A Special night on Carnival Cruises!
When you book a trip with Carnival Cruise, you have the chance to partake in one or more formal nights. These evenings remain a cherished tradition in the cruise itinerary, providing guests with a memorable experience akin to living out a scene from a movie. Good food, beautiful dresses and fun? Sign me up.
Almost every Carnival cruise includes at least one formal night, and that happens also in the majority of cruise lines out there. These nights are also referred to as "Elegant Nights", since its renaming over a decade ago. We are here to help you understand what these nights are all about and choose appropriate attire for the Elegant Night.
Carnival's formal nights transitioned to "Elegant Night" to make guests feel relief from the pressure associated with formal attire. This change emphasizes a special evening without the rigidity of traditional formalities.
There are some exceptions, like for the one-day cruises, but most Carnival voyages feature one or two Elegant Nights. The timing varies, often falling on the second or third night of shorter cruises and multiple nights for longer journeys.
Do you prefer to just chill in the swimming pool?
Participation in Elegant Night is optional. Guests preferring casual attire can enjoy the buffet restaurants as they please, so they don’t have to worry about the dress code.
But if you decide to participate, the recommended dress code for Elegant Night includes dress slacks with a shirt and sports coat for men, and cocktail dresses, pantsuits, or skirt and blouse combinations for women. However, you are the passenger, so you can wear the outfit you feel most comfortable with.
Avoid those cut-off jeans, sleeveless shirts, and flip-flops because you won’t get inside the elegant dinner wearing them. Sorry. Just make sure to pack something fancy in your luggage for the special night. It's also a good opportunity for some pretty family pics!

What about the kids?
Children's attire for Elegant Night can follow the recommended dress codes for men and women, but feel free to opt for something different if you prefer. The dress code for children is understandably more flexible than it is for adults.
It’s important to understand and follow the guidelines of Elegant Night so you can enjoy the Carnival cruise experience! Need more help with specific details, itineraries or something else? Contact us, and let Famvia take care of all your travel needs.