Here's What You Can Expect on Royal Caribbean's Formal Night

For my husband, he prefers to wear his sports coat or casual blazer rather than a tuxedo or suit. This ensures that passengers have an opportunity to enjoy a formal evening without feeling overwhelmed by the need to dress up too frequently during their cruise. While there’s a recommended dress code for formal night, it’s not strictly enforced. Smart casual outfits, like khakis and a polo shirt, are generally acceptable in main dining venues.

Useful Things to Pack For Your Cruise (Including 17 You’d Never Think Of)

Independence of the Seas Cruise First-hand Expert Review - Cruise Critic

Independence of the Seas Cruise First-hand Expert Review.

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:38:28 GMT [source]

For instance, instead of the main dining room you can head to the buffet or one of the 24-hour restaurants around the ship. The restaurant’s atmosphere will give you an idea of if it’s ok to eat there dressed casually or not. For men, it’s fine to wear a suit, or even a buttoned-down shirt and a pair of slacks if you don’t want to get too fancy. Nice jeans would also be ok, although we’d suggest something slightly more dressy.

Royal Caribbean’s Dress Code – Formal nights

If you’re sailing on a longer cruise, then the formal nights can vary – it’s best to speak to the cruise line directly to find out when they are, if you need to know in advance. Royal Caribbean does have formal nights on cruises, but they aren’t strict. There is a Royal Caribbean dress code that guests can follow, but there are plenty of relaxed places on the ship if you don’t want to dress up. The formal dress codes conjure up images of traditional cruising, set dining and table sharing but this is not the case onboard Royal Caribbean cruises.

The Art of Dining:

If you don’t want to dress up for the evening, then you certainly don’t have to do so. If you decide that shorts and a t-shirt are as formal as you want to get, you won’t be alone. To know about theme nights for your cruise, it’s a good idea to join cruise roll calls, facebook groups and take a look at the Cruise Compass from recent past sailings on your cruise ship.

Specialty restaurants on board usually have a semi-formal dress code, and the Windjammer buffet allows casual clothing even on formal nights. Acceptable attire ranges from cocktail dresses, sundresses, skirts paired with blouses, and dressy rompers to more elegant options like evening gowns. Complementing the outfit with dress shoes like flats, heels, wedges, or dressy sandals. The best outfits for a cruise are the ones you can wear all day long.

For formal nights, guests are encouraged to dress in elegant and sophisticated clothing. Women often opt for formal evening gowns or cocktail dresses, while men typically wear suits or tuxedos. It’s an opportunity to showcase your personal style and make a statement with your attire. To plan your outfits, here are the number of formal nights on Royal Caribbean cruises.There can be 1 to 4 formal nights during a sailing and is at the ship’s discretion.

The Unfolding of Royal Caribbean’s Formal Night

So while it’s ok to dress casually at a burger joint on the ship, you’ll want to dress a little nicer if you go to the formal Italian or seafood spot for dinner. Nothing would stop you in your tracks like heading down to dinner in a pair of shorts and then realizing everyone else is dressed up! The number of formal nights varies based on the length of your cruise. The rule of thumb is that a week-long cruise will have two formal nights during the trip (i.e. Day 2 and Day 5). While there is no official dress suggestion for theme nights, it can be fun to bring a few special outfits for the occasion. On our cruise there was a 70’s Night Party, which is pretty common on many Royal Caribbean sailings.

Norwegian Cruise Line Formal Night Attire

Embarking on a voyage with Royal Caribbean is an invitation to a realm of elegance, adventure, and communal joy. Royal Caribbean’s Formal Night is more than just a meal; it’s a cherished tradition that beckons one to revel in the art of elegance and community. The Royal Caribbean Formal Night is an exquisite affair where guests are encouraged to dress to the nines.

Tips Cruise Lines DON’T Want You to Know (But They Aren’t Against the Rules)

Alaska is also the perfect destination for a jumpsuit with pants or pantsuit to keep warm. For women, mid-length dresses are perfect for Smart Casual evenings onboard, along with summery skirts or capris. The whites and blues are perfect for Mediterranean cruises while cooler climates can consider adding a blazer or stylish jacket for Northern Europe. Again, in my experience, Europeans dress more polished and on-trend than anywhere else I’ve cruised.

However, we consider it as a great opportunity to dress up well and enjoy ourselves. In specialty dining venues, the dress code generally remains smart casual, with slacks, polos, dresses, and blouses being appropriate. But if you don’t adhere to the dress code, you won’t be allowed to eat in the main dining room. Royal Caribbean’s formal night dress code only applies to the main dining room. Specifically, if you plan to visit any of the higher-end specialty restaurants on the ship, such as the steakhouse, then there may be a dress code.

Remember, the cruise lines want you to enjoy yourself and not be worried about if you should be in a tuxedo. Perhaps the biggest question around formal night on a cruise is what to wear. No, you don’t have to go out and get a tuxedo or a formal evening gown unless you want to. You’ll find people around the ship dressed up, having drinks, taking formal pictures, and enjoying dinner and a show. Think of it as a special event where many passengers have an elegant “date night” that’s more memorable than just another dinner on the ship. Be sure to pack shorts, tanks tops and t-shirts or light sundresses for sea days if you’re on a warm weather cruise.

Lastly, I should mention that formal night is a good time to get some professional photos taken. Around the ship, you’ll find photographers stationed in “Instagram-worthy” areas, ready to capture you and any other you’re with at your best. Or if you prefer something a bit natural, you could just take your own photos on your mobile phone.

At the same time, some people don’t want to dress up at all and prefer to know what other options they have. In this post I share what to wear on a Royal Caribbean cruise, for days on the pool deck to dinners in the main dinning room. I also answer some questions about how to dress on a Royal Caribbean cruise, including for formal nights.