Luxury Cruise Line
Cunard Dress Code Guide
What to wear on a Cunard cruise in 2026, including formal night frequency, dress-up evening expectations, casual dining standards, and packing recommendations.
Quick answer
Yes, Cunard has formal nights. Cunard designates Gala Evenings by sailing length: voyages of 3 nights or more include at least one Gala Evening; 7-night sailings typically include one; 14-night sailings include two or three. Gala Evenings follow themed formats including Black and White, Red and Gold, Masquerade, and Roaring 20s. Exact dates are published in the My Cunard calendar before sailing.
Formal night policy
Formal/dress-up nights
Cunard designates Gala Evenings by sailing length: voyages of 3 nights or more include at least one Gala Evening; 7-night sailings typically include one; 14-night sailings include two or three. Gala Evenings follow themed formats including Black and White, Red and Gold, Masquerade, and Roaring 20s. Exact dates are published in the My Cunard calendar before sailing.
Casual evenings
Cunard uses Smart Attire as the baseline for most evenings: smart trousers or chinos with a collared shirt for men, and equivalent for women. Gala Evenings call for black tie, dinner jacket, or dark lounge suit for men, and evening gowns, cocktail dresses, or dressy separates for women. The King's Court buffet remains open for guests who prefer a casual option on Gala Evenings.
What to pack
For formal nights
- Cocktail dress or evening gown (women)
- Suit, blazer with dress pants, or tuxedo (men)
- Dress shoes
- One outfit per formal night designated
For casual evenings
- Sundresses, khakis, or nice jeans
- Collared shirts or blouses
- Casual shoes (closed-toe for some specialty restaurants)
- Resort-casual is the baseline
For daytime
- Swimwear for the pool deck
- Shorts, T-shirts, sandals
- Cover-ups for walking through interior spaces
- Comfortable shoes for port days
See our complete cruise packing list for a full checklist.
Frequently asked questions
- Yes. Cunard designates Gala Evenings by sailing length: voyages of 3 nights or more include at least one Gala Evening; 7-night sailings typically include one; 14-night sailings include two or three. Gala Evenings follow themed formats including Black and White, Red and Gold, Masquerade, and Roaring 20s. Exact dates are published in the My Cunard calendar before sailing.
- Cunard uses Smart Attire as the baseline for most evenings: smart trousers or chinos with a collared shirt for men, and equivalent for women. Gala Evenings call for black tie, dinner jacket, or dark lounge suit for men, and evening gowns, cocktail dresses, or dressy separates for women. The King's Court buffet remains open for guests who prefer a casual option on Gala Evenings.
- Jeans are generally acceptable in casual dining venues and during the day on Cunard ships. On formal or dress-up evenings, jeans are typically not permitted in the main dining room. Buffet and casual venues remain dress-code-free on all evenings.
- Cunard designates Gala Evenings by sailing length: voyages of 3 nights or more include at least one Gala Evening; 7-night sailings typically include one; 14-night sailings include two or three. Gala Evenings follow themed formats including Black and White, Red and Gold, Masquerade, and Roaring 20s. Exact dates are published in the My Cunard calendar before sailing.
- See our [cruise packing list](/packing-list/type/cruise/) for a complete guide. For Cunard, pack one dressy outfit per formal night plus resort-casual clothing for other evenings.
Does Cunard have formal nights?
What should I wear on a Cunard cruise?
Can I wear jeans on a Cunard cruise?
How many formal nights does Cunard have?
What should I pack for a Cunard cruise?
More on Cunard
Dress codes on other cruise lines
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Verified 2026-05-03 against the official Cunard dress code page. Cruise lines change dress code policies without notice. Confirm with the line before packing.