Don’t be put off by Formal Nights! When we cruise, we find it much less intimidating than the wording provided by the official cruise guidelines. The vast majority of passengers no longer go all out on Formal Nights. Yes, you will see some tuxedos, suits and fancy dresses, but you will also see men with a tie and long sleeve shirt and slacks. Many gentlemen wear more casual jackets or sport coats, while some will even wear a sweater over a collared shirt and tie. You may even find attire that you don’t expect – like some western guests who wear those string ties and cowboy boots! That is how they dress up!
Generally, even the specialty restaurants are a bit more casual for men's attire on formal night - a collared shirt and tie will often be enough. Ask at the restaurants when you get onboard and they will let you know.
It is so much easier for women to dress up without being in a fancy dress or pantsuit. A nice pants outfit will often suffice - nice slacks, a fun top, maybe with sparkles. You can just change something about the outfit from one night to the next so that it looks a little different - some costume jewelry, a scarf or sweater.
When you are going to the tropics, lightweight fun dresses are in order as well! No heels are required on any cruise - fun shoes make an outfit look great and this is a time to enjoy yourself and not be stressed out and uncomfortable.
I have a couple of those all-purpose black travel dresses that you can twist into a ball or fold really small without them ever wrinkling. Adding a colorful scarf, a little jacket, a vest or a sweater creates a few different outfits out of them! I have also traveled on many cruises with only slacks and nice dressier tops, or even plain tops that I dress up with a scarf around my shoulders. With these, you can go to all the formal nights in all the dining rooms, even on a luxury cruise. These are the same clothes you can wear during the day -- mix and match to take fewer outfits!
Remember - this is YOUR vacation. If you do not want to wear any of the above, you can eat casually at the buffet and still comply with the dress codes as long as you don't wear shorts, tees or tennis shoes during the evenings in the designated areas. These are very festive nights onboard so don't miss out if you think you have to wear tuxes, sequins or a cocktail dress! You don’t!