Do you get dressed up for formal night on a cruise? There's a good chance a lot of other passengers like to do it as well.

A Royal Caribbean cruise has a different dress code for each evening of the cruise that recommends what to wear to the Main Dining Room.

With more people trying a cruise these days, views on dress codes seem to be changing. 

However, a recent poll of cruise fans indicate at least half still like the idea.

A poll in the Royal Caribbean Dining Facebook group with 1,000 respondents shows 51% of the people said they always get dressed up for formal night on a cruise.

Another 20% said they "occasionally" do, and 11% chose "rarely".

Just 18% of the people that participated in the survey said they never get dressed up for formal night.

The results of this very unscientific poll shows most cruise fans participate in formal night, despite anecdotal trends to the contrary.

"I'm not dressing up. It’s vacation"

There were strong opinions on both sides of the debate whether or not to get dressed up on a cruise.

Alex Swary wrote, "Unless it’s a funeral or a job interview, I’m not dressing up. It’s vacation."

Ro Carson argued formal night adds a flair to the vacation, "Fun to get dressed up and look around and see everyone else the same."

Rather than participate, Dru Filiberto skips the Main Dining Room on formal night, "We don't get dressed up for formal nights anymore, so we don't go to formal nights anymore. We'll eat somewhere else that night rather than go in casual clothes."

Mary Beth Ritchie shared getting dressed up doesn't have to be black tie, "I usually wear black jeans or leggings with a sparkly top."

"Love getting dressed up. It's like we are on a date," wrote Arlene Patterson.

Marina Patey added, "I live in scrubs on the daily so I treat myself to girly clothes!! It adds something special to my vacation."

How formal night got started on a cruise

Cruise lines evolved from ocean liners, and one of the many concepts they carried over were dress codes.

Dressing up for dinner is a way to passengers to take photos and enjoy an evening of elegance.

Billy Hirsch from CruiseHabit says formal night grew out of the classic cruise days, but remains popular, "Travel on passenger ships is now primarily recreational, the snob-appeal in cruise-line marketing combined with the tendency of tradition to live long at sea has meant that more formal dress has remained popular with many guests - though most seem content to don a bathing suit rather than a tuxedo when by the pool."

I think pop culture influenced what vacationers expect on a cruise ship.  On The Love Boat TV series, dressing up for dinner was part of the fun portrayed.  It conveyed how wearing fancy clothes with dinner was not only part of the experience, but a tradition that comes with a cruise vacation.

A lot has changed since the early days of cruising, and much of it has moved to keep up with changing consumer tastes.

Royal Caribbean doesn't even call it formal night on short sailings anymore.  "Dress Your Best" is now the standard on sailings less than 7 nights, but is effectively the same concept without the stuffy name.

Other lines have gone further than that. Norwegian Cruise Line famously made the change by introducing Freestyle Dining.

Celebrity Cruises replaced formal nights with Evening Chic nights, where the dress code is dressier than smart casual but less so than a traditional formal night.

All dress codes are optional

It's important to note that the dress codes really are more recommendations than actual requirements.

Royal Caribbean's website describes all of its dress codes as "suggested attire", and in my experience, you'd really have to show up in a bathing suit to be turned away.

The formal night dress code only applies to the Main Dining Room for dinner. There's no dress code for walking around the ship, and all other restaurants have their own dress code.

Even on formal night, the dress code at specialty restaurants supersedes the Main Dining Room.

The bottom line is you shouldn't feel obligated to wear a suit or gown to dinner. You certainly can, but keep in mind it's discretionary.

What you should wear on formal night

The advice I give anyone who wants to know what to pack for their cruise in terms of formal night is to dress something nicer than you might wear on any other night.

First and foremost, don't worry too much about it.  There's no fashion police on the ship, and since the dress code are suggestions, you have a lot of latitude in what you can wear.

That being said, one thing The Love Boat got right is dressing up is fun, and for a lot of families, formal night is the perfect excuse for something different and a way to get great photos.

There are so few opportunities in life to get dressed up as adults when it's not for a funeral or a wedding.  And both of those situations are all about someone else.

In addition to dressing nicer, Royal Caribbean also provides photo opportunities around the ship.

There's no obligation to stop and take a photo, but you could get a professional photo taken of you and your family with various backdrops.  

