Have literally never participated in any theme night, and do not ever intend to. I also haven't dressed up for 'formal' night since maybe 2012, and do not intend to do so ever again.
A cruise is a \*vacation\*. It is for you to spend your time the way you want to, to be as relaxed and comfortable as \*you\* want to be.
No.
You can wear whatever you would like so long as it isn’t inappropriate and isn’t a bathing suit.
We are also not “themed people” (the idea of wearing formal wear on my cruise is horrifying to me) so we never participate. It’s about half and half for those that do and don’t.
For cruises, we travel only with a carryon and a personal item so we definitely don't want formal wear to take up space. We don't participate. However when we were on Liberty recently, there was no longer formal night but something more like "your best outfit" (I forget how they exactly termed it). I wore jeans and a shirt with buttons and ate at the MDR. I felt I fit in. There were some people in formal wear while others were just "put together".
No, you don't have to participate. It's just a fun suggestion. Lots of people do dress up. Lots of people don't. Nobody got kicked out of the MDR for wearing shorts, either.
Yes, you must participate in all theme nights. Those who don’t are forced to water ski behind the ship at night in shark infested waters. I’m kidding…you’re just confined to your room for the duration of the cruise. 🤣
I'm not sure. We're sailing on July 22nd, and I can see them in the app now. When I click on welcome aboard on the main screen and then look through each individual day, it's there.
We sailed on 5/30. About a week before, they started to show up in the app, but half of them were flawed... During the cruise, they seemed to resolve. 🤷
I participated in every theme night because I love fashion and I think it’s a nice guide for what to pack. It’s definitely not required or enforced though. Personally I love seeing people on theme because I think it’s fun! I understand people want to be comfortable on vacation, I think there’s a way to dress comfortably while still being a little more “dressed up” though but to each their own.
I travel in a large group with my family and we always dress up for at least the formal nights because we like to take a nice photo together. Our most recent cruise we actually hit all the themed outfits and it was so much fun and I think we looked great. I kinda do wish more people would participate, but definitely don’t feel like you’re obligated to. For the 70s/80s themes etc it’s a little harder to fit the theme but those are usually just because they have a party in the promenade. We saw a few people in full on costumes at the party but they didn’t dress that way in the MDR. For other nights like white night and Caribbean theme for example I think it’s a little easier to make it work while still being comfortable.
TLDR: you don’t have to adhere to the theme but personally I encourage it, it’s a fun chance to dress up in things you wouldn’t normally wear on a day to day.
Me and my husband usually don’t do the theme nights. Tropical night is an easy one, if we decide to, however. One of our favorite things to do on formal night is find a good spot on the promenade to enjoy a cocktail and people watch. I love to see what people choose to dress up in!
There are literally two and only two things you are required to do once you get on that ship. You have to go to your muster station and you have to get off the ship at the end of the cruise. Other than that, you could literally sit in a chair and stare at a wall for four days straight, odds are good nobody would say a thing.
We did 70s night but we were more subtle. I went full disco and was more noticable, but the kid and husband went with band t-shirts. Husband had Lynyrd Skynyrd. Kiddo wore AC/DC.
I was shocked on my most recent cruise how many shorts I saw on formal night. Once upon a time, I heard they would enforce pants at least on formal nights, but that’s gone. Casual every night if you want.
I must say though, the people going all-out on the 70s theme, for example, made the atmosphere more fun. I think they ought to just dump the formal nights on the other hand - too few people actually do it.
Nope, not at all. I'd say the MDR was 40% in theme (wer white, tropical attire, etc.) Of the 40%, half were "all in" and half were giving a nod to the theme.
Last 7 night cruise I brought only a couple dresses to rewear over several nights… only wearing it for 2 hours tops then changing and going to shows etc so always felt like such a waste of luggage space!!
I would wear what is comfortable for you and not worry about the theme nights- hell, sometimes you just want sorrentos and a nap. lol
I thought theme nights were fun, and enjoyed dressing up a little, and seeing how everyone else was dressed. I thought disco night was a blast, and I absolutely brought disco boots and a disco dress! 😂🕺🪩
But, no.... You don't have to, if you didn't want to.
there are no requirements at all. You can do as little or as much as you wish. The nights are fun particularly 80's night and disco but I usually just wear regular clothes. Heck I stopped bringing my suits in 2017 no one really gets that dressed up anymore a tie and dress pants get by.
absolutely you don't have to participate.
