What to wear on a cruise
The short answer
By day, wear resort casual: shorts, T-shirts, sundresses and swimwear with a cover-up. In the evening, smart casual: collared shirts, slacks, dresses. On formal or dress-up nights, cocktail dresses and jackets, though they're optional on most lines. Every line's own dress code is below.By Kathryn Lyn2 min readReviewed September 2026
Day, night and formal night
| When | What most people wear |
|---|---|
| Days on board | Shorts, T-shirts, sundresses, swimwear with a cover-up, sandals |
| Port days | Light, comfortable clothes and walking shoes; covered shoulders for churches and some sites |
| Evenings | Smart casual: collared shirts or nice tops, slacks or skirts, dresses |
| Formal / dress-up nights | Cocktail dresses, suits or a jacket and tie; some wear gowns and tuxedos |
Formal nights are optional on most mainstream lines: if you'd rather not dress up, the buffet and casual venues stay open. Some lines have no formal nights at all.
Every line's dress code, from its own pages
Dress codes by line
| Cruise line | What the line says | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival Cruise Line | Cruise Casual, with Cruise Elegant evenings | September 21, 2026 |
| Royal Caribbean International | Casual most nights, plus 1 to 4 “Dress Your Best” evenings | September 21, 2026 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Cruise casual, and no mandatory formal nights | September 21, 2026 |
| MSC Cruises | Casual by day, a more polished look in the evening, plus Gala Night | September 21, 2026 |
| Princess Cruises | Casual most nights, with a number of formal dining nights | September 21, 2026 |
| Celebrity Cruises | Casual chic, with Smart Casual in the evening | September 21, 2026 |
| Disney Cruise Line | Cruise casual in most venues; swimwear and tank tops are not permitted | September 21, 2026 |
| Holland America Line | Smart casual in the dining rooms, with Dressy Nights | September 21, 2026 |
| Virgin Voyages | No formal nights and no strict dress code | September 21, 2026 |
| Viking | Casual by day, “elegant casual” in the evening, and no formal nights | September 21, 2026 |
| Cunard Line | Smart attire most nights, with gala evenings | September 21, 2026 |
| Oceania Cruises | “Effortless sophistication” — polished and upscale, but no formal nights | September 21, 2026 |
Can you wear jeans?
In the evening on most mainstream lines, neat jeans are fine in the main dining room on casual nights. Some lines and some restaurants rule out distressed or torn jeans, and a few upscale lines ask for no jeans at dinner. Check the table above for your line.
Pack one outfit you feel great in for the dressier night, and let everything else be comfortable.
First-timer questions
Questions, answered.
The questions people ask most. Tap one to open it, or open them all and read straight down.
3 questions on this page
What does formal night on a cruise mean?
An evening, usually one or two per week, when guests are invited to dress up for dinner: cocktail dresses, suits or jackets. On most lines it's optional; the casual venues stay open.
What do you wear on the first day of a cruise?
Comfortable casual clothes and walking shoes. The first evening is usually casual, too.
Can you wear jeans in the dining room on a cruise?
On most mainstream lines, neat jeans are fine on casual evenings. Some lines exclude distressed jeans, and some upscale lines don't allow jeans at dinner.