What do I pack?
The content of a suit case depends primarily on the season, the climate zone of the destination and the category of the ship. If it is a club ship the dress code is generally more casual than a luxury liner. The evening should provide a suit for him and a pant suit, a suit or an elegant outfit for her. An evening dress for the lady is recommended for certain cruises and travels in the luxury class. Some ships offer smoking rentals. This applies for Royal Caribbean International, but is an exception. During the day a hat is required for sun protection, wind and cold, swim suit and good walking shoes for shore excursions. A raincoat is recommended for the tropics.
Dress code on board:
The dress code on a cruise is a sensitive and constantly debated subject which isn’t easy to answer since it varies from ship to ship.
The rule is: The more luxurious the ship, the more formal the attire. The dress code can be found out at booking and upon request. The daily program contains a detailed attire recommendation for the evening. Shorts and swim suits should be worn only by the pool in the fitness center – they are uncalled for in restaurants and salons, with the exception of buffet restaurants. During the day dress casual, sportive and comfortable or use a normal leisure outfit; in the evening distinguish between casual, semi-formal and formal, depending on the occasion.
- Casual
Him: long pants, shirt
Her: ensemble of pants or skirt with top -
Semi-formal:
Him: slacks with shirt and jacket, tie if applicable
Her: dress or pant suit or suit -
Formal
Him: suit and tie, smoking
Frau: cocktail or evening dress
Laundry:
On almost all ships you can have your clothes laundered and ironed for a fee. In individual cases such as Silversea or Carnival, self-service laundromats are available. In addition to this, on-board boutiques offer everything from clothing to toiletry items.
