What to Expect on Color-Theme Nights on a Cruise

Cruises are all about having a great time. One of many ways cruise lines embrace fun is to hold a color-themed night. While the colors and the format will vary from line to line, they each provide a great opportunity to get out there and have some fun!

Passengers dressed in white are sitting and eating at several tables on a cruise ship's pool deck, with strings of white lights spanning the upper deck area.

I have enjoyed color-themed nights on four different cruise lines: Holland America, Virgin Voyages, Azamara, and Crystal. There are a few similarities across them all, but each one has a different feel to it. Let’s dig into each color-themed night and see what they are all about!

Have Fun at a Color-Themed Night

The common thread between all of the different color-themed nights I have attended is simple: FUN! Each one is a combination of food and entertainment, supported with colorful decor and smiling passengers. Whether you are enjoying the festivities from a distance or are jumping into the center of the revelry, a color-themed night on a cruise ship is a lot of fun.

A stemmed glass goblet filled with an orange colored drink is on the left. To the right is a table lamp covered with orange colored streamers. Both are sitting on a dark brown table.

A smiling woman, wearing a red and white print sleeveless top and a red beaded necklace stands in front of an atrium on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship. The atrium below her has two large, red inflatable octopus tentacles.

Different Experiences on Different Cruise Lines

Aside from the colors themselves, there are also some different experiences across the color-themed nights I have participated in. Some are a bit more laid back and refined, and others are a full-blown party for the senses.

Holland America’s Orange Party celebrates their Dutch heritage with the color orange. The evening’s events are spread throughout the ship in many different venues. Themed cocktails and Dutch-inspired food are available.
Virgin Voyage’s Scarlet Night celebrates their main brand color of red. Scarlet Night takes over the entire ship, with a combination of scheduled and pop-up events throughout the night. Scarlet Night culminates in the pool party (or inside if the weather is bad).
Azamara’s White Night is a white-themed party on the pool deck (or inside if the weather is bad). The festivities start with a lavish buffet for dinner, followed by the Crew Parade and Wave. Then the Signature Performers take over the party, providing an energetic set of music so everyone can dance and sing the night away.
Crystal’s White Party is centered on an entertaining evening in the central atrium on the ship. White-themed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres are passed around for all to enjoy. The band provides lively music, and the ship’s dancers perform to get the party started. From here, the dance floor is open for everyone to dance their cares away.

Orange Party on Holland America

Holland America proudly touts its Dutch heritage and connection to the Dutch Royal Family (House of Orange), so it’s only natural that their color-themed nights are an Orange Party! This fun evening is held one night per cruise, often on a sea day.

A smiling woman, wearing an orange and white striped collared shirt and a beaded necklace, stands in front of a large sign that reads, This way to Holland America Line Orange Party.

Throughout the evening, various activities and events are held around the ship. From live music to fun photo opps, there is a celebratory mood throughout the ship.

A group of people sit in the audience, all watching a band perform on the stage. Several people are dancing on a dance floor between the audience and the band.

Pack your orange! You can either add just a splash of orange to your ‘fit or go full bore and dress head to toe in the signature color. Bring your own orange clothes and accessories or pick up some goodies in the onboard shops.
Events are held throughout the ship, with the main party in the Rolling Stone Lounge. Feel free to wander around and find the spot that works best for you…or wander from spot to spot throughout the night.
The ship’s officers often join in the Orange Party fun, so it’s a great opportunity to meet the officers and crew.

Scarlet Night on Virgin Voyages

You’ll be in the red, but the good kind, on Scarlet Night on a Virgin Voyages cruise. The ship is bathed in festive red lights and decor (even the interior hall lights and the exterior balcony lights turn red for the night!). There are scheduled events and performances in various venues throughout the evening, along with many pop-up events that occur along the way. DJs spin tunes in various spots, and everyone joins in on the fun.

Several people are standing on a large spiral staircase, including a drag queen, three male performers, and one female performers. They are all singing and dancing. The entire room is bathed in red light.

A blonde woman, wearing a sparkly sequin-covered red floor-length gown and a gold headdress, waves and smiles to the camera. Another blonde woman in a red jumpsuit stands behind her, with other people in the crowd seen in the background.

The fun starts with a kick-off party in The Roundabout, the central atrium area. The Happenings Cast perform a welcome number, with The Diva there to open the ceremonies.

A large group of performers are on different steps of a large spiral staircase. Each performer is gesturing wildly mid-dance. A large audience surrounds the top of the staircase, watching the performers. The entire scene is bathed in red light.

Scarlet Night works up to the main crescendo…a wild pool party! The finale pool party kicks off with more performances by The Happenings Cast, followed by many passengers jumping into the pool to continue the fun! The pool party eventually transitions into an after-party at The Manor.

The pool deck on a Virgin Voyages cruise on Scarlet Night. A large, red inflatable octopus sits on one end of the pool, its eyes lit up with white lights. There is a crowd of people around the pool itself, along with more people on the raised deck area above the pool.

Break out your red clothes and accessories! You’ll see fellow passengers wearing everything from a few subtle splashes of red to elaborate outfits covered in sequins and feathers, and everything in between.
If you’re new to Virgin Voyages, be sure to attend the events that tell the story of Scarlet Night held before the festivities kick off. You’ll learn all about the myth of a sailor and an octopus sea goddess.
Choose your own adventure – you can either find a good spot and let the fun come to you, or you can wander and explore the many different areas. The Happenings Cast wander throughout the night, offering various pop-up shows and games along the way. Acrobats, singers, dancers, magicians, and storytellers are all around the ship.

