Regent Loosens Dress Code to Allow Denim and Sneakers at Night
Luxury cruise lines are shifting expectations as younger travelers push for a more casual onboard experience.
Photo: Courtesy of Regent Seven Seas
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has officially relaxed its evening dress code fleetwide, now permitting “refined denim and dress sneakers” in all public areas after 6 p.m. The new policy, announced to guests in late July, reflects what the line called “today’s wider interpretation of sophisticated fashion.”
Regent’s now in line with other high-end cruise lines that have eased formality in recent years. Crystal allows dark-wash jeans with no rips in the evening, and Silversea made similar dress-code updates across its fleet in 2024. While jackets and cocktail dresses remain welcome, strict adherence is no longer expected.
“No matter if you are in slacks and a collared shirt, a cocktail dress, gown, or even a three-piece suit, you will never look out of place,” Regent told guests in an email.
The policy shift highlights a broader generational change. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the average cruise passenger age has fallen to 46.5, with Gen X and millennials now making up 67% of the market. For luxury lines looking to expand beyond legacy clientele, relaxing dress codes is a strategic play.
Regent’s policy “will bring them more clients than they lose,” speculated Andrew Satkowiak, co-founder of the Luxury Travel Agency, in an interview with MarketWatch. “Changes like this do not come lightly, so I can almost guarantee there was extensive research done before announcing this change.”
Still, the new guidelines raise questions around interpretation: What qualifies as “refined denim”? Are “classic-colored sneakers” considered formal enough for Compass Rose? Teresa Tennant, senior vice president with Cruise Specialists, told MarketWatch the updated language may cause confusion. “They’re going to have to create a clearer definition,” she said.
Regent noted that onboard staff will continue to monitor adherence and encouraged guests to “embrace the spirit” of the policy.
In the end, the change may help position Regent more effectively with next-generation luxury clients—those seeking world-class service without the rigid formality of cruising past. But for long-time guests who romanticize formal nights and black-tie galas, the loosening of attire expectations could feel like a departure from tradition.
