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Outraged cruise passengers blast company's 'idiotic' new dress code crackdown
By Jessica Mekles
Published February 21, 2026
Some Norwegian Cruise Line passengers are blasting the company's new dining dress code policy as "idiotic."
T-shirts and shorts are the norm for many cruise lovers, but anyone who wants to dine at Norwegian Cruise's top-tier restaurants may soon be swapping comfy clothes for designer duds.
Palomar, Ocean Blue, Onda, Cagney’s, Le Bistro and Haven restaurants will no longer allow shorts or flip-flops, according to the cruise line's website.
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Tank tops, hoodies, robes, shorts, jeans with holes or tears and caps/hats "may not be permitted" at various dining locations, the company said.
Attire with offensive language or images has been ruled out too, according to Norwegian Cruise Line's "frequently asked questions" page.
A number of cruise passengers are angry at Norwegian Cruise Line for a strict new dress code at its top restaurants. (Jeff Greenberg/ Universal Images Group)
"Do not like the new rules for some of the restaurant venues. I am on VACATION, in a warm-weather climate, wearing a [collared] shirt and nice SHORTS," one traveler wrote in response to one of the company's Facebook posts.
"Been on 15 cruises with Norwegian, loved the relaxed style. …Tell the fuddy daddies where to go," the person added about the new policy, calling it "idiotic."
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In response to that particular post on Facebook, the company replied, "Hi, we appreciate your feedback as it is valuable to us. If there is anything else we can do to assist you, please don't hesitate to call us directly."
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The beloved cruise line, which predicted it would have 3 million passengers aboard 34 ships in 2025, is known for its laid-back vibe.
So, the new dress code for certain restaurants came as a shock to some.
Palomar, Ocean Blue, Onda, Cagney’s, Le Bistro and Haven restaurants will no longer allow shorts or flip-flops, according to the cruise line. (Jeff Greenberg/ Universal Images Group)
Another Facebook commenter griped, "Agreed! Nice shorts [and a] nice collared shirt should be allowed when on a Caribbean or other warm-weather cruise!
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"Who wants to pack pants for only a couple [of nights] for just dinner?!"
Yet another traveler wrote, "Not sure the new no shorts rule is really what your customers are looking for. The freestyle thing has always been a big draw for NCL and I think this change is rather [tone-deaf]."
One man disagreed, saying, "Bring back class to sailing."
But one man disagreed, saying, "Bring back class to sailing. For the nicer restaurants, not too much to ask to require slacks and a nice shirt."
He also said, "No one wants to see hairy legs and smelly, fungus-laden [toenails] while dining."
Another person chimed in, "Bravo on the new dress codes for restaurants!"
"Do not like the new rules for some of the restaurant venues," one cruise traveler wrote on social media (not pictured). (Jeffrey Greenberg/ Universal Images Group)
Fox News Digital reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line for comment.
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A spokesperson said in a statement over the weekend, "We aim to provide exceptional vacation experiences for guests all around the world. We have always provided our guests with the freedom and flexibility to dress in casual attire in most areas of the ship, with the exception of select restaurants on board. These dress guidelines provide our guests with the flexibility to enjoy a more elevated dining experience in the venues where it is appropriate and a casual dining experience in others."
"Our award-winning fleet of 20 contemporary ships sail to nearly 350 of the world's most desirable destinations."
The company added, "While our guidelines remain largely unchanged, we recently made slight modifications to guidance for the Haven restaurant and select specialty restaurants to help clarify expectations for our guests. These adjustments allow our guests to better understand the dining experience they can expect in advance of their dining reservations, making for a smoother experience for all on board.
"Details on our dress guidelines are widely available for all guests to review on board and can be found on our website."
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The company notes on its site that it's "been the premier innovator in the cruise line industry for over 58 years. Most notably, we revolutionized the industry by offering guests the opportunity to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes.
"Our award-winning fleet of 20 contemporary ships sail to nearly 350 of the world's most desirable destinations."
Headquartered in Miami, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. is a leading global cruise company operating Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
https://www.foxnews.com/travel/outraged-cruise-passengers-blast-companys-idiotic-new-dress-code-crackdown