What to Wear On A Cruise For Formal Dinners
Is there anything like the grandeur and elegance that comes with a cruise abroad? Transporting passengers to sunswept tropical paradises like Bermuda, the Bahamas, or the furthest reaches of the Caribbean, cruises are the optimal way to see corners of the world beyond our wildest imaginations.
Most importantly, almost every cruise line offers an unending lineup of amenities that ensure passengers travel in both style and comfort. From regular events like trivia and poolside movie nights to numerous onboard bars and restaurants, there’s scarcely a dull moment when it comes to navigating a cruise ship on the high seas.
Of course, one key reason to embark on a cruise has to do with the ceaseless array of onboard meal options, many of which are served in the ship’s gorgeous dining room. If that weren’t exciting enough, most cruise lines also offer guests the option to dress in more refined attire for their traditional “formal dinner nights.”
While it can be a tad stressful wondering what kind of clothes to wear on such an occasion, we put together this helpful guide to help shed some light on formal dinners at sea, including tips on what to wear and – most importantly – things you might want to avoid putting on.
What Is Formal Night?
Formal nights are a beloved staple of most cruise experiences. Depending on the length of the trip, most ships offer at least one formal dinner at some point during the cruise. For longer trips that span over a week, there could even be two or three formal dinners throughout the trip.
No matter how many formal nights there are on your vacation, the rules regarding upscale attire are always the same, paving the way to a stylish dinner event most seasoned cruise enthusiasts avidly enjoy.
Put plainly; formal nights are exactly what they sound like: a themed dinner event where diners are encouraged to dress their best. To some, that could mean swapping their flip-flops and cargo shorts for dress shoes and a pair of slacks.
Alternatively, others might go above and beyond with their formal wear, opting for a tuxedo, evening gown, towering high heels, and enough jewelry to make Mr. T jealous by comparison.
While dressing to the nines can sound like a lot of work (I.E., the last thing you want to do on vacation), the appeal of formal cruise nights lies in the air of sophistication brought up at the event.
For most people, formal dinner wear lies in the back of their closets, gathering dust and rarely seeing the light of day except for special occasions like weddings or anniversaries. In that sense, there is a definite charm around formal nights at sea, allowing guests to don their most graceful apparel without fear of overdressing or calling too much attention to themselves.
Additionally, formal dinners remain a classic fixture of the traditional sea voyage dating back to the late 19th century, when the common expectation was that passengers would wear their best outfits for meals around the table. Fortunately, dress codes have grown far more lax over the past century, relegating refined apparel to formal nights rather than every night, as was the norm back in the day.
So… What Should I Wear?
As mentioned above, given the high-end nature of formal nights, wearing classier clothing items is customary to commemorate the special event. In that sense, you’ll want to pack a single outfit of finer clothing for formal dinners, such as a button-up shirt, dressier pants, a cocktail dress, and a nicer pair of shoes.
When wandering around the area outside the dining hall before dinner, you might notice plenty of luxurious clothing worn by your fellow passengers. This might include tuxedos, pressed suits, and expensive gowns and dresses that seem more suitable for prom than for a cruise vacation.
While you can certainly go all-out and bring your Armani loafers and Versace cardigan, you’re also free to sport a more business-casual look, such as khakis, a short-sleeve button-up shirt, and a Sperry slip-on if you so desire.
As more knowledgeable cruise veterans might attest, space is somewhat limited onboard a ship, especially regarding passenger staterooms (where every inch can make a difference). With that in mind, you probably don’t want to pack any more clothes than necessary, lest you find your cabin even more cramped than usual.
As a helpful tip, we recommend packing one pair of finer clothes for formal nights. If you expect more than one formal dinner throughout your cruise, wear the same outfit again, circumventing any issues related to packing and storing your clothes onboard the ship.
Are Certain Clothes Banned From Formal Night?
Technically speaking, yes, specific articles of clothing are banned from a cruise’s formal night – although that heavily depends on the cruise ship. Some companies are far more strict when enforcing their cruise’s formal night dress code, while others take a more relaxed stance regarding their ship’s acceptable formal outfits.
Generally, avoiding otherwise “casual” clothing options you might wear on the pool deck or while exploring your ship’s port destinations is safe. That said, most cruise ships prefer that you don’t wear jeans, T-shirts, flip-flops, tank tops, baseball caps, or shorts of any kind. (It probably goes without saying, but you also shouldn’t show up to dinner in your bathing suit – unless you want every other passenger to frown disapprovingly at you as they snap pictures in their chic outfits.)
For some people, formal nights are one of the highlights of any self-effacing cruise experience, allowing passengers to craft unforgettable memories with their closest friends and loved ones. It’s a night of needless hassle for others, forcing them to dress in uncomfortable outfits with little rhyme or reason.
If you’re in the latter group, you might want to skip out on formal nights altogether, opting to eat at a location other than the main dining hall. Dressing however you like and eating from a broader menu, these non-formal night dinners can be just as fun and rewarding – albeit without the pomp and circumstance of an upscale night at sea.
