Our Travel Expert Reveals Cruise Ship Dress Code Rules Passengers Should Know

Cruises are a fantastic way to travel, especially if you want to enjoy a luxurious vacation without the stress of planning where to stay, what to do, and where to eat. Cruises are usually all-inclusive experiences, and a pre-planned itinerary takes away a lot of the decision-making, so passengers can simply relax and enjoy their vacations. One of the few things you will have to decide on a cruise is what to wear. Ships often have dress code rules, which can leave some travelers feeling a bit confused, so we asked a travel expert to help clear things up.

Ships offer exciting performances, parties, and luxurious meals to keep travelers entertained while at sea. Even the most casual cruise lines often encourage passengers to dress up for special dinners and themed parties. The more luxurious ships may even enforce a formal dress code. Victoria Fricke, the owner of the luxury travel agency Vic's Vacations, offered some expert advice about cruise ship dress code rules in an exclusive interview with Explore.

"Different areas of the ship have different dress codes, and different cruise lines have different policies and levels of expectations/suggestions when it comes to what passengers wear," Fricke told Explore. If you want to avoid embarrassing clothing mistakes during your cruise, it's important that you understand the dress code rules before your sailing. 

Dress codes should be considered part of the fun when it comes to taking a cruise. "Travel is an escape from reality and cruising provides so many unique experiences in one place. The purpose of a dress code on a cruise line is simply to help aid in that experience," Fricke reminded Explore. She also notes "the goal is to feel an elegance that you don't get in your day to day life," and that it gives you "something special and unique worth celebrating."

According to Fricke, most of the dress code rules on cruise ships shouldn't come as a surprise. She said that opting against wearing swim trunks to a nice Italian restaurant is probably common sense for most travelers. "Along with creating an ambiance, it's also creating expectations," Fricke explained. "While there is a sense of freedom while cruising, having someone next to you in a skimpy bikini without a cover up on while your family is dressed in your black tie best just really dampers the feel."

If you choose not to abide by the dress code, you could be excluded from certain experiences on your cruise. "If it's a formal night and you show up to the main dining room with flip flops and athletic wear you would be told to change," Fricke told us. That being said, you won't have to miss a meal if you don't want to dress up. You might just be told to eat at the buffet instead of the restaurant. "There's always something you can do for food on a cruise ship, but the cruise line has the right to enforce an environment which is partially created by the dress code."

There are a few dress code rules that you'll commonly find on cruise lines according to Fricke. Wearing a swimsuit to meals usually isn't allowed, but if you're wearing a coverup and eating poolside, you may be able to get away with it. When dining at one of the restaurants, most cruise ships will ensure that you're wearing shoes. For dinners, many cruise ships require that your attire is slightly elevated and may have a smart casual dress code. Colored shirts, slacks, dresses, and skirts are some appropriate examples. Shorts are a common type of clothing that you should avoid wearing to dinner on a cruise, and so are flip flops.

Theme nights and formal nights are some of the most exciting events that take place on board. Fricke told us that theme nights aren't usually strictly enforced. Instead, guests are simply encouraged to dress on theme. The cruise line may suggest that all passengers wear certain colors or costumes, she explained. The dress code on formal nights is taken a bit more seriously. On some cruise ships the formal dress code may be as simple as button-ups and sundresses. On other luxurious sailings you may need to wear a suit or a black-tie gown.

When you're preparing for a cruise, Fricke recommends consulting with your travel advisor about the dress code requirements before you start to pack your bags. They should be able to offer you wardrobe suggestions and give you outfit ideas for formal dinners and themed nights. You can also do some research on the website for the cruise company. Blogs, online videos, and social media are also wonderful ways to learn about other passengers' experiences. Following the dress code and other cruise ship etiquette rules will help ensure that you, and your fellow passengers, have the best possible experience.