NCL Dress-Code Shake-Up Sparks Passenger Backlash

Norwegian Cruise Line tightened its formal-dining dress rules for upscale restaurants, prohibiting shorts, tank tops, caps, distressed jeans and flip-flops—a move away from its casual “freestyle cruising” vibe. The policy shift prompted online outrage from some longtime passengers who felt the change undermines vacation comfort, while others defended it as improving the dining experience. Norwegian still promotes a laid-back vibe with some guidelines, and kids under 12 can wear shorts. The shipper expects about 3 million guests across 34 ships in 2025 and has recently seen leadership changes with a new appointee after Harry Sommer’s departure; the outlet notes the cruise line did not immediately comment.