Speedos on Cruise Ships

Visit any message board and you will find plenty of opinions about speedos on cruise ships. Some posters believe that it’s all about whether or not the speedo wearer is in good shape, while the overwhelming majority of posters feel that it doesn’t matter – speedos on cruise ships (and in general) are offensive and should be banned. Whatever your opinion may be about speedos on cruise ships, most cruise lines do allow passengers to wear them – no matter how they may look in them. But the question is, just because speedos on cruise ships are allowed, does that mean it’s ok to wear them?

Cruise attire comes in all shapes and sizes, and fortunately there are classier alternatives to wearing speedos on cruise ships. There are a variety of different types of swim trunks on the market today that function just as good, if not better than speedos. The different types of swim trunks are also a lot more appealing and less offensive than the speedos you may be used to seeing on cruise ships. And believe it or not, swim trunks are the most popular type of swimwear for men. Medium length and longer “board short” styles are available in a wide variety of patterns and colors. Some styles even feature pockets for carrying items you just can’t leave home without. Swim trunks can be found at just about any department store or retailer as well as any surf shop. If you want to learn more about cruise attire on cruise ships, read on!

If you’re new to cruising, there are some cruise attire terms that you should familiarize yourself with. You may see the following terms when you read through your literature and/or travel documents prior to arriving at your cruise departure port. Casual wear, informal wear and semi-formal wear, and formal wear are the main categories cruise attire will fall under. Cruise attire may also be referred to as cruise wear, cruise clothes, cruise gear, yacht wear, sailing clothes, and outdoor wear.

Most mainstream cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Lines and Disney Cruises do not typically require a dress code, meaning casual wear is ok. Casual wear is attire that you feel relaxed in comfortable in. Sportswear is high on the list of the most popular types of casual cruise attire. Swimwear, t-shirts, shorts, polo shirts, and khaki pants are all considered casual wear. Footwear such as sandals, sneakers, flip-flops, and deck shoes are all considered casual footwear. A general rule of thumb when selecting cruise attire for a casual cruise is to pick breathable fabrics such as cotton, and shoes that are good for walking. For cool climate cruises, add light windproof jackets, rain gear, and breathable clothes that can be easily layered.

Depending on the cruise line, evening activities may require informal or semi-formal wear. Informal wear can be compared to “business casual” wear in the workplace. This means can mean slacks and khakis as well as polo shirts and sports shirts. For women, Depending on the cruise line, blouses, skirts, dresses, and pants suits fall into the formal and semi-formal wear categories.

On most luxury cruise lines, you will have formal nights and it is possible that you will have formal nights on some mainstream cruise line’s as well. Formal wear usually means tuxedos for men and evening gowns for women. In some cases, this can mean dark business suits or a jacket and tie for men and cocktail or party dresses for women.

There are a few things to keep in mind when dressing for your cruise. While it is understandable that some of us would prefer to be as casual as possible when we are on vacation, use your best judgment when dressing for public outings on board such as dinner, clubs, casinos, lounges, lectures, dancing, etc. Simply put, it’s probably not a good idea to sport your swimwear at the dinner table or sweatpants at the nightclub.

If you receive your travel documents and literature and you can’t locate the section that discusses cruise attire, give the cruise line a call. Better safe than sorry, right?