Key Aspects:
- Norwegian Cruise Line has updated the dress code for the most elevated specialty restaurants in its fleet.
- Greater restrictions have now been placed on where guests can wear flip flops and shorts for dinner.
- Guests report inconsistent enforcement of dress codes on different ships, which is always a challenge for the crew.
The dining room dress code onboard cruise ships is constantly under scrutiny, as some guests prefer a more formal atmosphere for elevated restaurant experiences, while other travelers prefer more casual vacation vibes.
Norwegian Cruise Line has recently adjusted the dress code for select specialty dining restaurants to aim more for a formal atmosphere, and some very popular casual wear is no longer permitted in certain venues.
Guests onboard various Norwegian Cruise Line ships have noticed the change in signage posted onboard.
“Flip flops and shorts are not permitted for dinner at Palomar, Onda, Cagney’s, Le Bistro and Haven,” the signs read.
Respectively, these restaurants offer unique and exclusive experiences, from the Mediterranean-inspired seafood of Palomar to the modernized Italian flair of Onda. Cagney’s is the classic American-style steakhouse, while Le Bistro offers luxury French cuisine.
The Haven Restaurant is exclusively on vessels that offer the ship-in-a-ship experience of The Haven with its private spaces, and is only available to guests booked in The Haven staterooms.
The different restaurants are found throughout the NCL fleet as follows:
- Palomar – Breakaway, Aqua, Viva, Prima, Luna, Bliss, and Encore
- Onda by Scarpetta – Aqua, Viva, Prima, Luna, Spirit, and Encore
- Cagney’s Steakhouse – Fleetwide
- Le Bistro – All NCL ships except Pride of America
- Haven Restaurant – Escape, Epic, Getaway, Aqua, Viva, Prima, Luna, Aura, Bliss, Joy, Encore, and Breakaway
As these five restaurants are the most exclusive onboard, the expectation for slightly better attire is not unreasonable. Previously, the only specialty restaurant with such a restrictive dress code was Le Bistro.
For example, the Freestyle Daily newsletter distributed onboard has dress code notes on its daily dining list. Onboard Norwegian Aqua in the last few months, those notes have included the following:
“Le Bistro does not permit t-shorts or shorts of any kind.”
Until recently, there has been no mention of restrictions on flip flops or shorts for other specialty restaurants, though some newsletters have specified that “short shorts” are not permitted and there are language variations from ship to ship.
The signs, as well as the daily newsletters, also remind guests that certain types of attire are not permitted in either the Main Dining Rooms or any of the specialty restaurants onboard.
“Tank tops, hoodies, robes, jeans with holes or excessively revealing tears, and caps/hats are not permitted” is the standard guideline.
The dress code on Norwegian Cruise Line’s website has also been updated to reflect these new restrictions and what is (and isn’t) permitted in which restaurants.
While these updates may be a surprise to some, Cruise Hive has noted changing attire guidelines and similar debates on different cruise lines in recent years, particularly with respect to formal night and what clothing should be permitted in dining rooms and restaurants on that more elevated evening.
Guest Reactions Support Better Attire (and Better Enforcement)
Despite the fact that many guests have strong opinions on what constitutes appropriate attire for different dining rooms and restaurants, most NCL guests appear supportive of the latest update.
In particular, the idea that not everyone has the same idea of what suitable clothing should be has many agreeing with the new, more restrictive language.
“To me these are more upscale dining environments and some of these people push the limits on acceptable attire,” one guest noted.
“I’m glad they try to maintain dignity, class, and respect in the nicer venues,” another commented.
Unfortunately, enforcement appears to be less than consistent on different ships, which can be the cause of frustration for many guests who do prefer the higher standards in the more exclusive restaurants.
It can be challenging for crew members to confront guests about attire, particularly when some travelers may be quick to withhold gratuities or make complaints if they feel personally attacked about their fashion choices.
Changing trends, personal preferences, and even the amount of space available in luggage all play a part in determining an individual’s attire for different dining experiences.
