Karen’s sailed with themWhat 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.
Dress codes and baggage taken from Fred. Olsen’s own website, checked 20 October 2026. Lines update these, so check your booking before you pack.
Fred. Olsen’s dress codes
- Daywear
- Casual: shorts, T-shirts, jeans, light trousers, dresses or skirts, jumpers and cardigans, trainers or sandals.
- Evening (non-formal nights)
- Smart dresses or skirts, chinos or smart jeans, button-down shirts or stylish tops, closed-toe shoes or smart sandals.
- Formal night
- A ball gown or elegant dress, or a skirt or trousers with a stylish top; a dinner jacket and bow tie, or a suit with formal shirt and tie (or a kilt and sporran).
How many dressy nights? Fred. Olsen’s guide: smart casual throughout on 3 nights or less; a Captain’s Welcome Party but no formal nights on 3 to 4 nights; one formal night on 5 to 6 nights; two on 7 to 12 nights; a Welcome Party plus three on 13 to 20 nights; and a Welcome Party plus one a week on 22 nights or more. Formal nights are optional: if you’d rather not dress up, eat in the casual restaurants that night.
The rules
- No swimwear in the venues or restaurants.
- No flip-flops or overly casual clothes (beachwear, gym clothes) in the evening, and no shorts in the Main Dining Room at dinner.
- You need formal dress for the Captain’s Cocktail Party.
Day, pool and evening
Pool and sea day
On deck, by the pool, lunch at the buffet
- Swimsuit + cover-up
- Flat sandals
- Sun hat and sunglasses
Throw the cover-up on whenever you head inside: swimwear stays by the pool on all six lines.
Port day ashore
Exploring a port town or an excursion
- Linen shirt
- Shorts or a midi skirt
- Trainers
- Crossbody bag
- Light scarf
A light scarf covers your shoulders for churches and other religious sites.
Smart-casual evening
Most nights: dinner, the theatre, a bar
- Midi dress or silky top + tailored trousers
- Block-heel sandals
- Light knit for the deck
One dress and one pair of trousers with two or three tops will cover most evenings.
Formal night
The dressy night(s)
- Slip dress or co-ord
- Block-heel sandals
- Earrings
One glam outfit you love, re-styled with different earrings, is plenty for a week.
The key pieces for each formula
Already got something similar? Pack that. If you're missing a piece for Fred. Olsen, pick a shop you like: the links open each shop’s own search, so you can browse their take on it.
01 Pool and sea day
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Swimsuit Takes up hardly any room, so pack two and there's always a dry one. -
Beach cover-up or kaftan Beach to lunch in seconds, no trip back to your room needed. -
Comfy flat sandals Comfy all day and light enough to pack a second pair. -
Packable sun hat A crushable one doesn't mind being squashed in your bag. Shop at Amazon UK ↗Check price -
Sunglasses Easy on your eyes all day, and they finish off any outfit.
02 Port day ashore
-
Linen shirt Throw it over a swimsuit or a tee, and it keeps the sun off your shoulders. -
Shorts Light, quick to dry and easy to roll. -
Cushioned trainers Wear them to travel and they'll carry you through long sightseeing days. -
Small crossbody bag Keeps your phone and cards close and your hands free. -
Lightweight scarf Covers your shoulders for churches and mosques, and keeps the sun off your neck.
03 Smart-casual evening
-
Easy midi dress One easy dress takes you from sightseeing to dinner with a quick shoe swap. -
Block-heel sandals A little height for the evening that you can actually walk in. -
Light cardigan Handy for air-con, cooler evenings and covering shoulders.
04 Formal night
-
Satin slip dress Dresses up for dinner and rolls up to almost nothing in your bag. - Block-heel sandals A little height for the evening that you can actually walk in.
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Statement earrings The easiest way to turn a day outfit into an evening one.
Karen’s tip“I use SHEIN and Temu all the time, and I read every review first, especially ones with photos on real people. They show the true quality and material; model shots can mislead. Check the size reviews too. My returns have always been free and easy, so if you’re unsure, order two sizes (check the returns policy first). And order early: delivery can take a while.”
Just so you know: we may earn a small commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. How our links work. Photos are from Unsplash to show the style, not the exact item (credits).
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’!”
Your baggage allowance
On Fred. Olsen’s exclusive easyJet fly-cruise flights from London Gatwick and Manchester, each passenger gets one hold bag up to 23 kg plus one piece of hand baggage up to 45 x 36 x 20 cm that fits under the seat in front.
Sailing from Southampton instead? There’s no flight allowance to worry about, but bags still need to be easy for the crew to carry, and cabin storage is never huge.
Where this comes from
- Fred. Olsen: What’s the dress code on board?
- Fred. Olsen: What to wear on formal night
- Fred. Olsen: What’s my luggage allowance?
Outfit ideas are ours; dress codes and rules are Fred. Olsen’s own. All cruise lines →