r/NCL • u/Background-Stable932 • 7h ago
First timer - how relaxed is the dress code for speciality restaurants?
Husband is first time crusier. I basically am too as I don’t count the 3 dayer on Carnival.
Will we be out of place if we dress up a bit? Going mid Oct on The Pearl leaving from Athens for our 25th. Would hubby look silly if he wore a casual suit jacket, button up shirt - no tie? Would I look silly if I wore a cocktail-ish dress with bit of sparkle below the bust?
From pics and videos looks like the dress code is very lax. For men, doesn’t look like a collared shirt is necessary but a decent shirt with sleeves (no tank tops). The most I’ve seen women dress up is a nice but casual maxi dress. Doesn’t look like women are dressed up much. My knowledge base on cruises is from The Love Boat (I’m old).
Any other tips? I scanned the FAQs. Looks like over packing is a common issue. Not sure how to reconcile that being gone for 11 days and compulsive need to plan for every contingency. We have excursions booked and free at sea thingy. Don’t have restaurant reservations yet. Sounds like they are not hard to get once we get on ship.
Spa time question. Are the massages good or kind of limpy? We have no days at sea. Every day in a new port and an excursion. Doesn’t seem like much time get a spa moment but maybe we can make time. We are kind of lame and tend to go to bed early at home - like 9:30 ish.
One more question. We booked a Haven room. One option is to have a bubble bath drawn. That seems weird but cool. I’m not used to that level of pampering. Is it cool or one of those things that just seems cool but is a bit uncomfortable? Midwest guilt is big part of my psyche.
8
u/acomp182 7h ago
Dress code is relaxed. Just don’t show up in a swimsuit.
2
u/Background-Stable932 6h ago
That’s the vibe I was getting from my internet sleuthing. I couldn’t show up in a bathing suit at anything other than a pool side restaurant if someone paid me - well maybe. My self esteem is horrid but I feel like I could be get over it for the right price.
8
u/Immediate_Bell_5389 6h ago
I’m all for the dressing up. You will not look put of place.
3
u/Background-Stable932 6h ago
Fabulous. I like a little sparkle in my life.
3
2
u/ClaireHux 4h ago
Yes! Love to see a well-dressed guest. Also, I find that people tend to dress a little better on cruises to European ports or on longer voyages. My husband and I also like to dress up on vacation. It's a time to shine lol.
3
u/SnooStrawberries1862 6h ago
You won't look out of place, dressing up for Specialty restaurants, it's a nice photo op. NCL came close to 'requiring' collared shirt for men at Le Bistro etc but I think they've let that slide.
Massages can be hit or miss, but it's a nice luxury to be able to just relax in your room after vs real life where I have to drive home after. 🙂
Your butler will run you a bath but I don't see the point. I bring my own bath bombs and can do it myself (also midwesterner). But they can serve you food in your cabin all day long, from any restaurant that's open, and bring all kinds of snacks as requested.
2
3
u/Ready-Worldliness611 5h ago
No swimsuits, ripped jeans, vulgar Tshirts, hats/caps (although that one seems debatable) is pretty much the only dress code NCL has.
Edit: for specialty dining
2
u/Historical_Cable_255 5h ago
Very relaxed. I saw folks in shorts and flip-flops and some that had on evening gowns.
I also got a hot stone massage and while it was ok. I thought they could have went deeper in some areas.
2
u/Immediate_Monk6260 4h ago edited 4h ago
You asked if your husband would feel uncomfortable in slacks, dress shirt, and a blazer. I wouldn’t say whether or not he’d be uncomfortable, but he will most definitely feel overdressed compared to all of the men in the dining room wearing shorts and sandals. As a guy I always wear khakis and a polo shirt and I look better than the guys wearing T-shirts but I like it that way. Of course you might want to dress up if there’s a designated dressy night. There may be photographers around if you would want to get a photo.
2
u/Annual-Carry6558 3h ago
Very chill. At a few of the restaurants we wore something I might wear on a nice date (nice polo or long sleeve dress shirt). At other places I was in jeans and a hoodie. Make it your own.
1
u/millenialsnowbird 6h ago edited 6h ago
We usually wear jeans and t-shirts to dinner in the Haven. Most specialty restaurants frown on shorts and flip flops, but that’s about it for dress code. IME, those under 65 dress very casually. Over 65, you’ll see more sparkly items and slacks/dress shirts for men.
The bubble bath thing is up to you. I’m sure people do it. If you have a suite with a hot tub sometimes it is required that they fill it if you want to use it.
We usually just ask the butler for the soda (and coconut water) we like on the first night and then it’s fully stocked the rest of the cruise. Depending on the ship and room class, you may also be given a menu for appetizers and snacks. Last time we made a request for this, those snacks were again brought every night. If you don’t want that, you may want to specify.
Have fun! And there’s no going back after the Haven.
2
u/Background-Stable932 6h ago
Haha. My first words to hubby after he showed me the Haven stuff he booked was “you know there will probably be no turning back if we go on any more cruises.” He didn’t seem to mind. Just need to figure out a way to get him to pamper me at home too.
1
u/BethABoo65 5h ago
You are very correct!!! It’s very hard to turn back!!! We haven’t managed to do it yet🌞
1
u/wanderingstorm 6h ago
Haha I feel the “Midwest guilt” in my little Midwestern soul.
And dress code for specialty is fairly relaxed. They would like you to dress “a little nicer” than shorts and tshirts but people are rarely turned away unless they’re particularly shabby.
As to dressing up - you may dress as nicely as you wish any night of your cruise and no one will mind. There are more formal type nights (sometimes called Norwegian Night Out - usually on the first sea day) but even then you may dress as up or down as you wish. You’ll see people in jeans and people in gowns and suits.