You'll find the photographers near the Main Dining Room, and public areas such as the Royal Promenade, Centrum, or Central Park.

There's no cost to take a photo, but if you want to buy a print or digital download, then you'd order one.

I've seen a lot of guests that get dressed up for dinner change into something more casual as soon as dinner and photos are complete, so there's no obligation to stay dressed up all night.

Cruise ship formal nights are often a cause for concern for many first time cruisers. Worries over what to pack and what clothing is and is not allowed can be stressful.

And while formal night may stir up images of guests dressed to the nines, this is rarely the case once you get onboard. In reality, there is a lot of flexibility when it comes to what to wear for formal night on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

What is formal night?

Formal night only applies only to the Main Dining Room on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Specialty dining and other venues have their own separate dress codes, although they are usually pretty similar to a formal night dress code.

Royal Caribbean states the following about the formal night dress code:

"Think of our formal dress code as a night out in your best black-tie look — suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns are all acceptable options. There can be 1-3 formal nights during a sailing and is at the ship’s discretion. Our Chef’s Table dining experience also enforces a formal dress code policy."

From reading this, it may seem like a tuxedo and evening gown are the standard outfits that most passengers will be wearing on formal night. In reality, though, this is rarely the case.

While you will likely spot a few guests in tuxedos and ball gowns, most guests will be in a formal outfit that is a lot more casual. Women may be dressed in a cocktail or sundress and men in a button-up shirt and dress pants.

Formal night dress code for men

Collared shirts, slacks, and dress shirts are typical options for men on formal night. The most “casual” yet acceptable outfit for men on formal night is a polo shirt and slacks.

A dress shirt and slacks is the most common option. Suit jackets and ties are not required, although many guests will choose to wear them. Guests looking to dress up even more can wear a tuxedo, but again, this is relatively uncommon.

Formal night dress code for women

Women have quite a few more options than men when it comes to outfits for formal night. Acceptable attire for women includes cocktail dresses, sundresses, skirts, blouses, dress pants, dressy rompers, and more elegant attire like evening gowns.

Women should pack dress shoes like flats, heels, wedges, or dressy sandals to wear on formal night.

Can I wear jeans on formal night?

You can get away with wearing jeans to the Main Dining Room on formal night. However, it’s a good idea to make sure the jeans are fairly nice and do not have any holes or rips in them. A dark-washed jean will look more formal, although you will likely not be turned away with any type of jean.

Clothes you should not wear on formal night

Passengers should not wear casual clothing such as shorts, casual t-shirts, flip-flops, swimsuits, and tank tops. 

As a general rule of thumb, you don’t want to wear the clothes you would wear to the pool deck or walking around port on a cruise ship formal night.

Do I have to get dressed up on formal night?

The truth is you do not need to get dressed up for formal night.  

Technically, the formal night dress code only applies to the Main Dining Room. And even within the Main Dining Room, Royal Caribbean crew members do not enforce the dress code at all.  In practice, it's become more of a suggestion.

You also don't need to get fancy either. It’s easy to participate even by wearing an outfit as casual as khakis and a polo shirt.

Most specialty restaurants also require a semi-formal dress code, and their dress code supersedes the Main Dining Room. 

If you truly have no desire to get dressed up for dinner at all and prefer to be as casual as possible, The Windjammer is a good alternative on formal night.  Every night in the Windjammer allows casual clothing.

Other ways to get ready for formal night

Royal Caribbean cruise ships do not have irons in each stateroom because of the fire hazard they create. However, guests are able to have clothing pressed or dry cleaned prior to formal night. When you arrive in your stateroom on the first day of the cruise there should be a paper there with information about laundry, dry cleaning, and pressing services. 

Guests may also choose to get their hair styled or get a manicure prior to formal night. The salon onboard in the Vitality Spa has services including updos, blowouts, shampoo and style dry, manicures, and pedicures.

How many formal nights will there be on my cruise?

The number of formal nights on a cruise varies by ship length. Shorter sailings will usually have only one formal night whereas longer sailings will have 2, 3, or 4 formal nights. Royal Caribbean lists the amount of formal nights per cruise on their website, although the amount of formal nights is ultimately at the ship’s discretion:

• 3/4/5 night cruises - 1 formal night
• 6 and 7 night cruises - 2 formal nights
• 8 to 10 night cruises - 2 formal nights
• 11 to 14 night cruises - 3 formal nights
• 15 + night cruises - 3 or 4 formal nights

Planning a cruise? Check out these articles:

• What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?
• What to expect on your first cruise
• The unwritten rules of going on a cruise
• Is it worth it to book a short 3-night cruise?
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• Why you shouldn't book the cheapest cruise you can find
• How do I pick the perfect first cruise?

