The short answer
Pack layers and good walking shoes; Europe means cobblestones, hills and changing weather. River cruises and most premium lines are 'smart casual' every night. Bring European plug adapters and cover shoulders and knees for church visits.
Not yet checked against an official sourceWritten from general knowledge and travel guides. Times, prices and docking details may be out of date. Confirm with your cruise line and the local operator.
Dress codes
- River cruises: casual by day, smart casual at dinner; jackets and ties are rarely required.
- Mass-market and premium ocean lines: smart casual most nights with one or two optional dressy nights on many sailings.
- Luxury lines and Cunard: more formal evenings; check the line.
What to pack
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip; old towns have uneven, slippery stone.
- Layers and a light rain jacket, even in summer (Norway and the British Isles are rainy).
- Sun hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle for Med summers.
- A scarf or light layer for churches; many churches ask visitors to cover shoulders and knees.
- European plug adapters (type C/F for most of continental Europe; type G for the UK and Ireland). Most phone and laptop chargers handle 220-240 volts; hair dryers often don't.
- Motion sickness remedies for ocean cruises; ask your doctor. River cruises rarely cause seasickness.
- Small day bag with a zipper; pickpockets work busy sights.
Laundry
- Many ships offer paid laundry; some have self-service launderettes. River ships usually have only paid service.
- Packing quick-dry clothes reduces the need.
Your checklist
Sources & what we could not confirm · 0 sources · checked 2026-11
No official source found yet.
Still being confirmed
- Dress codes were not verified line by line.
- Church dress rules (e.g., St. Peter's) could not be fetched from the official Vatican site this round.
- Plug types are general knowledge, not verified from an official source this round.