable – even in the ship’s restaurants. However, passengers should not wear swimsuits, cover-ups, and gym wear outside the spa, fitness center, and outer decks.
Evenings are typically “elegant casual,” and recommended attire includes slacks with collared dress shirts or sweaters for men, but jackets are optional. Women should choose dresses, pantsuits or skirts, or slacks with nice tops.
On formal nights, men are asked to wear a suit, tuxedo, or slacks with a jacket, while women are requested to wear a cocktail dress, evening gown, or pantsuit.
Number of Formal Nights on a Seabourn Cruise:
- Cruises up to 13 nights: 1 formal night
- Cruises of 14 to 20 nights: 2 formal nights
- Cruises of 21 nights or more: 3 formal nights
Windstar Cruises
Dress Code on Windstar Cruises: Windstar suggests “casual elegant” attire for dinners and evenings aboard their cruise ships. Slacks and collared shirts for men and sundresses and informal cocktail dresses for women are acceptable attire. At no time are flip-flops, shorts, jeans, hats, or T-shirts prohibited throughout the ship during the evening.
Unlike most cruise lines, there are no formal nights on a Windstar Cruise.
Number of Formal Nights on a Windstar Cruises:
- There are no formal nights on a Windstar Cruise
Viking Ocean Cruises
Dress Code on a Viking Ocean Cruise: Viking’s daytime dress code is casual and comfortable. The daytime attire includes shorts and jeans, while shorts, swimsuits, cover-ups, and exercise attire should be limited to the poolside, the fitness center, and the sports deck.
For evenings, the recommended onboard attire is “elegant casual.” Suggested clothing for men includes trousers and collared shirts (ties and jackets are optional but not required). For women, acceptable attire includes dresses, a skirt, or slacks with a blouse or sweater.
Number of Formal Nights on a Viking Ocean Cruise:
- There are no formal nights on a Viking Ocean Cruise.
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Costa Dining Information
The exploration of new destinations begins at the table. Every evening you can savor a “Destination Dish” inspired by the places you will visit the following day. For an unforgettable gastronomic experience there is Archipelago, Costa’s signature restaurant. Restaurants like Teppanyaki, Sushino, Pummid’Oro Pizzeria, KikiPoke, Salty Beach, and Gelateria Amarillo offer you yet more specialty dining. A delicious meal or aperitif are always just steps away. Main Dining Room Policies: Costa guests are assigned to one of two seatings in the main dining room for their evening meal, early or late. The early and late seating times can vary by ship or itinerary, but are usually at 6:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., respectively. Dinner seating preferences may be requested at the time of booking, but are not guaranteed. Reservations are not permitted in the main restaurants. Seating is based on a first-come, first-served basis. If the restaurant is full, guests will be provided a pager and will be called when a table becomes available. Dress Code: With the exception of two formal nights, the dress code is casual. Appropriate attire for men is slacks and a sports shirt (no jeans), while women are advised to wear slacks and blouse, a sundress or a pantsuit. On formal evenings, men should wear a dark suit or a tuxedo, while women should dress in an evening gown or cocktail dress. Shorts and swimwear are never permitted in the main dining room. Beverage Policy: All beverages except tea and water are at an additional cost. Juice and coffee are included with breakfast. Special Requests: Special meals including low-calorie, vegetarian, no MSG, low/no sodium and low/no cholesterol can be requested. Sugar-free and fat-free desserts are also available. All dining rooms onboard Costa ships are smoke-free.
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Is there a dress code on cruise ships?
Are you taking a cruise trip soon? It will be beneficial to know about the dress codes permitted here.
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First-time cruisers often feel confused about packing the right clothes, as different cruise lines might have different dress codes. The best thing to do here is to learn about the specific dress codes streamlined by your chosen cruise line. Then, you can pack your attire accordingly for different occasions and events and avoid clothes that are not permitted here.
In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about dress codes and clothing.
Dress Codes on Cruise Ships
Usually, every cruise ship has similar dress codes, the only exceptions being certain occasions. Look for this year’s halloween cruise deals and check for the spooky dress code you might need to wear. While there is lax enforcement of the dress codes, it is challenging to assume if you can get away by bending the rules of dress codes. So here are the top cruise lines and their usual dress codes to help you out.
