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Writer's pictureRainbow Travel inc

Your Ultimate Packing Guide: What to Wear and Bring on Your Next Cruise!


The vast majority of cruise lines maintain a casual dress code during the day, but the evening hours often bring significant changes. What may be acceptable for lunch in a main restaurant might not meet the standards for dinner.


To assist travel agents in preparing their clients for their next cruise, a comprehensive overview of dress codes for major ocean-going cruise lines has been compiled. The recommended attire is specifically for dinners in the main and specialty restaurants, as buffets tend to remain casual even after sunset.


Cruise Lines Covered:

  • Azamara

  • Atlas Ocean Voyages

  • Carnival Cruise Line

  • Celebrity Cruises

  • Cunard

  • Disney Cruise Line

  • Holland America

  • MSC Cruises

  • Norwegian Cruise Line

  • Oceania Cruises

  • Princess Cruises

  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises

  • Royal Caribbean

  • Seabourn

  • Silversea Cruises

  • Viking

  • Virgin Voyages

  • Windstar Cruises

Azamara

  • Overall: Resort casual. Formal evening wear is not expected or required, although guests are welcome to dress formally if they choose.

  • Recommended for Women: Sportswear, casual dresses, skirts, pants, capris, blouses, and knit tops.

  • Recommended for Men: Sportswear, collared golf and polo shirts, shorts, pants, and a sport coat (optional).

  • Not Permitted: Bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps, bathing suits, shorts, and torn or distressed jeans are not allowed in the dining room or specialty restaurants. When dining at Windows Café, guests must wear appropriate footwear and a cover-up or shirt.

Atlas Ocean Voyages

  • Overall: Resort casual.

  • Recommended for Women: Sportswear, casual dresses, skirts, pants, capris, blouses, and other nice tops.

  • Recommended for Men: Nice sportswear, collared golf and polo shirts, nice shorts, trousers or khakis, and nice jeans.

  • Not Permitted: Swimsuits (wet or dry).



Carnival Cruise Line


  • Overall: The dress code is casual during the day and smart casual after 5:30 p.m. The only exception occurs on embarkation day, when guests can come as they are, though footwear must be worn at all times.

  • Recommended for Women: Casual dresses, skirts or pants with blouses, summer dresses, capris, dress shorts, and jeans are appropriate. On Cruise Elegant Nights, recommended attire includes cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts with blouses, and evening gowns.

  • Recommended for Men: Casual pants, jeans, dress shorts, and collared sport shirts are acceptable. On Cruise Elegant Nights, men are encouraged to wear dress trousers, dress shirts, sports jackets, and, for those who wish to elevate their style, a suit and tie or tuxedo.

  • Not Permitted: Gym or basketball shorts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, cut-off jeans, sleeveless shirts for men, and baseball caps are not allowed. On Cruise Elegant Nights, shorts, t-shirts, jeans, and sportswear are also prohibited.


Additionally, all clothing worn during a Carnival cruise should not display messages that could be deemed offensive, including nudity, profanity, or sexual innuendo. All attire and accessories should avoid promoting negative ethnic or racial commentary, hatred, or violence in any form.




Celebrity Cruises


  • Overall: The dress code is smart casual.

  • Note for Galapagos Expedition Sailings: Casual attire is expected for the duration of the cruise.

  • Recommended for Women: Skirts, pants, or jeans paired with a casual top are appropriate. On Evening Chic nights, guests may opt for a cocktail dress or stylish skirts, pants, or designer jeans with an elegant top.

  • Recommended for Men: Pants or jeans with a short-sleeve sport shirt are suitable. On Evening Chic nights, men are encouraged to wear pants or designer jeans with a dress shirt, button-down shirt, or sweater; a sport coat or blazer is optional.

  • Not Permitted: T-shirts, swimsuits, robes, bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps, and pool attire are prohibited in the main and specialty restaurants at all times. Additionally, shorts and flip-flops are not allowed during evening hours.




Cunard


  • Overall: The dress code is resort casual during the day and smart attire by evening (jacket optional), except on Gala Evenings, which require black-tie attire.

