Official cruise dress-code reference
Policy links checked 5 October 2026. Confirm your own sailing and dining venue before buying: “formal”, “Gala” and “Evening Chic” are different instructions.
- Cunard: smart attire most evenings; Gala options include a dark suit with tie or bow tie.
- P&O: Evening Casual and Black Tie; a shirt on Black Tie night needs a smart jacket and tie.
- Celebrity: Evening Chic is a chance to dress up; smart casual remains acceptable for dining and theatre.
- Royal Caribbean: check casual, smart casual and formal guidance; formal options include suits and ties or tuxedos.
- Princess: formal dining guidance lists a tuxedo, dark suit, or dinner jacket with slacks.
- Carnival: consult Cruise Casual and Cruise Elegant guidance for the venue.
- MSC: check evening and Gala restrictions; dining areas have clothing limits.
- Norwegian: dining guidance stresses attire suited to the setting; consult the specific restaurant.
There is no one outfit guaranteed to satisfy every ship, night and restaurant. Take the formal pieces your programme specifies, and use prints where the policy leaves room.
Continue reading: What to Wear on a Cruise: Men's Outfits, Day to Gala · Cruise Formal Night Outfits for Men · What to Pack for a Cruise: Men's Packing List.
Explore cruise and nautical designs. Check the product page for the current fabric, measurements, price and available sizes.
Explore occasion dressing guides in the Claudio Lugli journal.
Every cruise line calls formal night something different. Here is exactly what each one expects a man to wear.
Cruise dress codes cause more packing panic than anything else, mostly because every line uses its own language. One ship's black-tie gala is another's relaxed Elegant Night. The reality in 2026 is that codes are more relaxed than ever - but the tier still matters, and it pays to know where your line sits. Here is the map, line by line. Always check your daily programme too, as themes and enforcement vary by ship and sailing.
Cruise dress codes by line
The gold standard. Gala nights are genuine black tie - a tuxedo or dark suit, with a dinner jacket in the Britannia restaurant.
Two tiers: Smart Casual and Formal. Formal nights call for a suit or tuxedo - a dinner jacket and dress shirt is right at home.
Evening Chic encourages dressing up. Celebrity also permits smart casual for dining and theatre if you choose not to participate.
Royal Caribbean publishes casual, smart casual and formal suggestions. Its formal options include suits and ties or tuxedos; check your sailing and venue. Suits are welcome but not required - a statement jacket shines here.
P&O has Evening Casual and Black Tie. On Black Tie evenings, men wearing a shirt should complete it with a smart jacket and tie.
One of the most relaxed. Dress trousers and a collared shirt do the job; ties are optional. A printed shirt is right at home.
Optional or themed elegant nights. Dressing up is encouraged; swimwear and vests are a no in the dining rooms.
No set formal nights - resort casual throughout, with an optional dress-up night. A smart printed shirt is all you need.
Whatever the line calls it, one outfit never lets you down: a statement dinner jacket over a smart shirt.
The outfit that works on any ship
If you remember nothing else, remember this: a statement dinner jacket over a smart or tuxedo shirt, with tailored trousers and a leather or velvet shoe, is a possible evening combination, but does not automatically meet every line’s formal policy. On black-tie nights add a bow tie; on relaxed nights lose the jacket and let a bold printed shirt lead. One jacket, one or two good shirts, and you are dressed for the whole voyage - see our cruise formal-night outfit guide for the full formula.
Cruise dress codes: FAQs
What is the strictest cruise line dress code?
Cunard is the most formal, with genuine black-tie gala evenings. Most mainstream lines - Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity - are far more relaxed, and Norwegian has no formal nights at all.
Do all cruises have a formal night?
No. Most lines have one or two elegant or formal evenings on a seven-night sailing, but Norwegian's Freestyle cruising has none. Always check the daily programme delivered to your cabin.
What should a man wear if he is unsure of the dress code?
Read the evening programme and restaurant policy first. Pack a suit or dinner suit, appropriate shirt and tie when specified; use a printed shirt for settings where that interpretation is permitted.
Shop cruise shirts, tuxedo shirts and dinner jackets, sizes S to 6XL.
Shop the Cruise EditPlan the rest of your trip with our cruise wardrobe guide and the men's cruise packing list.
