Cruise Line Dress Codes
Which cruise lines have formal nights, how often they happen, and what to pack. Every major line's dress code policy, verified against official sources.
Cruise lines with formal nights
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Carnival
Mainstream
Carnival Cruise Elegant evenings: one Cruise Elegant night on cruises of 5 days or shorter; two Cruise Elegant nights on cruises of 6 days or longer.
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Celebrity
Premium
Celebrity Cruises designates Evening Chic nights by sailing length: 4-6 night cruises include one Evening Chic night; 7-9 night cruises include two; 10-13 night cruises include three; 14+ night cruises include four or more. Exact count is at the captain's discretion.
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Disney
Premium
On longer Disney Cruise Line sailings, guests have one formal night and one semi-formal night. Shorter sailings feature an optional 'dress-up night' instead. All sailings include Pirate Night (or another themed deck party) where pirate attire is encouraged and a complimentary bandana is provided in each stateroom.
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MSC
Mainstream
MSC Cruises designates Gala Nights by sailing length: 3-5 night cruises include one Gala Night; 6-8 night cruises include two; 9-14 night cruises include three; 15+ night cruises include four. Exact schedule is published in the daily program onboard.
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Princess
Premium
Princess Cruises designates formal nights by sailing length: cruises of 6 nights or fewer have zero formal nights; 7-night cruises include one formal night; 10-13 night cruises include two; 14-night cruises include three; cruises of 15 nights or longer may include four or more. Exact count is published in the Princess Patter daily program.
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Royal Caribbean
Mainstream
Royal Caribbean 'Dress Your Best' nights by sailing length: 5-night cruises include one Dress Your Best night; 6-10 night cruises include two; 11-14 night cruises include three; 15+ night cruises include three to four. Exact count is at the ship's discretion and can vary by itinerary.
Cruise lines with no formal nights
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cruise lines have formal nights? +
Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, MSC, Princess, Royal Caribbean have designated formal or dress-up evenings. Norwegian do not require formal attire.
What should I wear on a cruise? +
During the day, casual resort wear is fine on all cruise lines. In the evenings, most lines expect smart casual at minimum. Lines with formal nights ask for suits, cocktail dresses, or dressy separates on designated evenings.
Can I skip formal night on a cruise? +
Yes. On formal nights you can eat at the buffet or order room service instead of the main dining room. No cruise line forces you to dress up.