Royal Caribbean ships are known for fun things to do onboard, and a big part of that are the theme nights and parties.
One of the top questions we get is what to pack for a cruise, and that includes these events.
"When and where do you find out about theme nights on different ships? We cruise in a month and would love to be able to plan for packing," is what one person wrote on Facebook recently to ask about it.
Royal Caribbean is now sending emails that help address that question.
Are you ready to party?
A few of our readers with upcoming cruises received emails from the cruise line that are aimed at making it easier for guests to understand what to expect onboard.
It's an informational email, offering expectations of the different themes and parties.
"We have a lineup of thrilling events and activities planned onboard, and we’re encouraging all our guests to participate in the festivities," the email reads.
In one example, the email was sent to guests booked on the June 13, 2025 sailing of Anthem of the Seas, which puts it about 26 days prior to the start of the cruise.
It starts off listing four theme nights and what each one is like:
- 80s Night: It’s going to be totally tubular! The most vibrant and unforgettable decade has made its way to the high seas. Dust off your leg warmers, tease up your hair, break out your fishnets and pack it with your leather jacket – it’s time to get funky and dance the night away! Pack your leg warmers, big hair and fishnet gloves!
- Caribbean Night: Join us for an evening of vibrant music, and dive into the rhythms and flavors of the Caribbean! Pack your favorite Caribbean shirts, tropical dresses and all things floral as you embrace the island spirit and dance the night away!
- 70s Night: Get ready to hit the dance floor at our far out 70s Night Party! Boogie down and dress up in your grooviest 70s-inspired outfit. Pack your bell-bottoms, platform shoes, dazzling sequins and funky sunglasses and join us to dance the night away to the hottest hits of the decade!
- Latin Party: Feel the heat and passion of our Latin Party as you move to the vibrant rhythms of the salsa, bachata, and reggaeton. Pack your favorite dancing shoes and casual, white attire that will keep you dancing all night long. When choosing your outfit think casual, light and flowy!
The email also says there will be a formal night onboard, which Royal Caribbean refers to as "Dress Your Best night".
The amount of formal nights on any sailing depends on the length of the cruise:
- 3-5 sailings nights: One night
- 6-10 sailing nights: Two nights
- 11-14 sailing nights: Three nights
- 15+ sailing nights: Three to four nights
The email is something I haven't previously seen by Royal Caribbean, but it's clearly an attempt to make it easier for guests to participate.
Theme nights are optional
It's important to remember that the themes are not mandatory, and you don't have to participate if you don't want to.
It's been a cruising tradition for years to have these events, and it offers a way to have fun on vacation. Basically, theme nights are an excuse to get dressed up and join in.
Not only are there evenings to enjoy together, but it makes for fun family photos.
Part of the appeal of a theme night is you get join in with your own take on the outfit to wear. You could go for an over-the-top look that's meant to get laughs, or see if your family can really get into the spirit of the event with a cosplay-level look.
Ultimately, these themes are really about how you look around the ship. No venue or restaurant will deny you entry if you don't participate in one of these themes.
An even easier way to find the theme nights and when they are
While this email is a good start, it doesn't list exactly when each theme night will occur. Nor do you know what else is happening that day to coordinate plans.
My advice is go one step further than the email and get the answer.
There are two tried-and-true ways to find out the theme nights for your Royal Caribbean cruise.
You could look up themed nights from past sailings on the same ship and itinerary.
We keep an archive of past Cruise Compasses, which list all the events that happened on a given sailing.
The reality is if you look up a recent sailing on the same ship and itinerary as yours, the theme nights are all but certainly going to be the same.
Another idea is to look in the Royal Caribbean app.
About 2-3 weeks before your cruise, the app will update with the theme nights and other activities.
Scroll under the “Daily Planner” section to preview the hourly details and event descriptions.