White Night on Azamara

Azamara’s White Night is a signature event that is held once per sailing. Since White Night is best enjoyed outside on the pool deck, weather pays a key factor in determining which night it will be held so the date is not published before the cruise. But regardless of which night of the cruise it is held, White Night on Azamara is a festive evening of food, entertainment, and fun!

A smiling woman, wearing a white sleeveless top and a necklace with a small white starfish, raises a glass of champagne in a toast towards the camera. She is sitting on a cruise ship pool deck, with the black night sky visible in the windows behind her.

A large group of passengers, all dressed in white, sit at many different tables arranged around a pool on a cruise ship at night.

White Night starts with a massive buffet for dinner. The options are seemingly endless, with several different stations available to choose from. Grilled meats, fresh seafood, salads, cheese, bread, fruit, and desserts are all available. A signature highlight is the Crepes Suzette, prepared by some of the ship’s officers.

A large buffet table on a cruise ship's pool deck. Several white plates of food are sitting on black tablecloth-covered tables. A crowd of people wearing white are walking around the table.

A bald man, wearing eye glasses and a white ship officer's uniform and apron, is spooning food from the skillet in front of him onto a plate someone is holding out to him. Other men are next to him, also serving food.

After dinner, a Crew Parade kicks off. The ship’s full crew proceed around the walking track above the pool deck and make their way down to the stage area. Along the way, passengers wave white napkins to cheer the crew on. It’s a great way to show appreciation to the hard-working and friendly Azamara crew. Following the Crew Parade, the party kicks into full gear. The Signature Singers and Dancers, along with the Cruise Director and Assistant Cruise Director, get the crowd on their feet.

A large crowd of people are sitting at tables on a cruise ship's pool deck, with more people walking on a jogging track above the pool deck. Many people in the crowd are waving white napkins above their heads.

A group of nine performers, all dressed in white, are singing and dancing on the stage on a cruise ship's pool deck. A crowd of people, also dressed in white, are dancing on the dance floor in front of the stage.

Don your white clothes and accessories to embrace the fun of White Night. If all else fails, the white bathrobe in your stateroom or suite will do just fine! Many passengers like to have fun and wear accessories like feather boas or sparkly headwear as well.
Be sure to head up to the pool deck early to get a good table spot. You will find tables available on the main pool deck, as well as up on the jogging track above.
If the weather happens to be bad, the White Night festivities will be moved inside. So you don’t have to worry about missing White Night if Mother Nature does not cooperate. Inside White Nights are just as fun!

White Party on Crystal

Crystal celebrates with a festive White Party. The White Party is held on every cruise of seven nights or longer. White clothing is encouraged. A signature White Party cocktail is served, and white appetizers are passed throughout the evening.

A smiling woman, wearing a white sleeveless dress with rhinestone embellishments on the top, raises a glass of a pale colored drink in a toast towards the camera. She is standing in an atrium on a cruise ship, with festive white decor and lights strung from the ceiling behind her.

A white serving platter, lit up with white lights, holds many small appetizers and desserts, all of which are white colored.

For the White Party, the Crystal Plaza (the main atrium of the ship) is decked out in festive white decor. The evening kicks off with the singers and dancers performing with the band. After the performances, the dance floor opens up for everyone to join in on the fun.

A man and a woman, both dressed in white, perform a dance on a white marble floor in a cruse ship atrium. A band, wearing white dinner jackets and black pants, performs behind them.

A large group of people, all dressed in white, dance on a white marble dance floor in the atrium of a cruise ship. Festive white decorations and lights are strung above the atrium.

For the White Party you can wear either formal or evening resort. Whichever you choose, be sure to have at least some white on!
There are a few different spots from which you can enjoy the White Party. You can hang out on the walkways around the Avenue of the Stars Boutiques (Deck 6) to see the fun from above. You can also relax in the Crystal Cove (Deck 5). But be sure to head into the main Crystal Plaza to enjoy the fun first-hand!
Crystal’s Ambassador Hosts are always available during White Party. These gentlemen act as dance partners for solo travelers, so even if you’re flying solo you can still get out on the dance floor and cut a rug!

Common Questions

Do color-themed nights cost extra?

This varies from cruise line to cruise line. None of the cruise lines charge extra to attend the color-themed nights, but some may charge extra for food or beverages served during the parties.

Do I have to wear the theme color?

While it’s not required to wear the theme color, I always encourage people to at least wear a bit of the color. Admittedly, some of the colors are harder to support than others…Holland America’s Orange Party required me to do a bit of extra shopping before the cruise! But in general, most of us have at least a little bit of the theme color available. Many cruise lines also offer some clothes and accessories in the theme color in the onboard shops.

Do I have to participate in color-themed nights?

No, participating in color-themed nights is not required. Some passengers choose to skip them altogether. Others may find some quieter, out-of-the-main-area places around the ship to enjoy that night. I recommend at least checking out the color-themed night on your next cruise. If it’s not your thing, it’s fine to find an alternative. But you may surprise yourself and enjoy the evening!

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