Celebrity Cruises passengers debate scandalous dress code concern
What’s appropriate to wear on a cruise ship can be a bit confusing — and controversial.
Cruise ship dress codes can be a topic of debate among passengers.
Cruisers with more traditional standards often get frustrated when they see shorts and flip flops in main dining rooms, or swimsuits concealed only by see-through cover-ups in the buffet.
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Although it’s perfectly acceptable to spend your day in your swimsuit lounging on the pool deck, passengers are expected to cover up to walk around in any other public areas of the ship. Cruise lines clearly spell this out for passengers in their dress code policies, but it typically isn’t clear whether there are standards around the type of swimwear passengers should sport at the pool.
Dress code standards vary by cruise line and some are stricter than others, so it can be difficult to judge what’s appropriate when you're preparing to sail on a certain cruise line for the first time.
That’s the dilemma one first-time Celebrity Cruises passenger recently faced as she packed for an upcoming cruise. Without much guidance on swimwear offered in the cruise line’s onboard dress code FAQs, the new Celebrity cruiser turned to Reddit for help.
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Celebrity Cruises passenger asks for advice on ‘cheeky’ topic
“I know Celebrity is geared more toward the adult crowd and less family oriented. I don't know how to ask this, but what's the modesty expectation?” hi_imhayley asked in the Celebrity Cruises community on Reddit. “I'm [a 23-year-old woman and] very much a just 'lay by the pool and tan' type person so my swimsuits tend to be more on the cheeky side. Especially because I’m somewhat curvy so finding full coverage bottoms is practically impossible anyway.”
The cruiser wanted to make sure her choice of swimwear wasn’t going to seem inappropriate on a Celebrity Cruises ship.
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“My concern is: am I going to offend people if I'm walking around the pool deck in a small bikini? I want a nice tan, but I also don't want to make anyone uncomfortable if it's more of a modest vibe. I'll wear a one piece if need be,” hi_imhayley explained.
Luckily, the cruising community is always happy to help and a number of passengers quickly came to the new cruiser’s aid with helpful pool deck insights and swimwear advice.
Celebrity Cruises passengers say skimpy swimwear is okay, but only at the pool
Most passengers who weighed in on the discussion encouraged the cruiser to wear whatever swimwear makes her comfortable. Some offered insights from their own recent cruise experiences, which indicated that though the Celebrity Cruises atmosphere is refined, it’s not stuffy.
“We just got back from a cruise on the Celebrity Ascent and there was definitely a wide variety of swimsuits — with plenty on the less modest side! Both men and women,” crump_r explained. “There were very few children on the cruise and I personally was not offended and no one else appeared to be either. Like you said, it’s more geared toward adults anyway. I say wear what makes you feel beautiful and comfortable and get yourself a good tan!”
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Several passengers also emphasized that bikini-clad cruisers should be prepared to cover up to walk between the pool deck and other areas of the ship though, and especially to enter the buffet.
“I have been on many Celebrity cruises. There are a vast variety of different shapes, sizes and ages wearing bikinis,” sortior wrote. “While sunning it will be no issue. I would bring a coverup to go to and from the pool.”
“Don’t go to buffet in a swimsuit with just a wrap cover up. It’s not really good form,” GloomyAd2653 suggested. “If you have a little shift/dress type cover up, then by all means, but that’s about it.”
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