Guest Author - Shasta Wilson

One of the best elements of a cruise is eating in an elegant dining room. Formal table settings, linen tablecloths, wait staff in tuxedos, even crystal wine glasses! Dinnertime is a complete experience when you’re at sea.

However, many people believe that dressing up for dinner is something that just shouldn’t be done on vacation. I know of quite a few clients who have vetoed cruises simply because they hate dress clothes, or traveling with dress clothes, and refuse to even think about ties or high heels while relaxing.

Most cruise lines offer various solutions to the dress code dilemma. If you're seriously anti-fancywear, the buffet on any cruise line is open to all forms of casual clothing, except swimsuits. Most dining rooms require at least dress-casual, with the occasional formal night, though I admit that I've done dress-casual on all nights without problems. Each cruise line will have descriptions of their dress code levels, though it's rare that a sport jacket for men or nice skirt for ladies won't suffice in all situations.

Cruise lines want dinner to feel like an elegant experience, and it's hard to feel upscale when the folks at the table next to you are wearing shorts or pajama pants. Some higher class carriers have done away with the formal nights, but still mandate dress-casual attire in the dining rooms. And most on-board specialty restaurants (for all cruise lines) usually require a jacket for men.

One final note: Many potential cruisers are quick to bring up NCL's 'Freestyle Cruising' ads when asking about dressing up. Be advised that their ads are misleading. Even on NCL, the only place without a dress code is the buffet. Each of their dining areas do have dress codes (ranging from dress casual to formal), but you have the option of choosing a different restaurant each night. And it's best to make reservations a day in advance so you'll be able to dress accordingly. Or you can always order room service. That’s the only option that truly requires no dress code.