Cruise formal nights?

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WillyFogg

It depends on who you cruise with to be honest. You have some people stating that the formal nights are actually not that formal, this depends on which fleet you wish to sail with.
If you are going to travel with any of the following, I would recommend either an elegant trouser suit or evening gown:
P&O
Princess
Holland America
Cunard
Royal Caribbean
Costa

If it is any of the following, a trouser suit will be fine or a nice, elegant, not too short dress.
Carnival
Thomson
Ocean Village
Star
NCL

Don't worrry too much about the formal nights, it is nothing rigid. It is basically an excuse for everone to dress up nicely and you will likely get to shake hands with the captain. Don't worry about your social skills as this will be a long line of people being shunted along.

Captain Sarcasm

Basic guidance for ladies on a formal night is an evening dress. If you have any doubts each cruise-line has a website. If you look on their website they normally give a dress code.

In all honesty formal nights are black tie affairs for the gents and an excuse for the ladies to dress up to the nine's and look beautiful in evening wear. You will enjoy it, they are great fun.

Fran E

On Cunard the formal there varied greatly. It was acceptable to wear a dark business style suit and tie if your grandad doesn't have a tuxedo.
For your gran any kind of trouser/skirt suit or dress. Don't be worried about having to splash out on fancy evening wear unless you really want to. You will see all kinds of outfits from plain and elegant to over the top outrageous! I really recommend a black dress of some kind which you could wear 2 nights, maybe if you have 2 pashmina style scarves in different colours. Accessorise!
And another dress of some sort or even an elegant trouser suit!
Hope this helps
Enjoy you lucky thing!

sandand_surf

Anymore there's no hard and strict rules for formal wear. Women used to wear long formal gowns. But my cruise on Holland America, I saw plenty of cocktail dresses, and I think that is becoming the norm. Also, plenty of dressy pants or skirt and a dressy blouse (Holland will allow you to rent a long black skirt/pants and a metallic blouse - easy).

Guys can get away with a nice suit - no tux necessary, but certainly an opton.

Lots of folks bring one dressy skirt or pants (usually black), and three different tops to save on what they have to pack. No one's going to notice your skirt or pants unless they have a distinctive pattern, so this is an easy option.

Mike A

i've been on a few cruises and formal night isn't truly formal. they want to see at least a jacket and slacks. if you add a tie, all the better but just a jacket and slacks on the two cruises i was on was fine.

RedSoxfan1982

Is this celebrity cruise lines because if it is and it is the Galaxy ship I was just on that cruise for 2 weeks. Their formal nights you HAVE to wear a nice dress. I had like 3 prom dress type dresses and I am 26. You will also have 3 informal nights where they are like semi formal where you wear short dresses. Also we had 5 casual nights.

Myles H

It sounds like you may be on a P&O cruise? Am I right?

If so, there are 3 formal nights and a few semi-formal nights. Most people wear "black tie" for formal nights and suit and jackets for semi-formal.

So pack some nice evening wear!

Veronica Alicia

You don't say which Cruise Line - the most formal is Cunard.
When we have cruised with P & O, the first night and last nights are always "casual" - which doesn't mean scruffy! The formal nights are usually when you are at sea all day and we always had a newsletter delivered to our cabin which told us what dress would be suitable for the dining rooms the following day. You do not need to follow the dress code if you choose to eat in any other other restaurants, like the Bistro (an extra charge) or another casual restaurant.
There was also a "black and white" evening, when people who wanted, could wear just that - I had a long black skirt and black evening trousers with me which with a dressy top could do for anything, especially when dressed up with some bling.
My husband wore a D.J. & bow tie on formal nights.
Between the two extremes of casual and formal, there were "informal evenings".
There was a reasonably-priced boutique where travellers were able to buy more goodies.
A soft-topped suitcase is probably better than a hard shell one - easier to stow away in your cabin, possibly under your berth.

cazza h

Oooo you get to dress up.from a nice summery dress,to a timeless little black number with nice shoes to add,bling bling costume jewelry is best for glitter,you ll look a million dollars

Josie826

The ladies wear formal gowns (long dresses) or shorter fancy evening dresses and the men wear suits and ties or tuxedos. Your cruise line web site or the cruise packet they send you will explain what they expect you to wear on formal nights. If you don't want to dress up, you can just go to the buffet dinner or if the ship has other restaurants to eat in, go to one of those.

Riko

women should wear an evening dress on formal night and for men its usually suit shirt and tie (or a tuxedo if you have one or want to rent one). normally american people take it more seriously that british so it depends on what cruise line you go on really.

Tori

a nice dress or skirt with a pretty blouse.

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