On Cruise vacation. do we need to have formal attire, like tuxedo or suit ?

Question

what kind of dress do you pack for cruise line vacation?

Do we need to pack suit or tux? formal attire needed ?

ready for a vacation that we never experience

Answer 1

you don't have to, you could simply opt out of the formal night.  but if you go, you don't need a tuxedo a nice dark suit will do.

Answer 2

Depends on the cruise line and to some extent where on the ship you want to dine.

Most cruise lines have one or more "formal" nights.  But what's formal is defined differently.

High-end and more traditional cruise lines will generally be more formal.  So lines like Cunard, Crystal, Holland America Line, and Celebrity require at least a jacket and tie on formal night.

More mass-market or relaxed cruise lines give you wider lattitude.  So Carnival or RCI will generally let people into the dining room in a button-down shirt and khakis.  This is especially true on warm-weather cruises where people are generally more relaxed.  NCL has no dress code at all.

WHERE you want to eat is also a factor. On Cunard people might look at you funny if you are in any part of the ship on formal night without a tux.  However, on Carnival or RCI you are free to wear whatever you like ... except in the main dining room.  So you could go to the casual restaurant in shorts if you like.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Yep. I've been on two cruises and there has always been a formal night. It depends on your cruise, but some people really get dressed up for them! Many young women wore gowns, teenagers wore prom dresses, etc. While on my first cruise people dressed nicely but didn't get too into it. There's usually lots of photographers and backdrop screens to take photographs on formal nights so I'd reccomend it if you want a nice picture. However, when I went with Noreigan cruise line they did not have this.

Answer 4

I have been on  many cruises on 4 different cruise lines and this is my advice based on my experiences.

Most cruises have a formal night or two when you can wear your best stuff and get pictures taken, and maybe meet the ship’s Captain. The formal nights are REQUESTED but not REQUIRED attire. However, most people do dress up, except on Norwegian ships where they tend to have dinners and formal nights very informal.  Those who dress up wear anything from a tux and gown to a suit and tie and party dress.   You can wear what you would wear to church and you'll be fine. You will not be denied access to the dining room or anything else if you choose not to dress up.

The main purpose of the dress up (in my opinion) is so you can have portraits taken by the ship's photo staff; and to allow you to take photos around the ship in the many places that are perfect places for a photo.  Places like lighted spiral staircases, beautiful murals, and such.

On formal evenings there will always be people walking around in casual clothes because they have either the early or late seating for dinner and have not gotten dress yet; or they had dinner and the photo and changed back to casual.  So look at the formal as a 3  to 4 hour window and then you go back to casual if you want.

Aside from that, the dress on ship is casual all day until 6:00PM. So take:

-swim wear (at least 2),

-shorts,

-sandals,

-beach shoes,

-your snorkel equipment if you have it,

-sun glasses and sun screen,

-lotions,

-a cap or big hat for the sun,

-a book if you are a reader, -

-your music player,

-sneakers and clothes to workout in if you like to use the gym, -good walking shoes,

-your camera, and

-other personal toiletries.

Your cabin will have towels and soap provided, including pool and beach towels. It will also have a generic hair shampoo so you do not need to bring that unless you like a specific brand. They do not provide tooth paste, mouth wash or lotions. They DO provide a hair dryer.

After 6:00 PM they request that you wear "sports or resort casual" attire. That's attire that you would expect a person to wear in a business office, (like a bank employee), shirt with a collar, slacks, skirt, blouse, etc. You can still wear shorts and swim wear in the pools and spas but not in public areas like dining rooms and restaurants, show rooms, etc. You don't need to take a lot of regular clothes because you will spend most of your time in shorts and swim wear. A couple sets will do.

MORE TIPS FOR YOU:

- Its best to pack using soft-sided luggage because with space limited in your cabin it fits under the beds better if its not hard sided luggage.

-Take a small carry-on bag for the last night of the cruise. On the last evening you will be required to put your luggage outside your cabin by about 2:00 AM so that they can start taking it down to the lower deck for offloading the next morning. So you will need a small bag for your toiletries and your clothes that you sleep in.

- If you can take a six-pack of bottled water and soft drinks in your carry-on for your cabin. You will have to pay for both on the ship and its nice to have those handy in the cabin.

- If you are taking your cell phone, MP3 player or other item that needs to be plugged in take an extension cord as the plugs in the cabin are generally not in the best places and there are usually only one or two.

- Take a small bottle of hand sanitizer. There are generally sanitizer dispensers at the entrances of restaurants, the buffets and dining room, but some times the are not there or not working. The sanitizer helps prevent the spread of the Norwalk Virus that sometimes occur on cruise ships.

-If you plan to get into the pools or hot tub as soon as you get on ship, bring those clothes in your carry on bag; you other luggage may not get to your cabin until much later in the afternoon.

Answer 5

You don't necessarily need a tux.  (But you won't be out of place if you do take one).  I nice suit and tie is good enough for the men on formal nights.

As far as for the women...I would suggest a long formal dress.  

You will have an awesome time, no matter what you wear.  Cruises are a lot of fun.  Bon Voyage!

Answer 6

For dress up night you won't need anything as formal as a tux. You will probably need to take along a nice suit with a dress shirt and tie. Don't forget matching shoes. You wife will need to take at least one nice dress and a pair of matching dress shoes. Have fun.

Answer 7

On most cruise lines, the dinner is considered formal and formal attire is required.  Check with the cruise lines because some are more formal than others.  I've not seen anyone wearing a tux so far.  If you're not interested in the formal dining, there is usually a few places onboard that are very relaxed.

Answer 8

Semi formal when you have dinner with the captain at dinner.

You could wear a tie if you like, with or without a jacket.

If you want to attend the dinner that is.

You do not have to attend this dinner, but won't get the works like you would there.

Other wise just casual dress is just fine.

Answer 9

Usually Captain's night is formal with the ladies dressing in evening clothes. The men look best in either smart dark or light suits, or tux or dinner jackets.  There is one formal night a week, maximum two on some up-market cruise ships.  Have a fab time.