1. Azamara Cruises
The basic dress code here is resort casual, which ensures light clothing. Acceptable clothing for both men and women includes sportswear, shorts, pants, golf shirts, and jackets, and some additional clothing for women includes casual dresses and skirts. However, travelers who are barefoot or wearing tank tops, bathing suits, caps, shorts, or jeans might not be allowed in restaurants and cafes.
2. Carnival Cruise Line
Here, the dress code is more casual. Men can wear sports slacks, coats, jeans, khakis, collared sports shirts, and long dress shorts. For women, these are casual pants or skirts, blouses, summer dresses, jeans, and capri pants.
There are two elegant nights, and the permitted dress code includes pantsuits, dress shirts, cocktail dresses, dress slacks, etc. Some restricted clothing items include beach flip-flops, ripped jeans, bathing suit attire, caps, and sleeveless shirts in the dining rooms.
3. Celebrity Cruises
Smart casual is the approved dress code here. Men can wear sports shirts and slacks, while women can spend time in skirts, blouses, pants, or casual dresses. The cruises have 1-3 evening chic nights. However, there is no fixed dress code for these. You cannot wear t-shirts, robes, swimsuits, caps, tank tops, or pool wear in restaurants. Further, shorts and flip-flops are also not allowed in the evening.
4. Costa Cruises
The basic dress code here is resort wear without any specific clothing items. There are 1-2 gala evenings, where the recommended dress code is cocktail dresses for women and suits for men. Restaurants recommend travelers not wear shorts or flip-flops and they must wear proper shoes. In addition, denim is allowed in dining rooms.
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5. Cunard Line
This cruise line combines elegant casual, formal, and semiformal dress codes. Formal dressing includes evening dresses for women and black ties with formal dark suits for men. On the other hand, cocktail dresses or pantsuits for women and jackets and ties for men can be semi-formal attire. Additionally, women can wear dresses, skirts, or trousers for elegant casual attire, while men need to wear jackets. Shorts and swimsuits are not permitted in the main restaurants.
6. Disney Cruise Line
These cruise ships include formal and semiformal dress codes with special dress-up and casual nights. Women can wear gowns on formal nights and pantsuits on semi-formal evenings. For men, these will be tuxedos or suits and jackets, respectively. Men can wear dress shirts for "dress-up" nights, and women can enjoy wearing dresses or pantsuits.
Furthermore, Disney organizes theme nights, like pirate or tropical themes. You can pack specific clothing based on your ship's themes. Dress code restrictions include swimwear and tank tops, as the dining rooms do not permit these.
7. Holland America Line
This cruise line focuses on formal and smart casual evenings. Men can wear shirts and slacks on gala nights, while women can wear skirts, dresses, or slacks. However, you can avail of room services if you wish to stay in comfortable pajamas. Avoid wearing swimsuits, t-shirts, tank tops, and shorts in restaurants and public areas, as these are restricted.
8. MSC Cruises
This cruise generally permits casual resort wear as the approved dress code, except for the formal nights. Men need to wear suits or jackets with ties, and women can wear cocktail dresses on formal nights. Avoid wearing jeans, T-shirts, and shorts in public areas after 6 PM. The dining rooms also prohibit entry of travelers wearing swimsuits.
Final Word
Therefore, as you can see, these are the top cruise lines with similar dress codes. You can pack these clothes for your cruise vacation and always consider some extra items for safety. Avoiding restricted clothing will help you enjoy the holiday even more.
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Cruise Formal Night Explained: 10 Things to Know (What to Wear and More…)
Formal night on a cruise is a classic tradition, but for many passengers, it can also lead to lots of questions. Do I have to dress up? What can I wear? When are the formal nights?
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. No one wants to head to dinner underdressed. At the same time, some people don’t want to dress up at all and prefer to know what other options they have.
Below, we’ve covered some of the most frequent questions about formal night on a cruise.
In This Article...
What Is a Cruise Formal Night?
Just as the name implies, formal night is the evening on the cruise when the dress code goes from the casual style that’s normal around the ship to more elegant. It’s a chance for passengers on the ship to put on their best and have an evening out that feels more special than just going to grab dinner in the dining room.
