What to wear on a cruise: A guide to cruise outfits and line-specific dress codes

Ever had that nightmare where you're at work, school, or delivering an important presentation and suddenly realize you're only wearing underwear (or worse, nothing at all)? If it's your first time cruising, figuring out what to wear can be just as stressful and embarrassing if you're not prepared.

Packing the right clothes for a cruise is easier than it seems if you follow a few simple guidelines. I'll walk you through some safe clothing options and give you a rundown of dress codes for each of the major cruise lines.

What do people typically wear on a cruise?

For sea days spent on board, resort-casual attire is always a safe choice. While some cruise lines may lean more or less casual, this is generally a good standard. But what exactly is "resort casual"?

For men, khaki shorts or pants paired with a relaxed, short-sleeve button-down shirt or a simple, plain T-shirt are perfect. Women may prefer khaki shorts, palazzo pants, or a sundress, paired with a nice top. In most cases, dark-wash jeans without rips will also be a suitable option.

On most ships, these outfits are also acceptable for dinner in the main dining rooms. However, for specialty restaurants that require an extra fee, you might want to dress a little more formally. Collared shirts or long-sleeve button-downs are fine for men, while women can wear slacks with a blouse or a dress.

On formal nights, which are optional on many cruises, men should at least pack a collared, button-down shirt. For a more stylish look, consider bringing a jacket, with or without a tie. Some men choose suits or even tuxedos. Women can go for a pantsuit, a chic dress, or even a ball gown for the occasion.

While most cruise lines have relaxed dress codes for formal or "elegant" nights, jeans are typically not permitted in the main dining rooms. Additionally, cut-off shorts, baseball caps, and flip-flops are strictly prohibited during dinner in these dining areas, not just on formal nights.

One essential item to pack is a bathing suit. Whether you're cruising to a tropical destination and planning to relax by the pool or beach, or you're visiting a cooler location and want to enjoy the ship's hot tubs, it's something you'll definitely want to bring. Keep in mind that cover-ups are required to enter all dining rooms and restaurants, except for poolside walk-up service venues.

For shore excursions, especially those in more rugged or active locations that involve a lot of walking, comfortable, casual clothing and durable footwear are crucial. Bring layers if you're headed somewhere cold, and moisture-wicking fabrics if you're heading to warmer places or expect to be active.

Lastly, check if your cruise line offers any themed nights. If they do, consider packing an outfit for special events like a white party or '80s night.

Carnival cruise dress code

Carnival is one of the most laid-back lines when it comes to attire. Guests can easily wear jeans, T-shirts, tank tops, shorts, and swimsuits whether they're relaxing on board or heading ashore.

For dinner in the main dining rooms at night, a pair of nice jeans and a stylish top are the perfect choice.

On Carnival's formal nights, also known as "cruise elegant" nights, you'll see everything from slacks and dress shirts to tuxedos and glamorous ball gowns. However, most people opt for something a bit more in-between.

Cruises lasting six nights or more will have two "cruise elegant" nights, while those lasting five nights or fewer will typically have one.

Celebrity Cruises dress code

Celebrity Cruises follows a chic-casual dress code, appealing to a more upscale crowd compared to lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Norwegian. On board, you'll see khaki shorts paired with nice button-down shirts more often than jean shorts and tank tops, though both are acceptable.

For dinner, you'll want to elevate your look a bit more. Celebrity enforces a smart-casual dress code in most of its restaurants, including the main dining room. From unripped jeans to dress pants with elegant blouses or button-down shirts, almost anything goes.

Does Celebrity Cruises have formal nights? Yes, the line hosts one "evening chic" night for cruises of six nights or fewer, and two for voyages lasting a week or more. The dress code encourages guests to go all out with tuxedos and evening gowns, though many men opt for slacks, collared shirts, and jackets without ties, while women often choose slacks with blouses, sundresses, or party dresses.

Disney Cruise Line dress code

Disney Cruise Line is well-known for catering to families, and that means comfort is key for the kids. With this in mind, the dress code is pretty relaxed, making casual attire the norm even on a luxury cruise with exceptional service and high prices.

During the day, you'll often see guests in jeans, shorts, T-shirts, and swimsuits. At dinner, it's no different, with jeans and T-shirts just as common as dressier options like slacks and button-down shirts.

The exceptions are Disney's "dress-up" nights — two on cruises of a week or longer, and one on shorter voyages. For these evenings, DCL recommends men wear jackets and avoid jeans. Women can opt for dresses, skirts with blouses, or pantsuits.

