Norwegian
Cruise Line is getting some unexpected attention online this week after recently
having adjusted its dress code for guests at certain onboard dining venues.
Previously, passengers
were mostly encouraged to wear whatever made them most comfortable, in line
with its overall “Freestyle Cruising” ethos. But now, it seems, the cruise line
is aiming for a more formal feel at some of its higher-end specialty dining
restaurants across the fleet.
Unilad
pointed out that, in a now-deleted portion of its official website, Norwegian previously
wrote: "When it comes to what to wear, you can go resort casual or get decked
out and look your best — it’s your call.” It also highlighted a “Dress-Up or
Not Night” for guests who wanted to get a little glammed up and perhaps take
photos with their companions — or not.
Stricter Rules for Specialty Restaurants
Previously, Le
Bistro had the fleet’s only somewhat formal dress code, which prohibited all
types of t-shirts and shorts. But now, there are other specific casual-wear items
that are no longer permitted in several of the upper-echelon specialty venues,
including Le Bistro, Onda by Scarpetta, Palomar, The Haven Restaurant and Cagney’s
Steakhouse.
The new guidelines
for these restaurants, which Cruise
Hive said have been reported by recent guests — as seen in onboard signage
and in the Freestyle Daily newsletter delivered to passengers’ staterooms each
day — ban things like bathrobes, tank tops, hoodies, jeans with holes or tears
in them, and caps or hats.
Norwegian has also
updated its website to reflect the dress code changes at these higher-end
dining venues. It emphasizes that casual, beach-style clothing is still welcome
throughout most of the ship, saying, “Shorts and Flip-flops? Totally fine in
most places — just not in the following restaurants: Palomar, Ocean Blue, Onda,
Cagney’s, Le Bistro and Haven Restaurant for dinner.”
Onda By Scarpetta, one of the restaurants on the new Norwegian Prima. (Rendering via Norwegian Cruise Line)
Cruisers Weigh in on the Changes
Still, the update
appears to have caught some loyal cruisegoers off guard. On Reddit, one user
pointed out an apparent incongruity with the brand’s overall messaging: "They
just did a whole ad campaign about they were the first to do away with dress
codes for dinner. It was called ‘It’s Different Out Here.’ Now this.”
Another said, "I
can understand saying no robes but a hoodie seems crazy, it's a perfectly
acceptable thing to wear to a casual dining experience." One Redditor with a pragmatic viewpoint rather blatantly
opined, “Dressing up on vacation for dinner in 90 degrees heat locations is
stupid.”
On the flip side,
plenty of other travelers seem to support the change. "I have actually
seen this, people eating dinner in pyjamas and bathrobes. Totally
inappropriate," one guest wrote on Reddit. "Save the bathrobes for
the walk of shame, folks. Not the dining room," another said.
“I’m glad they try
to maintain dignity, class and respect in the nicer venues,” another
commented.
Cruise Hive noted
that instituting dress codes has always been tricky for cruise lines,
especially when expectations vary from guest to guest. Crew members also have
to walk a fine line when enforcing such attire restrictions, since some
passengers may react poorly to being told what they can’t wear.
All of which only
proves — you can’t please everyone.
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