One thing that can ruin a cruise vacation is also one of the easiest mistakes to avoid. Mistake number one is not packing properly. Did you know the items you need for a cruise are different than for a traditional land vacation?
Dress codes are a common part of the cruising experience. Many people, in fact, take cruises for this reason. They like dressing up a few nights during their vacation. Many cruise ships have a dress code for the evening meal. At the very least, this means no shorts allowed. Discuss the dress code of the cruise ships you are considering with your travel agent, cruise broker, or directly with the cruise line.
Shorts are usually never allowed at the evening meal. There are different dress codes depending on the cruise line you book with. However, they all fall into three basic categories. The cruise line Royal Caribbean calls them casual, smart casual, and formal.
The casual dress code is all about nice comfort. Men should wear slacks with a nice sport short. A sport shirt usually is defined as having a collar and buttons down the front. The casual dress code for the ladies consists of sundresses or a nice shirt and slacks outfit.
The smart casual dress code category takes the casual dress code to the next level. Men should dress up their casual outfit with a jacket and tie. Women should wear a dress that is a bit nicer than a sundress. Dressy pants suits are also acceptable for women to wear. Overall think of the smart casual dress code as anything nicer than what you would wear for casual night.
The formal dress code is all about looking your very best. Your most formal attire should be worn on these nights. Men should wear suits and ties, or even tuxedos. Many cruise ships offer tuxedo rental service. If you plan on using this service call ahead so to make sure they have your size on board. A benefit to this service is not having to pack and travel with that extra bulky outfit. Women should wear a cocktail dress or evening gown.
The number of nights dedicated to each dress code depends upon the overall length of the cruise. A really short cruise may not even have one formal night. Contrary to that, a long cruise vacation may have two or more formal nights.
Formal portraits are taken on formal night. Many of the cruise lines have professional portrait photographers and mobile studios for this service. Passengers have the opportunity to have their portraits taken through out the cruise. However, the formal night is the most popular night for picture taking. This is because the passengers are all dressed up.
Specific requirements of the dress code vary depending on the ship and the cruise line. Contact the cruise line or your travel agent to get the specific requirements of the ship you are sailing on. Use a packing checklist to avoid forgetting anything. Have a great cruise vacation!