  • Recommended for Women: Suitable options include skirts and blouses or cocktail dresses. On Gala Evenings, women may wear cocktail dresses, gowns, or pantsuits.

  • Recommended for Men: Trousers paired with a dress shirt are appropriate. On Gala Evenings, a full suit or tuxedo is required.

  • Not Permitted: Swimwear is not allowed in dining areas.




Disney Cruise Line


  • Overall: The dress code is cruise casual, with dress-up nights being optional but recommended.

  • For Adults-Only Restaurants: The dress code is "polished." While formal and semi-formal wear is encouraged, dress pants, designer jeans, and collared shirts or blouses are acceptable.

  • Recommended for Women: Options include shorts, t-shirts, summer dresses, and capris. On optional dress-up nights, women may choose to wear a dress or pantsuit.

  • Recommended for Men: Suitable attire includes shorts, t-shirts, jeans, trousers, and polo shirts. On optional dress-up nights, men are encouraged to wear trousers with a polo or button-up shirt and a jacket.

  • Not Permitted: Swimwear and tank tops are not allowed. Additionally, t-shirts and sports attire are prohibited in adults-only restaurants.




Holland America Line


  • Overall: The dress code is smart casual, except on Dressy Nights, which require semi-formal attire (or formal, depending on the guest's preference).

  • Recommended for Women: Suitable options include capris, slacks, skirts with blouses, or summer dresses. On Dressy Nights, women may opt for dresses, skirts, or slacks paired with a blouse.

  • Recommended for Men: Acceptable attire consists of designer jeans, slacks, and polo shirts. Slacks and collared shirts are required in all fine dining restaurants and on Dressy Nights, where a jacket and tie or tuxedo are optional.

  • Not Permitted: Shorts, t-shirts, pool or beachwear, distressed jeans, and men's tank tops are not allowed.




MSC Cruises


  • Overall: The dress code is resort casual.

  • Recommended for Women: Options include tailored pants, nice shorts, skirts, and dresses. For Gala Nights (which are always optional), women may choose gowns, cocktail dresses, or elegant pantsuits.

  • Recommended for Men: Suitable attire consists of tailored pants, nice shorts, and collared shirts. On Gala Nights (also optional), men are encouraged to wear dress pants with a button-up or polo shirt, and tuxedos (jacket and tie optional) are welcome.

  • Not Permitted: Swimwear is not allowed at any time. Additionally, shorts, flip-flops, and tank tops are not permitted during dinner, and t-shirts are prohibited on Gala Nights.




Norwegian Cruise Line


  • Overall: The dress code is cruise casual.

  • Recommended for Women: Attire includes summer and casual dresses, skirts, regular or capri pants, jeans, and nice tops or blouses. For upscale specialty restaurants, women should opt for dresses, skirts, nice jeans, or dress pants paired with a blouse.

  • Recommended for Men: Suitable options consist of khakis, jeans, shorts, t-shirts, and polo shirts. In upscale specialty restaurants, men are encouraged to wear nice jeans or slacks with a collared shirt.

  • Not Permitted: Tank tops for men, flip-flops, baseball caps, visors, and faded or ripped jeans are not allowed.





Oceania Cruises


  • Overall: The dress code is resort or country club casual.

  • Recommended for Women: Suggested attire includes dresses, skirts, tailored pants, dress capris, blouses, and sundresses.

  • Recommended for Men: Men are advised to wear collared, button-up, or turtleneck shirts along with slacks and dress shoes.

  • Not Permitted: Casual jeans, shorts, t-shirts, baseball caps, sandals, and tennis shoes are not allowed in restaurants after 6 p.m.





Princess Cruises


  • Overall: The dress code is resort casual.

  • Recommended for Women: Suggested attire includes skirts or dresses, slacks, blouses, and sweaters. On Formal Nights, women are encouraged to wear gowns, cocktail dresses, or pantsuits.

  • Recommended for Men: Men should wear trousers with collared or dress shirts. On Formal Nights, dress pants and shirts are appropriate (jacket and tie optional), along with dark suits or tuxedos.

