In this article, you are going to learn what to wear to dinner on a cruise.
Cruise lines have their own set of dress codes when it comes to having dinner on a cruise. For example, if you’re on one of the Azamara Cruises, then you can wear sportswear or casual dresses to dinner. However, if you’re on Celebrity Cruises, you’ll have to follow a “smart casual” dress code, which means no t-shirts or tank tops.
In this article, you are going to learn what to wear to dinner on a cruise. We’ll list the dress codes enforced by different cruise lines, so you can easily prepare for each evening’s dining experience.
Here are five cruise lines and their dress codes:
1. SeaDream yacht club
Being one of the most luxurious cruise lines, you would think that SeaDream Yacht Club would have a strict formal dress code, but it’s actually quite the opposite. You have to follow a “casual elegance” dress code. This means you have the flexibility to wear comfortable yet stylish outfits throughout your voyage.
Men can wear slacks or pants with collared shirts. Women can wear dresses, skirts, or trousers paired with blouses or tops. We recommend checking out Sherri Hill’s evening dresses if you’re planning to go on this cruise.
2. Costa cruises
Costa Cruises might be the perfect fit for you if you want to be on a cruise that has a more relaxed dress code. They allow shorts and “tasteful T-shirts” even in the dining room. Their dress code tends to vary every day at dinner.
Most of their 3 and 4-night cruises have one formal night, while 10-night cruises have 3 formal nights. On formal nights, men are expected to wear a dark suit or tuxedo and women are encouraged to wear an evening gown or a cocktail dress.
On some nights, you can also wear casual attire such as slacks and sport shirts for men, and slacks and sundress for women.
3. Oceania cruises
Oceania is another luxury cruise line. When going to dinner on Oceania Cruises, you have to follow an “elegant casual resort wear” dress code. You’re not allowed to wear jeans, shorts, t-shirts or tennis shoes at dinner. In fact, you can’t wear these clothes in any public areas during the evening.
Men can wear slacks and button-down shirts and women can wear skirts and dresses.
4. Celebrity cruises
As mentioned above, Celebrity Cruises have a “Smart Casual” dress code and you can’t enter the main dining, special dining, and “Celebrity Theater” areas without wearing the proper attire.
According to the cruise line, “Smart Casual means you look comfortable yet tasteful in a dress, skirt, long pants, or jeans, and stylish top or button-down.” The cruise has explicitly mentioned on their site that shorts and flip flops do not count as “Smart Casual.”
They also have formal nights, which they call “Evening Chic.” This is where you’re encouraged to wear formal outfits, such as tuxedos, cocktail dresses, skirts, and elegant dress tops or blazers.
5. Disney cruise lines
Most onboard dining locations on Disney Cruise Lines are “cruise casual.” This means clothes such as shorts and T-shirts are allowed, but swimwear and tank tops are not. Most cruises have dress-up nights that follow a specific theme. For example, if you’re on a 3-night cruise, this is what your itinerary may look like:
- First night: Cruise casual night where you can wear relaxed outfits such as shirts and shorts, but again, swimwear and tank tops aren’t allowed.
- Second night: A pirate night themed deck party where you and your family can dress up as pirates.
- Third night: A dress-up night where men and women can wear formal clothes. For example, men can wear jackets, while women can wear dresses or pantsuits.
Have you decided what you want to wear
As you can tell, each cruise line has its own dress code, so you have to make sure to check their website or contact them directly before packing to ensure you’re prepared for the dining experience onboard.
Wearing the right outfit to dinner on a cruise is very important, because if you don’t follow the dress code, there’s a good chance you’ll be turned away and no one wants that when they’ve spent so much money to be on the cruise.
Wearing formal is always a safe bet, as no cruise will turn you away for being overdressed.
