I’m going on my first cruise soon. I assume that most people who go on them like to dress up. I don’t. I notice that the dress code for dinner is rather strict. Do people really follow the dress code? If I show up on formal night in shorts will they ask me to eat somewhere else? How about casual nights? Even the casual nights sound pretty dressy to me.
Depends on the cruise line. A Carnival seven night cruise has two formal nights - evening gowns, suits, etc. Any other night, I think the rules are “no jeans, no shorts.” Most (I’m sure by now all) cruise lines have dinner options as well - buffets, room service, something like that.
As far as enforcing the dress code goes, you’d be better off checking the cruise line website or calling and asking. I have no experience with that, and there may be some big differences.
Whatever happens at dinner, I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Where are you going?
It’s celebrity cruises and we’re going on a 10 night trip to the Western Carribean. The hole family is going and we expect to have a great time. I don’t mind getting dressed up, but neither do I enjoy it. My wife, who loves to dress up dislikes the fact that since men will be in jackets at least half the time the AC will be turned up for their comfort and she will freeze, even with a light sweater or jacket.
Fancy that. I went on a Celebrity 10-day Western Caribbean cruise last October (and I can’t wait until my next one!). I believe you will be on the Millenium? If so, it is a fantastic ship.
As I seem to remember, but don’t quote me, there were two formal nights, three semi-formal nights, and five casual nights.
The formal nights required either tuxedos or dark suits (I opted for the latter). If need be, you can rent a tuxedo for the duration of the cruise. The semi-formal required a blazer or sport coat (again, I opted for the latter), and a tie is generally required. The casual would generally be the equivalent of going to a nice restaurant anywhere. I wore khaki shorts once or twice, but generally did the long khaki pants and either a short-sleeve button up shirt or polo shirt. On casual nights, there were people there in t-shirts and they were not turned away, but keep in mind that it IS a nice dinner and it is nice to look good for it (and you look so snazzy for the casino after).
Also, and this was just me, the only denim I wore the entire time was for the flight down (and I recycled said jeans for the flight back). I am by no means rich, but it was fun to at least look the part for the trip =)
If you have any other questions about that particular cruise (assuming it is the same), let me know as I still remember much of it fairly well.
Our family just returned from an 11 night to the Eastern Caribbean on Celebrity. Celebrity (from what I have read) has the strictest dress code. No shorts in the formal dining room. They consider casual Dockers and a golf shirt. Any other time, shorts and a t-shirt are fine. There is a great web site for cruising called Cruise Critic. They have a really good message board http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=cfrm&s=927093444. Select your topic or cruise line and you will find out lots of helpful hints. Look closely at the tipping information or you may be in for a surprise. Have a blast!
I have been on 4 cruises. 3 were on Sitmar, and were very nice and the codes “seemed” to have been followed pretty close. I went on a Carnival last December and the codes were roundly ignored!
My wife and I dressed up for the first “formal” night and although we were not dressed in Tux or Evening wear, we were in the minority of dressed people. The bulk of the other passengers were in polo shirts, T shirts, shorts and sandals! The second “formal” night, I said screw it and went in whatever. No one said a thing.
My mom is a regular cruiser and says that the whole industry is going down the toilet. Back in the 70’s, it used to be a big deal, and everyone had a Tuxedo and dressed like it was Monte Carlo, but now, T shirts are the norm. She (and I) also noticed a huge difference in the level of service. The cruises I went on in the past had fantastic service (crew primarily Italian). The last crew I went on had a bunch of surly, joyless easter-bloc crewmembers whose idea of service was a bit different. Also, pay attention to Sn-man’s heads-up on raping, er, I mean “tipping”. 
I still managed to enjoy myself! I wouldn’t sweat the dress code too much. Especially on Carnival.
Have fun!
Never kiss an animal who can lick its own butt.
I have a rule: I don’t go to any place I have to pay for that tells me how to dress (within the bounds of common decency and laws, obviously). When I pay you, I’ll decide how I dress. When you pay me, you can tell me how to dress.
That being said, if it doesn’t bother you, I’d follow their rules. You should be able to get away with a single dark suit on both formal and semi-formal nights and polo, tie and slacks on casual nights, jeans and shorts the rest of the time.