What to Wear on Your Next Cruise

You’ve made your final payment, double-checked your passport, and booked your shore excursions, and now it's time for the most important part of cruise preparation – what are you going to wear?!

When you’re traveling on an upscale cruise or on a specialty itinerary, you'll want to ditch the Hawaiian shirts and novelty tees and go for more sophisticated options.

Here are some tips I like to follow when packing for a luxury cruise:

🚢 Keep it simple. I always pick a "color palette" of just one or two shades + black for my trips so it's easy to coordinate!

🚢 The same rule goes for jewelry. Coordinate so that all your outfits match gold or silver, and leave the other color at home. Pack simple, understated jewelry.

🚢 Pack a few cocktail dresses for the evenings. Most cruises have at least one formal evening, and even if it's not a requirement to dress to the 9's - it's a total vibe to deck yourself out when you're strolling around on deck (ship pun...see what I did there?)

🚢 Remember to pack workout clothes. The fitness facilities and spas are some of the nicest parts of most luxury cruises. Sunset yoga, anyone? You'll also want something cozy to travel in on the plane ride home.

🚢 Walking shoes are helpful for your on-shore itineraries. You often have a lot of ground to cover in a short amount of time, so being prepared to move quickly is helpful. (2:00 am excursions to the pizza bar also count…)

🚢 Scarves and shawls are your best friend when traveling. They don’t take up much room in your suitcase and can be used as a bathing suit cover-up or to class up an evening gown. If your itinerary includes visits to holy sites like churches or mosques, they are also useful as a modest cover-up.

Items you can skip:

❌ Don't worry about packing your robes and slippers. These are usually included in concierge class staterooms

❌ High-end cruises often include pressing services, so if your clothes get a little wrinkled in your suitcase just ask your butler or stateroom attendant to tidy them up - no need to pack an iron or steamer!

❌ Don’t bring anything you’re afraid to damage or lose! I tell my girlfriends to leave their designer bags at home when they travel, and to wear a cheap imitation wedding ring instead of their diamond - just in case!

Ready to strut your stuff on board? Book a complimentary cruise consultation today and we’ll have you sailing in no time!

What’s your best cruising fashion tip? Share it in the comments below!