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Couple dressed up for formal night on the grand staircase of the Main Dining Room on Navigator of the Seas
Formal Night on Navigator of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean)

Royal Caribbean to Retain Formal Nights on Longer Cruises

Couple dressed up for formal night on the grand staircase of the Main Dining Room on Navigator of the Seas
Formal Night on Navigator of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean)
Senior Editor, News and Features
Aaron Saunders

Last updated
Oct 10, 2019

Read time
2 min read

(5:13 p.m. EDT) -- After much debate on Cruise Critic's message boards, Royal Caribbean has confirmed that formal night is still alive and well on its longer sailings.

Recent Cruise Compass daily programs from a sailing on Harmony of the Seas noted "wear your best" as a dress code option on at least one night during the voyage -- a type of dress normally reserved for shorter sailings on which there are no formal nights.

According to a Royal Caribbean spokesperson, the wording in the Cruise Compass programs on Harmony of the Seas was "a misprint." Royal Caribbean also confirmed that all sailings of six nights or longer still offer formal nights.

According to the line, sailings of five nights or fewer will replace formal nights with a "wear your best" evening onboard.

The line's description of "wear your best" says: "Nighttime's the right time to wear your best look. That means a step up from your typical dinner wear, and includes collared shirts, dresses, skirts, blouses and pantsuits. Jackets, tuxedos/formalwear sports coats and blazers are also appropriate."

Readers are split on the move, with some applauding the decision to do away with formal night, while others reported that dressing up was one of the things they looked forward to on a cruise.

Some suggested that, other than a new terminology in the Cruise Compass, little would really change.

"I don't think 'formal night' has really been formal for some years now," said member island lady. "Some still dress up; some dress very much down. It's pretty much 'wear what you want' anyway."

Some, like cruisegirl1, lamented the overall state of dress in the main dining rooms: "I think it's hilarious that 'wear your best' includes wearing a shirt with a collar! Boy has the bar gotten low."

Member danv3 noted the confusion that the name change brings up: "I see on Mariner [of the Seas] that the 'dress code' for other nights is 'Laid Back Lounge.' What is that supposed to mean? Why does Royal always make the dress code harder than it needs to be? The dress code is 'wear whatever you want.' Stop trying to be cute and just say that!"

Want to know more? Peruse our feature on cruise line dress codes.

Publish date October 10, 2019
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