Dress Code Guidelines: Crystal Cruises

One of the most popular questions we get about cruise ships has to do with the dress code.  It seems that our world has drifted towards the casual and most folks don’t even want to think about bringing a tuxedo on a cruise, luxury cruise or not.

Well, with Crystal Cruises, you’re in luck.  If you want, you can leave your tux and suit home in the closet.  Although, you might want to check with your wife first.  As we know, many of the gals like to dress up for a nice evening out.

During our 10-day cruise with Crystal Cruises, every night was designated as “Crystal Casual” except for one optional formal evening where at least a dark suit was required for the guys.  And, if that wasn’t to your liking, you could simply dine in one of the other restaurants that are Crystal Casual every single night.

So, for your reading enjoyment, here’s the current dress code policies direct from the Crystal Cruises website:

Daytime Dress Code

Evening Dress Code

Keeping in line with the continually evolving, more relaxed dress codes reflected throughout the world today, we have simplified our preferred evening dress codes to two types: Crystal Casual and Black Tie Optional. Please refer to the dress codes described in detail below. After 6 pm, casual daytime attire is not appropriate. Shorts and baseball caps are not permitted for men or women.

Crystal Casual

Crystal Casual calls for a dressed-up version of casual looks.

Women’s Crystal Casual includes:

• Blouse
• Sweater
• Dressy slacks
• Skirt
• Dress

Men’s Crystal Casual includes:

• Open collar shirt
• Collared polo shirt
• Button-down shirt
• Dress shirt (no tie required)
• Dress pants or European smart trousers
• Sport coat (optional)

Black Tie Optional

A Black Tie Optional evening offers our guests a celebratory opportunity to dress more formally. Guests dining in the restaurants, with the exception of Tastes, are asked to adhere to the Black Tie Optional dress code. We ask that at least a jacket be worn by men for dinner. On Black Tie Optional evenings, if you choose to change your attire following the evening dinner festivities, please maintain a minimum style of dress in keeping with the dress code described above in Crystal Casual.

Women’s Black Tie Optional includes:

• Formal cocktail dress
• Evening gown
• Dressy evening separates

Men’s Black Tie Optional includes:

• Dark suit with/without a tie
• Tuxedo

With this policy, guests can expect the following:

• Cruises 7-days or less: Only Crystal Casual evenings (based on itinerary, see dress code for your specific cruise for details)
• 8- to 10-day cruises: May have up to 1 Black Tie Optional evening
• 11- to 16-day cruises:  2 Black Tie Optional evenings
• World and Grand Cruises, Holiday voyages and Crossings, including cruises 17+ days or more: Special dress code schedules will apply depending on cruise duration and/or special events or occasions.

Photograph from our Black Tie Optional Evening

Here’s a group photograph of Carol and I (top left) enjoying the black tie optional evening.  As you can see, the ladies all look beautiful and there was a combination of dark suits with open collars, suits, and tuxedos. I brought a tie with me, but I decided to play the rebel and go open-collared.  I’m guessing that 75% of the guys were wearing a tie of some sort.

After being dressed up in a three-piece suit for over 25 years, I personally don’t want to wear a tie unless I absolutely must.  And, unless I’m being photographed in a wedding photograph, I can’t think of any other must-wear-a-tie situations.  But, that’s just how I roll.

Oh, now that I think about, I did wear a tux for a national travel award we won this year.  But, as I said above, most luxury cruise lines have become more relaxed in their dress codes than they were a decade ago.

So, there you have it.  The dress code for sailing on the Crystal Cruises Serenity.  Have fun!  🙂

Note: photographs courtesy of Crystal Cruises.
 
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