Every Bliss Cruise has a theme night that separates the planners from the panickers. On the Wonderland Cruise, that night is ABC Night. With a little planning, ABC Night (Anything But Clothes Night) is sure to be extraordinary.
The Golden Rule: A = Anything. B = But. C = Clothes.
If it was designed to be worn as clothing… it’s clothing. Lingerie is clothing. A bikini is clothing. A slip dress you bought on Shein is clothing. The whole point of ABC Night is that your “outfit” is made from something that was never intended to cover a human body. That’s the game. That’s the art. That’s what makes it the most talked-about, most laughed-at-in-the-best-way theme night.
26 letters in the alphabet. Infinite ways to get this right.
We’ve done the creative heavy lifting for you. Below is a collection of ABC Night ideas ranging from “I can make this in an afternoon” to “I’ve been planning this since January” – all of them genuinely on-theme, all of them guaranteed to get you noticed on Wonder of the Seas’ 18 decks of very appreciative audience.
Caution Tape
Black and yellow caution tape draped, wrapped and strategically placed. One of the classics for a reason – it’s cheap, it’s bold and the irony of wearing “danger” signs at a lifestyle party is not lost on anyone. Double points if your partner goes as the crime scene.
Pro tip: Tape lifts easily so bring extra rolls. Trust us.
Balloons
A ABC party classic. Inflate strategically, attach liberally, prepare for the inevitable popping. The beauty of balloons is they come in every color, they’re basically free and the structural challenge of keeping them in place all night is genuinely part of the fun.
Pro tip: Wear a bodysuit underneath for when physics inevitably wins.
Saran Wrap & Leaves
Garden of Eden energy. Fresh greenery, large tropical leaves, strategically placed flora and the kind of look that makes people do a double-take. Saran wrap makes an excellent structural base. Mother Nature would be both horrified and proud.
Pro tip: Pair with body glitter for full effect.
Newspaper
Headlines in all the right places. Fold it, tape it, origami your way into a look that’s part fashion editorial and part absurdist performance art. The more interesting the headlines you choose, the better.
Pro tip: Use packing tape not scotch tape. It holds all night.
Duct Tape
The original ABC Night fabric. Silver duct tape worn as a bodysuit, bra, shorts or full coverage armor. You can cut it, layer it, color-block it and build something genuinely stunning if you have patience and a partner who’s willing to help apply it. There are entire duct tape fashion communities online. This is a rabbit hole worth falling into before Wonderland.
Pro tip: Use medical-grade tape on skin contact areas. Your future self will thank you.
Bubble Wrap
Satisfying to make, satisfying to wear, deeply satisfying to pop. Bubble wrap looks amazing under UV lighting, comes in various bubble sizes for different coverage effects and provides a soundtrack for every movement you make all night. You are the party favor.
Pro tip: Large bubble wrap photographs better than small.
Streamers & Confetti
Pure celebration as a garment. Layer streamers in your colors, use confetti as body art and show up looking like the party itself decided to get dressed. Metallic streamers catch light beautifully and hold their shape surprisingly well with a little double-sided tape.
Pro tip: Wet streamers bleed color. Keep away from the pool until you’re ready for the full chaos effect.
Candy Wrappers & Food Packaging
Collect your favorite wrappers for weeks before the cruise. Chip bags, candy wrappers, fruit netting, coffee bean sacks – all of them can become a structured garment with enough creativity and tape. The more recognizable the brands the better the conversation starter.
Pro tip: Mylar chip bags fold beautifully and hold a crease.
Playing Cards
A full deck of playing cards safety-pinned into a bodysuit, corset or draped look. Jokers go where you want them. This is one of those ideas that photographs impossibly well and lands a visual pun without you having to explain a single thing. You’re wild. The card says so.
Pro tip: Use cheap card decks and pre-punch holes for easier pinning.
More ideas. Less thinking. Just grab one and go.
Not in the mood to read the full breakdown? Here’s a rapid-fire list of things that absolutely qualify as Anything But Clothes:
Zip ties. Binder clips. A toga made from a bedsheet from the dollar store. Aluminum foil (full robot, full Roman, full alien… your call). Rope macrame. Hardware store supplies like zip ties and paint samples. A suit made entirely of playing cards. Pool noodles. Gift wrap ribbon arranged into an actual bow. Feather boas layered into a full look. Fishing nets worn as a bodysuit with strategic patches. A string of lights worn as a dress (battery pack is an accessory). Rubber ducks attached to everything. A bodysuit made entirely of googly eyes. Raffia grass arranged into a skirt. Coffee filters folded into ruffled layers that look genuinely couture. Wine corks strung together. A duct tape tuxedo for the partner who wants to look formal while following the rules.
You Don’t Have to Be a Fashion Designer
Here’s the thing about ABC Night that nobody tells first-timers: effort is the costume. The people who get the biggest reactions aren’t always the most polished. They’re the ones who clearly thought about it, committed to a bit and showed up with energy. A perfectly executed concept made from dollar store materials beats a half-hearted attempt at “elaborate” every single time.
It’s also one of the most social nights of the cruise. People stop each other on the deck to ask “wait what are you wearing?” and that’s where some of the best Bliss connections start. Your outfit is a conversation. Make it an interesting one.
And yes, couples who coordinate their ABC looks together consistently have more fun. Split a concept between the two of you. Make your partner the punchline or the other half of the joke. Show up as a unit with a story to tell.
Wonderland is a full ship takeover on Wonder of the Seas, one of the world’s largest cruise ships with 18 decks and 8 distinct neighborhoods to explore. ABC Night is one of seven epic theme nights across the sailing. The ship is the stage. You are the show. Dress accordingly.