From 70s Disco and Caribbean to White Night and Dress Your Best, theme nights are a traditional part of the Royal Caribbean cruise experience.
But how do you know which theme nights your Royal Caribbean cruise ship will have? While Royal Caribbean doesn’t publish a schedule for every sailing, most ships follow similar patterns based on the itinerary length, making it easier to plan outfits ahead of time.
Here are some examples of the theme nights from my recent Royal Caribbean cruises:
| Royal Caribbean cruise | Theme nights |
|---|---|
| Utopia of the Seas: 4 days | Casual/Toga, Caribbean, White, Dress Your Best |
| Ovation of the Seas: 5 days | Resort Casual (x3), Tropical, Dress Your Best |
| Independence of the Seas: 5 days | Casual (x3), Caribbean, Dress Your Best |
| Voyager of the Seas: 5 days | Casual (x2), Caribbean, Dress Your Best, 70s |
| Icon of the Seas: 7 days | Casual (x3), Coco-Casual, Caribbean, White, Dress Your Best |
| Harmony of the Seas: 7 days | Casual (x3), Caribbean, 70s, Dress Your Best, White |
| Adventure of the Seas: 7 days | Casual (x3), Tropical, 70s, Dress Your Best, White |
| Odyssey of the Seas: 8 days | Casual (x4), Caribbean, Dress Your Best (x2), 70s |
| Anthem of the Seas: 12 days | Resort Casual (x8), Tropical, Dress Your Best (x2), White |
Does Royal Caribbean have a dress code?
Not necessarily. You can wear whatever you want on your cruise, within reason.
During the day, the dress code is very casual. Swimsuits, t-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops are completely normal around the pool deck and other public areas.
In the evenings, there is a “dress code” that you can choose to participate in, including Casual, Tropical, Formal, and others (more on that later).
Royal Caribbean has a few guidelines to keep in mind:
- No bare feet or tank tops in the Main Dining Room or specialty restaurants for dinner
- A shirt and shoes are always required in the onboard casinos
- Keep swimwear on the pool deck. Try to use a cover-up when indoors.
- Shorts are welcome for breakfast and lunch
Essentially, you’ll see a wide range of outfits on your cruise. Some guests dress up more, while others keep it relaxed. Royal Caribbean is a mainstream cruise line, and there isn’t a rigid dress code like luxury lines such as Silversea or Viking.
What are the theme nights on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
1. Casual
You’ll find this theme (also sometimes called “Resort Casual” or “Coco-Casual” if docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay) on the majority of your cruise. This basically means you can wear whatever you want (again, within reason)!
Ideas of what to pack:
- T-shirts or polo shirts
- Golf or Bermuda shorts
- Jeans
- Sundresses
- Blouses
2. Dress Your Best
Back in the day, this theme used to be called “Formal Night,” and many guests would dress to the nines in ballgowns and tuxedos.
Today, many ships call it “Dress Your Best” or “Dress to Impress,” which the cruise line describes as “a step up from your typical dinner wear.” While some passengers still go all out, the atmosphere has become much more casual in recent years.
On formal nights, you’re encouraged to wear:
- Suit and tie
- Sports coat
- Blazer
- Cocktail dress
- Pantsuit
- Skirt and blouse
- Evening gown
- Going-out outfit
Your cruise will most likely have at least one Dress Your Best Night. According to the Royal Caribbean website, it follows this pattern:
- 5-night cruises: 1 Dress Your Best night
- 6 to 10-night cruises: 2 Dress Your Best nights
- 11 to 14-night cruises: 3 Dress Your Best nights
- 15 + night cruises: 3-4 Dress Your Best nights
3. Caribbean or Tropical
You’ll see this theme on a Western, Eastern, or Southern Caribbean cruise itinerary, as well as those that visit the Mexican Riviera. Most cruisers already bring something that works for this theme night without trying!
Ideas of what to pack:
- Tropical prints
- Pastel colors
- Linen shorts
- Bermuda shorts
- Sundresses
4. 70s Disco
There’s almost always a 70s theme night on a Royal Caribbean cruise. I’ve personally seen the 70s disco occur more often, but the 80s are included sometimes, too.
Here’s how Royal Caribbean describes this theme night: “Let’s get groovy, baby! Embrace the disco fever of the 70s by donning your funkiest threads. Get ready to boogie in your bell-bottom jeans, polyester suits, wide lapel shirts, maxi dresses, miniskirts, knee-high boots, and platform shoes. It’s going to be far out!”
Ideas of what to pack:
- Flared jeans or pants
- A retro-style or bold-patterned top
- Platform shoes, sneakers, or boots
- Sunglasses or a headband
5. White Night
White Night has become more common on Royal Caribbean ships in recent years. It’s fun for the late-night parties onboard because the colorful lights make the white outfits really pop!
Ideas of what to pack:
- A white sundress or linen set
- White button-down or polo
- Neutral sandals, wedges, or loafers
6. Other: Country, Toga, etc.
There are a few theme nights that vary by ship or itinerary. For example, Utopia of the Seas has a toga party, while some sailings departing from Galveston, Texas, feature a country-themed night.
My tip: Don’t overpack for these less-frequent theme nights. There’s no need to pack an entire Cowboy or Toga-inspired outfit that you’ll only wear for a few hours. A white outfit, tropical shirt, linen set, and a few accessories can work for multiple nights and save valuable suitcase space.
How to find the theme nights on your Royal Caribbean cruise
1. Check the Royal Caribbean app
You’ll be able to view the theme nights on the Royal Caribbean app closer to your sail date (about two weeks before embarkation), but if you want to plan even earlier, there is a workaround.
- Open the Royal Caribbean app
- Go to the Profile tab by tapping the person icon in the top-right corner
- Tap “Select a different cruise”
- Scroll to the bottom until you see “Don’t see your cruise?” and tap “Let’s add it now”
- Tap “Browse our ships” and select the ship you’ll be sailing on
- Pick a sailing date that falls within either the current week or the following week
- Select an itinerary with a cruise length similar to your upcoming sailing
- Scroll through the Daily Planner and find the “Tonight’s Attire” event
2. Review old Cruise Compasses
Royal Caribbean distributes a daily schedule onboard called the Cruise Compass, which lists entertainment, events, and the dress code of the day. You can also view this schedule in the Royal Caribbean app.
If you’re trying to plan outfits early, do a quick Google search for an older Cruise Compass from your ship (for example, “Adventure of the Seas Cruise Compass”). This way, you may be able to find a Facebook group or Reddit post about your ship’s theme nights.
3. Join Facebook Groups for previous sailings
Try searching for Facebook groups from previous sailings on your ship, as passengers often share photos from the theme nights onboard. This can give you an idea of which theme nights occurred on your ship and what people actually wore.
Is theme night participation mandatory on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
Not at all! Participating in Royal Caribbean theme nights is optional, and plenty of passengers skip them entirely.
But if you enjoy dressing up, taking photos, or joining the onboard parties, packing one or two themed outfits can make your cruise experience even more fun!
