Cruises, Cruise Deals & Cruise Holidays

Having been on Nautica (sister - and identical - ship to Insignia) 3 times, the best advice is to get hold of their excellent sales literature and DVD. From these you will not see a single guy wearing a tie, much less a DJ. But I agree with the advice that ladies can go pretty much as posh as they like - stopping short of full (floor) length. For more info, see my fuller answer at: Answer by Harvey, Henley-in-Arden (23 Feb 09 15:54) to a QUESTION by O'Neill David and Susan (28 Sep 08 08:27)

Sorry, forgot to say that daytime wear is very relaxed as on any other ship - shorts, trousers etc depending on the weather. On the cruise we did, the walking/jogging track on top deck was very popular all day long, not just for morning Walk a Mile. There's a really good gym and lots of fitness classes. My hubby hates gyms but even he got enthusiastic and used the treadmill every day. So you might want to pack some trainers and exercise clothes.

I have been on a few cruises, and for daytime, anything goes. It is just the evenings that seem to cause the problems!

Oceania's dress code is easy: day time wear is jeans, chinos, shorts with polo shirts, blouses, t- shirts (collared or not), trainers or I wore normal day clothes - dresses or separates, with sandals or birkenstock shoes. Evening wear was 'smart casual' to what you would wear when going out to a good restauant or dinner party; e.g. I wore georgette evening trousers, a camisole and matching devore chiffon jacket with court shoes, my husband wore smart trousers/suit trousers/chinos and a collared, long sleeve shirt, no jacket or tie required. Over Christmas and new year I wore formal - cocktail wear and formal evening gowns; my husband mostly wore flannels/suit trousers/smart trousers and collared shirts and tie, with blazer or jacket - not required to wear dinner suit. I didn't see anyone wearing cut off jeans, short shorts, very low tops, very short skirts, or sleeveless t-shirts; I didn't see tattoos, multiple ear-piercings or other body/tongue piercings for that matter - the whole atmosphere is refined, subtle, elegance. I/we didn't feel either over-dressed or under-dressed - it's a question of being tastefully and appropriately dressed for the time of day and activity/weather in an elegant, smart hotel (that floats) The Americans on board (most of the clientele) were very wealthy (but not showy or loud), well dressed, but not formally dressed. They may have been wearing designer clothing - but if they were I didn't recognise it and none was obviously branded. Realise that you've probably set sail by now - hope you have a terrific time - we do everytime we go and will be going with Oceania again soon.