Will there be a dress code on my cruise?

 

 

When it comes to cruise wear, the formality and dress code rules vary per cruise line. Below we have covered the basic dress codes and requirements of the most popular cruise lines when it comes to cruise fashion but for more information, please see our blog on cruise clothing or head to your cruise line’s website.

Ambassador Dress Code

Ambassador offer a very relaxed and casual feel to their cruises, suggesting that guests dress for comfort during the day. And unless specified the evening dress code is also very casual. Some evenings are classed as smart wear. If this is the case it is acceptable for men to wear a dinner jacket with or without a tie, and for the ladies a cocktail dress or trouser suit.
Ambassador do offer formal and gala evenings, where guests are invited to dress in formal wear, such as a dinner jacket, or suits for the gentleman and evening or cocktail dresses for the ladies. On these occasions, t-shirts, jeans, and open-neck shirts are not permitted. 
The cruise line will offer 2 formal/gala evenings every 7-12 nights. 

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
Daytime wear	Smart or casual wear	Smart or casual wear
Special occasion evenings	Dinner jack or suit	Evening/cocktail dress

 

Costa Cruises Dress Code

Costa’s on-board 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. For Gala nights, it’s recommended that men wear suits and women's cocktail dresses. 

For those wanting to totally relax while they eat, there is also an evening buffet option. 

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
Gala Nights	Smart suits with tie optional	Cocktail dresses
Resort Wear	Smart jacket, chinos, and buttoned shirt	Smart dress or blouse with a shawl

Celebrity Cruises Dress Code

You’ll need to pack two types of evening attire for a Celebrity cruise. A majority of nights are smart casual but they also have “Evening Chic” nights. For sailings less than seven nights only one night is Evening Chic while up to eleven-night cruises have two, and over twelve nights three.

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
Smart Casual	Short-sleeve shirt with jeans or chinos	Skirt or jeans with top
Evening Chic	Smart shirt with sweater or blazer	Cocktail dress or smart jeans and blouse

Royal Caribbean Dress Code

During the day, you can relax while on-board and dress as you please according to the weather and your activities that day.

For the evening, Royal Caribbean has 3 separate dress codes-Casual, Smart Casual, and Formal. These are only guidelines, with RCL stressing that these events are not mandatory and you are free to enjoy your holiday as you wish.

Tuxedo rentals are available on-board if you decide to celebrate a big occasion last minute.

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
Smart Casual	Blazer or jacket, smart jeans or chinos, shirt with optional tie	Cruise dresses or trouser suit
Formal	Tuxedo or smart suit	Ballgown

Cunard Dress Code

Cunard is keen to maintain their reputation for glamorous evenings on-board their ships. Gala Nights occur 2 or 3 times across each 7 nights of a voyage while the other evening’s events are simply ‘Smart’. Dress codes come into effect at 6pm each evening and include no jeans..

 

	Gentlemen	Ladies
Gala Night	Dark suit and black tie	Ball Gowns or smart cocktail dresses
Smart Attire	Jacket with optional tie	Dress, skirt or trouser suit

 

Fred. Olsen Dress Code

There are 3 formal nights on a 14-night cruise, with 2 on shorter Fred. Olsen cruises.

Many sailings over 5 nights also have a popular British theme night where you can don your best red, white, and blue outfit.

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
Formal Evenings	Black tie	Cocktail or evening dress
Smart Casual	Shirt or polo, smart jeans, trousers or chinos. Jacket and tie optional	Trouser suits, dresses or casual separates, and summer dresses

P&O Cruises Dress Code

During the day, P&O is relaxed with you free to wear what you want depending on your location and day’s activities. In the evening there is a dress code in force from 6 pm in the ship's bars and restaurants from 6 pm onwards for cruisers aged over 18.

There are two dress codes – Evening Casual and Black Tie.

To help you with your packing, Cruise Personaliser will let you know how many nights of each dress code you can expect during your holiday. Please check in advance so you’re ready for each occasion.

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
Evening Casual	Buttoned shirt or polo	Smart separates
Black Tie	Tuxedos, dinner jackets, dark suits, national dress or uniform	Cocktail dresses or ball gowns

MSC Cruises Dress Code

You are welcome to wear casual resort attire apart from on formal nights. These events are held once if the cruise is less than six nights, two on voyages with a duration of up to nine nights and three if up to 14 nights, and four times if 15 nights and more. 

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
Casual	Shirt with chinos	Summary dresses with jacket
Formal	Suit or jacket and tie	Cocktail dresses

It is also requested that you do not wear jeans, shirts, or shorts in public spaces after 6 pm. Meanwhile, MSC hosts many popular, nights on-board you are invited to take part in such as White Night, Tropical Night, 60s/70s Floral Night, or green, white & red for Little Italy night.

 

Marella Cruises Dress Code

There is a single Captain's Gala Reception during each cruise on Marella. You will find that most will dress up but if you do not wish to join in with the formalities on this particular evening, alternative dining arrangements are made available. Otherwise, the dress code is smart casual.

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
Gala Night	Tuxedo or suit and tie	Cocktail or evening dress
Smart Casual	shirt/polo with trousers	Two-piece or dress

Princess Cruises Dress Code

Princess has both a smart casual and formal dress code depending on the occasion. The number of formal nights depends on the length of the cruise, with one every 4-6 days on average, while all other nights are simply smart casual.

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
Smart Casual	buttoned shirt and trousers	Smart separates
Formal Night	tuxedo, dark suit, or jacket	Evening/cocktail dress or a smart trouser suit

Azamara Cruises Dress Code

Day or night, Azamara keep a simple resort casual feel on-board their ships with no officially formal events, although they do request no jeans, bare feet, or swimwear in the dining room. Of course, you are still invited to dress formally for dinner and dress to impress for any special occasions.

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
Resort Casual	Polo or buttoned shirt Trousers/chinos	Casual dresses Blouses with trousers/skirts Knitwear

Norwegian Cruise Line Dress Code

NCL is well known for their relaxed take on cruising holidays, letting you wear what you like during the day. The special "Dress-Up or Not Night." is very popular but it’s your choice how formal you choose to be as well as the ‘White Night” themed event. Meanwhile, most evenings and venues are simply casual dress with even swimming costumes with a shirt and footwear all you need to enjoy the buffet and outdoor venues.

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
All Decked Out	Jeans or chinos/trousers with a collared shirt and closed-toed shoes	Trousers or jeans, dresses, skirts, and tops
Cruise Casual	Khakis, jeans, shorts, and casual shirts	summer and casual dresses, skirts, regular or capri pants, shorts, jeans, and tops.

Holland America Line Dress Code

HAL guests can enjoy a popular Gala night held once a week while the rest of the time smart-casual attire is required. These Gala events are optional to attend but held in all fine dining venues.

 

	Menswear	Womenswear
Gala Nights	Collared shirts and trousers	Dresses, skirts or trousers
Smart Casual	Dark suit, tuxedo or jacket, and tie	Cocktail dress, gown, or dressy pantsuit