On a cruise do we have to dress up at the formal dinners?

Question

My dad said that we don't have to but sometimes he makes up things and is wrong. I just don't want to get on my cruise and look stupid because my husband and I are the only ones not dressed up. So do I need to dress up? Were going on the Princess Gold cruise. Thanks alot!

Answer 1

You don't, but it is recommended and you will stick out like a sore thumb because everyone else will be dressed.  All you need to do is take your husbands suit and a nice dress for you and you will be fine.  If you don't want to do that, then you don't have to go to the formal dinner, eat at the buffet on the formal nights.

Answer 2

Princess is a little stricter about its dress code than Carnival or Royal Caribbean.  Here is Princess' dress code ...

Question: How many formal/smart casual nights are scheduled for my cruise?

Answer: There are only two types of evening dress onboard - smart casual and formal. When the ship is in port, evening dress is smart casual, and passenger attire should be in keeping with what would be worn to a nice restaurant at home. For formal evenings, men wear tuxedos, dark suits or dinner jackets, and women wear evening gowns, cocktail dresses or elegant pant suits.

Dress code is subject to change with the ship's itinerary. The above is a general guide. The dress code suggested in the Princess Patter may vary from time to time.

http://www.princess.com/customer_care/fa...

Answer 3

Yes, you need to take formal clothes for the cruise. You will stand out like a sore thumb if you don't.

Answer 4

They all do have a formal dress night for dinner, other than that they don't require you to dress up for dinner.  The only rule for the fancy dining room is no swimsuits or jeans.  Docker type pants is ok.  They also have buffets that allow you to wear anything you want for meals, very casual.

Answer 5

Yes, you do need to dress up for dinner, especially on formal nights. Also the captains gala is formal. There is one casual night when you actually CAN wear shorts and tee shirts to dinner. Read your Princess Platter each night to see what's going on the next day. Yes, everyone dresses up for dinner. It's one of the best highlights of the cruise. I wouldn't skip evening dinner and eat on top. You can do that anytime else.

Enjoy the towel animals!!!

Bon Voyage!!!

Answer 6

As far as Royal Caribbean, you don't HAVE to dress formal but Princess might be another story.

We are a family of 4 - my 16 year old daughter and I like to dress up, so we do.  My husband and 13 year old son wear khakis and Hawaiian shirts (my husband doesn't even have a suit that fits!).  We cruised the Mediterranean in 06 and were seated with a family of 8 - they missed out on Lobster night because they didn't bring dress up clothes...I felt bad because there was my husband and son in khakis...

There were many people (mostly the older guests) who dressed way up in gowns and tuxes, which is nice.

There were also the people who just got back from shore excursions who just didn't have time to get all dressed up.  Why should they miss the lobster or filet mignon that they paid for just because they don't have on a gown or tux??

I would say don't worry too much about it.  If you have something dressy bring it and wear it, if not, go and enjoy your dinner anyway!!

Happy Cruising!!!

Answer 7

well dress up for the fun of it! :)

Answer 8

Different cruise lines have different policies for different cruises....look on their website for deress code, or call them.

Answer 9

My Mom and Dad went on a cruise, and everyone was dressed up.

Answer 10

I live/work on carnival cruise ships and not everyone dresses up for formal night but definitely most do so to play it safe, i would suggest dressing up.  it doesn't have to be tux and formal dress but something other than jeans and t-shirts too...

Answer 11

On most cruises you have one night of "formal night, or so called Captain's dinner."

This is the one night that you get all dressed up in a gown, tux and put on your best shoes!

You actually don't sit with the Captain.

I would say about 90% of the passengers do dress to the max that night.

Not all though, many just go for the buffet and eat by the pool or back at their rooms.

It is your choice if you want to participate in that function.  I personally think it is real nice to see everyone dressed up.

For the rest of the time on the cruise, most people wear very comfortable clothing and clothing that fit the climate that they are going to.

You can check your cruise line web site and see if there is any dress codes.

I would think thong bikini's are out.

:-)

Answer 12

No, this time your father is right. You only need to get dressed up if you wish. The buffet is a great place to eat and try new foods. The choice is yours and where you wish to eat. However I have been on many Princess cruises and have eaten in the main dinning room in jeans with no problems.

Enjoy your cruise.

Answer 13

You don't need to "dress up" unless you want to eat in the dining room on formal night or "smart casual" nights - you would be eating in the buffet or other casual restaurant.  But for a formal dinner, you would need to dress in formal wear [that's why it's called a formal dinner!].  And for "smart casual" nights you would need to have something dressier than jeans.



But I'm not sure what the Princess Gold cruise is, so I could be wrong....

Answer 14

You don't need to dress up if you don't want too, but on the formal night if you want to go to the cocktail party and meet the captain and have photographs taken with him, then you will need a nice dress and you husband will need, at least, a suit. Other than the formal night, you can dress pretty much as you like, within reason.

Answer 15

If you plan on eating in the dinning room, then you do need to dress up, but for ladies a cocktail dress is ok or dressy slacks with a dressy top is ok too. For men, dark suits are also ok. Some people don't like to dress up and just go to the buffet court to eat, but I think it's fun to dress up. P.S. you'll love princess cruise lines.