A cruise vacation requires a wide range of clothing, shoes, and accessories to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience. It is essential to transition from daywear to smart casual on one or two nights per cruise, and consider reversible clothing and outfits that can be worn multiple times. Packing for a cruise involves taking more clothes than a normal holiday, as most cruises have dress codes for evening wear and different dress codes for different nights of the trip.
When going on a cruise, it is crucial to pack appropriate clothes for excursions, such as hiking, visiting historic or religious sites, and casual activities. T-shirts, shorts, jeans, casual dresses, and light sweaters are suitable for most days, but keep shorts, jeans, and pants to a minimum and focus on fresh shirts, tank tops, polos, and other items.
Some essential clothing to wear on a cruise include swimsuits, swim coverups, sweater or fleece scarves, jewelry, sunglasses, and sun hats. Men should wear a collared, button-up shirt and tie with trousers and dress shoes, while women may opt for smart casual attire, including collared shirts, slacks, nice dresses, skirts or pantsuits, and sport coats and blazers.
A wide array of clothing should be packed in your suitcase, as cruises may require everything from a casual swimsuit to a formal tuxedo. Check the weather and stick to a cruise packing list with a good selection of shorts, jeans, sundresses, skirts, T-shirts, and more.
📹 25 Wardrobe Essentials Every Woman Should Pack for a Cruise
If you’re going on a cruise, there are a few wardrobe essentials you’ll want to make sure you pack. These wardrobe basics for …
Does it get cold at night on a cruise?
Don’t Forget to Bring a Sweater While you’re cruising to a Caribbean island, you might not think you will get chilly, but it can get downright cold on the open water at night. Restaurants and the casino can also be a bit chilly, and you’ll want a lightweight sweater or pashmina to keep you warm.
In my recent12 Things to Know Before Your First Cruisearticle, I mentioned that one of the most frequently asked questions I hear about preparing for a cruise is: “What do I wear?” While my answer was simplified in the interest of brevityforthat article, I want to delve a little deeper in today’s vacation planning post,which is sponsored by Carnival. I’ll not only tell you everything you need to wear, butwhat to pack for a cruisein general. I’m a big time planner and I have found that a well-packed suitcase makes for a much more enjoyable cruise vacation!
Before you begin packing for your cruise, take a look at the itinerary on the cruise line’s website. Where are you going? What shore excursions have you booked? Do you plan on dining in the formal dining room, or only hitting the casual buffet each night?
For most cruises, you’ll want to bring at least one formal outfit for “formal night.” For women, this can mean anything from a nice dress to a ball gown. Men will want to wear a collared, button up shirt and tie with trousers and dress shoes. On Carnival cruises, ties aren’t required, but many men choose to wear them, as well as sport coats, on Cruise Elegant Dining nights. While men can wear a suit or tuxedo, it is not a requirement on most cruise lines. Think “Sunday Best” at the very least.
Do I need a fancy dress for a cruise?
Most nights are informal, with resort wear appropriate. A jacket is not required for men. On formal nights, men might wear suits, while women can don cocktail dresses, though elegant resort wear is also acceptable attire.
How many outfits should I pack for a 7 day cruise?
Here’s what to pack for a 7-day cruise to the Caribbean. No matter where you sail to, clothing is going to take up the bulk of your suitcase. You should average two outfits per day, as you’ll wear one during the day and one at night for dinner.
I find that I like to re-wear at least two or three outfits at night to save space. Plus, I just don’t like having to plan seven different outfits for each night. This, however, is a personal preference.
In the Caribbean, daytime wear is equivalent to what you’d wear to the beach or when partaking in an active activity at home. On some days, a bathing suit and cover-up might be sufficient, especially if you’re going on an excursion and spending all day on the beach or by the ship’s pool while at sea.
On other days, you might opt for an excursion with a specific dress code. You cannot, for instance, go zip-lining through Jamaica wearing flip-flops and swim trunks.
How many times a day do you change clothes on a cruise?
- Dress Code: Check your cruise liner’s dress code for casual and formal wear expectations. Most cruises no longer ask guests to dress in black tie, though there are rules about what not to wear to certain venues. Typical dress codes on a cruise ship are “relaxed luxury,” “smart casual,” and “evening chic.”
