If the thought of meeting a cruise ship dress code is a little
intimidating, you’re not alone; no one wants to be the only person who didn’t
know that “formal night” calls for a tie, for example.
The good news is that while most cruise ships have a dress code, your
Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert will help you interpret the code so that
you’ll know what to pack. In fact, if a dress code – or the lack of one – is
important to you, your cruise expert can guide you to specific cruise lines and
ships that match your wish to dress up or down.
“Cruise casual” clothing is predominant on many ships – think of sportswear
and what you’d wear to play golf or tennis in at a sports club. Men will be
comfortable in polo shirts, sport pants or shorts; women in the same, as well
as blouses, skirts and casual dresses. With this dress code, bare feet, tank
tops, and very short shorts are generally not included. Shorts are fine during
the day, but are usually not welcome at dinner. Jeans and t-shirts are often
acceptable if they don’t have holes or tears. Also, having lunch at the Lido
deck buffet in your swimsuit and cover-up is fine, but swimwear is not
acceptable in restaurants or dining rooms.
There are variations on cruise casual, which include Smart Casual and
Resort Casual. They are generally a step more formal that cruise casual: jackets
for men and dresses for women may be required at dinner. But, dress code
terminology and meaning vary between ships and cruise lines, so let your cruise
expert be your guide.
Regardless of the overall dress code, formal nights mean suits and ties
for men, dresses for women. However, on some luxury cruise lines, that’s the
definition of informal; formal nights require tuxedos and gowns. If the very
thought of formal night fills you with dread, don’t worry – there are many cruises
with no formal nights.
One more bit of advice – you can’t go wrong by dressing up on a cruise.
On the other hand, if you show up underdressed for the dining room, the worst
that will happen is that the crew will direct you to another venue. So, check
with Anita, your cruise expert, on dress code expectations, and then pack with
confidence!
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AtthetaTravel
