What Is the MSC Cruises Dress Code?

The MSC Cruise Dress Code Guide is simple and guest-friendly. Daytime clothing is casual and comfortable, while evenings follow a smart casual style, with one or two formal gala nights on a 7-night MSC Cruises cruise. Shorts are fine in casual venues but not in the main dining room at dinner, so packing one dressy outfit is recommended. You can prepare your wardrobe and have an easier and happier vacation by planning ahead before sailing with MSC Cruises. The biggest question many first-time cruisers will ask is: Does the MSC Cruise line have strict dress codes, Can you wear shorts during the dinner hours, and how many formal evenings are you likely to have during the seven-day itinerary?

This guide provides comprehensive list of what you should know about daytime attire, evening wear, gala nights, theme nights, and tips on how to pack so that you can feel at ease and in the right clothes during your cruise.

Understanding the Overall Dress Code Philosophy

MSC is guided by a European-inspired chic approach, which incorporates a spirit of easygoing vacation style with the traditions of a classical cruise line. When guests are at the hotels, they can relax and be casual during the day and enjoy pools, tours, and open decks. During the night, the environment is finer, particularly in restaurant rooms and specialty restaurants.

MSC does not propose to be too strict, and instead, it seeks to preserve a refined atmosphere in some venues and, at the same time, provide flexibility and personal expression. This implies that you do not have to bring along a complete set of wardrobes of a tuxedo, but you must have one or two outfits that are befitting fancy nights.

What to Wear During the Day on an MSC Cruise

The MSC cruise dress code onboard in the daytime is usually relaxed and informal. The priorities are comfort and clothes that suit the weather:

• During the daytime, guests are free to wear shorts, T-shirts, sundresses, tank tops, and casual shoes in the outdoor areas and open lounges of the ship.
• Bathing suits are fine at the pool deck, but the visitors are supposed to cover up and have shoes on when going into the buffet places or enclosed open places.
• Shore excursions should be accompanied by comfortable walking shoes because there are many ports that have uneven routes, cobblestone streets or long sightseeing tours.
• Light jackets or cardigans are recommended as they can be worn in light of the fact that indoor facilities that are air-conditioned and theatres may feel significantly colder than the decks outside.

In brief, the daytime attire is meant to be practical, comfortable, and fun as opposed to being formal.

Evening Dress Code: What Changes After Sunset?

There is a visible change in atmosphere evenings onboard. Restaurants, lounges and theaters have a more elegant atmosphere and the visitors are invited to dress in the same manner.

Smart Casual Evenings

The bulk of your nights aboard the cruise will be governed by a smart casual policy and not as a rigid rule:

• The men are advised to dress up in collared shirts, polo shirts or button-down shirts neatly pressed up and put on trousers or dark jeans that give them a refined look.
• The most popular clothes for women are dresses, blouses, skirts, tailored trousers, or fashionable jumpsuits, which demonstrate a neat and elegant evening appearance.
• Sportswear, widthless sweatshirts, flip-flops as well as coatless garments are not typically permitted in primary dining areas during evening service.
• Sneakers or closed-toe shoes can be worn in a cleaned condition on the condition that they are properly dressed, but the sandals and beach shoes are not to be worn during dinner.

Evening out is a smart casual, still offering an upscale dining atmosphere.

Read more: 

• Oceania Cruise Dress Code: What to Wear Onboard
• Saga Cruises Dress Code Guide: What to Wear Onboard

Is MSC Strict on Dress Code?

This is also one of the most frequent questions of new cruisers.

MSC Cruises is not too rigid in comparison with ultra-luxury cruise lines, yet there are certain venues and formal nights in which it sets standards. The implementation is normally based on the environment and the event.

• Employees can kindly remind customers to change their dresses, in case they are trying to enter the dining room, which is the main one, and are wearing sporty or inappropriate clothes.
• Buffet restaurants and outdoor casual restaurants are much more casual, and a guest has more freedom in his evening wardrobe.
• During night events, the expectations are more evident, and visitors who have come wearing way less than the recommended dress might be requested to come back the next time dressed decently.
• Theater and lounge can be seen to be more lax, though most guests will gravitate towards dressing up to the theme of the evening.

In general, MSC does not focus much on policing any clothing options, as it has an enjoyable and elegant atmosphere in the first place.

Can You Wear Shorts to Dinner on an MSC Cruise?

This will all be based on the place of dining and the MSC cruise dress code for dinner of the particular evening would be: 

• Shorts are not disliked in buffet restaurants and casual restaurants, especially when the restaurants are having early or light dinner.
• On smart casual nights, the dressier shorts can be worn sometimes, but again, this can be different depending on the ship management and itinerary of the region.
• The shorts are not regarded as a proper dress to wear during the gala or formal evenings in the main dining room, no matter what style or material they are made of.
• Most of the specialty restaurants consider the same smart casual or formal dressing standard as the main dining room, i.e., long trousers are highly encouraged.

In case you are willing to wear shorts on your cruise, you can wear it comfortably throughout the day and in informal places, but remember to have at least one pair of long trousers, to have the flexibility to wear it on formal evenings.

How Many Dress Up Nights Are on a 7 Day Cruise?

On the MSC dress code 7-night cruise, passengers tend to have one or two formal or gala evenings.

• The majority of 7-night cruises also have two gala evenings planned on strategic days at sea when the guests have more time to prepare.
• To preserve the culture of the traditional cruise, shorter three or four-night cruises normally have one formal evening.
• The longer trips (lasting more than ten nights) frequently contain three or more glamorous evenings throughout the trip.
• The number of formal nights can also be specific to the ship and area destination, along with seasonal changes to programming.

Gala evenings are confirmed for guests by the daily planner on board on the first day.

What Should You Wear on Gala or Formal Nights?

Gala nights will bring the cruise to the next level and motivate the guests to use the traditional cruise glamour.

• Men usually put on dark suits, blazers, and dress trousers, or match formal clothes, which indicate a polished and refined look.
• Women tend to dress up in cocktail dresses or evening dresses or in two-piece clothes designed with accessories and dress shoes.
• Tie wearing is not obligatory in most of the sailings, but some of the guests still opt to have photographs and official dinners in the old-style of black tie.
• Children and adolescents are also not discouraged from dressing smart, but the demands on younger travelers are not so high.

Formal wear is highly promoted but not enforced in every venue since the buffet sections will be open to the guests who want to take a more casual attitude.

Dress Code in Specialty Areas

Some of the sections of the ship can have slightly different expectations.

• Guests of the Yacht Club usually enjoy a more elite atmosphere in which a smart casual MSC cruise line dress code is always observed in the upscale restaurants.
• Spa and well-being zones need proper swimwear or sportswear, but in most cases, robes are included to feel even more comfortable.
• Sports centers need sports shoes with closed toes and proper athletic clothing as they are very safe.
• Even in the evening, outdoor decks are always informal, but guests can often change clothes and then they can go to dinner or entertainment.

These expectations of the venue make it possible to avoid awkward moments.

Final Thoughts

The dress code employed in MSC Cruises will only add to the mood but not limit pleasure. Although the dressing code is amazingly comfortable during the day, evenings present a touch of class which is greatly valued by most guests. During the 7-day cruise, there will be one or two fancy evenings, so you need to pack them, and you will be ready to all the memorable moments on the ship.

More on MSC Cruise:

• MSC Cruise Name Change Policy: Guidelines
• MSC Dining Room Time Change Guide
• MSC Cruises: Alcohol & Drink Policy Guide
• MSC Cruise Cancellation Policy: Fees, Refunds & Terms