- Destinations: Dressing for a trip to the Bahamas in mid-summer looks totally different from an Alaskan cruise vacation. You may need to dress for various situations and climates, from breezy beach clothes to hiking outfits. Check the ship’s itinerary and onboard activities when planning your wardrobe.
- Duration of Cruise: Whether you’re going for a weekend getaway or a luxury week-long stay at sea, the types of clothes you’ll wear on a cruise are generally the same. Pack two outfits per day of your trip, including casual day wear and evening wear. Repeating outfits is also perfectly acceptable!
Packing for a cruise typically requires more clothing than your average vacation. Also, most cruise liners do not offer self-service laundry, though you may be able to add dry cleaning or laundry services to your package for an additional fee.
Cruise Outfits for a 7 Day Cruise. For a seven-day cruise, you’ll want to pack a handful of outfits including what you plan to wear on board during the day, your evening wear, and any outfits for excursions ashore. Having a capsule wardrobe ready for traveling is the perfect way to be prepared and curate your day-to-night style.
Is it OK to wear jeans on a cruise?
Casual. To most of us Brits, casual means one thing and one thing only– jeans! The good news is that denim in the form of jeans, jackets, shorts and skirts is generally a perfectly acceptable daytime casual cruise look, often combined with a T-shirt but check before you go for lunch – those designer jeans may cut it for a promenade on deck but some lines don’t allow jeans in their restaurants, however expensive they might have been!
Fitness freaks can feel free to lounge around in lycra during the day, and of course, no cruise suitcase is packed until it contains at least two swimsuits and cover-ups. Bear in mind swimwear and flip flops are almost always a big no-no at mealtimes unless you’re having a relaxed poolside snack.
Casual can be harder to get right for an evening look as it’s all about looking as if you haven’t tried too hard, but in general, the rule is to ditch the denim and t-shirts in favour of casual shirts and trousers/smart shorts for men and laid back skirts, sundresses and ‘dressy’ tops for ladies.
What do most people wear on a cruise ship?
What should I wear during the day?. On warm-weather cruises, loungewear and beachwear are suitable both onboard and off the ship. Pack T-shirts, tank tops and other clothes that are easy to mix and match. In cooler weather, passengers will wear hiking pants, jeans and some loungewear. Luxury ships tend to be a little more formal (i.e. smart casual during the day). On expedition ships, rugged wear is more acceptable. In general, be mindful of any shore excursions and any country-specific dress codes when packing. For example, you might need clothes that cover your shoulders and knees to visit a mosque, or a hat, durable shoes and socks for a rainforest hike.
Is there a dress code I have to follow at night?. Each cruise line has its own dress code for evening attire. Nights are typically either casual or formal, but vary by line and dining venue. Some cruise lines use their own dress code terms that might be a bit confusing. For example, “smart casual,” “casual elegance,” “cruise casual” or “resort casual” all mean the same thing: Dress like you’re going on a dinner date not too sloppy, but not uber-fancy either. Cruise lines will usually list outfit recommendations and restrictions for both men and women, but you’ll see a variety of interpretations on your cruise ship.
Radiance of the Seas Formal Dining (Photo: Royal Caribbean)
What is the best color to wear on a cruise?
The quintessential cruise style consists of chic but relaxed pieces. Think breezy fabrics, loose silhouettes, light neutrals, bright colors and beachy accessories. Lean into tropical prints, red and coral hues that pop against aquamarine waters, woven hats and classic sunglasses.
T\nhough it’s tempting to pack everything, cruise outfits are meant to be laid-back, so plan to wear a few items of clothing more than once — no one will judge you, promise. Pack a few key staple pieces that can be paired together in several different mix and match styles — this is called a capsule wardrobe. To ensure you can put together a great outfit each day, pack mindfully in one color palette or scheme — colors like red, coral and yellow will pop in pictures when photographed in front of a turquoise sea. If you’re wondering what to pack for a five-day cruise, bring along six shirts, six sets of underwear, and three to four bottoms. Then, throw in at least two swimsuits, so you always have one dry. Finally, pajamas, a jacket or sweater, athleisure wear, a hat, sunglasses, sandals, athletic shoes, and dress shoes round out a perfect cruise outfit packing list.
