Do Modern Cruises Still Feature Formal Dinners?

Why was everyone so formal and dressed up in the classic movie "Titanic"? Is that how cruises really are? That's a pretty good question to ask before heading on a cruise. The general answer would be that every cruise line and ship offers a unique journey with completely different rules depending on the trip you've booked. On some cruises, the vibes are mostly casual and laid-back, but other vessels offer a luxurious setting, where formal dinners will most likely be part of the big shebang.

Formal dining was a huge tradition on cruise ships years ago, and ballroom dancing or evening galas were a hit event on most voyages. On these formal nights, travelers were expected to attend in their finest attire, dressed to the nines on the high seas. While ballroom dancing and evening galas are relatively few and far between on cruise shops now, some voyages still keep the tradition alive — albeit without strict adherence to the black tie dress code. Formal dinners on modern cruises have become a lot more lenient, with smart-casual attire being accepted. However, don't think of turning up in flip-flops, swimsuits, and tank tops. You don't have to wear your finest threads, but let's not get carried away with the casual clothes.

Formal nights are a great way to dress up and enjoy a more elegant atmosphere on a cruise ship. Depending on the cruise line, the formal dinner might be focused on a fancy multi-course meal that is the essence of fine dining, or possibly an evening of ballroom dancing. You never know; you might get both.

These nights could happen once or twice during a cruise ship stay, but that tends to depend on how long the trip is. Sometimes referred to as formal nights, other times as Gala evenings, expect high-quality food, atmosphere, and surroundings. Long ago, that also came with a black tie dress code, with men looking fine in tuxedos and women shining like bright diamonds in their fanciest threads. However, the dress code has since been more relaxed to appeal to a younger community and attract more travelers to these big nights.

Other cruise lines are still pretty strict with what to wear, so it's always better to check if you need to pack something fancy or not. Modern cruises tend to be open to the idea of passengers choosing the experience they'd like to have and going with the flow. This has evolved over the years, especially as families, solo travelers, and younger generations have started to opt for cruise travel. With the rise in budget-friendly cruises, going all out on formal nights no longer makes much sense.

Modern cruises are all about variety and allowing passengers to choose what makes them comfortable during their experience at sea. On the food front, this means a variety of casual dining options and specialty meals, allowing the cruise to cater to different tastes and preferences. Alternatives to formal dining on cruise ships have seen a rise in buffet dining, poolside grills, and other informal options. 

But that doesn't mean you won't have the formal dinner option at all. In fact, cruise lines such as Cunard are pretty strict about their formal nights. Princess and Holland America will also hold formal dinners during the cruise — especially if it is a long cruise — but will have a diversity of people dressed to the nines and others going completely casual.

To complement a more relaxed approach to the food available onboard, many cruises also offer diverse dining times instead of a fixed schedule. Known as "freestyle dining" on many cruise ships, guests can choose when and where to dine without sticking to assigned tables or strict timings, offering more flexibility. The popularity of flexible dining options has grown, reducing the awkwardness of being assigned a table, giving travelers the chance to choose who they'd like to dine with. While some traditions are great to keep up, it is ideal to have alternative dining options to suit more types of travelers. Besides, there's nothing stopping you from dressing up and treating the buffet as a formal occasion, right?