Karen’s sailed with themWhat 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.
Dress codes and baggage taken from P&O’s own website, checked 20 October 2026. Lines update these, so check your booking before you pack.
P&O’s dress codes
- Daytime
- Your usual holiday wardrobe: T-shirts, shorts and sundresses (warmer layers on colder cruises).
- Evening Casual
- Smart casual: trousers, shirts, smart dark denim, dresses, skirts and tailored shorts (tailored shorts only in certain venues).
- Black Tie (Celebration Night)
- Dress to impress: evening gowns or cocktail dresses; a dinner jacket or tuxedo is ideal, but a dark suit and tie is also fine. No denim on Celebration Nights, except in the venues that stay Evening Casual.
How many dressy nights? Every cruise includes at least one Black Tie Celebration Night. You can see which nights before you sail in My Calendar in My P&O Cruises, and on board in the daily Horizon.
The rules
- Wear shoes away from the pool.
- No swimwear in the lounges, indoor bars, restaurants or reception.
- Dress codes don’t apply to under-18s, but P&O asks that no denim is worn on Celebration Nights.
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.
Black Tie (Celebration 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 P&O, 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 Black Tie (Celebration 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.
-
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
Hold allowances on P&O fly-cruise flights are usually 20 to 23 kg per person and vary by airline and fare; P&O lists, for example, 23 kg in economy on its TUI and Norse Atlantic charters, with 10 kg hand baggage. No single bag should weigh more than 23 kg. Check the Flights page in My P&O Cruises for yours.
Pack medication, a change of clothes and a swimsuit in your hand baggage, as your cases can reach your cabin hours after you board.
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
- P&O Cruises: What is the dress code on board?
- P&O Cruises: Code of conduct (dress code)
- P&O Cruises: Luggage on a fly-cruise holiday
Outfit ideas are ours; dress codes and rules are P&O’s own. All cruise lines →