Breezy fabrics like cotton and linen in a loose silhouette keep you cool and covered under the sun during the daytime, and with a few adaptable accessories, you can transition seamlessly into a polished evening look. No matter if you’re spending your day sipping an ice-cold cocktail on deck, strolling along a sandy beach, adventuring on jungle trails or searching for local treats, these five versatile day-to-night cruise outfit ideas will make packing easy, getting you on island time, in no time.
If you’ll be spending your port days shopping, dining, and exploring new cities and towns, you’ll need cruise outfit ideas that are both stylish and practical. A flowy top or polo shirt, bright-colored capris or khaki shorts, comfortable shoes, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat will keep you cool during the day. When the sun goes down, dress it up with a button-down shirt, shawl or cardigan.
What are you not allowed to pack on a cruise?
The list includes — although certainly not limited to — any flammable liquid or fuel (although disposable cigarette lighters are fine), candles, incense, coffee makers, kettles, hot plates, heating pads, electric blankets and clothes irons.
The Ultimate Guide to Packing for a Cruise (Photo: REDPIXEL.PL/Shutterstock.com)
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How many pajamas for a cruise?
Two pairs Sleepwear. Whether you sleep in t-shirts and sweatpants or complete pajama sets, about two pairs of pajamas will be enough for a weeklong vacation. However, if you’re someone who likes slipping into fresh pajamas every night, then you may want to pack extra loungewear, space in your luggage permitting.
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📹 WHAT TO WEAR ON A CRUISE | *Real tips* for Day, Evening & Formal Nights
WHAT TO WEAR ON A CRUISE VACATION// Planning what to wear on your cruise and wondering about cruise line dress codes?
What I’ve learned after 15 cruises: 1 – always take at least 50% more undies than the number of days. Ex: 7 day cruise? Take at least 11 pairs of undies. Honestly take 2x as many days, but I like to be prepared. 2 – For slacks and jeans, take the stretchy/closer-fitting pairs so they are not as likely to look “stretched out” when you wear them a 2nd or 3rd time. 3 – at least 2 swimsuits so you always have a dry one (and ALWAYS wash them with soap as soon as you take them off, especially if youve been at a beach – you do NOT want “beach stank”. haha), 4 – if you wear Rx sunglases/normal glasses, bring back-ups. You never know when something can go missing or get broken.
I always stick to just 2 colors when travelling–blue (different shades) and black or grey for bottoms, and I switch it up with different colored shirts. This limits how many pairs of shoes I have to bring. Definitely, I go for comfort. “Dressy night” for me is a nice pair of black pants. and a nice blouse.
I went on a cruise with my family two weeks ago. We had a marvelous time. After I booked the cruise I started perusal your articles. Let me just say OMGGGGG! I took alot of your advice. I brought things I would never have brought. Your advice was a life saver. I could go on and on. Thank you so much. You are the BEST!!!!!
I always pack so I can layer clothes depending on the weather and ports of call. I can easily overpack so something I started doing was picking a color theme and then packing so everything can go together. I know there is quite a discussion about formal nights but I have always enjoyed them. For formal night I always wear something from Alex Evening; they pack beautifully and are very comfortable. Everyone needs to do what makes them happy and comfortable.
Neutral hi waist shaper shorts. Not only help clothing look better, but help my low back pain with all the walking on the ship. I always bring a few pair of birkenstock sandals, they are my go to. Just was on NCL Prima this past week, March 1-8. This was my daughter in law’s 1st cruise and she is hooked!. We are planning on another next year already! The only thing I was disappointed in with Prima was entertainment this time. It was lacking, but still quite a bit to do!
Hi Llana, I’ll be packing a few comfy matching sets/lounge wear for sure. I’m getting ready to pack this weekend for our cruise that is in 10 days!! It’s finally here 😁🛳💕 Btw… your articles and your cruise planner have been SO helpful. Especially this one. This is a good reminder of what I need to pack. 😊 🥰
I always pack a a beige mini slip. I was once wearing a long midi skirt going down the stairs in an outside deck and a very strong wind came a blew my skirt up. I was not worried because I was wearing a slip and that stayed in place. Also for very thin dresses it helps the dress from no sticking to me when I stand up.
