What to Wear on a Warm-Weather Cruise Made Easy

Soon I will be going on the Ageless Beauty: Yoga & Wellness Cruise hosted by Cindy Bartz whose website is “Yoga & Wellness.”  We will be sailing to Cozumel where I plan to go on a snorkeling expedition.  As I try to make sure I have everything I need to take with me, I am trying to simplify the multitude of considerations that need to be addressed.  As I tried to find an easy answer to what to wear on a cruise to a sunny clime so that I could pack as lightly as possible, I was stymied.  There is not really a simple version online.  So I am going to try to sort it all out for you right here.  Age doesn’t matter.  The travel wardrobe you take on a cruise just has to address the needs of your activities on the ship.  So I have now put together some lists and tips:  what to wear on a warm-weather cruise made easy.

A Handy Capsule Wardrobe to Start You Packing:

It’s not a simple matter to come up with a travel capsule wardrobe for your cruise.  There are a lot of things to take into consideration since there are so many things to do on a cruise ship!  But there’s a rule of thumb for packing from Jen Thoden of Your Color Style that I have found to be a helpful guideline as I begin to pack for any trip.  It’s her capsule formula for travel:  5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and 1.  In other words:

• 5 Tops (short-sleeved shirts, T-shirts, tank tops and/or blouses)
• 4 Bottoms (you’ll probably want one pair of shorts and/or capris)
• 3 Accessories (scarves, jewelry, belts); for a warm-weather cruise, bring your turquoise, coral, shell and beaded jewelry to add color and diversity to your capsule items
• 2 Pairs of shoes (flip flops for pool or deck; sandals, heels, wedges or whatever is most comfortable for your dressier needs; and add one more pair of shoes to this capsule, sneakers or walking shoes, because you can easily get all your steps in on the ship in a day
• 1 Bag
• 1 Layering item (sweater, cardigan, blazer, a poncho or a light jacket)
• You may swap in a dress instead of a top and bottom

Try keeping your capsule wardrobe all in neutrals.  You can add one or two of your favorite colors, or just add variety with colorful tropical accessories for your warm-weather cruise.  Once you fill in the capsule, you can then add the other things you need for the activities unique to your particular trip.

Other Things to Add to the Starter Capsule Packing List:

Layering is really helpful on cruise ships, mainly because it lets you carry just a few basics and transform them into a new outfit with just a scarf, a shawl, a sarong, a cardigan or a snazzy jacket. These pieces of clothing also come in handy for those times when you need to warm up, like on chilly evenings or in air-conditioned venues.

• Sundress/Maxi Dress
• Evening gown if you’ll be attending a formal dinner
• Two swimsuits and coverups (so you have one to wear while the other is still drying) — a sarong is versatile to use in other ways and if it’s lightweight or silky, you could even toss it in as an extra skirt/scarf
• Sunscreen
• A hat
• Sunglasses
• Formal shawls
• Exercise clothes
• A lightweight, packable waterproof jacket in case of rain
• Socks, lingerie, and other necessary garments
• A wetsuit if you have a shore trip planned that will require it

Tips —

Daytime on the Ship:

• First of all, think “cruise casual.”  This term may vary depending on the cruise ship, but in general, “cruise casual” denotes walking shorts, jeans, capris, cropped pants, t-shirts and collared shirts, casual skirts, and sundresses.  But it’s safest to keep it modest, because there are strict rules on certain areas of each ship.
• Just like luxury resorts, cruise ships may also have strict rules on swimwear. Make sure to bring a swimsuit, flip-flops, and a cover-up for the pool area and pool-side restaurants.  You can also jazz up your look poolside with a light sundress or shorts. Light colors look good and keep you cool at the pool in hot weather.
• Daytime on the ship is casual and breezy and showing some skin is allowed because of the sun.  You can wear a jumpsuit, a flowing and/or Bohemian dress, a skirt, shorts, palazzo pants or just about anything that keeps you comfortable and stylish at the same time.