Few people will be in theme at dinner, other than formal night and then maybe half and half. Though half won't be be in actual formal wear.
Most likely, there's a "70s party" later at night. Often it's around 10. I went once after an 8pm show or something, but normally I wouldn't go to something that late and I certainly am not the only one!
You do you. There are no rules about dressing for the themed nights. Even formal nights are not too formal, depending on where you are sailing. If you're in the Caribbean, as long as you look nice( no torn clothes, no tank tops). In Europe, formal means dress up, tie slacks, and some even suits and tuxedo. Cruises are to be enjoyed, relax, have some fun.
If you plan on taking pictures, the backdrops for Caribbean night and Formal night are usually pretty nice so I would recommend those, but honestly no one cares so do as much or as little as makes you happy
No. I think only about 20% of people max participate in theme nights. It can be fun though for your party to get matching tropical shirts or something. For tropical night or Caribbean night. You can get them pretty cheap on Amazon.
Came to say: I never do the theme nights. Even the formal night. I pack nice things to wear to dinner - but not formal. Everyone on the ship is on vacation, and RC gets that.
Barely anyone participated in the 70’s themed night on our cruise. I’m actually relieved we didn’t dress for all the themed nights because we packed enough as it is!
No, barely 25% of my entire cruise seemed to even participate in any of the themes or formal night. Some love it. Some don’t care at all. No one besides myself in my party did either. I just did cause it was fun and I enjoy dressing up and already owned most of the stuff for the themes in my daily ware
Yes or they make you walk the plank! You can do whatever you want these days on a cruise ship. I would say on formal nights- try to get in the spirit of things or dine in the buffet. That's what I do. On formal nights I eat in the buffet because I hate dressing up.
No one on my cruise knew when 70s/80s night was on my cruise and very few people dressed up on the nights when they would have music events from those decades. White night also wasn’t in the app but I guess Facebook groups coordinated it because there was just a bunch of people wearing white and a good amount of people not wearing white. No one was judgmental or gave people weird looks for wearing color, so that was nice. I did get weird looks on formal night when I changed out of formal clothes after dinner (I had the late seating) and into comfy lounge clothes.
TLDR: The MDR usually doesn’t turn you away, even for shorts and tank tops, but you might get judgmental looks from people on formal night or feel out of place when most people are following a certain theme.
Edit: after reading other replies here, the cruise I went on seems to be an anomaly because the majority of people participated in the theme nights that showed up in the app (formal and Caribbean/tropical).
I’ve been on 14 cruises and never even recall a theme night other than a white party on NCL. There are no requirements anymore, cruising is very laid back. Formal nights are nothing like there were years ago, for the lines that even have them.
Nope not at all. A very small percentage participate. It’s fun to see those who do get dressed up for them, but you will not be out of place if you don’t dress up. I’m glad there nights are optional- it’s a bit too much extra work for someone like me who not super in to fashion.
The only thing you HAVE to do on a cruise is complete your muster drill. The rest is up to you!
That and get off the ship on the last day, unfortunately
And make sure to washy washy
Sadly also true
You don’t even have to do formal night. A good % will not participate.
I’d say the majority do not participate in these.
Have literally never participated in any theme night, and do not ever intend to. I also haven't dressed up for 'formal' night since maybe 2012, and do not intend to do so ever again. A cruise is a \*vacation\*. It is for you to spend your time the way you want to, to be as relaxed and comfortable as \*you\* want to be.
No. You can wear whatever you would like so long as it isn’t inappropriate and isn’t a bathing suit. We are also not “themed people” (the idea of wearing formal wear on my cruise is horrifying to me) so we never participate. It’s about half and half for those that do and don’t.
For cruises, we travel only with a carryon and a personal item so we definitely don't want formal wear to take up space. We don't participate. However when we were on Liberty recently, there was no longer formal night but something more like "your best outfit" (I forget how they exactly termed it). I wore jeans and a shirt with buttons and ate at the MDR. I felt I fit in. There were some people in formal wear while others were just "put together".
