As a veteran of five cruises, it has to be said: one of the highlights of this holiday experience, is the various theme nights.
Participation is certainly optional, but why not have some fun with it – after all you ARE on a holiday!
Formal Nights on Cruise Ships
No matter which cruise line you are sailing with, I can pretty much guarantee that you will find they will host a formal, gala, or cocktail night.
When I have gone cruising with the hubster, he didn’t really want to get dressed up (like many men!) so we were pretty low key. I think the most formal attire we wore involved a dinner jacket and long pants for him, and a cocktail dress for me.
If you (or your partner) aren’t really into dressing up, I recommend you dine in the buffet rather than the restaurant, which is where those dressed in formal wear tend to congregate.
I have also been on a cruise with the girls, and it was a treat to actually be able to wear an evening dress and not look out of place!
Depending on the cruise line, you can expect one or even two formal nights onΒ a seven day cruise, so if you plan to get involved, make sure you pack accordingly.
Theme Nights on P&O Cruises
One of the most popular cruise lines based here in Australia, is P&O. If you are sailing with P&O, you can expect one or more of the following theme nights:
- Bianco – It’s a white out! Guests are encouraged to wear all white attire.
- Gatsby – It’s party night, with a 1920’s vintage theme.
- Nero – The all black party.
- Back to School – Dress up like your favourite teacher, a student, or in what was fashionable when you were at school (1980s style?!).
Other Cruise Theme Nights
Some of the other cruise theme nights I’ve come across, have included:
- a black and white party;
- an island or tropical night;
- pirate party;
- 70’s night or flower power theme;
- Italian night (wear red, white and green);
- Mexican fiesta;
- rock and roll (50’s night); and
- Halloween style fright nights.
The island or tropical theme is a pretty easy one to embrace – most cruise clothes would fill the bill! Just pack a lei from a $2 shop in your luggage and you are good to go.
Country and western nights can be a bit more of a challenge – who has room in their luggage for a stetson or boots – especially if you are flying to your port of departure!
For this reason, you will find the shops on most cruise ships (a notable exception: Carnival Cruises) will stock items in the lead up to their particular theme nights (eg cowboy hats, pirate patches and hooks). Some hold craft workshops, where you can make something suitable, such as a headband for Gatsby night.
Personally, I like plan my outfit beforehand. Once you have booked you should be able to access the passenger area of your cruiseline’s website, and find out exactly what you can expect as far as theme nights are concerned.
What to Expect on Theme Nights
It’s not just dressing up that makes theme nights occasions to remember (and great photo fodder!).
You can expect to enjoy cuisine, drinks, and live shows, to help you immerse yourself in the theme of the night.
Just another reason to discover cruising holidays for yourself – if you haven’t already!
What would be your favourite theme night and why – or do you have any suggestions for the cruise lines (because I’m sure they’ll read this blog π )?!
Linking up with:
Julia says
I so badly want to go on another cruise! Maybe my 21st… hmmmm π
Janet Camilleri says
Can I come too?!
Vanessa says
Bahaha I could not do a wear white night. I am far too messy to ever keep white clothes white.
Janet Camilleri says
I don’t think I even OWN anything all white. For the same reason π
Lydia C. Lee says
I like the pirate outfit! Looks fun!
Janet Camilleri says
LOL there were some really great photos but I didn’t think my friends would appreciate me showing their pics all over my blog π
Kathy Marris says
You make a good pirate! We haven’t actually done theme nights on any of the three cruises we’ve been on. But there have been formal nights, which I love to dress up for. #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
Me too, but hubby isn’t so keen.
Jo Tracey says
Man, you’re a seriously scary pirate! Neither hubby or I are into theme dressing up, and we sort of avoided it on the last cruise we did. There’s something special though about putting your glad rags on for dinner…
Janet Camilleri says
*sigh* oh I wish my hubby felt like that
Ingrid @ Fabulous and Fun Life says
I like the idea of knowing what the theme nights will be before you board the ship. I’ve only been on one cruise and I managed the tropical night theme and formal night ok but not the western theme and the options in the on-board store were totally overpriced!
Ingrid
http://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
Janet Camilleri says
Which is why I like to find out beforehand so I can pack something π .
Deborah says
I’ve never been on a cruise but it’s good they stick to kinda similar themes so you can try to predict what to take. It’d be unlikely I’d fit into something via a costume shop or similar so I’d need to adapt my own wardrobe.
Oh and I love the fierce pirate look! #teamlovinlife
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond says
Great photos of you Janet and I love you in the gold dress – very glam! We don’t always take part in the theme nights on cruises but I do love looking at other guests who go to so much effort. They are pretty fun nights.
Jo says
I love the pic of you in your gold dress – but for fun I had to giggle at the pirate photo – you make a very fine Long John Silver! We weren’t really prepared for the theme nights and yes it is good to make sure you are and fully join in the fun.
Di from Max The Unicorn says
We went on a Cruise to Singapore about 5 years ago, I think there was only one dressy occasion though (or maybe we just avoided all of them so I can’t remember them lol). Looks like you had a lot of fun with it!
Di from Max The Unicorn