Dress to Impress With These Cruise Ship Style Tips

In times past, a cruise passenger would often take two, three or even four trunks of clothes – even if the trip was just for a few weeks! These days the savvy cruise ship passenger doesn’t need to take quite as much. By choosing the right items for your cruise ship wardrobe, you can look elegant or ready to explore at the drop of a hat – without too many suitcases.

Women’s Evening

Unless stated as uber-formal, evening wear does not have to be a silk gown or a shimmering train. Think about what you might wear to a night at the opera or a fancy meal out with your partner at an expensive restaurant – that’s the level to aim for. Flowing cotton or silk-mix dresses teamed with cardigans and a trouser suit with a feminine blouse are outfits to consider.

Men’s Evening

Whether you are on a Royal Caribbean Cruise in the tropics or a winter jaunt along the Norwegian coast, you are going to need a suit for the evening. In the past a tuxedo was de rigeur for all male passengers, but these days a business suit is acceptable, provided the cruise is not advertised as a formal affair. (And, even if it is and you don’t own a tuxedo, you can usually rent one on board if required. Don’t forget, you can’t team a suit with a pair of sandals, so pack some appropriate shoes.

Women’s Daytime

Versatility is the key to your daytime wardrobe. You need clothes that are suitable for lounging by the pool, playing deck sports, popping into a restaurant for lunch and taking shore excursions. Wrap dresses and jersey dresses are good choices as they can be teamed with different accessories to make different outfits, as well as cardigans and flat sandals for a casual but still elegant look. Jeans and a T-shirt is always a good look, particularly when worn with a wedge sandal. And remember to get a classy set a swimwear – after all, you want to look good in the pool, too.

Men’s Daytime

You certainly want to be comfortable, but don’t go too casual. Short shorts are a no-no, while sportswear should only really be worn for, yes, doing sports. Consider khaki shorts that fall to just above the knee. These are very versatile and can be twinned with a polo, collared tee or Oxford shirt. Deck shoes or sandals would be good footwear choices. A pair of smart jeans will also be useful, particularly for late afternoons when the temperature may drop.

Other essentials to pack

Both men and women should remember to take a hat as protection from the sun. For the ladies, a silk scarf can also be useful in this regard. A pair of trainers is ideal for shore excursions. And, even though you might be in the Caribbean, it can still rain, so throw a light rain jacket into your suitcase as well.