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Whether you're interested in history and want to explore ruins or would rather relax on the beach with a cold beverage in hand, there's a cruise getaway waiting for you. 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. There’s nothing like setting sail on a beautiful cruise ship venturing down to the Caribbean Sea. As the precipice of paradise – you can hop between the Bahamas, Aruba, Jamaica, the BVIs, Grand Cayman, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Honduras, and 700+ other scattered islands and territories.
FAQ – Cruise Outfits and Packing Tips
Since irons and steamers aren’t allowed on ships (safety first!), toss some anti-wrinkle spray into your bags, too. Hanging your wrinkled clothes in the bathroom during a hot shower is another trick to make them look pressed. Self-service laundry isn’t available on board, but dry cleaning and laundry services are offered at an additional fee, if you want to go that route. Also, bringing an empty bag may seem counterintuitive, but you’ll likely need one to pack souvenirs you pick up along the way.
Final Caribbean Cruise Packing Tips
Most Alaska sailings will be 7-nights long, so you can expect to have two Formal Nights during your Royal Caribbean cruise. Keeping with our theme of packing for cool weather, we’ve selected a few outfits that would be perfect for Formal Night on your cruise. For men, this is your time to pack those Hawaiian shirts or fun patterns! Although shorts aren’t permitted in the dining room, pairing these fun patterned shirts with jeans is perfect for casual night on a Caribbean cruise for men. Here’s a breakdown of what to wear on your Caribbean cruise that works well for each of Royal Caribbean’s dress codes. Also, shorter Caribbean sailings, or those with less than 5 nights, will have the most casual atmosphere on a Royal Caribbean cruise - so keep this in mind while packing.
What do you wear on a dressier night on a cruise?
I love traditional packing cubes (above), and found them very helpful on our last cruise. While there are pros and cons to packing cubes, they are a very popular travel product for cruises. This compact hairdryer by BabyLliss Pro works almost as well as my large salon quality dryer, and is perfect to bring along on a cruise. If that’s not powerful enough for you, consider bringing a small quality blowdryer.
Maxi Dress
Think about a smart-looking dress or slacks and a dressy blouse. Accessories are small, easy to pack, and great for transitioning an outfit from day to evening. On Celebrity Cruises, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible while onboard.
I wore this tank style loose beach dress on our shore excursion in beautiful St. Kitts. However, I also wear it on cruises as a bathing suit cover up when I head to the pool on sea days. If you are wondering what shoes to wear on a cruise, I suggest flats or something low and chunky. A cruise ship is as long as a football field, and there’s always lots of walking across changing surfaces. If you feel you must take a heel, make sure it is something you feel very comfortable walking in, like a kitten heel. If you’re planning on doing a lot of walking around the ship during days at sea, it’s a good idea to pack a pair of sneakers or other comfortable walking shoes.
Casual
A black-tie look isn’t one you’re likely to find on shore when sailing the Caribbean islands. Plan your formal look in advance, including a floor-length gown or formal jumpsuit, statement jewelry, high heels, and minaudière. Trying to figure out what to wear on a Caribbean cruise in the winter is much easier than in other seasons. Pack your trunk for a glamorous whirl around the Caribbean’s blue skies and clear seas. Visiting from December to May, you’ll be greeted with warm weather and mostly dry skies. Stick with something stylish enough to wear sightseeing after check-in ends but comfortable enough to sit through long waiting periods.
For example, a two-night Cyprus cruise is all about beaches, history and incredible cuisine. Pack outfits that you'll be comfortable in even when the sun is scorching hot, so you don't have to worry about going back to the ship to get changed midday. Effortless flowy skirts and airy linen shirts make great cover-ups for swimwear that will protect your skin from the sun as you explore ancient sites. Comfortable shoes are a must for a trip like this, whether that's a flat sandal with straps or sneakers.
Woman on TikTok shares planning hack for her Royal Caribbean cruise to make packing easier - Royal Caribbean Blog
Woman on TikTok shares planning hack for her Royal Caribbean cruise to make packing easier.
Posted: Wed, 17 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
When you're done swimming, you can stow your swimwear away in the dry bag without getting the rest of your items wet. These tan braided sandals are quite comfortable and can be worn during the day and evening. The heel isn’t too high, and the neutral color makes this a great versatile shoe to bring on a cruise. We decided to go to Caneletto, an Italian specialty restaurant for the second formal night. We still dressed “nicely”, but skipped the longer evening dress I brought and the suit for my husband.
I've selected a jumpsuit, versatile blouse, floral skirt and two dresses that would work well with Royal Caribbean's dress code. While I used to go all-out and pack ballgowns and high-heels, I’ve gravitated more towards versatile dresses that can easily be dressed up or down. Perhaps I will curl my hair and wear a little extra makeup on formal night these days. For my husband, he prefers to wear his sports coat or casual blazer rather than a tuxedo or suit.
Though 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. 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.
These shoes will take you back and forth from your stateroom to the pool and vice versa. They also come in handy if you choose to visit the onboard spa. Lightweight water shoes are great for some ports in the Mediterranean, where beaches tend to be pebbly. Wicking tops, lightweight fleeces, and even pants that zip off into shorts are all a good idea for Alaska, especially if you’re out hiking.
Sometimes, ships plan for special activities on sea days, like when Viking Cruises hosted a poolside barbecue with the ship’s band on my Caribbean cruise. Along with a good suitcase and carry on bag, a garment bag is a must-have if you’re bringing dressy clothes or formal wear on your cruise. It’s important to be prepared with all your cruise essentials, including toiletries, medications, cruise accessories and shoes (yes, many people forget their formal night shoes!!). For your daytime outfit, you’ll likely need swimwear or activewear depending on what you have planned.
