Im going on a cruise and was wondering how formal are formal nights?

Question

Im going on a cruise in May on the Carnival Victory and the last 2 nights diner is formal attire. How formal is this like prom dress formal or skirt and nice shirt formal?

Answer 1

you dont have to dress up if you dont want to. i went in my tee shirt and shorts!! you paid for it in advance!!! Wear whatever you want!!!

Answer 2

Most 7-day cruises have two formal nights when you can wear your best stuff and get pictures taken, and maybe meet the ship’s Captain.  The formal nights are REQUESTED not required attire.  But most people do dress up in a tux for men and a long dress (any color) for women.  Some men just wear a suit and tie and some women wear a nice dress but not a gown.  You will not be denied access to the dining room or anything else if you choose not to dress up.  (we usually take off the formal stuff after dinner and pictures anyway).   How formal depends entirely upon what you want or have.

If you do not dress up, go sports casual.  . That's attire that you would expect a person to wear in a business office, shirt with a collar, slacks, skirt, blouse, etc.

Answer 3

The "dress code" for dinner in the dining room of my last cruise was...

on regular nights business casual (think sunday best)

on formal nights it was dressier (somewhere between prom and church)

seemed to me it didnt matter what you wore no one really noticed my friend and i dressed up every night for dinner jsut because we could the maiter 'd loved us for it

Answer 4

well for men a jacket and tie are required, you can go tuxedo, i'm not a fashion afficiando but that may be overkill. Anything you'd wear at a fancy swaree, where bond orders martinis and you smoke a cigar on the balcony.

Prom dresses? that's a little mid western there sweatheart, sorry, no pink ruffles or anything please, albeit a matter of style.

I'm not sure of the exact codes for women, i don't think they have any, women are just supposed to know, but they keep cheap jackets around for the incompetent guys.

cause of womens lib i don't think you're required to wear a dress but you must have a nice outfit and some kind of blouse.

Answer 5

Men - preferably tux or suit and tie

Women - formal dress or prom.

Reality is depending on the cruise line you will see different levels of people's perception of formal. I also find people better dressed on the European Cruises.

Holland America, Princess, Costa, and to a slight lesser extent Royal Caribbean usually have better dressed people.  

Carnival - oh my god.  Clothing seemed optional.

Disney.  Also adults were very well dressed.

Answer 6

Formal night is a long skirt (black) or (white) dress and a top to match the skirt.  You don't really need a prom dress, but if you have one bring it.

Answer 7

Carnival Cruises are a little less formal than some other cruiselines.  

For women:  dressy skirt (not denim or anything like that) and nice blouse, or a cocktail dress would be fine.  Some even wear dressy slacks with a blouse.

For men: slacks, dress shirt, jacket and a tie.  The tie is optional if the man is wearing a suit.

Just make sure that you don't wear jeans, shorts or tank tops in the dining room during dinner hours.  I don't think this type of attire is allowed in the main dining room in the evening......at least this is the case on most cruiselines.

If you prefer not to get dressed up for the formal dinner, you can always opt to have dinner at the buffet.  I'm sure there is at least one buffet on the ship.  Here, you can dress casually.

Have a great time!

Answer 8

I think a prom dress is a little to "fancy" I went on a cruise and I just wore my "little black dress" It was fine, everybody dresses differently you'll see some people wear prom-like dresses and some wearing just black skirts and a top, you'll be fine!!

Answer 9

No matter how fancy you dress, there is going to be someone dressed fancier.  I brought a couple of nice dresses that Ive worn to weddings and didnt feel overdressed on formal nights.  The regular nights nice shirts and a skirt are acceptable, Ive worn a nice pair of capris with sandals most other nights in the dining room on the Carnival Elation and Sensation.  Have a great trip!!!

Answer 10

Have fun. Formal is not prom night or a black tie affair for guys. It is not blue jeans and T-shirts either. A skirt and nice shirt will be fine. If you have a guy friend with you, a suit and tie is the norm for him. You'll be seated with people you won't know (as the whole idea is to foster conversation, maybe friendships as well, between people who have never met and come from different parts of America or the world), so you'll want to look your best. Use your best judgement.

Answer 11

Formal = Dress

Skirt and nice Shirt VERY NICE SHIRT

i mean the one that would make your companion go : Honney Your Hot Tonight

see pictures below

randomly selected of google images