Passenger Concerned About Breaking Dress Code Seeks Advice
While some passengers are overly concerned about the meaning of formalwear, others are just trying to figure out what is appropriate to wear at the pool.
One soon-to-be Celebrity Cruises guest took to Reddit to seek advice on what a reasonable swimsuit would be to wear while tanning.
“I know Celebrity is geared more towards the adult crowd and less family oriented,” the poster said, asking, “what’s the modesty expectation?”
The 23-year-old admitted they enjoy tanning by the pool, so her swimsuits tend to be more cheeky — especially since it is hard to find modest ones in her size.
The post went on to say, “my concern is am I going to offend people if I’m walking around the pool deck in small bikini? I want a nice tan, but I also don’t want to make anyone uncomfy if it’s more of a modest vibe.”
Worried about offending other passengers, this individual wanted to know if it was acceptable to be walking around the pool deck in a small bikini, or if it be better to just find a one-piece.
“Tl;dr – are my butt cheeks gonna be offensive by the pool?” the poster added.
Fellow cruisers were quick to reply, offering some advice and advising the poster not to overthink the situation.
Read Also: 14 Cruise Etiquette Rules You Need to Know About
“I have been on many celebrity cruises. There are a vast variety of different shapes, sizes and ages wearing bikinis. While sunning it will be no issue, I would bring a coverup to go to and from the pool,” one person replied.
“Wear what you want, but just be aware that you may get uncomfortable attention. If you feel at all weirded out by the behavior of another guest, let staff know and make sure no one is trailing behind before you go back to your room,” added another.
The poster added an update after receiving the feedback, saying that she is aware and will not be going to the buffet in a bikini — and that she will also be wearing a cover-up when talking to and from the pool.
Celebrity Cruises’ dress code states clearly that while guests are at the pool, bathing suits are welcome, but it does not specify that any particular style of the suit is prohibited.
“In main and specialty dining, we ask guests to refrain from wearing swimsuits, see-through coverups or robes, bare feet, tank tops, T-shirts, and baseball caps,” the dress code goes on to say.
While this future passenger is trying to be respectful, she can rest easy knowing that her slightly NSFW bikinis are safe for the pool deck.
Breaking the Dress Code Will Annoy Other Passengers, but Not Crew
Passengers frequently break the dress code, whether they are aware of it or not. However, it is not uncommon for these rule breakers to get away with it while, in the process, annoying other guests with their attire.
In March 2025, a passenger on the 88,500 gross ton Carnival Legend complained about the lack of dress code enforcement by the crew while on the ship.
“In the buffet area – people in bathing suits – no cover ups – bare feet!,” the annoyed cruiser shared in a Facebook post.
Beyond the lack of enforcement around the pool, other passengers were disregarding the formal dress codes — at the end of the day, the worst thing that happened was someone being annoyed by another person wearing casual clothing to dinner.
Just days before this, another passenger on Carnival Spirit complained to brand ambassador John Heald about guests wearing jeans when the dress code called for formalwear.
Heald responded to the post, encouraging this individual not to let others’ fashion choices affect their dining experience, something that is becoming an unfortunate theme.
Carnival’s dress code says, “Life on board is dominated by a casual atmosphere,” and they take that seriously.
While not every passenger follows the dress code, some may seek advice to try to make sure other guests are comfortable, which is thoughtful.
Bikini lovers, breathe easy — these swimsuits and their many iterations, including thongs, are not prohibited on any cruise line. Happy tanning!