Regent Seven Seas bows to the inevitable and changes dress code on jeans

• Denim, once the biggest no-no of dress codes, has made a breakthrough.
• Ultra-luxury line Regent Seven Seas has relaxed its ban on jeans.
• The line has even issued a list of what it considers chic.

It’s a cruise debate as old as the sails on a schooner: Can denim jeans – even the coolest brands – ever be worn on a formal night?

Raise the subject of cruise ship dress codes and stand back as guests erupt and take sides. One the one hand, there are the staunch conservatives, those that cling to formal meaning formal – jackets, trousers and formal shirts at the very least, black tie at its starchiest.

On the other, the elegant casual brigade, maintaining stylish need not be too formal. Think Zegna, Gucci and Canali.

In an age where comfort reigns supreme and “smart casual” has become a universally accepted fashion mantra, there remain very few venerable institutions that still cling to dress codes with the tenacity of a barnacle to a ship’s hull.

In these sartorial strongholds, jeans are often viewed with the same apprehension as rogue waves, or an empty champagne flute.

If there is one word that instantly divides cruise fashionistas, it’s “denim”. It’s as if jeans, with their sturdy twill and rebellious origins, will unravel the very fabric of refined cruising.

But why this denim dread? Why this phobia over a garment that has clothed cowboys, rock stars, and even royalty?

Now, one of the industry’s biggest bastions of conservatism, which also boasts the world’s most luxurious fleet, has taken a bold step.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has updated its “elegant casual” evening dress code to be more relaxed from this month.

Guests can now wear something called “refined denim” and dress sneakers.

Here’s a sneak peak at what they mean:

Not everyone is happy. Some Regent guests are already concerned about the impact this will have on what is supposed to be a refined and elevated luxury experience.

Here at Cruise Passenger, where the office tux gets a regular workout, we have some sympathy with this argument.

When people dress up, they show respect to both their surroundings and fellow guests. So dressing down can be rude and uncaring. After all, a cruise ship’s fine dining halls on formal nights is something very special – and long may that remain the case.

I remember quizzing the president of Cunard, a bastion of style with strict dress codes for Gala evenings and where jeans were definitely not accepted in the main dining rooms, on whether he would ever drop the dress code.

“Absolutely not,” he replied, horrified.  “It’s what makes Cunard a special experience! Without it, we would just be like everyone else.” Perish that thought!

Seabourn, Crystal, Oceania, Windstar all say jeans should not be warn in dining rooms during the evening. Even P&O’s “Black Tie and Celebration Nights” explicitly state they do not accept denim in venues.

Some cruise lines or individual cruisers may argue that very dark, unripped, “designer” jeans can be acceptable if paired with a dressy top or jacket.

And it is certainly true that actual enforcement of dress codes can vary by ship, staff, and the overall vibe of the cruise.

On some lines, especially more casual ones, you might see people in jeans even on formal nights, and they might not be turned away. On luxury and more traditional lines, enforcement is generally stricter.

We always advise: check the dress code before boarding. And then go with the flow.

Dress codes can be a beacon of sartorial splendor in an ever-more casual world. And no-one wants flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts as de rigueur for formal nights, do they?

Tell us what you think in the comments below.