Dress Code on P&O Cruises - A Comprehensive Guide To What To Wear
Suitcase packed for a trip.:
Updated July 2026
What to Wear on your P&O Cruise
There are just three dress codes on P&O Cruises For 2026-2027 - one daytime dress code and two evening dress codes Find out more below.
Dress Codes on Iona | Arvia | Britannia | Aurora | Ventura | Arcadia | Azura
Packing for a cruise can feel overwhelming, especially with strict onboard dress codes. P&O Cruises balances modern relaxation with classic British maritime traditions.
This comprehensive guide breaks down the P&O Cruises dress code so you know exactly what to pack, what to wear during the day, and how to dress for elegant Celebration Nights.
At-a-Glance: P&O Cruises Dress Code Summary
Not sure what to pack for your P&O Cruises holiday? The dress code is more relaxed than many first-time cruisers expect, but what you wear does vary depending on the time of day and whether it’s a casual evening, Celebration Night or themed event. This handy Cruise Lowdown At-a-Glance guide shows exactly what’s appropriate to wear – and what to leave in your suitcase – so you can feel comfortable, confident and perfectly dressed throughout your cruise.
P&O Cruises Dress Code Summary At a Glance. Image: Created by AI for Cruise Lowdown
Daytime Dress Code: Casual and Comfortable
During the day, the onboard vibe is entirely casual. You are free to dress for comfort while exploring the ship or relaxing by the pool.
Poolside Attire: Swimwear, flip-flops, and board shorts are perfect for the open decks.
Indoor Public Areas: When walking through the buffet, atrium, or indoor lounges, you must wear a shirt and footwear.
Cover-Ups: Swimwear must be covered up with a dress, t-shirt, or kaftan when entering any indoor dining venue.
Evening Dress Code: After 6:00 PM
The dress code shifts at 6:00 PM across most of the ship's indoor bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. P&O Cruises enforces two distinct evening dress codes depending on the night’s schedule.
Evening Casual (Standard Nights)
Evening Casual is the default dress code for most nights of your cruise. Think of it as "smart casual" or what you would wear to a nice neighborhood restaurant.
For Men: Chinos, smart trousers, or dark-wash jeans paired with a polo shirt, collared shirt, or smart sweater. Clean, smart sneakers or loafers are perfectly acceptable.
For Women: Sundresses, skirts, trousers, smart jeans, blouses, or jumpsuits.
What to Avoid: Tracksuits, sportswear, football shirts, flip-flops, and heavily ripped or distressed denim are not permitted in the main dining rooms after 6:00 PM.
Black Tie (Celebration Nights)
Celebration Nights offer a chance to embrace classic cruise glamour. The number of Black Tie nights depends on your cruise length (usually one night on a 7-night cruise, and two to three nights on a 14-night cruise).
For Men: A tuxedo, dinner jacket, or a dark lounge suit with a tie or bow tie.
For Women: Evening trousers suits, elegant cocktail dresses, or full-length ballgowns.
For Children: Children are encouraged to dress smartly, but standard school uniform attire or smart casual clothing is acceptable for younger cruisers on formal nights.
P&O Cruises Fancy Dress and Theme Night Rules
P&O Cruises has strict regulations regarding themed clothing and fancy dress to ensure a comfortable environment for all guests.
Strict Fancy Dress Ban: Standard fancy dress, novelty onesies, inflatable suits, or clothing with offensive language/graphics are strictly banned onboard.
Official Theme Nights: The only exception to the fancy dress rule is during official, P&O-sanctioned theme nights (such as 70s nights, Tropical nights, or seasonal Halloween or Christmas events). Guests are welcome to wear outfits that match these specific themes in designated venues.
What to Wear on Black Tie/Gala Evening
Here are some suggestions as to what to wear on a Black Tie night. Whether you like to show a bit of leg or prefer to go all out Hollywood diva, any of the following would be appropriate: cocktail dresses, short formal evening dresses, long ball gowns/evening dresses or smart Jumpsuits/trouser suits - glitz and glamour is the name of the game. Whilst Dinner jackets or tuxedos are optimal choices, a dark lounge or business suit and tie can be worn as an alternative. Formal National dress/Military Uniform is also acceptable. Minimum expected standards would be a smart dress or tunic or smart separates; Formal trousers, jacket with a shirt and tie or ideally a smart suit. However, if you are more of the “if you’ve got it, flaunt it” mindset you can go all out and really dress up.
Daytime Dress Code
So your evening wardrobe is sorted, but what do you pack for daytime onboard? The dress code during the day is just your typical holiday wardrobe. Think t-shirts, shorts and sundresses (unless you’re heading to the Baltic in winter!). Away from the pool, shoes need to be worn and no pool wear is allowed in the ship’s lounges, inside bars, restaurants or reception. It may get chilly on deck and a bit breezy in the evening (even in the tropics), so maybe pack light layers. It’s also wise to pack flat shoes for promenading the Prom deck! Don’t forget to pack “sightseeing” outfits if you are going ashore - comfy shoes/sandals, a cover-up in hotter climates. Also worth finding out any cultural requirements for any ports of call you are visiting, particularly in the Middle East, where there are often strict clothing requirements, especially if you plan to visit any religious sights.
Theme Nights on P&O Cruises
Theme nights are a tradition on cruise ships - love them or hate them, they can be great fun, though it’s up to you whether you’d like to participate. Unlike the Evening Casual and Black Tie dress codes, dressing up for themes nights is absolutely optional. The usual themes will be 70s & 80s nights, tropical nights and Black and white nights. Its up to you whether you participate, but if you do want to you really don’t need to go overboard (excuse the pun) in your packing. A few carefully chosen accessories (beads, boppers, Hawaiian shirts etc.) will get you in the mood. Of course if you want to rock out the flares or leg warmers feel free. On tropical nights, crew will often hand out artificial Hawaiian lei (flower necklaces). Black and white nights follow the same dress code as Black Tie nights (cocktail dresses, tuxedos, ball gowns and dinner jackets). You could even opt for an all-black or all-white ensemble. If you decide not to dress in line with the theme, you still need to follow the ship's general dress code for that evening. If its npt clear which theme night might be on your cruise, but you know you’d like to join in just plan your packing around something that can be easily adapted (a little black dress or some costume jewellery for example).
