Years ago my husband & I would dress very formally on cruise - he would bring a tux & I would bring long gowns. His tux is too big on him now & he is not sure that he wants to buy a new one at this point. Now I bring black dress pants and dressy tops. How formal do you dress on a cruise? Doe it change depending on the ship or cruise line?
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Admiral
How Formal Do You Dress on Cruises?
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Itinerary and cruise line definitely impact how much formalwear we pack but yes, we enjoy dressing up when it’s appropriate. Have you ever seen a James Bond movie? Tuxedos are cool! 
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Captain
115 days, crazy? I think not. Have room in your suitcase for me.
I would say your not, but then I'm looking at a 120 day cruise for 2016...... so I may not be qualified to give opinion :-)
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Admiral
I am considering a 115 day cruise. Am I crazy?
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Staff Captain
Very! I love dressing up. It's a special part of the cruise experience for me.
Glomorrone: 9 formal out of 79 is not bad, that is about 1 a week. I was thinking about a Cunard Cruise where most nights are formal. The 120 day round the world on the QM2 has sparked my imagination. I'm just not sure I'd want to be in a tux that much. Im more of a jean and tennis shoe kinda guy. I'd try a 7 night Cunard cruise first to see if I like the ship and line before booking 120 nights.
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Captain
Once my tux fell apart, I have started wearing a dark suit with a tie. Currently sailing on the Emerald Princess and have seen everything from tuxes to dark t shirts.
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Admiral
Hi justMe, I had 9 formal nights on a recent cruise but it was 78 days long - so not bad at all considering the length. I did dress formally on those 9 nights. I do not mind dressing up at all but it is harder, for me, on a short cruise. I have to bring special heels and evening bag etc.. and only use them once or twice. I the longer cruises I used them 9 times.
For me it depends on the cruise. When I do the 3 or 4 night Baja party cruises on Carnival for "Cruise Fancy" night I wear jeans and a long sleeve shirt. On 7 night cruises out of the States I take a suit with me.
When in Europe on Celebrity I took my Tux with a couple of vest and tie sets, 1 white and 1 black Tux shirt and a couple of stud and cuff link sets so I looked different on the 3 formal nights. The European's in the cabin next to us were surprised that I dressed for formal night after only seeing me in jeans the rest of the trip, she said I "Clean up well".
I do not mind dressing up once in a while but not sure I'd want a long cruise where I'd have to be formal most nights.
On Princess Cruises, I brought a Tux with me and My wife brought a gown. There is something James Bondish about a tux. On NCL, I brought a nice suit, but we bought a nice gown for Monique on board.
I guess it all depends on the cruise line, and the style you choose.