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Princess Dress Code Guide

What to wear on a Princess cruise in 2026, including formal night frequency, dress-up evening expectations, casual dining standards, and packing recommendations.

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On this page
  1. Formal night policy
  2. What to pack
  3. FAQ
  4. Sources

Quick answer

Yes, Princess has formal nights. Princess brands its formal evenings 'Dress to Impress'. Shorter cruises typically include one formal night, while longer voyages include two or more. Exact nights are published in the Princess Patter daily program.

Formal night policy

Formal/dress-up nights

Princess brands its formal evenings 'Dress to Impress'. Shorter cruises typically include one formal night, while longer voyages include two or more. Exact nights are published in the Princess Patter daily program.

Casual evenings

Princess uses a smart-casual default for most evenings. Formal nights, branded 'Dress to Impress', call for cocktail dresses, suits, or tuxedos in the main dining rooms. The buffet and casual venues remain dress-code-free on all evenings. Princess's dress standard sits between mainstream casual and luxury-line formality.

What to pack

For formal nights

  • Cocktail dress or evening gown (women)
  • Suit, blazer with dress pants, or tuxedo (men)
  • Dress shoes
  • One outfit per formal night designated

For casual evenings

  • Sundresses, khakis, or nice jeans
  • Collared shirts or blouses
  • Casual shoes (closed-toe for some specialty restaurants)
  • Resort-casual is the baseline

For daytime

  • Swimwear for the pool deck
  • Shorts, T-shirts, sandals
  • Cover-ups for walking through interior spaces
  • Comfortable shoes for port days

See our complete cruise packing list for a full checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Does Princess have formal nights?
Yes. Princess brands its formal evenings 'Dress to Impress'. Shorter cruises typically include one formal night, while longer voyages include two or more. Exact nights are published in the Princess Patter daily program.
What should I wear on a Princess cruise?
Princess uses a smart-casual default for most evenings. Formal nights, branded 'Dress to Impress', call for cocktail dresses, suits, or tuxedos in the main dining rooms. The buffet and casual venues remain dress-code-free on all evenings. Princess's dress standard sits between mainstream casual and luxury-line formality.
Can I wear jeans on a Princess cruise?
Jeans are generally acceptable in casual dining venues and during the day on Princess ships. On formal or dress-up evenings, jeans are typically not permitted in the main dining room. Buffet and casual venues remain dress-code-free on all evenings.
How many formal nights does Princess have?
Princess brands its formal evenings 'Dress to Impress'. Shorter cruises typically include one formal night, while longer voyages include two or more. Exact nights are published in the Princess Patter daily program.
What should I pack for a Princess cruise?
See our [cruise packing list](/packing-list/type/cruise/) for a complete guide. For Princess, pack one dressy outfit per formal night plus resort-casual clothing for other evenings.

More on Princess

Dress codes on other cruise lines

C
Caden Sorenson

Travel research publisher and senior staff engineer

Caden Sorenson runs Travel Vient, an independent travel research and tools site covering airline carry-on policies, packing lists, and head-to-head airline, cruise, and destination comparisons, with everything cited to primary sources. He's a senior staff engineer with 15+ years of experience building iOS apps, web platforms, and developer tools, and a Computer Science graduate from Utah State University. Based in Logan, Utah.

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Sources

Facts, costs, and travel details in this guide were verified against the following sources. See our research methodology for how we vet and update data.

Cruise lines change dress code policies without notice. Confirm with the line before packing.