Cruise, Yacht and Resort Dinner Outfits

For cruise formal night, a yacht club dinner or a resort dinner, wear a midi dress, an evening jumpsuit, or wide leg pants with a blazer. The Luna Tina Two Layer Jumpsuit has a floral upper layer that detaches from a solid navy base, so one floor length piece gives you 2 looks on the same voyage.

For the dress code on the ship, read what to wear on cruise formal night and at the captain’s dinner.

What the cruise, yacht and resort dress codes mean

A week long sailing on most large cruise lines includes 1 or 2 formal nights. A line may call them gala, elegant or dress your best. The other evenings are smart casual. On formal night a cocktail dress, a midi dress, an evening jumpsuit or a pantsuit is accepted. A gown is optional unless the line sets a black tie code, and your line publishes its code before you sail. A yacht club dining room asks for smart casual and grows dressier after dark. On nights when men must wear a jacket, women usually wear a dress or a blazer. On a private yacht, guests usually go barefoot or wear soft soled flats on deck, and heels stay ashore. For a resort dinner, the code is resort casual or resort evening, which means a midi or maxi dress, or pants with a blouse. A rooftop is windier than the street below, and a midi, pants or a jumpsuit behaves better there than a light short skirt.

Formal night and the captain’s dinner

• The Tina Two Layer Jumpsuit ($695) is a floor length wide leg jumpsuit with a belted waist. With the floral layer it looks formal, and without it the navy base is plain enough to wear again at a later dinner.
• The Jody Lace Jumpsuit in Black ($550) and the Jody Lace Jumpsuit in Midnight Green (also $550) are sleeveless. Each has a European lace bodice, a sheer illusion yoke and a slim belt with a buckle over wide legs.
• The Greta Off-Shoulder Dress in Navy ($695) is a midi with a folded off-shoulder band and a double breasted bodice closed with silver buttons. A wide belt with a square silver buckle sits above side pockets and a pleated A-line skirt. It suits a captain’s dinner or a yacht club dinner.

Resort dinners and rooftops

• The Nela Midi Dress in Black ($695) is a spaghetti strap A-line midi in textured black with a subtle diagonal weave and a pleated skirt. It measures 46 inches from the back of the neck to the hem on a size 2.
• The Melissa Strapless Dress in White Polka Dot ($770) is a satin corset midi with black dots and a strap you can wear as a halter or remove.
• The Lola Long Dress ($595) is a viscose maxi in rust, cream and black, with a deep surplice V neckline, short cap sleeves and a front slit. It finishes at or just above the ankle.
• The Tina Jumpsuit in Yellow ($695) is floor length with an ombre yellow upper layer that detaches, and its fiber resists wrinkling in a suitcase.

Days on board and the beach club lunch

• The Teodora Travel Pants in Navy ($325) and the Teodora Travel Pants in Black (also $325) have a pull on elastic waist, side pockets and a straight leg that packs flat. They suit the flight, a day on shore and a beach club lunch.
• The Greta Wide Leg Pants in Navy ($610) have a wrap front panel that crosses the hip on diagonal seams. At the waistband, silver eyelets are threaded with red lacing and finished with an anchor charm.

The blazer for wind on deck

A dining room at sea runs cool, and the deck is windy after dark. The Alexa Tailored Blazer in White ($610) has long sleeves and 4 covered buttons, and it goes over the navy pants or the black Nela. The Alexa Tailored Blazer in Navy ($610) has a 3/4 sleeve and matches the Greta pants.

For a 7 night cruise, pack about 2 pairs of pants, 2 dresses, 1 evening jumpsuit and 1 blazer.

Read what to wear on a private yacht, what to wear to a yacht club and resort wear for women over 50 for more. Warm weather pieces are in resort wear, and a wedding abroad has its own page in destination wedding outfits. A club on land is covered in country club and Derby outfits. Every occasion is on the Shop by Occasion page.

Questions before you choose

Can I wear pants on cruise formal night?

Yes, you can. The large cruise lines accept a pantsuit, dressy wide leg pants with an evening top, or an evening jumpsuit on formal night. Each line publishes its own code on its website, and some exclude jeans on formal night.

Do I need a gown for a cruise captain’s dinner?

Most lines do not ask for one. The captain’s dinner usually falls on a formal night, where a cocktail dress, a midi dress or an evening jumpsuit is accepted. A floor length gown is welcome, and a traditional line that sets a black tie code may expect one.

What is a yacht party dress code for women?

By day, wear resort casual, such as light pants or a midi dress, with flat soft soled shoes. Many yachts ask guests to go barefoot on deck. In the evening, step up to a midi dress or a jumpsuit, and bring a blazer for the wind.

What should I wear to a resort dinner?

For resort casual, wear a midi or maxi dress, or pants with a blouse, and dressy sandals. For resort evening, wear a midi dress or a jumpsuit, with a heel that will not catch in wooden decking.

What should I wear to a rooftop party?

Choose a midi dress, tailored pants or a jumpsuit in a fabric with some weight, as a light short skirt lifts in the wind. Wear a block heel or a flat that will not catch in decking, and bring a layer for the drop in temperature after sunset.

Does Luna ship cruise outfits free, and can I return them?

Shipping to any US address is free, orders arrive in 2 to 5 days, and every order has 30 days for a return with no questions asked.