Yes, most cruise ships have a dress code, but it is relaxed. Daytime is casual, with swimwear kept to pool areas. Evenings in the main dining room usually call for smart casual clothes, and formal or elegant nights are optional dress-up nights on many lines. Each cruise line sets its own rules, so check yours before you pack.
What do people wear on a cruise during the day?
Daytime on a cruise is casual. Shorts, t-shirts, sundresses, tank tops, and sandals are normal around the ship and in port. Swimsuits are fine at the pool and on the sun deck, but most lines ask you to add a cover-up or shirt when you walk into indoor restaurants, shops, or lounges.
Sea days and port days are when groups like to wear matching shirts. A family or friend group in matching tees is easy to spot on the pool deck, at the muster station, and in photos.
Is there a dress code for dinner on a cruise?
For the main dining room in the evening, many lines ask for "smart casual" or "resort casual." That usually means:
- Pants, nice shorts, skirts, or casual dresses
- A collared shirt, blouse, or neat top
- No swimwear, wet clothes, or cover-ups
- On some lines, no tank tops or baseball caps for dinner
The buffet and casual venues stay relaxed in the evening, so you can usually wear what you wore during the day there.
Do you have to dress up for formal night?
On most mainstream cruise lines, no. Formal or "elegant" nights are optional, and you will see everything from suits and gowns to nice slacks and a button-up shirt. Some luxury and traditional lines keep stricter evening dress expectations. Our full guide on dressing up for formal night on a cruise covers what to pack.
Does each cruise line have its own dress code?
Yes. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Disney, and others each publish their own guidelines, and luxury lines can be more formal. Rules can also change over time, so the best move is to read your cruise line's current dress code page before you pack. Look for three things:
- What is allowed in the main dining room at dinner
- How many formal or elegant nights your sailing has
- Any rules for specialty restaurants
What should you avoid wearing on a cruise?
- Swimwear without a cover-up in indoor dining areas
- Wet clothes in restaurants or lounges
- Very casual items, like tank tops, at dinner on lines that ask for smart casual
- Clothing with offensive words or images, which some lines do not allow in public areas
When in doubt, pack one step dressier than you think you need for dinner. You can always dress down.
Can you wear matching group shirts on a cruise?
Yes, and they are one of the most popular things to pack. Groups wear them on embarkation day, on sea days, and on shore excursions. Matching shirts are casual daywear, so save them for daytime and the buffet rather than formal night. See what to wear on embarkation day and how many shirts to pack for planning help.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wear shorts to dinner on a cruise?
In buffets and casual venues, yes. In the main dining room, many lines allow nice shorts on most nights but ask for pants or dressier clothes on formal or elegant nights. Check your line's policy.
Do you have to dress up every night on a cruise?
No. Most nights are smart casual at most. Only formal or elegant nights call for dressing up, and those are optional on many mainstream lines.
Can you wear a t-shirt to the main dining room?
Many mainstream lines allow a neat t-shirt on casual nights. Some ask for collared shirts at dinner, so read your line's dress code.
When should groups wear matching cruise shirts?
Embarkation day, sea days, and shore excursions are the most popular times. They make your group easy to spot and look great in photos.
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