For anyone who has been on a Carnival Cruise, he need help packing!?

Question

I leave on Monday for a 5 day cruise, but had heard different things as to what to wear for the dinners. I have a formal dress for the Captians Dinner, but about the other nights, I have heard from some that you still need to dress nice, like pants or skirts, is that true, or can you wear shorts? This is my first cruise, and what to dress right.

Answer 1

Definetly take some smart casual atire for the more relaxed dinners.  There are different places to eat on the boats.  some more upper class with a dress code.  To be safe and feel happy take a few nice skirts smart pants and maybe 2 dresses just in case.  All other times you can wear shorts and relax, but for dinner I would suggest not to wear shorts, although some of the dining areas where there is a buffet it is very laid back at 5pm when the children are dining with their parents.  

I hope you have an amazing time I did!

Answer 2

I don't think shorts would be appropriate, and possibly they may not even let you in the dining room.  Try and bring a skirt that will match a few different tops so you won't have to overload your suitcase.  No one will notice if you wear something twice either, say wear it on Monday and then again Wednesday.  When you arrive at the gate to hop on board, ask the girl if you can be seated with the captain.  She'll put the request in and if you're picked, you can actually sit with him!  You'll have to learn their 'manners" though and be very polite.  If you're young...you may want to make sure your dinner time is the late dinner, so you won't have to get off the island to get dressed for the early dinner.  You can ask for this to be changed at the counter too when you arrive.  You'll look fine...just dress nice.  You'll have fun, trust me.

Answer 3

what boat are you going?on i leave monday 26th for a 5 day carnival too.were leaving outta port canaveral what bout you?

Answer 4

shorts in the dining room is OUT , but if you want buffet then shorts are fine..

Answer 5

DON'T GO ON CARNIVAL IT SUCKS PLUS THE FOOD IS NASTY AND SOOO MANY PEOPLE GOT SICK ON THE BOAT IT SUCKS!

Answer 6

Everyone has covered the dress topic...a few other hints for packing for a cruise...a lot of the young ladies on the Spring Break cruise last week were dressed for clubbing during the evening hours...many were dancing at the discos.

Include everything you need/want before midnight in your carry-on bag.  It can take many hours to get your luggage.  This includes any habit items (cigarettes) or precription and over the counter meds.

Rooms are wicked dark.  You might want a night light.

Battery operated alarm clock for those morning when you need to get up early for a shore excursion.

There is usually only one or two outlets in the cabin.  Take a power strip if you use curling iron and other electrical items.

Take one of those XXL Ziploc bags to take yucky, sandy, wet clothes home.

2nd swimsuit...who likes to put on a damp swim suit.

Consider both flip flops and tennis shoes depending upon which type of shore excursions you are planning.

Plenty of 1, 5 and 10 in USD for shopping, tipping in port and taxis.

Back pack to carry in port to hold towels, sunscreen and other items when you are in port.

Answer 7

I just came of a Carnival cruise.  Really the only thing that is required is that you don't wear shorts or tank tops to the main restaurant.  Formal dress is fine for formal night.  If you want to wear shorts or tank tops, you can eat at any other place on board, there are several other places to eat with no dress code at all.  Have fun!!!

Answer 8

Formal night requires formal dresses. Even if you don't have it, you can rent it at formalities shop ( a lot of guys do it)

If you want to eat at lido restaurant ( self service restaurant), you have to have something on. Even the beachwear is allowed. Nevertheless I suggest you to put something warmer on, because air condition is turned to maximum inside the restaurant. You might gonna catch a cold.

In the main dining room during breakfast and lunch you're not allowed to enter in a beachwear, but the rest is OK.  In dinner time in main dining room, no shorts or tang tops are allowed ( although if lady looks good in some elegant shorts, I don't think that anybody will complain). Don't forget that main dining room is a RESTAURANT not a canteen, and you should dress up like that.

I work for Carnival since '03

added:

Somebody below mentioned electrical iron.  At least on the Carnival, all the electrical appliances that produce heat and candles are FORBIDDEN, because of the safety reasons. Your cabin steward is allowed to take them away from you until the end of the cruise. If you need to iron something there is a laundry on each passenger deck with washers, dryers and irons. If you don't want to do it yourself, you can give it to your cabin steward to take it to laundry.

Power cords are. forbidden as well because of the same reasons.

Answer 9

Shorts are never allowed along with swimsuits in the dining room for dinner. Their is 1 formal night and 1 Semi formal and 1 casual. Skirts and pant suits and polos and khakis will do. I would do skirts for semi formal and khakis for casual. The first night is the only exception and on the last night make sure you have something to put your clothes in as you have to put your luggage outside so they can collect them and deliver them to you in the port once you dock. You have to find yoru own luggage though but make sure to put a ribbon or something so its easier to find.

Answer 10

I travel on cruise ships four times a year.  I take a formal dress, a black skirt and two tops and one other skirt with several tops.  You can mix and match the black skirt for a second formal night or just to 'dress up' when you feel like it.  Shorts are never allowed in the dining room.  I hope this helps.