Princess Cruises Dress Code: What to Wear Onboard

When you are not aware about what to wear on cruise evenings and nights your packing can be difficult. But worry not as Princess Cruises dress code is simple and easy to follow when you are aware about the basics. There is no rule book that you simply need to follow for each day. Rather, Princess has safety guidelines that can help you make the most of your time by the pool and your time by the table.

Continue reading below to know each and everything related to what to wear at day, dinner and during the one or two formal nights that happens on the cruise. To make your suitcase stay light and to avoid last minute stress important packing tips and things to leave at home are also discussed in brief. 

Daytime Attire: Keep It Comfortable

The first run at sea or port call is for comfort. It's sort of like a laid-back beach town. Shorts, t-shirts, sundresses and swimwear with a cover-up is acceptable when outside on deck or poolside. There's one thing to keep in mind: It will require a cover-up and shoes before entering indoors, including the buffet area.

Here's a quick list of some things that are good during the day:

Time of Day	Recommended Attire
Pool deck	Swimwear, cover-ups, sandals
Buffet / casual dining	T-shirts, shorts, sundresses, with shoes on
Shore excursions	Comfortable walking shoes, breathable clothing
Cool mornings/evenings	Light jacket, sweater, or windbreaker

Here hoods and layers will be your best friends as the sea breezes can cool an afternoon fast. Keep a light sweater or shawl with you at all times as it's a good idea.

Evening Attire: Smart Casual Nights

When it gets dark, it becomes somewhat more elegant-and never quite posh. In most cases, the dress code that is adhered to for an evening aboard is the same "smart casual" code that we have at home: smart and casual.

The following is a list of some general guidelines for ‘smart causal' evenings:

• Women: Skirts, dresses, trousers, blouses, or a nice pantsuit
• Men: Trousers or khakis paired with a collared shirt or polo
• Both: Comfortable dress shoes or smart sandals (no flip-flops in the dining room)

After a certain time in the main dining room, you don't get to wear shorts, swimsuits or gym clothes, so pack a few more stylish essentials that you can cross-dress. Onboard specialty restaurants are also more likely to be this type of smart casual, leaving you to pack three-4 smart casual outfits for the cruise ship.

Formal Nights: When to Dress Up

Typically, one or two nights are formal on most cruises, depending on how long the cruise lasts. There might be a single or multiple, depending on the length of the voyage, with a three or four night cruise having one, and a ten or fourteen night cruise having two or more. The nights are optional but if you would like to dress up in your finest attire, then these will be the nights to do so.

Night Type	Women	Men
Formal Night	Cocktail dress or evening gown	Suit, dinner jacket, or tuxedo with a tie
Smart Casual	Dress, skirt, or trousers with a blouse	Collared shirt with trousers

Princess does not disappoint on formal nights and won't exclude anyone from the main dining room for wearing smart casual wear. As an alternative to dressing up, there are casual dining options available throughout the cruise. But formal night is meant to bring a fun and glamour quotient and not stress.

What About Kids?

Families who are planning to book cruise also wonder do the same dress rules apply for their kids also, so the answer to this is that dress code for children is much more relaxed in comparison to adults. The kids will have neat and comfortable clothing in the dining rooms and no one will force them to wear tuxedos and gowns at any formal event, even for little ones. For boys a collared shirt and trousers will suffice and for girls a simple dress will suffice.

Children are free to wear swimwear or play clothes all day long as before entering indoor areas, they must put their shoes on. The buffet and casual dining areas continue to be child-friendly all along the cruise, making dining very convenient for parents traveling with children.

Packing Tips to Keep Things Simple

Instead of packing as much as possible, you should consider developing an improved capsule closet designed to be coupled with other pieces of clothing throughout the cruise:

• 5–7 daytime outfits (shorts, T-shirts, sundresses): These will see to the most use during the time of the day such as morning, around the pool and for shore excursions. Opt for breathable and wrinkle-resistant fabrics that you can easily wash and air dry (if necessary).
• 3–4 smart casual evening outfits: There is no need to have a different outfit for each of your dinner parties. Just a few dresses or a couple of trousers and various tops can easily last a week-long cruise.
• 1 formal outfit per formal night (or reuse one): Each formal evening of the event, many guests will wear the same formal outfits, changing their accessories and/or shoes. Multiple gowns or suits are not required.
• A light jacket or sweater: Sea breezes and acceptable air conditioning can help make things cool even during hot and humid nights in warm climates. An easy-to-have accessory is a cardigan, wrap or light blazer.
• Comfortable walking shoes for ports: Pack and wear comfortable shoes that provide you support throughout your journey because walking on uneven areas may be quite possible on shore excursions. Also you are recommended to wear dress shoes during the evenings on board.  
• A compact umbrella or rain jacket: Weather on the sea keeps on changing so you are advised to bring small umbrella and a rain coat to save yourself from the unpleasant weather conditions. 

Your full time experience with the Princess Cruises will be much more comfortable, stylish and memorable when you pack your bag by keeping the things mentioned above in mind. 

What to Avoid Onboard

The overall atmosphere is laid-back, but there are some items that should stay away from the poolside or must be left at home only:

• Cover-ups and swimwear in the principal dining room.
• Really ripped jeans or extreme casual gym clothes for dinner
• Flip-flops in official setting during meal time
• Bare feet in any indoor venue, including the buffet

Cruise experience can be comfortable for everyone on the board by keeping in mind the few important guidelines mentioned above. You can relax more and stress less by following these things. 

Conclusion

Balance between comfort and style is maintained in the dress code of Princess Cruises. You can be ready for every moment on cruise by packing different outfits for adventures at day, smart casual evenings and for the formal occasional nights. Your crucial time can be spent more on making the live long memories and less on worrying about what to wear by doing little planning. Ready to sail? Start doing your packing with confidence and enjoy each and every night on Princess Cruises vacation.