Essential Cruise Outfits: What to Wear on a Cruise

While going on a cruise is exciting, figuring out what to pack can be very challenging. Cruise life is different and unique from a normal vacation, with a variety of activities from formal dinners to lounging in a pool to movie and game times. Every occasion demands a different style. Your cruise outfits must depend on your Cruise Line, your itineraries, and the shore excursions planned. Here’s a guide to help you pack the perfect Cruise outfits for every part of your cruise adventure!

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What Outfits to Pack for a Cruise?

I Agree! Packing for a cruise can be overwhelming. A cruise involves a mix of casual days and formal nights at sea, as well as shore excursions. A balance between comfort and style is a good idea when you are on a cruise. You would require a minimum of two dresses each day. Now, let’s get you packing!

Daytime Casual Cruise Outfits

For the most part of the day, you will be exploring the ship, indulging in daytime activities, eating, or lazing by the pool. You will also be spending time in the pool. What is ideal on these occasions is Cruise Casual. What is a cruise casual? Well, anything comfortable and stylish.

Generally, it means walking shorts, bright-colored khaki shorts, casual long or short skirts, jeans, tops, or flowy dresses or a sundress for women, and men can wear walking shorts, casual khakis, sports shirts, and t-shirts.

What you would need

Dresses: Sundresses, maxi dresses, or casual shift dresses
Tops: T-shirts, blouses, tank tops, or sweaters
Bottoms: Skirts, dark jeans, or leggings, pretty pants, palazzo pants, or shorts
Footwear: Stylish sandals, sneakers, or comfortable walking shoes.

Pro Tip: A sundress or a pair of shorts and a shirt would do well while shopping onboard.

Men

Tops: T-shirts, sports shirts, polo shirts, and button-down shirts
Bottoms: Casual khakis, jeans, Chinos and walking shorts
Footwear: Sandals, sneakers, boat shoes, and comfortable walking shoes
On a warm day, a polo shirt and a pair of shorts are a safe bet, and dark Jeans and a sweater on cooler days.

Note: Shorts, flip-flops, crocs, and baseball hats are not allowed in any of the main dining rooms.

Dinner and Evening Wear

Evenings at cruises are often filled with activities, from trivia night to casual and formal affairs.

Casual Nights

Resort casual is the appropriate attire for casual nights.

Women: Flowy dresses, sundresses, skirts, or pants with a blouse
Men: Khakis or nice jeans with a polo or button-down for men.

Pro Tip: Men and women can wear tracksuits or yoga pants while watching a movie under the sky or strolling in the promenade or deck.

Formal Nights

A seven-day cruise often has one or two formal nights, while the longer cruises have more formal nights. Check the itinerary before packing.

Women

Dresses: A floor-length gown, a cocktail dress, or a stylish jumpsuit.
Pantsuits: A well-tailored pantsuit for a sophisticated look
Accessories: Accentuate your look with elegant jewelry, a clutch, and heels. Nothing says better than the accessories.

Pro Tip: Choose a couple of classic pieces you can easily dress up or down to save space.

Men

A tuxedo, a dark blazer, or a dress shirt with a tie coupled with slack
Shoes: A pair of loafers or dress shoes.

Note: If you don’t feel up to dressing up on formal nights, some dining venues may allow resort-casual attire on formal nights. But you have to check it with the cruise lines. Some cruise lines are much more relaxed in their attires, while cruise lines like Cunard insist on dressing up on formal nights.

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Theme Nights

Some Cruise Lines have themed nights like ’80 nights or tropical luaus. Pack at least a fun dress. To be on the safe side, pack at least one Hawaiian shirt, floral dress, or something retro. You don’t want to be left out or stand out, do you?

Pro Tip: Pack an all-white and all-black. You can use these for different occasions. Some of the cruises have an all-white party.

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Shore Excursions

When planning outfits for shore excursions, it is important to consider the activities and weather conditions.

Beach or Water Excursions

If you are going to the beach or any water excursion, wear a swimsuit with a cover-up. Beach sandals are a must. For more active water sports, it would be a good idea to have a single-piece swimsuit.

Take another sundress and a pair of flip-flops or walking shoes in a tote bag so that you can go shopping or sightseeing later. A sundress will be more comfortable than walking around the street in a cover-up. Don’t forget your sunglasses and sunscreen, a baseball hat, or a wide-brimmed hat.

City Tours or Hikes

Comfortable clothing: Wear breathable fabrics like cotton or linen in hot weather and warm clothes in cold weather. Quick-drying shorts and a moist-wicking top would be a wise option.
Layers: Take a light jacket or sweater, as evenings can be chilly.
Walking shoes: It is very important to wear comfortable walking shoes when exploring new cities and towns. You wouldn’t want to miss out on places because your feet hurt, do you?
Sun protection: To protect yourself from the sun, remember to wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. Also, carry a water bottle, mosquito repellant, and essential medicines in your bag.
Certain places have certain dress specifications. Respect their customs and rules. For instance, churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples require you to cover your shoulder. So always carry a shawl or scarf.