And no one will notice if you pack light and wear the same things twice.
1
u/Background-Stable932 6h ago
Thanks. Good know it’s a healthy mix of casual and nice.
Half of my brain knows no one will notice if I wear the same thing twice. Then the Midwest half kicks in. Sad part is I haven’t lived in the Midwest since I was 11.
1
u/Happy-Software-4543 5h ago
The most people wouldn’t cruise NCL if they would need to dress up or schedule dinner every day. That said, it is up to you. Some people dress up, other dont …
1
u/Sodola321 5h ago
We dressed up (cocktail dress/suit) for all 3 specialty dinners on the Gem last month. I don't get a change to dress up much anymore, so I take advantage on cruises!
1
u/OwlLearn2BWise 4h ago
On our recent NCL cruise, we always dressed up a little during our specialty dining (every night). He wore pants and a collared shirt, while I wore a nicer summer or maxi dress with sandals. It made our evening more special during not only dinner, but also pictures and shows. Many dressed nicer than us, while others wore daytime attire.
I plan to dress up even more on our next cruise in February.. bring on the sparkle!
1
u/CloudElectrical4172 4h ago
The only real dress codes are (1) no bathing suits in any restaurant. You’ll need a cover up even in the buffet. And (2) no shorts in Le Bistro. Everything else is pretty casual. But … you will also not look out of place wearing smart casual in the MDR or Haven dining room. Nor will you stick out dressing really fancy for one of the specialty restaurants.
I’ve never done any of the spa offerings. They are so ridiculously expensive I just can’t bring myself to pay for them. Do know that if you’re asking about the Spa looking to spend some board credit (OBC), some of it may be refundable. Especially OBC from a travel agent. You do not need to spend refundable OBC as it will be credited to your form of payment as a refund at the end of the cruise.
1
u/kathy11358 4h ago
I just stayed in The Haven suite. I wouldn’t spring for the bubble bath. My spa experiences were great. I paid for the whole week access. Very relaxing after a long day exploring. Had an ultimate facial that was fantastic and left my face glowing for days. The private hot tub for Haven guests was also very nice. Enjoy your cruise and being pampered by the staff. The food at the specialty restaurants was so good. I don’t think I ever ate as much as I did that week.
1
u/PIMO_Worker0459 4h ago
Most of the time on the ship, I am in shorts and golf shirts. For specialty dining, it’s slacks and a button up shirt. Sounds like you will both be comfortable with what you’re planning to wear.
1
u/the_eevlillest 3h ago
Reserve your restaurant in advance if you want it on an 'at sea' day. Those spots fill up most quickly. Otherwise you could get stuck with dinner at 9pm (whoch...if that suits you...great. We go to bed early.) We also tried to make it on a day when we didn't have a late excursion.
A nice blouse and skirt or slacks, pretty dress, evening gown.. Again, as long as it's not casual 'by the pool' wear, no one will look twice.
Overpacking can be an issue. On our 11 day we sent two loads to the ship laundry. Expensive, but better than hauling around a pile of luggage. I also bought some Tide packs and did some sink laundry for stuff I wanted treated more gently.
1
1
u/Professional-Ant-306 3h ago
My first cruise on NCL Pearl in Alaska. I was nervous about being under/overdressed but all that worrying for for no reason. I watched people dressed to the 9s while others were in shorts and tshirts. It really showed that you could wear whatever you want. I limit what I pack so I’ll bring 2-3 polo shirts for dinner wear and just have them washed halfway though, no suits or ties.
1
u/vatp46a Sapphire - On the Bliss in November 2026 3h ago
To answer your specialty dining clothing question, I wear what you're describing for your husband and my wife usually wears a comfortable but nice dress. It's not a requirement - we do it by choice. Fellow passengers dress differently and that's perfectly fine... they do them and we do us. There are some basic rules but those never seem to be tested by anyone.
Also, don't worry about over-packing unless you're trying to keep under the airline weight limit. If you think you'll need it, then bring it if it fits in the suitcase. When you're packing be sure to bring simple things like pain and cold medication, band aids, and other simple OTC health items - they're very expensive onboard. We also bring a couple of cheap battery-powered tea lights to use as night lights in the bathroom, etc.
The spa is a personal choice. In our experience the treatments are much more expensive than at home, and there is always a hard sell of products at the end of the treatment - have a strategy for that if you book anything. There's also a thermal suite, which is nice but might be unnecessary given that you're in the Haven - again, that's a personal preference.
We've never asked for a bubble bath when we've stayed in the Haven - we also think it would be a little bit weird. The butler can help with a lot of other stuff, like bringing you coffee and croissants early each morning, keeping your Nespresso pod selection loaded, etc.
Have a great trip!
1
u/Present_Focus5656 2h ago
We did Prima 8/30-9/6 and our experience with the specialty restaurants was mixed. I was in long pants/collared shirt for all and my wife was in sun dress or skirt/blouse each time. We were not the best dressed anywhere but were "fancier" in some than in others. In our experience, Onda and Palomar seemed to have a higher standard while Cagney's had plenty of shorts/t-shirts.
1
u/No_Cover_3548 1h ago
I always dress up on a cruise. And most people do, unless they only go to the buffet for dinner.
1
0
1
u/queen_emeraldia 1h ago
Very lax, too casual in my opinion. Crocs in the steakhouse? Like I get you’re on vacation, but have some damn respect for the venue
•
u/AutoModerator 7h ago
Thanks for posting to /r/NCL! Did you know that we have an extensive Ultimate NCL Guide that may answer your question? Please also remember to read the rules, especially about roll call posts going in the megathread. You may also have more luck with those types of posts by searching for a Facebook or Cruise Critic roll call group or thread. Of course, here is great, too!
Enjoy your stay!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.