When you holiday with Cunard you’re not only packing for the ports you’ll visit on your journey but your time on board too. With that in mind, we’ve put together this handy inspiration guide to help you decide what makes it into your suitcase.

Daywear

On board

Shorts and T-shirts are perfectly acceptable, and we’d encourage you to bring swimwear so you can enjoy the pools, spa and whirlpools on your ship. If you want to use the gym, join an exercise class or run a mile around the deck, ensure you pack a pair of trainers and whatever you normally wear to work out. Swimwear isn’t permitted in indoor dining areas, so if you are planning to visit your stateroom’s main restaurant for breakfast or lunch, be sure to factor in time for a quick change in your stateroom. The main restaurants require a casual wear dress code for breakfast and lunch, however guests may wear shorts in either the Kings Court (Queen Mary 2) or Lido Restaurant (Queen Victoria & Queen Elizabeth).

Heading ashore

There’s so much to explore in each beautiful destination so it’s probably best to get your walking shoes on. Flat shoes tend to be the best for longer walks or in older cities – cobbles and high heels aren’t the best of friends! Depending on what you fancy exploring, you might pop into air-conditioned museums or cooler churches, so take a shawl, sweatshirt or light jumper, even on balmy days. Please remember that some cultures may require you to cover up too. And naturally, if you’re travelling to sunnier climes, sunglasses or hats may be needed.

Dress codes for the evening

We have two main evening dress codes from 18:00: Evening Casual and Celebration Nights. The dates of dress codes can be obtained via My Cunard (subject to change and final details will be confirmed on board).

Smart Attire

The majority of guests travelling with us embrace the chance to switch to Smart Attire by night. This doesn’t mean they'll be expected to wear a gown or dinner jacket each evening. Smart Attire simply means a dress shirt and trousers, skirt and a top, or a cocktail dress. Essentially, something along the same vein as they'd wear to a stylish restaurant or the theatre on a special occasion.

Gala Evenings

On Gala Evenings, we encourage guests to join in the sense of occasion with evening wear of dinner jacket, tuxedo, or dark suit with a regular tie or bow tie, or cocktail dress, smart trouser suit, or formal separates. Guests can also wear formal national dress and military uniform. Gala Evenings follow one of a few themes, with voyages of seven nights or more offering a chance to attend more than one. You’ll find many nods to these themes throughout the ship, so you'll want a wardrobe to match. Click below for our advice; whether you want to put on a show or give the theme a more subtle nod with an embellishment or accessory, the choice is yours. As a guide, there's approximately two or three formal nights per week. On World Voyages, there will be up to three formal nights per week, as well as themed Balls scheduled throughout the voyage.

Complete Cruise Solution

Cunard - Do you have a dress code on board?

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