You’ll find people around the ship dressed up, having drinks, taking formal pictures, and enjoying dinner and a show. Think of it as a special event where many passengers have an elegant “date night” that’s more memorable than just another dinner on the ship.
Do I Have to Dress Up?
Absolutely not. Your cruise is your own. If you don’t want to dress up for the evening, then you certainly don’t have to do so. Many people choose to keep it casual. If you decide that shorts and a t-shirt are as formal as you want to get, you won’t be alone.
However, if you do decide to not dress up, it’s a good idea to dine outside of the main dining room or higher-end specialty restaurants. These are spots that request nicer dress during formal night.
Even if casual dress is allowed in the dining room during formal night, you might feel out of place with others wearing suits or evening gowns.
What Can I Wear to Formal Night? Do I Have to Wear a Tux or an Evening Gown?
Perhaps the biggest question around formal night on a cruise is what to wear. What’s acceptable is wide-ranging. No, you don’t have to go out and get a tuxedo or a formal evening gown unless you want to.
For instance, you can go all out and dress up in your best. And you will see some people around the cruise ship go this route. But you don’t have to wear a suit or tux to enjoy the evening.
Women can simply wear a cocktail dress or a nice blouse with pants. For men, it’s fine to wear a suit, or even a buttoned-down shirt and a pair of slacks if you don’t want to get too fancy. Nice jeans would also be ok, although we’d suggest something slightly more dressy.
That said, not everything goes. 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.
- Ok to Wear for Formal Night (Women): Gowns, dresses, skirts, blouses with pants
- Ok to Wear for Formal Night (Men): Tuxedoes, suits, button-down shirts, slacks, nice jeans
- Avoid Wearing (Men and Women): Shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, flip-flops
Is The Dress Code Strictly Enforced?
Don’t worry, you aren’t likely to be denied entry to the dining room, even if you are dressed casually. It’s not like an exclusive nightclub that bars entry.
While the name might be “formal” or “elegant” night, you won’t be out of place as long as you dress nicer than a t-shirt and shorts. Remember, the cruise lines want you to enjoy yourself and not be worried about if you should be in a tuxedo.
For that reason, as long as you avoid wearing something very casual (e.g. flip flops, shorts, and a tank top), it’s likely to be no issue. Even so, we’d highly recommend dressing up somewhat if you plan on eating in a dining room or a nicer specialty restaurant. Not only will you feel more comfortable around others who are dressed up, but it also adds to the atmosphere of formal night for others.
Where Should I Eat If I Don’t Dress Up?
While the main dining room is the spot for formal eating during the evening, you won’t go hungry if you decide not to take part in dressing up. Every cruise ship offers a number of different places to eat, with many casual dining options for those who aren’t getting fancy for the evening.
For instance, instead of the main dining room you can head to the buffet or one of the 24-hour restaurants around the ship. The restaurant’s atmosphere will give you an idea of if it’s ok to eat there dressed casually or not. The fancy steakhouse? You want to go formal. The spot serving pizza? Shorts and a t-shirt are just fine.
Is Formal Night For Everywhere on the Ship?
While you’ll definitely see people dressed up all around the ship, the only place where you’ll find any sort of suggested or required dress code is in the dining room and/or specialty restaurants.
So if you are just hanging out around the ship — having a drink in a bar, playing in the casino, watching an evening show — then you are perfectly fine dressing down. You won’t be the only one. While many people participate in formal night, a considerable chunk of passengers don’t.
How Many Formal Nights Are There During the Cruise?
The number of formal nights varies based on the length of your cruise. The rule of thumb is that a week-long cruise will have two formal nights during the trip (i.e. Day 2 and Day 5). Shorter trips normally have one.
It may be that if you are on a very short cruise (e.g. three days), there might not even be one formal night. For instance, we’ve been on one short cruise with “Wear Your Best” (i.e. the nicest thing you packed) instead of formal night.
Does Everyone on the Ship Dress Up?
No. If you decide to not dress up, then you certainly won’t be out of place. Many people choose to dress casually and just eat somewhere else other than the main dining room or higher-end restaurants. Even so, formal nights are popular and when you walk around the ship in the evening on one of these nights, there is no mistaking that it’s dressier than normal.
How Will I Know When it Is Formal Night?