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Perhaps no topic is as hotly debated among cruisers as if shorts are acceptable to be worn in the dining room.

The ambiguity of the posted rules, along with changing guest trends, has created strife for years among those that believe a change is needed.

So are you allowed to wear shorts in the main dining room? Here is the basic information.

Royal Caribbean's dress code rules

The dress code rules for Royal Caribbean provide dress suggestions for the three types of dress codes onboard: casual, smart casual and formal.

• Casual: You’re on vacation – relax! Jeans, polos, sundresses and blouses are all the right amount of laid back. Please keep swimwear to the Pool Deck. Shorts are welcomed for breakfast and lunch.
• Smart Casual: Think of this as a step up from your typical dinner wear. Dress to impress with collared shirts, dresses, skirts and blouses, or pantsuits. Jackets, sports coats and blazers are snazzy and welcomed. 
• Formal: Make it a night out in your best black-tie look – suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns. There can be 1-3 formal nights during a sailing and is at the ship’s discretion.

The only posted rule only mentions that bare feet are not allowed at any time in any venue and tank tops are not permitted in the Main Dining Room or Specialty Dining venues for dinner.

Shorts are not mentioned as prohibited clothing to wear to the main dining room for dinner on Royal Caribbean's website. Certainly the dress codes for smart casual and formal seem to promote a standard of dress fancier than shorts, but there is no prohibition against them either.

I would be remiss if I did not mention in practice, dress codes are infrequently enforced by the main dining room staff. Anecdotally, many cruisers 

Should shorts be allowed in the main dining room?

To get a sense of what cruisers think, I posted a survey on Facebook to get an idea if shorts should be allowed to be worn in the main dining room for dinner.

The unscientific poll ran for about 36 hours, and accumulated 1,458 responses, with a lot of comments from cruisers who feel strongly about the issue. 

A majority of 776 people voted for a flat "no", shorts should not be worn to dinner in the main dining room. An additional 409 voted "I would not, but don't mind/care if someone else does."

On the other hand, 237 voted "yes" and 36 others voted "yes, but not on formal nights."

As mentioned, lots of people had thoughts on the notion of wearing shorts to the dining room.

"I understand people like to be casual but I still think it’s nice to have some areas you have to dress just a little nicer."

Most of the people that commented against wearing shorts in the dining room seemed to feel the main dining room holds a certain aura, and since it is as formal looking as it is, it is not unreasonable to expect guests to dress nicer when dining there.

"What others wear does not impact my dining experience. Each of us pay for the privilege to cruise & therefore the right to pick what we want to wear to dinner, or lunch, or breakfast."

This comment exemplifies the sentiment of a lot of cruisers who prefer not to engage in trying to police others and focus on themselves.

"Only on embarkation day... but other than that, no!"

Another vote for there being some leeway in the enforcement of the rules, but generally against wearing shorts.

"Why not if they are nice shorts aka not cargo or jean shorts and you are wearing a polo and like boat shoes I don’t see a problem. I often wear that to the dinning room and am still more dressed up then many wearing “pants”. I have seen many people come in with ripped jeans not nice looking clothes. Wearing shorts does not mean you don’t look nice. It’s my cruise, I will look nice but if u want shorts when it’s hot and it’s not formal night I am wearing them."

Of course, there is always the thought that perhaps the dress code itself needs to be re-considered. Whether dress codes are necessary or simply need to be updated with the times is another debate.

As this person points out, not all shorts are the same and the argument against shorts can easily start off with a generalization of lumping them all together.

Your thoughts

If you missed out on the poll, let us all know in the comments below what you think. Should guests be able to wear shorts in the dining room on a cruise? Or do you feel a sense of formality is necessary in the dining room during dinner?

September 13 Update: 

We have received further clarification on this change.  