I purchased two Iman reversible tops with slit sleeves. That covered four daytime outfits. They were a pleasing abstract with different colored roses, worn with one pair of black shorts that were only seen if I bent over. I wore these on the Carnival Mardi Gras. The outfit I wore on embarkation was re- worn on disembarkation. That meant I only needed one more casual outfit to pack! For the first time, I used packing cubes. I loved them.
I love my capris, swim capris too. I have my travel jammies (dark, not revealing). Hubby and I will be traveling to the cruise in jeans, tshirt, fleece jacket, comfortable running shoes, and in our backpack a waterproof packet jacket. I found an adorable jumpsuit in Old Navy’s priced to clear section last year, and thought it would be a good thing to bring, and a black/floral maxi dress that’s quite flattering. Of course, I’ll have a sweatshirt (Karen Scott brand in The Bay has some really nice ones). And we’ll be expecting 3 dressy nights, as our first night we’ll be celebrating our 39th anniversary. So much fun ahead of us.
I always pack a nice middy length black skirt with a couple of dressy tops all in wrinkle resistant fabrics. I find that they work well for me for formal nights and take up very little space in my bag. One of my tops is a bit sparkly so I keep it for the more formal night. I also pack microfiber undies with cotton lined crotch. They dry super fast if I need to rinse them out in the sink and again pack nicely in a small amount of space.
My husband and I took our first cruise to the Carribean and added windbreakers thinking itmight be cool on deck in the evening. On a tender boat to Belizeto go to a zoo,one man looked at us and said “You must be Canadian. No American would bring jackts travelling south of Florida!”But this was also a cruise where the day temperature started at 85F/86F (we hadn’t switched to C at that time yet), but looking at long range forecasts for our March cruise before leaving home, from embarcation day and for the next few days the temps were 85, 82, 62, 65, 69, 75….. I honestly thought Environment Canada had typos. However it was a storm that came in overnight the first full day out, but because of the intensity, though we were supposed to be in Key West, no ships were allowed into the port. Our entire schedule changed twice, and the night of the storm had the ship rocking in big waves, under 100 went to dinner, plates and food fell from tables and serving areas, and this was a formal night with photo’s with the Captain (we went for pictures but my husband looked VERY green.) The next days all had all snorkling and related trips were cancelled, a few tender boats had difficult landings, etc and we ended up in Cozumel twice, once when almost nothing was open to do, and another day when the port had many more than normal ships docked, and a snorkling for 50 people became a very crowded 85-90. All this to say – that for any other cruise I took, I always had a windbreaker just in case, light gloves (for a transatlantic and a transpacific) and packed mental flexability.
It’s funny to hear the question asked whether or not we wear comfortable clothes because I can’t imagine why anyone would wear something On Vacation that wasn’t comfortable. I pack things that don’t need to be ironed, are comfortable and relaxing to wear. Even when I dress up for dinner, I wear what I would normally wear to church (really nice, but not cocktail attire). I LIVE by your Ultimate Cruise Planner and am now preparing for my next cruise in two months. One thing I always pack is a pair of slippers to wear around my cabin.
Just got back from a cruise with the hubs and his brother/wife…I actually did all of what you mentioned above! I did overpack though, and brought home clothes that were not worn…I found though, that I was missing one type of outfit: something to wear, around the pool, on a Lounger – on a warm day, that was not a swimsuit, capri/nice top, jean shorts!, too dressy of a dress .. I am not a thin spaghetti strap tank top kind of gal… so maybe just more comfy shorts/sleeveless but not dressy top, or a beach cover up dress that can be worn solo… I found my casual day wear, was actually too dressy for daytime wear on a sea day for a sunny climate/Panama canal trip… no rompers for me, they never fit in the you know wear area!
Thank you for all the tips. I haven’t been cruising much in the last few years so need to replace several casual to medium dressy dresses. I really like a lot of the dresses seen in your vlog. May I ask how tall you are I’m only 52 and find mini of the dresses I would like or just way to oversized and long, and many are not available in a petite size thanks for any suggestions have fun on the Sun!
