What do you wear onboard a cruise ship?

Dress code can be confusing for first timers so let’s take a look together. Dress code varies from ship to ship. During the day you can wear summer cotton clothes: shorts, t-shirt, swimsuits, sandals, cotton dresses – almost anything. Please wear comfortable shoes – decks can be slippery.

Ladies if wearing swimsuits beyond the pool area, wear a cover up. At night the mood changes and your day clothes will look out of place on the ship. For dining, it may be formal, informal or casual depending on what is on the ships’ daily newsletter or daily information board. Make sure you check these daily.

For formal, evening gowns for ladies (long or short but mostly short dresses are worn. For luxury cruises, long evening dresses are the norm) and dark suit and tie or tuxedo (most ships have tuxedo rental if you want to use it). Informal means shirt and Jacket with our without tie for men and dress or pant suits for women. Casual means trousers and shirt or polo shirt (some ships require jacket) for men and slacks and blouse or sundress for women.

See also Which clothes can you take for a cruise vacation?