The dress
requirementsare geared towards all passengers. Most evenings are cruise casual with
the expectation that passengers refrain from wearing shorts, swim
attire and tank tops to the dining rooms.
Many parents dress their kids in similar attire for dinner. For
instance, my son wears pants and a button down shirt or polo shirt on
casual evenings. Khakis work well. Although most nights, I left him in
sneakers since he was headed to the Oceaneer Lab after dinner. On more
formal evenings, my son wears dress pants along with a button down
shirt and tie.
Getting dressed up for dinner is a perfect time to take family portraits with your own camera or via the ship's photographer.
I've seen every thing from shorts to suits on children (and adults).
Personally, I think a dressy pair of shorts works very well for small
children. After all, some shorts can be fancier than denim jeans.
I like to get our family dressed for the dinners on the ship. But then,
it's nice to get back into comfortable attire for late night activities
such as watching a movie or walking on the promenade deck.
Rest assured that your children will not be turned away from the dining room if they are wearing shorts.
Do what works best for your family's packing limitations, budget and
comfort. Also, DCL offers casual dining options for families that would
rather skip the dining rooms, especially on formal evenings.
With airline luggage policies becoming stricter, I would concentrate on
what you can fit in your luggage without going over the customary 50
pound limitation.
Best wishes for a relaxing and magical cruise