• All short itineraries (5-nights or less) offer a “Wear Your Best” evening onboard (in lieu of a formal night).  Royal Caribbean describes it as: Nighttime’s the right time to wear your best look.  That means a step up from your tropical dinner wear, and includes collared shirts, dresses, skirts, blouses and pantsuits.  Jackets, tuxedos/formal wear sports coats and blazers are also appropriate. 
• Sailings that are 6-nights or longer still have formal nights.  This includes Harmony of the Seas and all sister ships sailing 6+ night itineraries.    

Guests sailing on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas will no longer see "formal night" listed as a dress code, as it is now referred to as "Wear Your Best".

Mike Chase shared a copy of the Cruise Compass from Harmony of the Seas on Facebook, where the new dinner dress suggestion is listed in lieu of what was formerly known as formal night.

The Cruise Compass on Harmony of the Seas lists a dinner dress suggestion of "Wear Your Best", which is described as "Say goodbye to Formal Night, and hello to Wear Your Best.  Get glamorous. Be Chic. It's time to shine - your way."

The transition from "formal night" to "wear your best" is not new to Royal Caribbean, as we first spotted the change on Mariner of the Seas last year.  That change did coincide with the ship's recent amplification. Similarly, Navigator of the Seas also switched to "Wear Your Best" as part of her amplification. We also spotted the switch on Anthem of the Seas & Enchantment of the Seas.

Guests on Royal Caribbean's newly refurbished Mariner of the Seas have spotted another change to the ship, a change in how Royal Caribbean handles what used to be called formal night.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Nick Vitani shared with us a copy of the Cruise Compass from Mariner of the Seas where the new dinner dress suggestions were listed.

The Cruise Compass on Mariner of the Seas lists a dinner dress suggestion of "Wear Your Best", which is described as "Say goodbye to Formal Night, and hello to Wear Your Best.  Get glamorous. Be Chic. It's time to shine - your way."

Casual nights are referred to as "Laid Back Lounging", where jeans, polos, blouses or sundresses are listed as appropriate dress for dinner in the main dinign room.  Shorts are welcome for breakfast and lunch.  

The two words that seem to strike anxiety into so many new cruisers are "formal night".  Something about this dress code generates a lot of questions about what to expect.  

No one wants to feel out of place, and Royal Caribbean's dress codes certainly have some basic requirements.

Here is an overview of what you need to know about formal night on your Royal Caribbean cruise.

Basics

Let us be clear: formal night (and other dress codes) apply only to the main dining room.  Whether it is formal or casual dress code, it only applies to what you wear to the main dining room, and not elsewhere onboard the ship.  Other restaurants (like specialty restaurants) have their own dress code, which supersedes the main dining room dress code.

On select nights of your cruise, the main dining room will have formal dress code suggested. These are evenings where Royal Caribbean suggests guests dress up the most.  

It's also important to note that the formal night rules are not really enforced, and there is a great deal of flexibility provided.

Royal Caribbean lists this as formal night suggested dress for formal night: Suits and ties or tuxedos for men (black tie is optional), cocktail dresses or pantsuit for women

How fancy is formal night

Despite the name, formal night is not nearly as fancy as you might think. Formal night is certainly the most dressed up evening attire required on your Royal Caribbean cruise, but it is not as ornate as you might imagine.

Evening wear for formal night will vary, and you will see some guests wearing tuxedoes and gowns. It is our observation that most guests tend to dress a bit less fancy than that, with men wearing suits or sports coats and women wearing cocktail dresses.

Essentially, it is clothing that is a bit nicer than you might wear on other nights of the cruise.

In practice, the dress code on any night is rarely enforced, so don't expect any crew member to inspect what you have on.  In fact, expect a lot of other guests to be dressed casually, regardless if it's formal night or not.

If the idea of formal night really bothers you, the good news is you absolutely do not have to get dressed up on your Royal Caribbean cruise. The formal night dress code is only for the main dining room and specialty restaurants, so anywhere else on the ship is fair game for shorts, flip flops and tank tops.

The Windjammer and other quick service venues will be open and without any formal wear.

When is formal night and how many will there be on my cruise?

There can be 1-3 formal nights during a sailing and is at the ship’s discretion. 

• 3/4/5 night cruises - usually on Day 2
• 6 night cruises - usually on day 2 and 5
• 7 night cruises - are usually on Day 2 and 6
• Oasis and Allure use Day 2 and 5 on Western itineraries and Day 2 and 6 on Eastern itineraries.
• 14-night and longer cruises will have three formal nights.