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! Fortunately, you’ll get plenty of notice when it is formal night.
The most obvious spot will be with your daily cruise planner delivered to your cabin each day or through the cruise line’s app. There will be some mention of the dinner attire. It may be referred to as “formal” or “cruise elegant” or some other name. They all mean the same thing: Time to get dressed up!
As well, there are almost always announcements from the cruise director throughout the day sharing what is going on during the day and evening. They will usually mention it when it is formal night, so keep an ear out for announcements.
In the worst case, even if you don’t see any notice at all, you will definitely not miss the fact that many people are dressed up when you head to dinner that evening. That should give you a little time to head back to the room and dress up if you want to join in.
Do I Need to Dress Up at Any Other Time Than Formal Night?
For the most part, the only time you’ll need to dress anything other than casual is if you participate in formal night. That said, there are some spots where some nicer clothes are a good idea even if that evening’s dress code is casual.
Specifically, if you plan to visit any of the higher-end specialty restaurants on the ship, such as the steakhouse, then there may be a dress code.
Even if there is not, dressing up to fit the style of the restaurant is smart. So while it’s ok to dress casually at a burger joint on the ship, you’ll want to dress a little nicer if you go to the formal Italian or seafood spot for dinner.
Bottom Line on Cruise Formal Nights
The formal nights on a cruise are a fun way to do things a little differently. If you’re not someone that gets dressed up often, don’t worry. The rules around what’s formal and what’s not are flexible. As long as you make some sort of effort to dress a little nice, you’ll be fine. And if you want to go all out, you won’t be alone!
If you’re someone who likes to keep things casual, then that’s no issue either. While we’d suggest not eating the main dining room or nicer specialty restaurants on that night, you can wear what you want around the ship.
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I dressed up in an old maxi dress that was really oversized that I found from my daughter’s wedding 9 years ago. It was so flowing and pretty, so heck YEAH I wore it! I wore a nice outfit each night, like a skirt or dress. My embarkation outfit for the first night I modified by taking off the pants and putting on a skirt. I even kept the high boots on, which really worked! The last night I had a long ‘cover up’ dress that I gussied up with a sparkly throw and wedge high sandals.
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At dinner, dress codes will vary daily, among the following: Casual: Slacks and sport shirt for men (no jeans); slacks and blouse, sundress or pantsuit for women. Informal: Jacket with or without tie for men; dress or pantsuit for women. Formal: Dark suit or tuxedo for men; evening gown or cocktail dress for women. Most 3- and 4-night cruises ...
Cruise formal night dress code examples Is Dressing up Compulsory on Formal Nights/ Elegant Evenings? Whilst not compulsory, it is recommended that guests follow the evening's dress code in restaurants and bars from 6 pm. Costa appears to be pretty relaxed on dress codes, but the amount of formality may vary from ship to ship.
Day or evening, on a shore excursion or on board: every moment requires the right clothing. You are on holiday, and it is important to us that you feel at ease at every moment of the cruise. But... as good Italians, we care about the dress code! For this reason, if you are in doubt about what to wear in the evening or what's best to take on a ...
Daytime dress on a Costa Cruise is casual, such as light cotton clothing or swimwear with cover-up when indoors. Sweaters, lightweight jackets, raincoats, and hats are appropriate for Northern Europe. ... While most shore excursions do not have dress codes, some tours specifically prohibit shorts and sleeveless shirts and require ladies to wear ...
Policy: Holland America has 2 formal and 4 casual nights on a 7-day cruise. Men: Casual: pants, dressy jeans, collared shirts, and button-downs. Formal: dinner jackets, collared shirts, slacks, tuxedos, or dark suits with or without ties. Women: Casual: casual dresses, pants, dressy jeans, skirts, and casual tops or blouses.
Costa Cruises Dress Code Daytime: During the day, Costa Cruises ' passengers may wear casual clothing like T-shirts, shorts and sundresses. Beach clothing and flip-flops are not permitted in ship ...
Dress Code - Costa Cruises. The atmosphere is generally laid-back and casual. Most evenings have an informal dress code, where "resort wear" is deemed appropriate. Although not mandatory, a jacket or shawl is recommended for those who prefer a slightly more formal look. If you're looking to dress up, there are typically two gala evenings during ...
