PONANT dress code: gala evenings, white night and expedition clothing
Pack for PONANT’s elegant dinners, gala and Officers’ evenings, with separate advice for polar landings and Le Commandant Charcot.
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A PONANT expedition can call for waterproof trousers in the morning and a cocktail outfit that evening. Leave room for both. The line’s casual-and-elegant approach has more occasion dressing than the word expedition might suggest, while landing equipment needs its own careful plan.
Start with your voyage’s clothing notes, then use this guide to decide which pieces can do several jobs. The recommendations below concern PONANT’s published shipboard guidance and polar preparation; a small-yacht charter, a Paul Gauguin sailing or a special itinerary may issue different instructions.
What matters for your decision
- Choose one adaptable special-evening outfit before adding extra accessories.
- Check your own event schedule before buying themed clothing.
- Polar equipment and dinner outfits solve different needs, especially on Le Commandant Charcot.
| Situation | Useful outfit | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary dinner | Trousers and a suitable top, or a simple dress | No shorts or bermudas in gourmet restaurants at night |
| Gala / Officers’ evening | Cocktail outfit; white or black-and-white option | Use your voyage’s event schedule |
| Polar landing | Required technical layers and waterproof outerwear | Confirm supplied parka, loaned boots and fit |
What to wear to an ordinary PONANT dinner
The official clothing FAQ recommends casual, elegant outfits and excludes shorts and bermudas from gourmet restaurants in the evening. A simple dinner combination is tailored trousers with a shirt or blouse, or a comfortable dress with a light layer. Those are practical interpretations of the guidance, rather than a requirement to buy a particular label.
Choose clothes you can sit in comfortably through dinner. On a Mediterranean itinerary, trousers from a dry sightseeing day may work again with a fresh top. After a humid hike or wet landing, keep a clean change ready in your cabin.
Gala and Officers’ evenings: pack one adaptable outfit
PONANT’s current FAQ recommends cocktail attire for gala evenings and white or black-and-white for the Officers’ evening. The German official guidance gives a cocktail dress or suit as examples and suggests bringing one or two formal outfits. Confirm the number of events in your own voyage documents; an itinerary page describing two galas is not a reliable count for every sailing.
A dark suit with a different shirt can cover more than one dinner; dressy trousers and a coordinated top are another option. A white shirt or blouse can also work for the Officers’ evening. Try the planned combinations with your evening shoes before packing.
Polar landings need a separate clothing system
The UK official expedition FAQ describes a provided polar parka and loaned boots, plus base layers, insulation and waterproof overtrousers. Check your sizes and the exact equipment provision before buying bulky duplicates. A supplied coat does not remove the need to bring the layers and accessories listed for your departure.
Test the complete combination at home: can you sit down in the trousers over your warm layers, reach a pocket with gloves on and move without the jacket pulling? Put landing items together so dressing for an excursion is straightforward. Keep the clean dinner layer separate from damp outerwear. For technical equipment, follow the operator’s voyage checklist rather than substituting a general resort-cruise packing list.
Le Commandant Charcot deserves its own preparation check
The Charcot section of PONANT’s FAQ calls for warmer preparation for its particular routes and describes a suitable expedition parka, loaned boots, snowshoes and walking sticks. It also publishes equipment sizes. Check those details against your needs and itinerary before departure, especially if standard sizing rarely works for you.
Plan for the route, season, wind and scheduled activities, following the technical checklist for your departure. Keep a dry set of onboard clothes ready after excursions and allow damp outerwear to dry as instructed.
Restaurant choices and the rest of your packing list
Read the PONANT dining comparison alongside your restaurant reservations. Gourmet dining, a relaxed meal and an expedition schedule can place different demands on your evening; ask the ship team how the published attire guidance applies to the venue you intend to use. Do not assume every ship has the same casual alternative or service hours.
Use the printable cruise packing lists for everyday travel items, then add PONANT’s technical checklist. If you prefer a sailing without scheduled formal nights, compare the Atlas dress guide.
Your decision checklist
- Read the clothing notes for your exact ship and voyage
- Confirm gala and Officers’ evening dates
- Check provided equipment sizes before shopping
- Try all technical layers together
- Keep a clean dinner outfit separate from landing gear
Questions travelers ask
Does PONANT have gala evenings?
Its current guidance recommends cocktail attire for gala evenings. Check your departure documents for the number and dates instead of assuming every itinerary follows the same schedule.
Must I bring a completely white outfit?
PONANT suggests white or black-and-white for the Officers’ evening. Check whether the event is planned and build an outfit from pieces you will also wear elsewhere.
Does PONANT provide polar clothing?
The official FAQ describes a provided parka and loaned boots on polar voyages, with specific Charcot equipment guidance. Confirm the provision and sizes for your departure; you still need the listed personal layers and accessories.
Official sources and further reading
Sources checked September 20, 2026. Explore the original policies, destination guidance and provider information behind this article. Each description explains what you will find at the source.
- PONANT clothing and expedition FAQCurrent general attire recommendations, evening restaurant restriction and polar equipment overview.
- PONANT UK FAQ: Charcot preparationDetailed layering, equipment and size information for Le Commandant Charcot; voyage instructions remain important.
- PONANT German clothing FAQOfficial regional examples of gala clothing; used as examples, not to impose a fixed event count.