Oh! The agony and ecstasy of formal night on the cruise! There is absolutely no other way to describe the romantic night when cruise passengers wear their best formal cruise wear and strut their stuff.

The agony of some men is to choose your finest formal cruise wear, cautiously pack them in your suitcase, unpack and un-wrinkle them, and the worst is to put the threads on. The romantic ecstasy of other men is seeing your dazzling beauty dressed in her finest, and walking in arms through the stylish dining room.

The agony for some women is, it’s the agony of make your mind up on what to pack for the formal cruise wear night. Should its color be black or bright? Short or long? Should it be a gown or a pair of slacks? The ecstasy for other women is a wonderful night of romance and sophistication.

When formal wear comes to cruises it is a bit subjective. For men, it usually translates into wearing a dark suit or jacket and a tie. On some cruise, tuxedos are more frequent. As a matter of fact and interest, many cruise ships rent out from the cruise line, wearable available tuxedoes and formals in advance. Before you set sail and to avoid disappointment and embarrassment later on, you have to pre-plan and book your rental as soon as possible.

That was the easy part reserved for men. Surprisingly, women can also pay rent for formal cruise wear. As with men, the identical early planning and booking are applicable. However…

The task of preparing formal can be much more thrilling or much more overpowering for many women. Elegant show-stoppers can be some gorgeous formal evening gowns. Yet, even pant suits and slacks or skirts and tops can be very glamorous. A pair of black silky “cocktail” type slacks can be a very practical article for any woman to pack into her suitcase for the cruise trip. These resist wrinkling (wow) and occupy very little room in the luggage. You will end up with a formal cruise wear with the minimum of hassles if you match these slacks with a couple of tops. You can also comfortably savor the delicious culinary masterpieces as the majority of these slacks have stretchy waistbands. Navigating onboard the cruise ship is both easier and more relaxing it you wear flat or low heeled shoes.

These formal nights can transform your cruise into a magnificent romantic getaway! The beauties that enhance romance onboard are superb cuisine, stylish dining rooms, intimate lounges, stage shows and reviews. Close your eyes and think about a nightclub filled with tuxedoed men and women wearing sequin covered dresses basking in the happy delighted glow of the evening.

A few of the cruise lines request that you to continue wearing your formal cruise wear for the entire evening. Others are more lenient about the clothes. Norwegian cruise lines and a few others operate on a relaxed “Freestyle” cruising ambiance.

Most cruise ships have dining areas where you can wear casuals, especially if you absolutely abhor getting all gussied up. Keep in mind that only dining restaurants with reservation need formal or informal dress attire.

Heck with the cruise liner beforehand if you have any doubts about what comprises formal cruise wear on your chosen ship.

So…..now you can finally relax. The tough formal cruise wear packing has been completed… and the excitement builds!