Dress Code for Cruise Ships listed

Wondering what to wear on a cruise can cause extreme ‘packing anxiety’, especially as every line has its own dress code.

We have experienced all types – from an adventure ship that enforced a barefoot policy, to a luxury liner that turned away a fellow diner for not wearing ‘black tie’.

Here’s a quick guide to the different policies, but be sure to ask how strict it is when you book, and how many (if any) formal nights are on your itinerary.

Celebrity – has three options: “day wear” (pants, blouses or shirts, knit tops or polo shirts); “conservative port wear” (casual); and “evening-wear” with different policies for casual nights, informal nights and formal nights.

Crystal – formal nights call for a tuxedo, dinner jacket or dark suit and tie, or an evening dress/gown; on other nights, a suit or jacket or cocktail dress. Jeans, shorts, sport shirts and caps are not permitted in the dining room or specialty restaurants after 6pm.

Cunard – the Queens have formal (black tie or dark suit; evening dress); semi-formal (jacket and tie; cocktail dress or pantsuit); and elegant casual nights (jacket, no tie; dress, skirt or pants). Shorts and swimmers cannot be worn in the main restaurants.

Holland America – has formal and smart casual nights; at the buffet, passengers can be more casual. T-shirts, swimmers and shorts are not permitted in public areas in the evening.

MSC Cruises – “casual resort wear” is OK, but there are usually one or two formal nights (black tie not required). No jeans, T-shirts, shorts or bare feet in public areas after 6pm.

P&O – Casual during the day, Smart casual after 5.30pm in the public lounges and restaurants. On cocktail nights, women are requested to wear an evening or cocktail dress and men wear a suit or similar (tie optional).

Princess – formal nights require a tuxedo, dinner jacket or suit or an evening gown/ cocktail dress. Smart casual wear includes pants and shirts, or skirts/dresses or pants. Shorts and halter-tops are not permitted in the dining room, but casual is OK in the buffet.

Regent Seven Seas – elegant casual after 6pm. On formal optional nights, passengers can glam up if they wish. Jeans, T-shirts, baseball caps, shorts, sneakers and bathrobes are not allowed in public areas after 6pm.

Royal Caribbean – keep it casual during the day but on formal nights women should wear a cocktail dress, and men can wear a suit and tie or tuxedo.

Seabourn – has formal, elegant casual and casual evenings. Formal attire is a tuxedo or dark suit, or evening gown. Elegant casual includes pants with a jacket and shirt, or skirt or pants with blouse. Casual clothes are OK in the buffet, but don’t be too shabby.