Norwegian Cruise Line Bans Shorts and Flip Flops in Upscale Restaurants

Cruise line faces backlash over new dress code policy for higher-end dining venues.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Norwegian Cruise Line has updated its dining dress code, prohibiting guests from wearing shorts or flip flops in its upscale restaurants. The change has sparked outrage online, with some Redditors criticizing the policy and even the quality of the cuisine on Norwegian's ships.

Why it matters

Cruise lines often walk a fine line between maintaining a certain level of formality and allowing passengers to feel comfortable on vacation. Norwegian's new dress code policy reflects an attempt to elevate the dining experience, but it has also drawn complaints from customers who prefer a more casual atmosphere.

The details

According to Norwegian's website, the company is advising guests against wearing shorts or flip flops when dining at its higher-end restaurants. This update comes as Norwegian just released a commercial featuring passengers wearing flip flops in one of its dining venues. Norwegian is one of the largest cruise lines, expecting to host around 3 million guests across a fleet of 34 ships.

  • Norwegian recently launched an ad campaign touting the new dining dress code policy.

The players

Norwegian Cruise Line

One of the major commercial cruise lines, expecting to host around 3 million guests across a fleet of 34 ships.

Redditors

Online commenters who have expressed outrage over Norwegian's new dining dress code policy.

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The takeaway

Norwegian's new dining dress code policy highlights the ongoing tension between cruise lines wanting to maintain a certain level of formality and passengers seeking a more casual vacation experience. The backlash from Redditors suggests the company may need to carefully balance its approach to upscale dining to avoid alienating customers.