Denim at Dinner? Cruise Lines Continue to Rethink Dress Codes
Regent Seven Seas Cruises quietly made waves this August by updating its evening attire policy for the first time in years. The luxury cruise line’s dress code now permits guests to wear refined denim and dress sneakers in all public areas after 6 p.m., including in its fine dining venues.
The change is subtle but signals a broader trend across the cruise industry. The once-clear line between formal wear and resort casual continues to blur as cruise lines respond to changing guest expectations, evolving fashion norms, and a growing emphasis on comfort.
While still calling its evening standard “Elegant Casual,” Regent framed the move as a response to guest feedback and style evolution. Passengers are still welcome to wear suits, gowns, or cocktail dresses, but they’re no longer required to.
Silversea recently made similar updates across its fleet, formalizing a two-tier system of “Elegant Casual” and “Formal Optional.” Seabourn, too, has clarified that refined denim is welcome during the day, though not in the main dining venue after dark. Oceania emphasizes a “refined yet relaxed” look with fashion-forward guidance and flexible interpretations.
What Counts as Elegant Now?
Cruise line dress codes have always been a balancing act of setting a tone and respecting personal style.
At a previous job with a major cruise line, I worked on a project to revise the main dining room dress policy. One of the liveliest debates we had was about denim.
I remember thinking: some of our guests, especially those in top suites, wear designer jeans that cost more than a month of my pay. Was it really about the fabric, or how you wear it? That question stayed with me long after the project wrapped.
The fact is, a sharply tailored outfit, whether a suit or a sleek pair of jeans and a structured blazer, can elevate a look just as much as a cocktail dress or tuxedo. And that’s where many cruise lines now seem to land: guiding guests toward elegance without enforcing rigid formality.
From Gala Glam to Freestyle Flex
Some lines still lean traditional. Cunard’s “Gala Evenings” are legendary for their themed flair and structured style, with guests encouraged to dress in tuxedos, gowns, and statement accessories. Others take a softer approach. Celebrity offers “Evening Chic” nights, while Princess and Holland America maintain formal nights on select sailings—but rarely enforce them.
On the other end of the spectrum, Virgin Voyages skips formal attire entirely. The brand famously has no dress code, except when it comes to cleanliness, and that’s footwear and no swimwear in doors. If you show up to dinner in sequins or sneakers, both will be equally welcome.
Norwegian Cruise Line strikes a middle ground, offering “Dress-Up or Not” nights that make it clear: the choice is yours.
Style is the New Black, But Elegance is Timeless
To help you make sense of the evolving landscape, we compiled a comparative chart across 16 major ocean cruise lines. The table measures each line’s daytime and evening formality on a 1–5 scale (1=Very Casual, 5=Very Formal) and outlines policies on formal nights, jeans at dinner, and style.
What emerges is a spectrum. Luxury lines like Regent, Silversea, and Crystal still promote elegance, but in increasingly flexible forms. Premium lines like Celebrity and Princess offer both structured nights and casual options. Mainstream brands like Carnival, Disney, and MSC keep things comfortable, while Virgin Voyages redefines the experience altogether.
But don’t let the lower numbers fool you. Just because there are few or no guidelines doesn’t mean the passengers aren’t stylish. Repeat cruisers on some of those lines tend to savor the freedom to express themselves more, sans the guardrails.
| Cruise Line | Evening Style (in their words) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cunard | Smart Attire (touch of elegance) to Gala Evenings (elegance and tradition) | ||||
| Regent Seven Seas | Sophisticated and effortlessly elegant; Formal encouraged | ||||
| Silversea | Elegant Casual (jacket optional) to Formal (optional, jacket still required) |
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| Seabourn | Elegant Casual (jacket optional) to Formal Nights (tuxedo, evening gowns or other formal apparel) | ||||
| Crystal | Refined Evening Resort with formal cocktail chic attire on Formal Evenings | ||||
| Oceania | Effortless Sophistication (refined and smart) | ||||
| Celebrity | Smart Casual (comfortable yet tasteful) to Evening Chic (dress to impress, glamorous and sophisticated in your own way) | ||||
| Princess | Smart Casual (what you would wear to a nice restaurant at home) to formal: (cocktail dress or elegant pant suit. Suit, dinner jacket and slacks.) | ||||
| Royal Caribbean | Smart casual (a step up from your typical dinner wear) to Formal (suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns) | ||||
| Holland America | Smart Casual to Dressy Nights: Take it up a notch with slacks, skirts, dresses, blouses, collared shirts and jackets | ||||
| Carnival | Cruise Casual and Cruise Elegant (Formal nights) with themed party nights | ||||
| Azamara | Resort Casual: Friendly yet sophisticated environment, no formal wear required | ||||
| Norwegian (NCL) | Dress up or not: Cruise Casual to Smart Casual with themed nights | ||||
| Disney | Cruise Casual to Formal (dress pants with a jacket or a suit for men, and dress or pantsuit for women) with optional themed nights | ||||
| MSC | A more polished look with occasional gala night, whether it’s a crisp shirt, an elegant dress, or a style that’s uniquely yours | ||||
| Virgin Voyages | No dress code, but if you do enjoy dressing up, there are plenty of opportunities |
Curate your Cruise Closet
So, what do you pack? Think polished, not prescriptive, and flexible. Most cruise lines now favor presentation over rules. A clean, well-fitting outfit shows consideration, even if it’s casual. The goal is to respect the setting and enjoy the evening. Even when you opt for a t-shirt, please choose the ‘nice’ one.
Regent’s update isn’t just about jeans. It’s part of a shift in how cruise lines think about luxury. Today, elegance is less about tradition, and more about authenticity. And that includes giving you the freedom to tastefully define your own cruise persona.