  • Not Permitted: Pool or beach attire, shorts, baseball caps, and jeans with fraying or holes are not allowed.




Regent Seven Seas Cruises


  • Overall: The dress code is casual before 6 p.m. and elegant casual after that. Casual wear is also permitted on the final evening of the cruise.

  • Recommended for Women: Women are advised to wear slacks or skirts with blouses or sweaters, pantsuits, or dresses.

  • Recommended for Men: Men should opt for slacks paired with a collared shirt (sport jacket optional).

  • Not Permitted: Shorts, t-shirts, jeans, and baseball caps are not allowed. On sailings of 16 nights or longer, formal and semi-formal attire is optional on two evenings.


Royal Caribbean International


  • Overall: The dress code is casual during the day and smart casual in the evening. The Chef’s Table dining experience requires formal attire, and this dress code applies to children of all ages.

  • Recommended for Women: Women are advised to wear jeans, sundresses, skirts, pantsuits, and blouses. On Formal Nights, cocktail dresses, gowns, and elegant pantsuits are recommended.

  • Recommended for Men: Men should opt for trousers, polos, or collared shirts (sport coat or blazer optional). On Formal Nights, full suits (tie optional) or tuxedos are expected.

  • Not Permitted: Swimwear and bare feet are not allowed in any dining venue. Tank tops are also not permitted in the main dining room or specialty restaurants during dinner.


Seabourn


  • Overall: Resort casual is the standard by day, while elegant casual or formal attire is required after 6 p.m.

  • Recommended for Women: Women are encouraged to wear slacks or skirts with blouses, pantsuits, or dresses. On Formal Nights, evening gowns, cocktail dresses, or elegant pantsuits are required.

  • Recommended for Men: Men should wear slacks with a collared dress shirt or sweater. On Formal Nights, a tuxedo, full suit, or slacks with a jacket and tie is required.

  • Not Permitted: Swimsuits, short shorts, exercise attire, and cover-ups are not allowed. Elegant jeans are permitted during Elegant Casual evenings, but jeans are prohibited on formal nights.


Silversea Cruises


  • Overall: The dress code is resort casual during the day and varies by schedule between country club casual, semi-formal, or formal at night.

  • Recommended for Women: Women are advised to wear pants, blouses, skirts, casual dresses, or pantsuits. On Formal Evenings, evening gowns, cocktail dresses, or elegant pantsuits are expected.

  • Recommended for Men: Men should wear slacks and open-neck shirts. On semi-formal nights, a jacket is required, while on Formal Evenings, dark suits, dinner jackets, or tuxedos with ties are required. Dining at La Dame restaurant mandates that men wear a jacket at all times.

  • Not Permitted: Jeans, shorts, sneakers, and flip-flops are prohibited in indoor spaces after 6 p.m.

Viking Cruises

  • Overall: Casual attire is appropriate during the day, transitioning to elegant casual by night.

  • Recommended for Women: Women are encouraged to wear dresses or slacks with blouses or sweaters.

  • Recommended for Men: Men should opt for trousers and a collared shirt (jacket and tie optional).

  • Not Permitted: Swimwear, swim shorts, cover-ups, and exercise attire are not allowed. Jeans are prohibited in evening dining venues, except for the World Café.





Virgin Voyages


  • Overall: The dress code is entirely up to each guest’s personal preference.

  • Recommended for Women: Attire is determined by individual style.

  • Recommended for Men: Dress is also dictated by personal choice.

  • Not Permitted: Guests are encouraged to be respectful. While cover-ups and shoes are suggested in restaurants, they are not mandatory.


Windstar Cruises


  • Overall: The dress code is country club casual.

  • Recommended for Women: Attire includes nice jeans, pants, skirts, elegant tops, and casual or sundresses.

  • Recommended for Men: Suggested attire consists of nice jeans, khakis or slacks, polo shirts, button-down shirts, and non-athletic shoes. Sport coats are optional.

  • Not Permitted: Swimwear and clothing featuring offensive language or graphics are not allowed in public lounges and restaurants.


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