Do I Have to Dress Up on a Cruise?

No, you do not have to dress up on a cruise, as most cruise lines have a casual atmosphere and don't enforce formal nights. However, it is generally recommended to follow "smart casual" guidelines for dinner in the main dining rooms.

Typical Cruise Dress Codes

Most mainstream cruise lines divide evenings into casual and "smart casual" or "resort evening" nights, with one or two formal or "gala" evenings per week-long sailing. Here's what each typically means:

• Casual: Jeans, khakis, polo shirts, sundresses — the most common dress code on most nights.
• Smart casual: Dress pants or nice jeans, button-down shirts for men; dresses, skirts, or dressy blouses for women.
• Formal/Gala: Suits or tuxedos for men; cocktail dresses or evening gowns for women. These are suggestions, not requirements on most lines.

What Happens If You Don't Dress Up?

On most mainstream lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC), formal dress codes are not strictly enforced. If you show up to the main dining room on formal night in jeans, you'll almost certainly be seated. The main dining room and buffet are both always available regardless of attire.

On luxury lines like Cunard, Regent, and Silversea, dress codes are more strictly observed and enforced.

What to Pack

• A few pairs of dress pants or nice jeans
• One blazer or dress shirt (men) or one cocktail dress (women) for formal nights if you want to participate
• Swimwear and casual clothes for port days and pool days
• Comfortable walking shoes for shore excursions

Swimwear and pool attire should always be covered up when moving through indoor public areas of the ship.