Passengers can also take trips to Asia, South America, even Africa on some lines. The cost of cruises varies widely, but a general rule of thumb is to expect to shell out more money the more exotic the itinerary. Well, they really do dress like that for the ship's main dining rooms, but usually only on formal or captain's night. Otherwise, you can get away with a tasteful, simple outfit. But if you want to sloth around in jeans and flip flops, saunter over to the casual diner, or order room service.
Many cruise lines offer a choice between first and second seating.
It seems best to choose the later seating so you can stay out longer on shore excursions. You can always go to one of the casual dining rooms instead of the formal seating. Expect to be wowed with five-course meals exquisitely presented and waiters who dote on your every need. However, some cruise lines are scaling back on the traditional midnight buffets or dropping them because passengers are becoming more health conscious about overeating. It's always a quandary, but the best way to decide is to do some research on the ports before you go, to find out the availability and cost of transportation at the port, among other things.