You must often be asked by clients what they should pack for a cruise, so, we’ve broken it down, line by line*:
Azamara
Day/Evening: Resort casual. No bare feet, tanks, shorts, or ripped jeans in dining venues.
White Night: Pack an all-white outfit.
Ambassador Cruise Line
Day: Comfortable and casual.
Evening:
- Smart casual: Polos, chinos, skirts, blouses.
- Formal nights: Tuxes, cocktail dresses, or elegant separates.
Theme night: ‘Dress to impress’ often featured.
Costa Cruises
Day: Casual – bring swimwear for the pool.
Evening: Usually relaxed, but elegant dress encouraged if you feel like dressing up.
Shore Tip: Practical shoes and layers for longer excursions.
Cunard
Day: Smart casual – polos, chinos, cardigans.
Evening: Smart attire from 6pm. Gala nights (on 3+ night sailings) go all-out with gowns and tuxes.
Tip: Gala themes posted on My Cunard.
No-go: Swimwear in dining areas. Camo is banned in parts of the Caribbean.
Disney Cruise Line
Day: Shorts, sundresses, sneakers – cruise casual.
Evening:
- Main dining: Casual (no swimwear/tank tops).
- Adult dining: Semi-formal or dressy casual.
- Theme nights: Formal or costume nights on longer cruises.
No-go: Swimwear in dining rooms.
Explora Journeys
Day: Elegant resort casual – think designer athleisure, linen, and stylish separates.
Evening:
- Informal: Stylish attire encouraged, but no formal nights.
- Evenings: Themes like ‘Ocean State of Mind’ suggest refined looks, but no dress codes are enforced.
No-go: Swimwear, flip-flops, caps in restaurants or lounges.
Tip: Pack smart-casual options that transition from day to night.
MSC Cruises
Day: Very casual. Dress code signs outside buffet.
Evening: More polished – collared shirts, skirts, dresses.
Gala nights: Up to two per week. Anything from tuxes to polos and jeans.
Themes: White Party, Sunshine Party.
No-go: Swimwear, flip-flops, or tank tops in restaurants.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
Day: Resort casual – tees, shorts, jeans all OK.
Evening: No ripped jeans, flip-flops, or tanks in main/specialty dining.
Optional formal night: Dress up if you like.
Smart Casual: Collared shirts and closed-toe shoes for men.
Theme nights: White Hot Party, Night Out.
Swimwear OK in buffet with cover-up.
Oceania Cruises
Day: Smart casual – polos, blouses, slacks.
Evening: Country club casual every night – no formalwear required.
No-go: Jeans, shorts, tanks, and athletic wear in restaurants.
P&O Cruises
Day: Casual, including shorts and tees.
Evening:
- Smart casual: Dresses, polos, trousers.
- Black tie nights: Dark suits or dinner jackets, cocktail dresses.
Tip: Formal nights vary by cruise length.
No-go: Football shirts, ripped jeans.
Princess Cruises
Day: Think shorewear – shorts, tees, layers for evenings.
Evening: Smart casual or formal depending on the night.
No-go: Shorts and swimwear in restaurants.
Regent Seven Seas
Day: Elegant casual – no dress code during the day.
Evening:
- Elegant Casual: Dresses or trousers with blouses or collared shirts.
- Formal Nights (on longer cruises): Optional; cocktail attire or suits welcome.
No-go: Jeans, T-shirts, caps, or sneakers in restaurants after 6pm
Royal Caribbean
Day: Cruise casual – sundresses, jeans, shorts, polos.
Evening:
- Casual: No swimwear in dining rooms.
- Smart casual: Collared shirts, dresses.
- Formal: Gowns, cocktail dresses, suits (usually 1–2 per cruise).
No-go: Caps and tank tops in the MDR.
Viking Cruises
Day: Casual – jeans, shorts, trousers.
Evening: ‘Elegant casual’ – collared shirts, dresses, skirts. No jeans in main areas after 6pm (World Café excepted).
No-go: Swimwear or gymwear outside pool/spa.
Captain’s Dinner (all lines)
Almost every cruise includes one – usually the most formal night onboard.
Top tip: When in doubt, overdress.
*Report includes tips from Merseyside-based 65+ clothing and footwear brand Chums.
