Teri West
Guests can wear jeans to dinner on a Regent Seven Seas cruise now. Not only that, but they can pair the jeans with sneakers.
Dress codes on luxury cruise lines are reaching a new level of casual, and Regent’s change, implemented Aug. 1, is a prime example of where they are likely headed.
“In recent years, we’ve noticed a shift in what guests expect when it comes to dressing for the evening — not just on our ships, but in fine dining and other upscale settings around the world,” said Wes D’Silva, the cruise line’s chief commercial officer. “People are leaning toward a style that’s polished and sophisticated but also comfortable.”
While the shift is an indicator of evolving preferences, it may also be an indicator of evolving demographics of the luxury guest.
Those guests are getting younger, said advisor Dennis Nienkerk of Dallas’ Strong Travel Services. He recalled seeing more passengers in their 50s and 60s on recent luxury sailings than he would in years past.
In a memo to guests, Regent made sure to clarify that not just any jeans are acceptable. Denim shouldn’t be distressed or ripped, it said, and the sneakers should be clean and a neutral or classic color.
But for a cruise line that calls itself The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet, it’s a meaningful change. And it’s an acknowledgment of changing times.
Crystal’s dress code, for example, currently includes day casual and evening resort, with optional formal evenings. Guests still appreciate the chance to get fancy, but they are looking for versatility, said Bernie Leypold, Crystal’s senior vice president of global hotel operations.
“The future will lean toward adaptable guidelines that celebrate personal style, incorporate climate and destination considerations, and foster a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere,” Leypold said.
Cunard, which offers gala evenings that feature an “elevated” dress code beyond its usual suggestion of a cocktail dress or dress shirt and trousers, said that participation was “entirely optional.”
Nienkerk said his clients are hoping to pack lightly and travel comfortably and appreciate dress codes that enable them to do so.
“I’ve had people who book luxury cruises, and they will not even bring a tie,” he said. “That’s one of the important things that they ask. And so far, I’ve been able to say, look, bring along one blazer and put it on over a nice shirt … and that’s sufficient.”
He identified Regent as a likely trend setter for future dress codes industrywide.
“I think down the line you’re going to see most of the cruise lines, if not all, take the approach Regent is, because they’re going after a younger demographic,” he said.
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