Welcome Aboard, Lesley!
Congratulations on your first Disney Cruise - you'll be so happy you chose to sail with Captain Mickey! With Broadway-style entertainment, incredible dining, tons of fun kids' activities and personalized service, you'll have the time of your life. Our first cruise ever was with DCL, and we fell in love from the first moment we stepped aboard!
Dress code aboard the Disney ships is quite "guest-friendly", with most evenings being "cruise casual". Cruise casual means no tank tops, no swimwear, and I suggest no shorts for adults. Jeans are okay for your son to wear if that's what he's most comfortable in. On three, four, and five-night itineraries, there will be a "dress-up" night. For a 10-year-old, a pair of nice shorts with a golf shirt or something similar would be just fine.!
For seven-night and longer itineraries, there's also the addition of a Formal Night. Formal Night dress will be much more upscale, with women in nice dresses and men in suit and tie or a tux. Many families will stop by and visit the photographers in the Lobby Atrium before dinner for a family portrait on these nights.
If your son would rather "opt out" of Formal Night, he could always choose to have dinner in the Oceaneer Club/Lab that evening.
Make sure he packs his favorite pirate gear in his suitcase for
Pirate Night - with an awesome deck party and fireworks at sea, it's swashbuckling fun for everyone!
I hope this helps - come back and visit the Moms Panel if you have any more questions!
Anchors Aweigh! - Diane W.