Friday, April 12, 2024

What to Wear on a Cruise 2024 Style Guide

cruise ship clothes

With this post, I’ve put together 12 outfits for a cruise that will take you from excursions to evening easily, without stuffing your suitcase. You’ll see that all my cruise clothing can be mixed and matched to create multiple cruise ship outfits from just a few key pieces. Men may wear slacks with collared dress shirts or sweaters, but jackets are optional.

what to wear on a cruise – Your cruise packing list

However, a lot of cruises are dropping the mandatory “formal” night where you had to dress to the nines in black tie attire. Instead, you’ll find smart casual, or evening chic dress codes in place for dinner. In the evenings, some of our ships enforce a “cruise casual” dress code.

What to wear on a cruise – Tops

You’ll need to consider what you’ll wear on the ship during the day, what you’ll wear on port days, and evening attire- which I’ll cover in this post. In this post, I’ll share cruise outfits for women that I’ve worn on my past cruises as a Millennial cruiser, and give you inspiration on your cruise wardrobe. Avoid having to go back to your stateroom to change between pool and restaurant by bringing along cover-ups like sundresses or shorts and T-shirts. If you’re cruising to a destination with a cold climate, such as Alaska or parts of Europe, it’s important to pack clothing that will keep you warm on the ship as well as on shore. Even if you’re cruising to Alaska in the middle of summer, expect temperatures to range from the mid-50s to mid-60s (degrees Fahrenheit) during the day.

Poolside and Sunbathing Outfits

Of course, British Columbia requires a different packing strategy than a trip to The Bahamas or the Mediterranean. Even when cruising in the summer months, be sure to dress for the destination, not the season — layers are your friend here. Pack some thin thermals you can layer under your clothes if necessary, so you can spend the day comfortably strolling along the Inner Harbour and checking out Victoria's most notable landmarks. Don't forget a hat and gloves and some wool socks to keep your toes warm, too! When you're hanging out onboard, a thin, packable windbreaker or jacket will come in handy, so you can sit out on the deck with a cup of coffee, admiring the breathtaking scenery. Many cruise lines allow jeans for casual nights in the main dining room, while shorts are more universally prohibited.

In this post, we’ll go over the basics of cruise line dress codes, as well as ideas for cruise wear for sea days, shore excursions and dinners on a cruise ship. I’ve also included cruise packing checklists to help you plan your cruise outfits. Royal Caribbean's dinner dress code includes nights that are formal, smart-casual and casual.

Formal Nights

Don’t forget your accessories like a sun hat and a pair of sunglasses. To avoid your hat getting blown away by the wind, find one with a chin strap. Surprisingly my Birkenstock Arizona sandals were my go-to shoe on all my excursions. I even climbed a mountain in Kotor Montenegro in them and they were still comfortable afterward. Plus a comfortable pair of shoes you can easily walk around in for different terrain. Do you enjoy dressing up when on a cruise or do you prefer to keep it casual?

Clothing for Onboard Activities

Don't forget a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved sun shirt in your day bag. Pack extra clothes in a tote bag in case you don't have time to go back to your stateroom. Swap your athletic shorts for a flowy skirt or trousers, and trade your sneakers for a more formal pair of shoes, like chunky heels or loafers for a put-together look. Shorts, t-shirts, tank tops, sundresses are all appropriate day wear for sea days. If you’re by the pool, it’s important to know that bathing suits are not permitted in the buffet or inside the cruise ship, so make sure to pack a cover up.

Carnival Cruise Line addresses a dress-code controversy - TheStreet

Carnival Cruise Line addresses a dress-code controversy.

Posted: Tue, 28 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Khaki pants or shorts with loose-fitting, short-sleeve, button-down shirts or even nice, plain T-shirts work well for men. Women might opt for khaki shorts or palazzo pants with a nice top or a sundress. In most cases, nice jeans (dark wash with no holes) will work well also. With that in mind, we've put together a basic (but comprehensive) cruise packing list, including the clothes you'll need as well as the odds and ends you'll want with you as well. After all, cruise rooms aren't exactly known for being spacious, dress codes can be confusing and luggage fees on airlines are steep. You'll also want to consider what you'll need aboard your cruise aside from clothing.

Make sure to opt for block heels because these are much easier to walk in while you’re at sea than thinner heels like stilettos or kitten heels and they won’t damage the deck. Check out our list of the best swimsuit cover-ups in stores now. You probably want to avoid denim as this isn’t the coolest fabric in hot weather. Make sure that you think about how your clothes will go together to create different choices. And, we’d avoid too many dark colors as they go ‘against’ the fun element of a cruise.

(In Europe, expect to see your fair share of Speedos!) If your ship offers recreational activities such as a rock-climbing wall or basketball court, remember to pack socks and sneakers. The Disney evening dress code applies to the main dining rooms at dinner. The dress code for Palo, an adults-only specialty restaurant, slacks (including jeans) and collared shirts or jackets for men and dresses, skirts or pantsuits for women are appropriate. It really depends on your personal preference -- whether you'd rather pack light and re-wear some items, or have fun with new outfits every day. You can get away with packing less by bringing tops and bottoms that are easy to mix and match, or shirts that can be dressed up at night and worn more casually the next day.

Need to add a few new pieces to your wardrobe before your cruise vacation? If you're taking family photos, tuxedos, suits, blazers and ties are not required but add flare and personality to a look. Get creative with kids who prefer comfort; put babies in a tuxedo-print onesie and young boys in an adorable sweater vest on formal evenings.

The best type of shoes are the ones that you are used to, which provide plenty of support. If you come across any cities with uneven pavements or cobblestones, anything with a heel can be difficult to walk in, so it’s best to stick to flat shoes, like trainers or sturdy sandals. On some of Royal Caribbean ships, it’s listed a dinner dress suggestion of “Wear Your Best”, which is described as “Say goodbye to Formal Night, and hello to Wear Your Best. It is expected that clothing should be respectful, this means you should not wear anything too revealing.

cruise ship clothes

This outfit can easily carry you into the evening, but dainty jewelry, colorful slip-on shoes, a Panama hat and swapping from a backpack to handbag will create a softer look. Your cruise outfits will be as fun to wear as they are to look at. The quintessential cruise style consists of chic but relaxed pieces.

Of course, you can add more clothing items or bring less, depending on the length of your cruise. If you’re going on a celebrity cruise or a character cruise, you may need to bring a few extra ensembles or accent pieces for themed parties and events. Be sure you know what themes and dress codes your cruise is preparing for you so you can pack the appropriate costumes and accessories. This jumpsuit goes easily from daywear to attire for Captain’s dinner on a cruise just by switching out the accessories for more glamorous options.

If you're cruising in tropical regions, pack one pair of shorts for every two days of your cruise (in cold regions, switch shorts for pants or jeans). If you like to vary your look, pack different color shorts or breezy skirts. Knowing what clothing to pack for a cruise can be especially challenging, and cruise line dress codes don't always match what passes as acceptable on board.

While you definitely can still wear an evening gown and tuxedo, most popular cruise lines have relaxed their dress codes over the last few years. You can still expect to dress up on a cruise, but there are more opportunities to dress less formally if you prefer this as well. At the once-per-cruise Captain's Welcome Reception, some men choose to wear a jacket (though ties are not expected). There is also a Polynesian Night once every sailing, when passengers are encouraged to wear Polynesian-style attire, so pull out your tropical shirts and dresses. For sea days when traveling in a warmer climate, you'll definitely want a swimsuit if you plan to take advantage of the onboard water park. However, if you're cruising through a colder region like Canada, you'll want a jacket and some warm layers, so you can stay comfortable on deck.

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