More About “Cruise Casual”:

Royal Caribbean has this advice:  “Kick back and feel the vacation vibes, casual attire— suitable for all breakfasts and lunches and some dinner options—means jeans, polos, sundresses, blouses, and generally comfortable clothing. Shorts are fine for breakfast and lunch, but keep the swimwear, tank tops and bare feet to the pool deck.”

Athletic Adventurers’ Gear

Royal Caribbean also has advice for first-time cruisers looking to get their adrenaline pumping.  “You can take advantage of everything each ships offers, so be sure to pack your athletic wear. Bring whatever you’d wear to your favorite workout, since there will be a gym and also yoga, pilates, spinning and sculpting classes…Athletic wear will come in handy for other activities as well like our rock-climbing wall or sports tournaments.”

Prepare for Your Day Onshore:

When exploring different ports of call, suitable attire can vary based on the type of activity. Consider whether you might need to pack the following for your chosen excursions:

• Shorts or pants with deep pockets to keep a wallet secure
• Comfortable walking shoes suitable for your activity level
• Appropriate attire to visit recommended sites, such as more modest attire for visiting temples or churches
• Functional swimwear for snorkeling, diving, or other water-based shore excursions
• If you will be exploring the city, you might like to wear a breathable and comfortable dress

Deborah at Fabulous After 40 suggests the following for your shore excursions.

• “Once you reach your port, there are always plenty of fun excursions to go on. There’s shopping, snorkeling, biking and hiking adventures, visiting local tourist attractions….you name it! The best way to dress for one of these excursions is to layer your clothing. This way you are prepared for anything…For example, if you are planning to swim with the dolphins or just hang out at the local beach, wear your swimsuit with your shorts and a t-shirt over the top, and you may even want to tuck a stretchy athleisure wear jacket into your backpack or a big canvas tote bag.”

Most Cruise Dinners Require Resort Casual Attire:

If you don’t want to dress up, you don’t have to.  The only places you will need to adjust what you wear is in select restaurants.

• Be sure you have what you need for cruise dinners, such as dresses, skirts, khakis, dress pants.  Each cruise ship has dress codes for their various restaurants at dinnertime and this is where modesty may be required.  Most nights on a cruise the dress code is resort casual which means a little dressier than straight casual.  Other names for it are:  semi-casual, country club casual or smart casual.
• Here’s a general outfit formula for that:  Dinner on a Cruise Line, Country Club Casual — a skirt, khakis, or dress pants + long sleeve or three-quarter sleeve tops.
• A casual dress and heels or ballet flats works well for almost all evening affairs. For more variety, bring several statement necklaces.  You might also like to bring a couple of neutral-color sweaters.

  

• Other possibilities could be a nice dress, a skirt and blouse, or a classy top with long pants or sporty cropped pants.  White pants always look great with a pretty top on a cruise. You can even wear your favorite little black dress or a cocktail dress, but not one with a lot of glitz.  The bling is for creating a formal look.  See the next tip.

If you think you may attend a semi-formal evening event:

• Bring at least one dressy top or bottom or an elegant dress for semi-formal nights.
• If there is a cocktail party, try a pantsuit or a monochrome look or a little black dress. Make sure you have the shoes you need to go with it.

Often there is one night during the cruise that features a formal dinner:

• This is when you can pile on the glitz and glam. Dress to the nines.  This means your evening best.  Nothing is too fancy on this night, since black tie is acceptable, so you can break out your evening gown and best jewelry.  You could also wear a cocktail dress, an elegant pantsuit or a long dressy maxi.  Adding fancy accessories makes it extra-special.

I hope this is helpful to you.  Do you have advice to make packing for a cruise simple?  I would appreciate it if you would let us know by leaving a reply below this post.  Thanks!

And There’s More!

Like this post?  You might also like to read “How to Arrive at the Airport in Comfort and Style” HERE.

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