Required Dress Regarding Cruise Clothes
If you are a first time cruiser, you will need to know what to pack for cruise activities to avoid making the mistake of over packing. Or even worse, packing the wrong clothes for your first ever cruise vacation.
Cruise ships are like roaming hotels and five star resorts. Just like at home, these types of places would require certain types of dressing, which is why it is important you dress well on a cruise and abide by the required dress code. Except for sun bathing and swimming where you’re allowed to wear swimwear, you should dress decently in other areas of the ship. Cruise liners go the extra mile in preparing fun-filled activities for its guests while they’re at sea, and this includes holding functions and events that call for dress codes. There will always be a few guests who try to break the rules, such as wearing shorts to a black tie event. Remember that it’s unethical to do so, and management has the right to refuse entry to a dining area or event if you are not dressed appropriately.
Cruise ships today have a range of dining facilities that require you dress appropriately in order to dine. Before you start packing, it is advisable to research online about the restaurants and dining facilities onboard the cruise so you come prepared. Typically there are a number of casual, relaxed, and fine dining amenities so you should pack for these. There are also dining facilities by the ship’s poolside, which doesn’t have much of a dress code and you can dress comfortably in beach wear.
For casual and relaxed dining, bring along pants, casual dresses, collared shirts with sleeves, trousers, jeans, dress shirts, and polos. For footwear, you may bring along strappy sandals that are comfortable to walk around in. Fine dining clothing for the ladies include cocktail dresses and other formal outfits, dress shirt and slacks, and corresponding shoes. For men, instead of packing both a suit and a black tie outfit, it’s best to inquire with the cruise liner ahead of time what events they will be hosting while you are at sea.
Ship dining rooms often have restrictions when it comes to clothing. This means no slippers, basketball shorts, men wearing sleeveless shirts, bathing suit, gym shorts, bare feet, tank tops, caps and hats.
Apart from formal events, there are many other types of events that require various dress codes on the cruise. These may include resort wear and themed nights. For themed nights, your cruise liner will inform you ahead of time so you have ample opportunities to pack something for the event.
Information regarding dress codes for various function rooms are available, and are sometimes changed based on an event that the liner is holding for the night. For informal nights at sea, women have the option of coming in dresses, while men can opt to wear a shirt, jacket, and tie. Casual nights can let women dress in relaxed slacks, dress shirts, and skirt while men can wear slacks with a collared shirt.
