Trish Berry, May 2025
You receive a copy of the Cruise Compass daily either in paper form or in the Royal Caribbean app on your phone. Listed are the suggestions for the attire for Main Dining for the next evening. Some nights are Dress Your Best. Others: Casual/White; Caribbean Night; Formal; Casual Night; Tropical Night; Casual Resort Night; Resort Casual/Country. You find different variations on different ships. The recommended attire applies to both men and women.
The days of the tuxedoes are gone. The days of the furs are gone. The days of the boa wraps are gone. The days of petticoat dresses are gone. We live in a more casual world now, and it is reflected in the clothes we wear on a cruise ship and when visiting a foreign country.
Main Street Jacket, L.L. Bean Dress Shirt, Charvet Men’s Tie
Above is a photo of my husband on formal night/dress your best night. He can remove his jacket or leave it on. It is usually a tad cool in Main Dining so he usually leaves the jacket on.
Nautica Long-Sleeved Man’s Shirt worn with Casual Slacks
This is a beautiful shirt that my husband wears with tan casual slacks. It is a sharp look. This is the attire he would wear for Resort Casual Night.
Crossings Shirt and IZOD Slacks
These two photos above show my husband as he dresses for Caribbean night (also referred to as Tropical Night). He can wear that clothing around the ship and be comfortable before or after dinner.
There are some hard fast rules about Main Dining attire. No wet clothing, no bare feet, no hats, no shorts. Most people adhere to these recommendations (rules). I have yet to see someone with bare feet, shorts or a hat. I have seen men with polo shirts on, and that is perfectly acceptable. We are all there to dine and have a fun time, not worry about clothing.
When going to a foreign country, though, you need to be careful in your attire. Google to see what the recommended clothing is for that country. We have been to countries where camouflage clothing is not advised, as it is seen as a symbol of aggression. Political hats are not allowed in many foreign countries. Italy has a number of taboo clothing rules. Just type into Google what not to wear in any country you are visiting. You will find your answers. Wearing the recommended clothing in any particular country will make your trip more enjoyable.
Below is a photo of my husband on an island we visited. He is appropriately dressed for that island.
Don’t put any worry into your clothing for your trip. Just give it considered thought. What will I wear for this? What will I wear for that? Don’t pack too much. Roll as much of it as you can. This seems to prevent a lot of wrinkles. Irons are not allowed anywhere on a cruise ship, so buy some Downy Wrinkle Releaser Fabric Spray. It works.
Have fun. Safe travels.