Certain premium restaurants on Disney Cruise Line, such as Remy — one of the priciest dining options at sea — require men to wear jackets and prohibit jeans.

Every Disney cruise includes a Pirate Night, so if you want to join in the fun, make sure to pack your best pirate outfit. As with Disney theme parks, you'll also see plenty of costumes and Mickey Mouse ears throughout the day.

Holland America Line dress code

While the dress code on Holland America ships is officially "cruise casual," you won't see anyone looking sloppy or underdressed. Most passengers opt for resort-style attire, or at the very least, nice jeans paired with pressed T-shirts.

The casual dress code extends to dinner, but many HAL guests choose to dress a bit more polished. Men typically wear collared shirts or button-downs (sometimes with jackets) and slacks, while women often wear slacks with stylish tops or dresses.

For formal nights, Holland America holds one "gala night" on cruises shorter than a week, where guests don evening gowns, ball gowns, suits, or tuxedos. Cruises lasting eight to 13 nights feature two gala nights, and cruises of two weeks or more will have three formal nights.

MSC Cruises dress code

What you wear on MSC cruises largely depends on your fellow passengers. On European sailings, the crowd tends to dress up more frequently, even during the day. Expect to see elegant resortwear and high-end bathing suits on the pool deck. Evening meals are even more formal, with guests typically wearing glittering dresses and stylish pants with button-down shirts and dress shoes, even on non-formal nights.

On cruises departing from the U.S., the atmosphere is more relaxed, with jeans, T-shirts, and swimsuits dominating the daytime. For dinner, nice jeans with a collared shirt or a sundress will do the trick, but you may want to dress a little more formally to match the ship's atmosphere.

Yes, MSC cruises have formal nights, known as "gala dinners." These occur at least once during each voyage, though the number varies depending on the itinerary. The dress code is more formal, with the buffet being the only venue where T-shirts and shorts are acceptable. For these occasions, a ball gown, cocktail dress, suit, or tuxedo is the ideal attire.

Norwegian Cruise Line dress code

Norwegian Cruise Line, known for its "freestyle cruising" concept, offers passengers the freedom to dress however they wish, creating a laid-back atmosphere both day and night. The most common attire is cruise casual, with an emphasis on comfort and personal style.

The one exception to this relaxed dress code is during dinner, where a smart-casual vibe is encouraged. Passengers are advised to avoid torn or overly revealing clothing.

Norwegian's take on formal nights, called "Dress Up or Not" nights, gives passengers the option to dress up if they choose, but it's entirely optional. Whether in jeans and T-shirts or tuxedos and ball gowns, everyone is welcome to dine in the main restaurants, regardless of attire.

Princess Cruises dress code

Princess Cruises embraces a laid-back daytime dress code, allowing passengers to wear whatever they'd typically wear ashore — activewear, beachwear, jeans, and T-shirts are all perfectly acceptable.

Princess' formal nights stand out because, unlike many other cruise lines, it still hosts an official formal night. Passengers who enjoy a more traditional cruise experience look forward to these evenings, which bring a romantic atmosphere. The line doesn't require ball gowns or tuxedos, but suggests men wear suits or slacks with jackets, and women opt for cocktail dresses or pantsuits.

For cruises shorter than a week, there will be one formal night, while sailings lasting between a week and 13 days will have two formal nights. Cruises lasting two weeks or more will feature three formal nights.

On non-formal nights, the dress code is "smart casual," so women can wear sundresses or pants with stylish tops, while men can opt for nice jeans or slacks paired with collared shirts.

Royal Caribbean dress code

Like Carnival and Norwegian, Royal Caribbean is laid-back during the day. Much like Disney Cruise Line, it caters to families, which means comfort is key. Expect to see shorts, jeans, T-shirts, tank tops, and swimsuits or beachwear as the typical daytime attire.

For evenings, you may want to swap into something a bit less casual, but formal wear is only required on formal nights (and yes, Royal Caribbean still hosts these). The tricky part is that the line has three dress codes: casual, smart casual, and formal, each loosely enforced. Which ones apply to your sailing depends on the cruise's length.

The difference between casual and smart casual is subtle. Smart casual suggests women wear pantsuits and men don jackets, though skirts or trousers with blouses or collared shirts are acceptable for both. Smart casual also advises against wearing jeans — even the nice ones.

For formal nights, Royal Caribbean expects passengers to dress to impress in cocktail dresses, evening gowns, suits, or tuxedos. Similar to the smart casual code, jeans are not permitted in the main dining rooms on formal nights.