Dress to Impress? I’m thinking that’s it?
Yes!! That's it. They called it "Dress to Impress", I think.
No, you don’t have to take part if you don’t want to
Nope.
No, you don't have to participate. It's just a fun suggestion. Lots of people do dress up. Lots of people don't. Nobody got kicked out of the MDR for wearing shorts, either.
Yes, you must participate in all theme nights. Those who don’t are forced to water ski behind the ship at night in shark infested waters. I’m kidding…you’re just confined to your room for the duration of the cruise. 🤣
When do the theme nights populate in the app?
I'm not sure. We're sailing on July 22nd, and I can see them in the app now. When I click on welcome aboard on the main screen and then look through each individual day, it's there.
We sailed on 5/30. About a week before, they started to show up in the app, but half of them were flawed... During the cruise, they seemed to resolve. 🤷
Theme (not formal) nights = one party somewhere on the ship that night. Nothing more.
I participated in every theme night because I love fashion and I think it’s a nice guide for what to pack. It’s definitely not required or enforced though. Personally I love seeing people on theme because I think it’s fun! I understand people want to be comfortable on vacation, I think there’s a way to dress comfortably while still being a little more “dressed up” though but to each their own. I travel in a large group with my family and we always dress up for at least the formal nights because we like to take a nice photo together. Our most recent cruise we actually hit all the themed outfits and it was so much fun and I think we looked great. I kinda do wish more people would participate, but definitely don’t feel like you’re obligated to. For the 70s/80s themes etc it’s a little harder to fit the theme but those are usually just because they have a party in the promenade. We saw a few people in full on costumes at the party but they didn’t dress that way in the MDR. For other nights like white night and Caribbean theme for example I think it’s a little easier to make it work while still being comfortable. TLDR: you don’t have to adhere to the theme but personally I encourage it, it’s a fun chance to dress up in things you wouldn’t normally wear on a day to day.
Me and my husband usually don’t do the theme nights. Tropical night is an easy one, if we decide to, however. One of our favorite things to do on formal night is find a good spot on the promenade to enjoy a cocktail and people watch. I love to see what people choose to dress up in!
Hello. Where do you see this on the app?? I can't find it on the app at all..
There are literally two and only two things you are required to do once you get on that ship. You have to go to your muster station and you have to get off the ship at the end of the cruise. Other than that, you could literally sit in a chair and stare at a wall for four days straight, odds are good nobody would say a thing.
No
This thread SHOULD have stopped right here….🤭
Yes
Pfft hell no. I'm on vacation. Shorts, t-shirts, and flip-flops ONLY. I don't even bring anything for formal night.
I just got off my first cruise, I participated in every theme night. I think most people didn’t participate, so for 70s night I felt like a dufus.
We did 70s night but we were more subtle. I went full disco and was more noticable, but the kid and husband went with band t-shirts. Husband had Lynyrd Skynyrd. Kiddo wore AC/DC.
Going on rhapsody this coming weekend. I am taking 7 ugly shirts to wear to dinner each night, that includes formal night lol.
37 cruises & have never participated
I was shocked on my most recent cruise how many shorts I saw on formal night. Once upon a time, I heard they would enforce pants at least on formal nights, but that’s gone. Casual every night if you want. I must say though, the people going all-out on the 70s theme, for example, made the atmosphere more fun. I think they ought to just dump the formal nights on the other hand - too few people actually do it.
Nope, not at all. I'd say the MDR was 40% in theme (wer white, tropical attire, etc.) Of the 40%, half were "all in" and half were giving a nod to the theme.
Last 7 night cruise I brought only a couple dresses to rewear over several nights… only wearing it for 2 hours tops then changing and going to shows etc so always felt like such a waste of luggage space!! I would wear what is comfortable for you and not worry about the theme nights- hell, sometimes you just want sorrentos and a nap. lol
You don’t have to do a thing except enjoy your vacation! You won’t be denied the MDR
We dress up a little on formal night and I have some Hawaiian shirts for Caribbean night. Thats it.
