Avoid This Embarrassing Clothing Mistake At Formal Dinners During Your Cruise

Cruises are a wonderful way to see the world. They're like giant luxurious floating hotels that allow you to do and see so much in a short time. The largest cruise ships feel like small cities, and have multiple restaurants, bars, and theaters with live performances for guests to enjoy during their stay. It's a luxurious environment that's ideal for travelers who like to dress up and enjoy the finer things in life.

One of the best things about cruises is that each morning you'll wake up in a new place. In some cases, you'll wake up in an entirely new country! Days spent at sea are perfect for relaxing by the pool or enjoying the cruise ships' many amenities. Since the days that cruise ships remain at sea aren't quite as exciting as the days in which they dock near a thrilling city or beautiful beach, many cruises arrange formal dinners to spice things up.

Formal dinners give all the guests a chance to enjoy the glitz and glam of the cruise ship. They're a fun excuse to dress up in your finest attire and head to the dining room, where you can see and be seen by the other guests. These days most cruise ships have a casual vibe overall. You aren't expected to don a different ballgown every single night like you were in the Belle Époque era — but formal dinners require that you dress with a little more flare and care. Perfectly packing for your cruise vacation means that you should review the dress code ahead of time to avoid making an embarrassing clothing mistake by under-dressing at a formal dinner. 

Each cruise has its own dress code for dinners. During most meals, travelers wear relatively casual attire. On formal nights, the regular cast of characters might look unrecognizable decked out in their formal attire. 

Cunard is one of the best cruise lines for a romantic couples getaway, and you definitely don't want to show up under-dressed. According to their website, your evening wear should be "smart attire," including cocktail dresses, button-up shirts, and trousers. Jeans are not the vibe. During Gala Nights you should go full black-tie. Your cruise line's website is a great resource for specific dress code instructions. If you don't comply, you may be turned away at the entrance to the dining room or asked to return to your cabin to change.

On some cruise ships, formal dress codes are loosely enforced. Such is the case with MSC Cruises. As someone who loves to dress up, I was very excited for a formal night on my MSC cruise on the Mediterranean Sea. I had big dreams about pretending to be Rose from "Titanic." When I arrived in the dining room to see that most of my fellow cruisers were dressed in their usual business casual attire, I was pretty bummed. The dress code is pretty lax on MSC ships. According to MSC's website, "at no point is swimwear allowed in any formal dining venue for any meal, including breakfast and lunch. Shorts, flip flops, and tank tops are not allowed for Evening Wear or Gala Night in the Main Dining Rooms, Specialty Restaurants, or MSC Yacht Club. T-shirts are not allowed to be worn for Gala Night. Dress code rules that are posted outside the buffet should be followed."

Many travelers are surprised to learn that modern cruises still feature formal dinners. Times have changed, and there simply aren't as many opportunities where it's appropriate to wear formal clothing. Casual outfits are the norm, and we reserve dressing up for fancy parties, holidays, the theater, or nice restaurants. Even then, it's rare to see true formal wear. Weddings are one of the only occasions in which many people wear "black tie" attire. A cruise is a wonderful opportunity to put on that gorgeous dress or stylish suit you never get to wear. Most people agree that it's always better to overdress than under-dress for a formal dinner.

If you aren't used to dressing up, it can be challenging to know what to wear to a formal dinner on your cruise. As long as you stick to the basic dress code requirements you should be fine, but if you need style inspiration, Pinterest is a great place to start. If you're on a cruise in a warm-weather destination, opting for "resort wear" is usually a safe bet. Resort wear is specifically designed for elegant vacations. Many different brands offer resort wear collections, and most of them feature lightweight materials, vibrant colors, and bold prints.

For formal dinners requiring black tie attire, dress how you would for a formal wedding or red carpet event. Jackets, suits, tuxedos, cocktail dresses, and evening gowns would all be appropriate choices. Whatever you decide to wear, have fun expressing yourself.