Formal night used to be a grand affair on a cruise, with ladies and gentlemen dressed to the nines. It was an evening to see and be seen, especially on luxury lines. But as travelers relax their own clothing choices, cruise lines are leaning more casual too, and that may be foreshadowing the end of the onboard dress code as we once knew it.
When I was a child cruiser in the 1980s and early ‘90s, frequenting what was then Crystal Cruises (now rebranded as simply Crystal), my mom would don a sequined dress and my dad and I would rent tuxedoes to similarly suit up for fancy dinners and the elegant evenings that followed. Travelers took formal dress seriously then. Even colorful kimonos were common sights among the widespread ornate wardrobe.
Fast forward to today, and many travelers (myself included) much prefer to simplify our nighttime attire. Why?
Because luxury means different things to different people, and formal dress is a diminishing example. Another consideration is the state of luggage when traveling abroad. Airline bag fees effectively restrict bringing an abundance of clothes to every corner of the globe — it was once more economical to pack your ball gown, formal suits and all the accessories that go with them.
The Current Dress Code Onboard Cruise Ships
Crystal’s current dress code is indicative of many cruise lines’ policies. While “daytime casual” (jeans, shorts, T-shirts and the like) is acceptable until 6 p.m., “evening resort casual” kicks in thereafter, requiring pants (sometimes jeans are still acceptable), blouses, collared shirts and polos and so on. So-called formal evenings are only scheduled on voyages longer than a week, and even then, gowns and suits — let alone tuxedoes — are optional.
“On the cruises I’ve been on, I am seeing more people getting away from the ‘formal night’ types of cruises,” said Mike Holmes, a travel advisor with Cruise Planners out of San Diego, Calif. “There is more of a feeling now that, ‘I have to dress up for work, but not while on vacation.’ I think that is one of the reasons for the popularity of cruise lines like Virgin [Voyages] and Norwegian [Cruise Line], which don't have formal nights or strict dress codes.”
There is more of a feeling now that, ‘I have to dress up for work, but not while on vacation.’
What signaled to me a continuing change in dress code culture was my time onboard Seven Seas Grandeur, the latest ship from luxury brand Regent Seven Seas Cruises (a corporate cousin to Norwegian). While all-out casual wear is usually not appropriate in the evening, the line makes an exception on the night before disembarkation, stating that “guests may need to pack their luggage early due to morning flights the next day,” so jeans, shorts, T-shirts and tennis shoes are acceptable.
Danny Genung, CEO of Harr Travel out of Redlands, Calif., has had the same observation.
“Cruising in general is getting more casual, especially in the luxury realm,” Genung said. “When booking a new upper premium or luxury line, one of the top questions I get is whether a suit and tie or sport coat will be required. To me, luxury means being able to access what you want and how you want it.”
Genung sites Norwegian’s ship-within-a-ship concept, The Haven, as a great example of this. The Haven delivers extreme luxury, but in an accessible way, with “smart casual” attire acceptable in the evenings.
Cruise Lines Still Holding Tight to Formality
“That said, there are products out there for everyone, which is what I love so much about cruising,” added Genung.
For instance, on the official fan Facebook page for Holland America Line (HAL), one user recently shared, “Just saw a passenger turned away from the MDR [main dining room] because he was in shorts — I love HAL.” And online responses to that story were generally positive, demonstrating that there is still a segment who appreciates a more defined, if not fully formal, dress code.
To me, luxury means being able to access what you want and how you want it.
On Holland America’s website, the definition and perception of formal dress are evolving, however.
“To many, the term ‘formal’ was misleading, as it implies a specific type of dress (black-tie or tuxedo) that has never been a requirement,” HAL shares online. “‘Dressy’ still implies festive or dressy without misleading guests to bring attire the majority of them don’t wear.”
Cunard, sister brand to HAL, is still known as the most formal of the bunch, with the legacy line showcasing a “Gala Evening” at least twice per seven-night sailing. The line asks guests to abide by “an elevated dress code.”
According to Cunard, “Many of our guests choose to sail with us specifically because they look forward to these events.”
While I personally prefer resort-casual wear on a cruise, I will admit there is a time and a place for formal clothing. One such place is the famed Magic Castle in Hollywood, which has partnered with Princess Cruises on the forthcoming magic club Spellbound by Magic Castle, which will debut onboard the upcoming Sun Princess. I recently visited the Hollywood establishment, and I must say that everyone was delightfully dressed for the Victorian venue, and it really did make for a marvelous and timeless atmosphere. Interestingly, it has not yet been decided if Spellbound will have a comparable dress code or not, but it just may add to the ambiance if it does.
Whether your own clients sway more casual or formal will dictate the cruise experience that is best for them, but the fanciest levels are undeniably becoming a more niche offering.