I’m thinking of changing what I bring for dinners. Even on formal nights nobody except us was dressed up. This is Royal Caribbean. Ilana what do you think about this?- Just doing dark jeans, loafers, and a blouse? That honestly would still be more “dressed-up” than the vast majority I’ve seen. We do about 4 RCL cruises/yr but maybe I should squeeze in a Celebrity cruise for something a bit more traditional. 😂 I love your articles!!!! You help me so much! 💜
I have a personal question. I’m going on my first RCL cruise next year, w hat do you recommend wearing I don’t wear slacks or shorts due to my religion. Although I love dresses, I like to see the different styles of clothing that is worn by everyone. On this cruise I will be traveling for the first time without my husband who is disabled and doesn’t feel comfortable on ships anymore. My son and a his best friend will be traveling with me. I just need help in the clothing arena. Thank you
I tried to purchase your cruise planning guide, but I didn’t want to join another shopping site and when I went to down load the guide it dumped me out. Is there anything that can be done to get me the guide or return my purchase price. I am a long time cruiser with over 20 cruses and still find your insights to be very helpful. Thank you for your vids😀
Life well cruise I have a question for you me and my husband are going to St. Thomas and St. Martin and we don’t know what to do. We do the excursion through the ship, but they are 3 or 4 hours long. We don’t want to spend a lot of money for that little bit of time. Do you have anything to do and safe
Make-up and Perfume. My mother would go nowhere without lipstick. For me, I need groomed and coloured eyebrows. (I swear, I got female-pattern baldness of the eyebrow.)\r What is your ‘never leave the house without’ make-up?\r How about ‘I feel fully put together’ everyday make-up? ‘Party! party!’? Glamour?\r Overlap these as much as possible, so you can carry the minimum, and remember to include sunscreen. Menstrual supplies. If you want to pack the absolute minimum, consider a sponge or a menstrual cup. Both are inserted like a tampon. When full, wash with gentle bathroom soap and water in the bathroom sink, rinse them well and reinsert. Note that doing core exercises in the gym, the sponge gets squeezed. I recommend adding a supply of pads to your gym bag. Sponge: Please don’t just cut a bit of your kitchen sponge. Talk to a pharmacy assistant or a pharmacist.
I am a creature of comfort! I did just buy some athletic shorts but more for multi purpose than just working out. I needed some shorts that I can walk maybe swim and walk in that will dry quickly and not leave my thighs red and raw at the end of the day. My tip is even if you’re going to the tropics don’t expect to always be warm. The wind chill can make that temperature change pretty drastically. No matter where I go I’m always bringing a jacket and a hoodie. Honestly…dress night we probably won’t be participating in I don’t want to pack heels and I’m sure my husband doesn’t want to pack a dress shirt. As someone else mentioned…we are on vacation I don’t want to wear something uncomfortable. But I’ll bring multipurpose items that I can wear for and in multiple ways. Also…big tittie comity probably agrees but I don’t care about my bra straps showing…I need support not to feel like I’m taking my nipple off at the end of the night with the adhesive bra😅
Belt bags/crossbody bags Both styles you showed are simply too small. They can’t fit a 10.6in Android tablet/iPad. Same issue for the evening bag/clutch bag you show. Light cardigan That white one you’re wearing shows another Important point. Select the colours of clothing accessory items, that will work well with the most outfits. Comfortable walking shoes This really can’t be stressed enough. You WILL need these Flip Flops/Sandals In Australia, the cheap Havaianas clones you showed, are called thongs. They are great for around the pool, or for beaches for shore excursions. You will however, also want something dressy, so a nice pair of leather sandals is a good thing to have on hand as well The classic LBD For an Evening out, it’s a Must Have, no ifs, buts, or maybes. Comfortable, Smart Casual Clothes Growing up on the Gold Coast, Australia, comfortable smart casual was the ordinary standard everyone did Neutral coloured sets of bra and panties. This links with Comfortable, Smart Casual Clothes, as usually such fashions are thinner material, so darker coloured bras and panties will show through Neutral sandals Flat soled sandals are far easier on the feet, compared to the heels you were wearing, for a shore excursion. Maxi Dress One of my favourite dresses is a maxi in the same shade of blue, as you were wearing in the outro for the neutral sandals segment. Sunhat You missed a Destination. Going to Australia. The summer sun here will do it’s best to burn you to a crisp, so a sunhat is a must have.