Cruise Attire and Dress Codes: What to Wear on a Cruise

Cruising can be a dream vacation, but knowing how to dress for a cruise can be a nightmare if you’re not prepared. With different cruise lines having varying dress codes, it can be confusing to pack the right attire for your trip. Here’s a breakdown of what to wear on some of the major cruise lines:

For Carnival Cruise Line, casual is the name of the game. Passengers can wear jeans, T-shirts, tank tops, shorts, and bathing suits during the day. At night, nice jeans and tops are perfect for dining in the main restaurants. Formal nights, known as “cruise elegant” nights, give cruisers the chance to dress up in anything from slacks with nice shirts to tuxes and ball gowns.

Celebrity Cruises maintains a chic-casual dress code, with a more upscale demographic onboard. Khaki shorts with nice button-downs are common, and smart-casual attire is encouraged at night. Formal nights, known as “evening chic” nights, allow passengers to go all-out with tuxes and evening gowns.

Disney Cruise Line is synonymous with comfort, allowing passengers to wear jeans, shorts, T-shirts, and bathing suits during the day and at dinner. Dress-up nights call for more formal attire, with men advised to avoid jeans and wear jackets, and women suggested to wear dresses, skirts, blouses, or pantsuits.

Each cruise line has its own unique dress code, from casual to formal, giving passengers the opportunity to dress to their comfort level while enjoying their vacation at sea.