The need for formal attire on a cruise depends on the length and nature of the trip. Evening pleasure trips and dances require cruise clothes, while longer cruises may have formal evenings or dining rooms. Consult the cruise line for dress requirements and consider clothing expenses and theft risks.
Deciding whether to bring formal attire on a cruise has a lot to do with the nature and length of the cruise you plan to take. On evening pleasure trips and evening dances, you don’t so much wear formal attire but instead wear your cruise clothes. Since these cruises last only a few hours, there’s no need to bring an extra supply of clothes, although you may want to bring a warm jacket if the weather is iffy.
Many cruises lasting several days may have a few formal evenings or a formal dining room. In these cases you should plan to bring formal attire on your cruise. In fact, in most cases what you’re looking for is semi-formal or elegant attire. An elegant dress is usually sufficient for women and a suit (not a tuxedo) for men. Some dining rooms on cruise ships may have suit and tie requirements for men, so at the very least, men should bring a nice sport coat, slacks, a dress shirt, and a matching tie.
If in doubt about whether to bring formal attire on a cruise, it is a good idea to consult your travel agent or contact the cruise line directly. Typically, the cruise line will have an event itinerary and can advise you on any special dress requirements. There may be opportunities to buy elegant clothes in the shops on the ship, but these purchases can be expensive. Therefore, being advised allows you to choose something suitable from your wardrobe.
In some circumstances, you may need to bring formal attire on a cruise. For women this means long or tea-length dresses, and for men this usually means a tuxedo at the end. Very long cruises on larger ships may host parties or special events such as proms that require your special best attire. In most cases, however, you only need one or two elegant dresses for special dinners.
Women should think about clothing expenses when bringing formal attire on a cruise. You may not want to pack an exceptionally expensive designer suit, as theft does happen on cruise ships. Likewise, it may be better to pack jewelry that will dazzle and sparkle than expensive real jewelry. Also in this case, thefts unfortunately occur on cruise ships and it would be a shame to take a pleasure trip ruined by the loss of expensive items.
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