In short
During the day, dress as you would on any holiday. In the evening, the main restaurant expects "smart casual": long trousers or a neat dress. On a gala evening — usually one or two per week — guests dress up: a suit or jacket for men, a cocktail dress or elegant outfit for women. If you prefer not to, the buffet stays open in normal clothes.
Three levels of dress
| Dress code | When and where | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | Daytime, buffet, pool deck, sea days | Shorts, T-shirt or polo, sandals or trainers | Shorts, sundress, skirt, a light cover-up over swimwear |
| Smart casual | Most evenings in the main restaurant, bars, theatre | Long trousers or chinos, a shirt with a collar or a neat polo; tidy jeans are often fine | A dress, skirt or trousers with a nice top |
| Gala / formal | One or more evenings per cruise, main restaurant and the captain's welcome | A dark suit or jacket with a shirt; a tie or bow tie looks good; a tuxedo is optional | A cocktail dress, evening dress or an elegant trouser suit |
The names differ: cruise lines call it "elegant", "chic", "formal" or "evening chic". The daily programme in the app or in your cabin says what the dress code is for that evening.
How many gala evenings to expect
| Length of the cruise | Gala evenings, usually | What to pack |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 nights | 0–1 | One dressier outfit is enough |
| 7 nights | 1–2 | One gala outfit plus an accessory to change the look |
| 10–14 nights | 2–3 | Two outfits, or one with different shirts, scarves or jewellery |
| 3 weeks and longer | about one per week | Plan on the ship's laundry service |
Besides gala evenings, many ships hold theme nights: a white party, a tropical night, a decade party. Joining in is optional — a white shirt or something bright is enough, and nobody minds if you come as you are.
Style of ship and type of cruise
- Large resort ships in Europe and the Caribbean. Relaxed during the day, smart casual in the evening, one or two gala evenings a week. A jacket is welcome on gala night but rarely required.
- Premium and luxury ships. Evenings are more elegant overall; some keep classic formal nights with a jacket for men.
- Expedition ships and coastal voyages in the far north or south. Practical clothes and layers; gala evenings are rare or very relaxed.
- River cruises. Comfortable and neat; usually one festive evening (the captain's dinner), without strict requirements.
- Long voyages and world cruises. More gala evenings; a few outfits you can combine save space.
Rules that apply on almost every ship
- No swimwear or bare feet in restaurants, at the buffet and in indoor public areas — bring a cover-up and sandals.
- At dinner in the main restaurant shorts, caps and sleeveless tops for men are often not allowed. At the buffet the rules are more relaxed.
- Prefer not to dress up on gala night? Eat at the buffet or a casual venue — that is perfectly normal.
- Specialty restaurants sometimes have their own, slightly stricter dress code.
- Irons are usually not allowed in cabins for fire safety. Ships offer a pressing service, and some have a self-service laundry.
What to wear in port
- Churches, monasteries and mosques often require covered shoulders and knees. A light scarf or sarong in your day bag solves it. In mosques women usually also cover their hair.
- The Gulf, Turkey and North Africa: modest clothes in town are respectful and more comfortable in the sun.
- Northern Europe and the fjords: layers and a waterproof jacket even in summer — the weather changes quickly.
- Shoes: old towns have cobblestones and steps. Comfortable, closed shoes are better than new sandals.
- Tender ports: flat, non-slip shoes for stepping between the ship and the boat.
Packing for the evenings without overpacking
- Build around one colour. A dark jacket for men works with both trousers and jeans; a simple dress for women changes with a scarf or jewellery.
- Choose fabrics that do not crease — they come out of the suitcase ready to wear.
- One pair of evening shoes is enough; add comfortable shoes for the day and for ports.
- For children, a shirt or a nice dress is enough for gala night.
- Air-conditioned restaurants and theatres can be cool: a light cardigan or shawl helps.
A full list by region and season is in our cruise packing list.
Common questions
Do I need a tuxedo on a cruise?
No. On most ships a dark suit or a jacket with a shirt is more than enough for gala night. A tuxedo is optional, and only some classic and luxury ships still see many of them.
Can I skip the gala evening?
Yes. The buffet and casual venues stay open in normal clothes. Nobody is checked at the door of the theatre or bars, but the main restaurant may ask for the evening dress code.
Are jeans allowed at dinner?
On most ships tidy jeans are fine for smart casual evenings in the main restaurant. On gala night they are usually not appropriate there.
Can I wear shorts in the restaurant?
At breakfast, lunch and the buffet, yes. At dinner in the main restaurant shorts are often not allowed, especially for men.
Is there a dress code on a river cruise?
Rarely a strict one. Neat, comfortable clothes work every evening; for the captain's dinner something a little dressier is nice.
How the club fits in
The dress code is set by the cruise line and the ship, not by how you booked. When you book a cruise through the club, the same rules of that line apply. You can see the type of ship and the length of the cruise in the club's search before you book. Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing. More about booking with points.
General information; dress codes, the number of gala evenings and venue rules differ by cruise line, ship and itinerary and can change. Check the daily programme on board and your cruise line's information before you sail. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.