The cruise code you need to know
When you pack for your cruise, it can be hard to know what is appropriate attire and what fellow passengers will be wearing.
Back in the '60s there were many formal nights where men wore dinner suits and women wore long gowns.
However, dress codes on cruises have become much less formal and some lines don’t even require ties and jackets.
Follow these tips to help you pack before you depart on your cruise holiday.
1. Theme nights
On P&O Cruises Australia, formal nights have been replaced with theme parties. President Sture Myrmell told Escape, “There is the Gatsby Party, with all the glamour of the roaring twenties, the Bianco White Party and the Back to School Party. Costumes are not a must, but they are encouraged.”
2. Smart casual
Some cruise lines recommend smart casual attire for dining. If your line has this same approach, there is no jacket or tie requirement. Steve Odell, the senior vice president of Norwegian Cruise Line, said, “At NCL, we recommend the same dress code as any sunshine resort, both during the day and in the evenings."
3. Different occasions
At Royal Caribbean Cruises, the recommended dress for breakfast, lunch and dinner is casual. In the main dining room and in the specialty restaurants, passengers can choose to dress casual or smart casual. There are generally two formal nights on Royal Caribbean Cruises where the dress is black-tie and cocktail dresses. On the Celebrity Solstice, passengers get the chance to wear glamorous clothes during the evening Chic nights. If you do forget your formal attire, black-tie and formal gowns are available for hire on the ship.
4. Black-tie
Holland America Line keeps the tradition of formal nights and has an elegant black-tie dinner at least once on the Maasdam and Noordam.
5. Formal
On Princess Cruises Australia, there are two formal nights where passengers are asked to wear dinner jacks or dark suits and long gowns or cocktail dresses. For other nights, passengers are expected to dress as they would for a fine restaurant ashore.
What are your tips for packing before a cruise? Let us know in the comments below.