There are no formal nights on Empress of the Seas sailings.

Royal Caribbean has revised its dress code suggestions on its website and removed shorts from the list, a little more than a week after shorts were discovered as acceptable attire.

The website now lists suggestions for casual, smart casual and formal dress codes.  Under the casual dress code, shorts, tees, and tank tops have been removed from the list.

Royal Caribbean generated a lot of discussion early last week when the web page included shorts as acceptable attire.  That decision drew the ire of many traditionalists, who did not think it was appropriate.  This latest website update reverses the policy and clarifies the cruise line's stance on the issue.

Royal Caribbean's website now lists shorts as one of the suggested forms of clothing to adhere to the cruise line's dress code while dining in the main dining room on casual nights.

The website now describes casual night suggested attire as, "Jeans, shorts, tees, tank tops, polos, sundresses and blouses are all the right amount of laid back. Please keep swimwear to the Pool Deck."

While the rule looks to be updated for casual nights, many guests have seen other guests dine in the main dining room wearing shorts on numerous occasions.  Additionally, shorts we never saw shorts explicitly mentions as a prohibited article of clothing in the main dining room.

It is unclear when the webpage was changed, but the good folks at the Internet WayBack Machine show the old version of this web page do not mention shorts, as of August 2016.

We get a lot of questions from our readers regarding one aspect of what to wear on a Royal Caribbean cruise or another, and so today, we are sharing five dress code questions and answers to help everyone know what to expect on their cruise.

"Do men have to wear suits for formal night or will dress pants shirt and tie be acceptable?" by Shirley Cridland

Men do not have to wear a suit on formal night on a Royal Caribbean cruise.  Suits and ties or tuxedos for men are suggested attire for formal night, however, they are far from required.  The formal night dress code applies to the main dining room (specialty restaurant dress codes always super cede any other dress code, if you happen to be dining there).  

You will find many men opting for a collared shirt and nice pair of pants.  So Shirley's alternative idea of a shirt, tie and dress pants are certainly acceptable.

"Are dress slacks and a dress shirt considered formal night clothes or do I need a jacket also? I do not believe in tuxedos" - Manuel Pataca

Absolutely, dress slacks and a dress shirt are more than enough for formal night.  Jackets are rarely required dress wear anywhere on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

"How formal is dress code on formal nights?" - Louis

This is a pretty common question that gives many first time cruisers anxiety about what they should wear on a cruise.  As you might be able to tell from the answers above, it is not nearly as formal as one might imagine, given the use of the word "formal."

Essentially, Royal Caribbean's dress codes are relative terms. There are three possible dress codes you will encounter onboard:

• Casual
• Smart Casual
• Formal

All of them are suggested dress codes, and by no means required.  When it comes to formal dress code, it is suggested guests dress up the nicest of any of the evenings onboard.  There is, however, no requirement for what exactly does and does not constitute formal wear.

You will see other guests in suits, long dresses and even a few tuxedos or ball gowns.  A majority of guests tend to wear collared shirts (with or without ties) and cocktail dresses. If you prefer a more relaxed formal night motif, a polo shirt and slacks for men will suffice, as will a nice blouse and skirt or pants for women.  There is no fashion police to look for what guests are wearing, and entry to the main dining room will only be denied for those wearing "pool clothing" (tank tops, hats, etc).

"How close to my cruise date can I book a tuxedo?" - Robert Rayner

Royal Caribbean provides tuxedo rentals for guests to use on its cruises via the tuxedo rental website, but you will need to make reservations in advance of your cruise.

Ideally, you will want to reserve it as far in advance as possible to ensure they have your size available.  Tuxedo rentals are also available onboard the ship, but will be subject to availability. They carry a good stock on every ship so chances are very good they will have what most sizes.

"There are two options for a tuxedo rental, but our cruise is only 4-nights, so getting two shirts seems pointless. Are there cheaper options?" - Brian Leather

The pre-cruise tuxedo rental options are a standard offering that is available fleet wide.  I understand your concern, and you could alternatively rent or purchase a tuxedo prior to your cruise from somewhere other than through Royal Caribbean.

Before your cruise, shop around and see what is available in stores near your home. If you plan to use it more than once it is probably cheaper to buy. Remember, you do not need to spend a fortune on a tux.