Don't mind wearing a dark suit and tie, but don't want to be overdressed either. I don't own a speedo, BTW. 😉. Expand. After three costa cruises I can say that the formal/gala night has become more casual each year. The Italians are a bit glitzy so you will see more formal stuff on cruises that leave from Italy.
Costa's onboard feel and dress code are fairly casual with most evenings incorporating an informal 'resort wear'. Although not official, a smart jacket or shawl is recommended. On Costa cruises in the Caribbean, there are two formal 'gala nights' and either one or two in Europe depending on the cruise length.
Here's a list of theme nights & dress codes: Night 1 - Casual. Night 2 - Formal (Welcoming Gala Night) Night 3 - Casual (Mediterranean Night) Night 4 - Casual (Italian Night - encouraged to wear Red, White & Green) Night 5 - Casual (Tropical Night) Night 6 - Formal (Farewell Gala Night) Night 7 - TOGA, TOGA, TOGA!!!!
Taxes and Fees included. Gratuities are not included in the price: Adults $12/night, Children $6/night, under 4 years old free of charge. Eastern Mediterranean. Sail out of Marghera (Venice), Trieste or Bari to travel through some of the most talked about destinations in Italy, Greece, and Croatia. Price per person starting from.
Costa Fortuna Dress Code Casual during the day, smart casual in the evenings, with one formal night and one semi-formal night on a seven-day cruise. Find a Costa Fortuna Cruise from $254
Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival's dress code is all about casual. You'll see T-shirts, sandals and tank tops around the ship by day, while at dinnertime you can't go wrong with slacks or jeans and a short-sleeve shirt for the guys and a nice blouse, skirt or pants and flat shoes for the women.
Holland America Line dress code. Although the dress code on Holland America ships is technically "cruise casual," you'll rarely spot anyone looking disheveled or like they just rolled out of bed. Most passengers tend toward resortwear or, at the bare minimum, nice jeans with pressed T-shirts. The casual dress code carries through to dinner, but ...
Dress Code Two formal nights are standard on seven-night cruises. Men are encouraged to wear tuxedos, but dark suits or sport coats and ties are appropriate and more common than black tie.
Please advise with your experience about Costa dress codes: ie. do men have to wear suits on formal nights? How about a sport jacket or blazer with dress pants/shirts/ties do? Also, for women: do people really dress up for formal nights on this cruise line ships? We have been to RCL and Princess ...
Dress Code - Costa Cruises. The atmosphere is generally laid-back and casual. Most evenings have an informal dress code, where "resort wear" is deemed appropriate. Although not mandatory, a jacket or shawl is recommended for those who prefer a slightly more formal look.
On formal nights Costa Cruises' dress code allows for a dark suit or tuxedo for men, an evening gown or cocktail dress for women. Number of Formal Nights on a Costa Cruise: Most 3- and 4-night cruises have one formal night. Most 7-night cruises have two formal nights. Most 10-night cruises have three formal nights.
Browse the frequently asked questions about the cruise experience in the FAQ section and book your next vacation with Costa Cruises. Travelling with Costa; Offers; Manage your booking; 1-800-462-6782 (1‐800‐Go‐Costa) ... To receive the discount code and then receive a special Premium discount, simply leave us an email address and/or ...
Dress Code: With the exception of two formal nights, the dress code is casual. Appropriate attire for men is slacks and a sports shirt (no jeans), while women are advised to wear slacks and blouse, a sundress or a pantsuit. On formal evenings, men should wear a dark suit or a tuxedo, while women should dress in an evening gown or cocktail dress.
Costa Cruises. The basic dress code here is resort wear without any specific clothing items. There are 1-2 gala evenings, where the recommended dress code is cocktail dresses for women and suits for men. Restaurants recommend travelers not wear shorts or flip-flops and they must wear proper shoes. In addition, denim is allowed in dining rooms.
If you'd wear it to the pool or the beach, you don't want to wear it to formal night. Ok to Wear for Formal Night (Women): Gowns, dresses, skirts, blouses with pants. Ok to Wear for Formal Night (Men): Tuxedoes, suits, button-down shirts, slacks, nice jeans. Avoid Wearing (Men and Women): Shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, flip-flops.