What is "Formal Night" on a Cruise Ship?

Cruising originally was a much more formal affair than the waterslides and buffet-style cruising we know and love today. Passengers would dress to the nines for dinner each and every evening, dining in the beautiful main restaurant onboard. While times have changed, many cruise lines still have what is called “Formal Nights”.

A Nod to the Golden Age

Formal Night gives a nod to that golden age of cruising, and encourages guests to dress up fancy and have a fun evening out onboard. This is a great evening to choose the main dining room to eat, or make reservations in one of the nicer specialty restaurants.

While dressing formally isn’t required, many guests love participating, and you will notice a sea of ties, and hear an endless barrage of heals on the deck floor all evening long as couples and friends head to and from dinner and drinks.

While Formal Nights are highly encouraged, you will still find a casual dining experience in the buffet, and see many guests there sporting their everyday clothes. Cruises typically lasting a week will have 1 or 2 formal nights, so we highly encourage making dining reservations on those nights if you are wanting to dine specialty.

What to Wear

For ladies, we recommend cocktail or formal dresses; or consider a blouse and nice slacks. This is the perfect time to get out your heals or fancy shoes! Bring a shawl or nice jacket in case it’s a bit chilly onboard.

For the gents, we recommend suites; or a dinner jacket, dress shirt, and slacks. Don’t forget to pack a nice pair of shoes. Formal nights are meant to be fun, and whether you dress up or not, you will not feel out of place!

Booking Your Cruise

Now that you are ready to book your next cruise, reach out to the experts at Harr Travel. We know the ships inside-and-out, and have an amazing relationship with many brands in the industry. Our advisors will craft the cruise vacation of a lifetime for you, your friends, family, or group at an exceptional rate, and give you the Harr Travel signature service every step of the way.