What to wear on a cruise
Karen has sailed with all six of these lines, mostly P&O. Each page covers the line’s own dress codes, how many dressy nights to expect, the rules and the fly-cruise baggage allowance.
Karen’s tip Book your shore trips yourself
“On a cruise, I book my trips with Viator and GetYourGuide. The same trips the ship sells are often half the price, and some guarantee to get you back on time, which is most guests’ number one worry. But in 20 years of cruising and booking my own trips and itineraries, an independent tour has never let me down or made me miss the ship. The savings pay for treats! Take your passport and credit card, just in case.”
Check each tour's own return-to-ship terms before you book.
Karen’s tip Getting from the ship into town
“I use Rome2Rio to get from the ship into town: it shows walking, local transport and taxi routes. Basic cruise packages don’t include the shuttles, which can be pricey, so with four of you a taxi might work out cheaper. I always ‘do the maths’!”
By cruise line
- ★ Karen’s sailed with them
What to wear on P&O Cruises
Relaxed days, Evening Casual most nights and at least one Black Tie Celebration Night. Pack one proper glam outfit and smart-casual separates.
Dressy nights: Black Tie (Celebration Night) - ★ Karen’s sailed with them
What to wear on Royal Caribbean
Relaxed and casual, with one to four optional Dress Your Best nights depending on the length of your sailing.
Dressy nights: Dress Your Best (formal) - ★ Karen’s sailed with them
What to wear on Princess Cruises
Casual by day, smart casual most evenings, and formal nights on most sailings of five days or more.
Dressy nights: Formal night - ★ Karen’s sailed with them
What to wear on Marella Cruises
Beachwear, Casual and Smart dress codes, and one Dress to Impress night a week instead of a formal night.
Dressy nights: Dress to Impress - ★ Karen’s sailed with them
What to wear on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Relaxed by day, smart casual most evenings, and proper formal nights on cruises of five nights or more.
Dressy nights: Formal night - ★ Karen’s sailed with them
What to wear on Celebrity Cruises
Casual chic by day, Smart Casual for dinner and the theatre, and one or two Evening Chic nights per cruise.
Dressy nights: Evening Chic
Cruise guides
- One of Karen’s favouritesKaren’s been here
Croatia superyacht and small-ship island-hopping cruise in May
Soft bags, deck shoes, swim stops and evenings ashore, plus Karen’s Croatia tip, ferry timetables and direct flights to Split.
Caribbean cruise in January
Hot port days, formal nights and fly-cruise baggage.
Cruise drinks: what you can bring
Wine and Prosecco rules, corkage and a drinks-package calculator.