NYC Dinner Cruise Dress Code

The dress code on a New York dinner cruise depends on the boat: City Cruises’ premier dinner on the glass-roofed luxury boat is semi-formal and turns away jeans, t-shirts and sandals, while the buffet boats ask only for casually stylish clothes and the Pier 36 cruise says “dress to impress”. On every boat, bring a layer for the open deck: the harbor is windy and cold after dark for most of the year.

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Boat by boat

Can you wear jeans?

On City Cruises’ premier dinner, no: the listing says casual jeans are not permitted and the code is enforced at boarding. On the buffet boats and the brunch cruises, dark jeans with a smart top are fine, and most guests dress that way. On the Pier 36 cruise jeans are not banned, but the listing’s “dress to impress” and the birthday and anniversary crowd mean you will feel more comfortable dressed up.

What actually works on the water

Shoes you can walk a deck in. City Cruises recommends flat, closed-toe shoes on its buffet boat for safety, and the decks are steel and sometimes wet. Heels are possible on the enclosed dining decks but not much fun outside.

A layer, even in summer. Recent Circle Line guests in October advise warm clothing because “it is chilly” on deck, and the wind off the harbor is the same for every boat. The best views, the Statue of Liberty and the bridges, are outside.

Nothing that blows away. Hats and loose scarves go first on the open deck at the Battery.

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For which boat suits which evening, see the best dinner cruise in NYC; for what each costs, the prices guide.

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