| There are really no 'dress codes' on cruise ships | | | | room) are fine ashore in the tropics. In Europe |
| but more like guidelines to assist you in bringing | | | | and Asia, travelers tend to be more conservative. |
| the right items. Having traveled with a spouse and | | | | And if your shore excursions include a visit to a |
| two teen age daughters, this writer is, however, | | | | cathedral or house of worship, bare shoulders or |
| painfully aware of the cruise shoe formula which is | | | | abbreviated wear for the ladies may result in |
| take the number of cruise days and multiply by 5. | | | | denied entry. |
| How else could one possibly pack 35 pairs of | | | | The shore excursion or purser desk staff can |
| shoes for a one week voyage? | | | | provide specific guidance on board. And always |
| But seriously, less is often more on a cruise. The | | | | check to see that at least one pair of those 35 |
| style of ship you have selected usually dictates | | | | pairs of shoes are COMFORTABLE WALKING |
| the way that passengers dress. The shorter and | | | | SHOES. Navigating the stairway of the Sistine |
| less expensive cruises skew toward very casual | | | | Chapel in stiletto heels would be an excursion of |
| and the longer cruises on luxury ships tend to be | | | | its own! |
| more formal. | | | | When packing, again, less is more for a cruise. |
| Speaking of formal, most cruise ships have at | | | | Most first time cruisers report back that they |
| least one gala night where passengers generally | | | | used about half of what they brought. Veteran |
| dress their best. Does this mean tuxedos and | | | | cruisers try to see how little baggage they can |
| evening gowns? Yes, you will find these in | | | | get away with. Somewhere in between will |
| evidence on longer cruises but the trend is to | | | | probably work for you. |
| allow more freedom of choice on ships and this | | | | Most of the medium to larger ships offer laundry |
| translates to dress guidelines that suggest instead | | | | and pressing service. And some of them have |
| of require formal wear. The dark suit or even | | | | self-service laundry facilities (although we do not |
| sport jacket and tie seems to be edging out the | | | | think most people consider doing laundry a fun |
| tuxedo and dinner jacket. And even on gala night | | | | vacation event.) Take a lot of mix and match |
| most ships offer an alternate dining venue for | | | | clothes based on the length and style of your |
| people who just plain refuse to dress up. | | | | cruise. |
| The best place to get some hints as to the | | | | Planning is the most important part of the packing |
| suggested dress on board is in the Welcome | | | | process. Don't throw your suitcases on the bed |
| Aboard materials provided by the cruise lines prior | | | | the night before you leave and start to toss |
| to your trip. But again, keep in mind that these | | | | everything you own inside them. Remember, |
| are created to cover broad a spectrum of | | | | during many parts of the trip, YOU will have to |
| diverse guests. | | | | drag, roll, or coax them to their check in point. |
| In almost all cases, shorts, bathing suits and | | | | So to summarize: Make a list. Take half the stuff |
| t-shirts are banned from the main dining room at | | | | off the list. Divide by 2 and you have the ideal |
| dinner time. Ladies should remember to bring a | | | | amount of cruise wear for your trip! A good rule |
| sweater or shawl because the public rooms may | | | | of thumb is that if you find your travel mate |
| be chilly. A folding umbrella is always a good idea. | | | | looking in the yellow pages under 'Moving and |
| Ashore, clothing suggestions depend a lot on what | | | | Storage Companies' instead of 'Taxi and Limo |
| part of the world you are in. In the tropics, | | | | services', you may have packed too much! Bon |
| shorts, t-shirts and jeans (basically everything you | | | | voyage. |
| are not supposed to wear in the ship's dining | | | | |