What to Wear on a Cruise: Dress Code Guide
The Lucy Team
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Daytime on the Ship
Casual and comfortable. Swimwear at the pool, shorts and T-shirts on deck, sundresses and sandals. Most ships ask that swimwear stays in the pool area. Cover up when walking through the ship.
Main Dining Room Dinner
Smart casual most nights. Collared shirts, slacks, or nice jeans for men. Dresses, blouses with skirts, or dressy pants for women. No shorts, flip-flops, or tank tops in the main dining room.
Formal Nights
Most 7-day cruises have 1-2 formal nights. Traditional ships (Cunard, Holland America) take formal nights seriously. Contemporary lines (Norwegian, Royal Caribbean) are more relaxed. When in doubt: cocktail dress or suit. You can always skip formal dining and eat at the buffet in casual clothes.
Port Day Clothing
Comfortable walking shoes are essential — cobblestones are brutal on flip-flops.
Carry a cover-up for religious sites. A light scarf works for shoulders.
Dress modestly in conservative countries and at religious sites.
A hat and sunglasses for sun protection, especially in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.