What is the Dress Code for Children on P&O Cruises?
For children aged 17 years and under, the dress code every evening is Evening Casual, regardless of the adult dress code (but they are welcome to dress to impress too!). Denim is discouraged on Black Tie nights so you might need to hide their jeans!.
Fancy Dress
P&O Cruises state that fancy dress and novelty items or clothing are not permitted on their ships; the only exceptions to this are clothing for official P&O Cruises theme nights and seasonal events such as Halloween and Christmas. Any clothing that features inappropriate or offensive language, including novelty clothing with printed images or slogans, will not be allowed on board. They feel so strongly about this that they reserve the right to deny embarkation to guests who are inappropriately dressed. This policy does not apply to children aged 17 or under.
Does P&O Cruises Enforce Dress Codes?
This is a tricky one, and also a bone of contention between those that adhere to the suggested dress code and those that refuse to. As discussed above, P&O Cruises ‘recommends’ a particular dress code but how far do they actually go to enforce it? Guests are reminded in the daily Horizon what the dress code is for that particular evening, however if dressed within reason (as in not overtly casual/scruffy) it is unlikely that staff will want to offend guests by reprimanding them on improper dress. That said, it is policy and therefore they are quite within their right to do so. If you do choose to ignore the suggested dress code (particularly Black Tie) you do run the risk of the restaurant Maître D’ having a quiet word and suggesting you eat in a more relaxed, casual venue (i.e. the buffet). Also, contentiously perhaps, guests who have made an effort (especially those who still remember the formal nights of old), often get very put-out when fellow guests seem to flout “the rules”. You might say “that’s their problem”, which is true but still worth pointing out in case you get the odd furtive glance or someone glaring daggers at you!
P&O Cruises Dress Code Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you wear jeans on a P&O Cruise?
Yes, you can wear jeans during the day. After 6:00 PM, you can wear smart, dark-wash jeans on Evening Casual nights. Jeans are not permitted in the main dining venues or select specialty restaurants on Black Tie nights.
What is Black Tie Night?
One or more evenings on a P&O Cruise will be a celebratory Gala Evening. On these glamorous occasions, you can look forward to a gourmet dining experience with special menus, and the opportunity to wear glamorous evening wear. Sometimes officers and even the Captain may attend.
What happens if I don't want to dress up for Black Tie night?
If you prefer to stay casual on Celebration Nights, you do not have to pack a tuxedo or gown. You can enjoy a relaxed dinner at the casual buffet restaurants (like The Horizon) or relax in designated casual bars where the formal dress code is not enforced.
Can Tailored Shorts be Worn on Black Tie or Celebration Nights?
Tailored shorts cannot be worn for Black Tie or Celebration Nights, except in the buffet.
How many Black Tie Nights Will There Be?
As a rule of thumb expect at least one black tie/Gala Night on a 7 night cruise and between two and four on cruises of 9-14 nights. If you are lucky enough to be cruising for longer, there is likely to be one black night per each 7 nights so pack accordingly (or rotate your outfits). On shorter cruises there may be one Black Tie night on a 2-4 night cruise and one or two on cruises of 5-7 nights.
Is Black Tie Compulsory?
Whilst not compulsory, it is recommended that guests follow the evening’s dress code in restaurants and bars from 6 pm. It’s unlikely that you’d be prevented entry or refused service, but you might feel uncomfortably under-dressed (think about turning up at a posh club/restaurant/wedding in jeans and a tee-shirt when everyone else is ‘suited and booted’); or face the silent disapproval of fellow guests who have embraced dressing up and made an effort. That said, if you really prefer casual dress, perhaps choose to dine in the buffet on Black Tie nights, where it is more relaxed, or even take advantage of room service.
Are shorts allowed in the buffet at night?
Yes. The buffet restaurants maintain a casual dress code throughout the entire cruise, meaning smart shorts and t-shirts are acceptable for dinner. Additionally, on evening casual nights tailored shorts can be worn in The Beach House, The Glass House, as well as 6th Street Diner, The Olive Grove and The Keel & Cow on Arvia and Iona. However, shorts are not allowed in the main dining rooms or specialty restaurants after 6:00 PM.
How many Evening Casual Nights on a P&O Cruise?
The bulk of your evenings onboard will be Evening Casual. For a typical one week cruise there are usually six Evening Casual nights and on a two-week cruise there are normally ten Evening Casual nights, so pack accordingly.
What if you’ve not packed formal wear?
On most P&O Cruise Ships you will find a limited selection of formal wear (dinner suits/evening dresses etc) on sale in the shops, should you decide you’d quite like to dress up after all.
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The Lowdown
Mastering the P&O Cruises dress code requires balancing relaxed, comfortable clothing for the day with smart attire - such as trousers, dark jeans, or dresses - for evenings after 6:00 PM. Guests can choose to embrace formal attire on Celebration Nights or opt for casual dining alternatives, ensuring a confident and comfortable cruise experience.
I hope this answers most of your questions, but please don’t let the dress code become an issue for you. You will have a fabulous time onboard any P&O Cruises ship whatever you choose to wear. Just enjoy every minute!
Do you prefer to dress casually in a cruise or do you love to dress up for Black Tie nights? Share your thoughts in the comment section.