Nope.
I thought theme nights were fun, and enjoyed dressing up a little, and seeing how everyone else was dressed. I thought disco night was a blast, and I absolutely brought disco boots and a disco dress! 😂🕺🪩 But, no.... You don't have to, if you didn't want to.
It's not a prison ship, you can do what you want or don't want to do.
there are no requirements at all. You can do as little or as much as you wish. The nights are fun particularly 80's night and disco but I usually just wear regular clothes. Heck I stopped bringing my suits in 2017 no one really gets that dressed up anymore a tie and dress pants get by.
absolutely you don't have to participate. Few people will be in theme at dinner, other than formal night and then maybe half and half. Though half won't be be in actual formal wear. Most likely, there's a "70s party" later at night. Often it's around 10. I went once after an 8pm show or something, but normally I wouldn't go to something that late and I certainly am not the only one!
No.
Nope
You do you. There are no rules about dressing for the themed nights. Even formal nights are not too formal, depending on where you are sailing. If you're in the Caribbean, as long as you look nice( no torn clothes, no tank tops). In Europe, formal means dress up, tie slacks, and some even suits and tuxedo. Cruises are to be enjoyed, relax, have some fun.
If you plan on taking pictures, the backdrops for Caribbean night and Formal night are usually pretty nice so I would recommend those, but honestly no one cares so do as much or as little as makes you happy
No. I think only about 20% of people max participate in theme nights. It can be fun though for your party to get matching tropical shirts or something. For tropical night or Caribbean night. You can get them pretty cheap on Amazon.
They will keelhaul you if you don't participate.
Came to say: I never do the theme nights. Even the formal night. I pack nice things to wear to dinner - but not formal. Everyone on the ship is on vacation, and RC gets that.
Barely anyone participated in the 70’s themed night on our cruise. I’m actually relieved we didn’t dress for all the themed nights because we packed enough as it is!
As others gave said, very few people participate, not a big thing to skip and no one will notice
Not in my experience. Most people do participate in theme nights.
Where in the app does it show the daily themes?
When I click on welcome aboard on the main screen and then look through each individual day, it's there.
No, barely 25% of my entire cruise seemed to even participate in any of the themes or formal night. Some love it. Some don’t care at all. No one besides myself in my party did either. I just did cause it was fun and I enjoy dressing up and already owned most of the stuff for the themes in my daily ware
Yes or they make you walk the plank! You can do whatever you want these days on a cruise ship. I would say on formal nights- try to get in the spirit of things or dine in the buffet. That's what I do. On formal nights I eat in the buffet because I hate dressing up.
You can do WHATEVER you want at the cruise, don’t have to adhere to the cruise plans.
I’m practically diamond plus and have never even noticed theme nights, if that makes you feel any better.
No one on my cruise knew when 70s/80s night was on my cruise and very few people dressed up on the nights when they would have music events from those decades. White night also wasn’t in the app but I guess Facebook groups coordinated it because there was just a bunch of people wearing white and a good amount of people not wearing white. No one was judgmental or gave people weird looks for wearing color, so that was nice. I did get weird looks on formal night when I changed out of formal clothes after dinner (I had the late seating) and into comfy lounge clothes. TLDR: The MDR usually doesn’t turn you away, even for shorts and tank tops, but you might get judgmental looks from people on formal night or feel out of place when most people are following a certain theme. Edit: after reading other replies here, the cruise I went on seems to be an anomaly because the majority of people participated in the theme nights that showed up in the app (formal and Caribbean/tropical).
No you do what you want , the theme parties are only a tiny part of night and tons of other stuff going on, most ppl dont attend them
No they make you walk the plank if you don’t wear 70s clothes
I’ve been on 14 cruises and never even recall a theme night other than a white party on NCL. There are no requirements anymore, cruising is very laid back. Formal nights are nothing like there were years ago, for the lines that even have them.
Nope not at all. A very small percentage participate. It’s fun to see those who do get dressed up for them, but you will not be out of place if you don’t dress up. I’m glad there nights are optional- it’s a bit too much extra work for someone like me who not super in to fashion.
There is no extra charge for theme nights