Cruise Line Dress Codes: What to Wear on a Cruise

Table Of Content

• Seabourn Cruise Line Dress Code: Elegant Casual Rules the Ships at Night
• Paul Gauguin Cruises Dress Code: A Bit Dressier, But Be Ready for Polynesian Night
• I stayed in a $2,554 studio cabin on NCL Epic, and it was one of the best sailing experiences I ever had
• Packing for a Norwegian sailing can be a breeze!
• About Wear When What Why
• What Not To Bring on Board

The lower drinking age in international waters does not apply during sailings in Alaska and Hawaii. On all ships, smoking (including e-cigarette smoking) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas, cigar lounges (for cigar smoking only) and casinos. Passengers caught smoking in their cabins will be fined $250 per occurrence. Like the ships of the Breakaway and Breakaway-plus classes, the Prima Class ships have a lively zone that mixes casino space, bars, eateries and entertainment that sprawls across decks 6, 7 and 8. These vessels also have outdoor eating space in an area called Ocean Boulevard.

Seabourn Cruise Line Dress Code: Elegant Casual Rules the Ships at Night

If it is a city or local beach, then you can stick to your casual dress code. However if you plan to visit a religious building or more cultural site it is worth checking out the local guidance. However shorts are not permitted in the Manhattan dining room or in speciality restaurants. In my experience of cruising NCL, which I have been luckily enough to experience a few times, I have found that how many people choose to dress up on the Norwegian’s Night Out varies greatly. However if I had to put a figure on it, I would say that people dress up around 50% of the time. They are never held on embarkation day or the last night as on these evenings passengers are not likely to have their luggage with them.

Paul Gauguin Cruises Dress Code: A Bit Dressier, But Be Ready for Polynesian Night

Casual attire is perfectly find and recommended for day times during your NCL Cruise. Up on the pool deck you will see people wearing bathing suits and beach covers, however these are not allowed in the restaurants. Also it is worth pointing out that on some Norwegian cruise ships there are certain speciality restaurants which will have a dress code. The dress codes aren’t particularly strict and the only item I have seen enforced is the no shorts rule. This is certainly true for the Le Bistro and Ocean Blue restaurants on Norwegian Cruise Line. The length of the cruise determines the number of Cruise Elegant evenings, according to Carnival's website.

I stayed in a $2,554 studio cabin on NCL Epic, and it was one of the best sailing experiences I ever had

We still recommending packing bathing suits so you can enjoy the onboard hot tubs or get in the pool at the Spa Thermal Suite (on select ships). Guests are typically required to wear appropriate swimwear, such as swimsuits or bikinis. Traditional clothing, such as jeans, t-shirts, and street clothes, are not allowed in the pool area. In addition, swimwear with zippers, buckles, or any metal accessories is also not permitted, as they can damage the pool's surface.

Whether it's a formal night, a deck party, or a theme night, dressing appropriately can help enhance your experience and make the event even more exciting and enjoyable. Some of my favorite nights onboard have been during their White Hot Party, which is occasionally called the Glow Party. This is a themed night in which everyone onboard dresses in white or neon-colored clothing and gets to dance the night away either on the top deck at Spice H2O or in one of the other great venues onboard. For instance ripped jeans and distressed jeans are not permitted in speciality restaurants. For this reason we recommend packing a mix of smarter jeans alongside your ripped jeans if you want to pack these for daytime wear. However there is usually one “Dress Up Or Not” theme night on a 7 night cruise.

As mentioned above, the line also operates one ship (Pride of America) in Hawaii year-round. In a typical summer, the line will deploy nearly half its ships to Europe while sending several more to the West Coast to sail to Alaska from Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Seward, Alaska. It'll also operate trips to Bermuda from New York City and Boston, usually with two ships, and trips to the Bahamas and the Caribbean out of Miami. Pride of America notably operates with a mostly U.S. crew, in keeping with regulations governing cruise itineraries that only include U.S. ports. In short, if you want to turn a Norwegian cruise into a luxury experience, you can do that, too. Norwegian really is the line where you make the trip what you want it to be.

For my Northern European cruise, I packed several sweater dresses, leggings, sweaters, and boots. Of course, heavier coats and rain jackets can be essential items for a colder weather itinerary as well. I have had the privilege of sailing with Norwegian six times now and currently have three more NCL cruises scheduled for 2024. With these cruise experiences, I have gained some insight and knowledge into how to dress when sailing with Norwegian.

Firstly, it's important to note that Norwegian Cruise Line has a "Freestyle Cruising" concept, which means that there are no strict dress codes enforced on their ships. This gives guests the freedom to dress as they please, within certain reasonable limits. However, on formal nights, it is generally expected that guests will dress up a bit more than on other evenings. At night, the line asks guests to wear smart attire in the majority of its restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.

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As is typical for cruise lines, Norwegian charges on a per-person basis, not per room, and it prices most cabins based on two people occupying a room. It does offer some cabins for solo travelers on some ships that are priced based on single occupancy. Unlike many cruise vessels, Norwegian ships do not have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks for passenger use. Instead, the line offers extra-charge laundry and dry cleaning services.

Norwegian appeals to vacationers who want a big-resort experience at sea with lots of options for dining and entertainment. In that, it's similar to Royal Caribbean — perhaps its closest competitor. One of the most exciting aspects of a cruise is the opportunity to participate in themed nights. Norwegian Cruise Line offers various themed nights, such as White Hot Party, 70s Disco, or Caribbean Night. These theme nights often feature live music, dancing, and special entertainment performances. Of course, it's recommended that you carry important items like medication, personal documentation, jewelry, breakables, and other valuables with you.

It's important to note that while Norwegian Cruise Line encourages guests to dress up for theme nights and deck parties, they also emphasize comfort and individual style. You're free to interpret the themes and dress accordingly to suit your personal preferences. No matter the cruise itinerary, guests will need to bring their passports. Some cruise itineraries will accept a birth certificate instead of a passport. For this reason, it is essential that all Norwegian Cruise Line passengers pack their passports.

Keep this in mind when planning your wardrobe so you don't feel out of place. If you've never sailed before, you might be wondering how to dress on a cruise. As one half of Cruise with Ben & David, I am a huge cruise enthusiast and have sailed on over 30 cruises. On dry land, I am a Head of Design at a digital media company based in London. I have had the opportunity to work with brands such as the Financial Times and The Telegraph. For a comprehensive breakdown of what's included in terms of entertainment, refer to the section below titled "What's Included."