Evening Loungewear

You are going to be tired from the daytime activities and walking around, and finally, when you wind down in your cabin, you would want comfortable loungewear for relaxing in your cabin or sitting on the balcony

Cozy pajamas: Warm pajamas would be a good option because cabin temperatures are usually cooler than you expect.
Cardigans or hoodies: Cardigans or hoodies will keep you warm, whether you’re lounging on your balcony or taking a stroll on the deck.
Slide sandals or slip-on shoes: You will need these for a comfortable late-night stroll.

Embarkation day

When you board the cruise ship, go for something comfortably casual yet stylish because you may be taking a lot of photos. So, you’d better be photo-ready. Opt for a comfortable pair of footwear.

Disembarkation Outfit

Plan ahead what you will be wearing on your disembarkation day. It could be something comfortable like jeans or shorts with a T-shirt, yoga pants, or a tracksuit and your comfortable shoes.

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Weather-Specific Cruise Outfits

Ultimately, your cruise outfit must be based on location and the weather conditions. Confirm the weather forecast for your cruise destinations to pack accordingly. Here are some additional tips.

Warm-weather cruises: Pack lightweight, breathable fabrics. Linen, cotton, and other moisture-absorbing clothes are the best options. Bring a light jacket, pullover, or sweater, as the sea weather is often colder, especially in the evening. Packing a wide-brimmed hat is a must.
Cold-weather cruises: For cruises to Alaska or northern Europe, sweaters, a heavy jacket, thermal layers, and a beanie or scarf are essentials. Waterproof boots come in very handy on chilly shore excursions.
Other must-haves: Whichever destination you are bound to, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are a must.
Do not forget to pack an umbrella, poncho, or a light raincoat.

Tips for packing light

Cabins may be cozy but small, so don’t overpack. Here are a few tips that you can consider.

Most cruise lines offer laundry services, so you can wash and use your clothes, thus avoiding huge luggage.
Take more skirts instead of long, heavy dresses so that you can mix them to create different outfits. You can take a pair of pants, long and short skirts, and a few tops, which you can mix and match. This way, you won’t need many outfits.
Choose gowns that are light, wrinkle-free, and which doesn’t take up much space.
Pack accessories that go with almost all outfits. Also, pack a couple of nice belts and a clutch.
While packing footwear, ladies can pack a pair of high-heeled shoes for formal evenings and beach sandals. You can wear comfortable walking shoes while you are traveling. Men can pack their formal shoes and wear walking shoes while traveling. Pack shoes that will go for all occasions.
Pack quick-drying clothes, which makes washing and drying easy. Also, crease-free dresses will keep you away from the ironing chores.
While packing, roll your clothes, which will save a lot of space and keep them wrinkle-free. Once you reach your cabin, you can hang it.

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Must-Have Cruise Essentials

Check your cruise’s itinerary in advance for any special dress codes or theme nights.
Check the rules and customs of your destination.
Avoid overpacking by packing only the essentials.
Pack a minimum of two to three swimwear.
Pack your lingerie in a small bag.
Bring a laundry bag to hang in your cabin and put all your used clothes inside, which will make packing easier.
The climate at the sea is usually colder. So, pack a windbreaker, a light sweater, and long pants.
If you are planning to work out in the gym, pack your workout clothes and runners.
Carry a separate tote bag or backpack with your essentials and a couple of emergency outfits for embarkation and disembarkation days.
Don’t forget the essentials: Pack toiletries, medications, and any other personal items you may need.
Accessories: Pack jewelry, a couple of nice belts, a clutch, and heels.
If you plan to work out onboard or do any activities like zip line, a closed-toe shoe is a must-have
Dining rooms and theatres have very low temperatures. If you are wearing a Spaghetti Dress or a top, carry a shawl or scarf with you to cover your shoulders when you need it.
Pack comfortable shoes for walking. You will be walking a lot, inside the ship and during shore excursions. This is not a time for new shoes, so do not plan to break in your new shoes from the cruise.

Cruise Packing Checklist

Here is a summarized cruise packing list to help you.

Passport & other travel documents
Prescription medicines, first aid kit, and sea bands (for vomiting)
Casual and formal clothes, party wear, swimwear, jackets, and loungewear
Accessories
Comfortable shoes, formal and beach wear
Sunglasses, baseball hat, or wide-brimmed hat
Socks, lingerie
Toiletries.

Final Thoughts

While Carnival cruises are more family-oriented and have a relaxed dress code. Cruise lines such as Holland America, Celebrity, Princess, and Cunard expect you to dress up. However, with a few wardrobe essentials and weather-appropriate layers, you can enjoy every moment of your cruise. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable in your dress.

How many outfits do I need for a 7-day cruise?

You would need a minimum of two outfits a day. There will be at least two formal nights on a 7-day cruise. The number of cruise outfits depends on your choice. If you want to wear different clothes on each occasion, you must pack them accordingly, or you can pack fewer clothes and re-wear them after washing.

Are jeans OK for a cruise?

Yes, you can wear jeans and shorts on a cruise ship. However, the main dining and fine dining venues restrict the wear of shorts.

Do you dress up every night on a cruise?

Night onboard cruise ships is a bit of a dressy affair. You can opt for resort casual at night. Daytime is all about casual clothing.

Do you need a swimsuit for a cruise?

Yes, you'll need swimwear to use the swimming pools onboard, and there will also be beach activities you won't want to miss. Bring at least two bathing suits so you can use one while the other is drying.