What to wear
What to wear on a cruise
Pack for three wardrobes: pool deck, port and dining room.
The short answer
On a cruise, pack casual, breathable clothes for sea days, practical layers and walking shoes for excursions, and smart casual outfits for dinner. Many cruises also include one or two formal or "elegant" nights, when a cocktail dress, dressy separates, a suit or a blazer fits in. Dress codes vary by cruise line, so check yours.
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Before you get dressed
Packing for a cruise means fitting three wardrobes into one suitcase. Days at sea revolve around the pool deck, the spa and the buffet. Port days bring walking tours, beaches, boat rides or cold-weather hikes, depending on the itinerary. Evenings move indoors to dining rooms, shows and lounges, where clothes get a notch dressier, and on a formal or elegant night, a lot dressier.
What to wear on a cruise also depends on the line you sail with, because each sets its own dinner dress code. Some stay relaxed every night, many hold one or two formal nights a week, and some upscale lines expect jackets at dinner more often. Check your line's website and the daily planner on board. Cabin closets are small, so pack light, mix-and-match pieces suited to the itinerary's climate.
Cruise: outfits for women
Build around swimsuits and cover-ups, breathable day dresses and shorts or linen trousers, then add two or three dinner outfits you can remix. For formal nights, a cocktail dress, a dressy jumpsuit or silky separates suit most lines; pack flat sandals, walking shoes and one pair of comfortable heels or dressy flats.
- Sea day: a swimsuit with a linen button-up or cotton caftan as a cover-up, a packable wide-brim hat, sunglasses and slide sandals, plus a tee and shorts for lunch indoors, since many ship restaurants ask you to cover up.
- Shore excursion, warm port: a moisture-wicking tee or tank, lightweight shorts or a midi skirt, a zip-top crossbody bag, walking sandals or sneakers and a light layer for air-conditioned buses; bring a scarf to cover your shoulders at religious sites.
- Casual dinner or resort evening: a printed midi dress, or linen trousers with a silky camisole, a light cardigan for chilly dining rooms and flat or wedge sandals.
- Formal or elegant night: a jewel-toned cocktail dress, a wrap maxi dress or a dressy wide-leg jumpsuit, a pashmina for the air conditioning, block-heel sandals and statement earrings; on a petite frame, a knee-length dress with a defined waist looks especially balanced.
- Cold-weather cruise to Alaska or Northern Europe: a thermal base layer, a fleece or wool sweater, a waterproof shell, dark jeans or water-resistant pants and waterproof walking shoes; for dinner, a knit dress with tights and ankle boots.
- Plus-size: a breathable jersey maxi dress that goes from sea day to dinner with a change of shoes and jewelry, anti-chafe shorts for long walks ashore and a lightweight longline cardigan.
Cruise: outfits for men
Pack swim trunks, breathable shorts and tees or polos for daytime, and chinos with button-ups for most dinners. Formal nights on mainstream lines call for a suit or at least a blazer, dress trousers and a collared shirt, while a tuxedo is optional unless your line says otherwise.
- Sea day: swim trunks with a 5- to 7-inch inseam, a short-sleeve linen or camp-collar shirt, sunglasses, a hat and slides or boat shoes; pull on a tee before heading into indoor restaurants.
- Shore excursion: a moisture-wicking polo or tee, quick-dry shorts or lightweight chinos, a packable rain jacket, walking sneakers or water shoes and a zip pouch for your ship card, ID and cash.
- Casual dinner: lightweight chinos, a short- or long-sleeve button-up or knit polo, a leather belt and loafers; some main dining rooms don't allow shorts at dinner, so pack a few pairs of long pants.
- Formal or elegant night: a navy or charcoal suit with a tie, or a dinner jacket if you enjoy dressing up; on more relaxed lines, a blazer with dress trousers and an open collar is enough.
- Cold-weather cruise: a merino base layer, a quarter-zip fleece, a waterproof shell, water-resistant pants and waterproof boots; for dinner, a sweater over a collared shirt with dark chinos.
- Big & tall: a linen-blend sport coat in a long size that packs flat, breathable performance chinos and a couple of stretch dress shirts that come out of the suitcase looking pressed.
Color
Colors to wear and to skip
Wear
Light, breathable neutrals like white, stone, sand and navy handle sun and pack easily. Brights and tropical prints feel right on warm-weather routes. For formal nights, jewel tones, black, navy and metallics look rich under dining room lights. A tight palette where everything matches makes a small suitcase go further.
Skip
Skip dark, heavy colors on hot excursion days; they absorb heat. Very pale or white fabrics can turn see-through when wet, so test them before a beach day. And leave behind pieces in colors that match only one other item; every top should work with at least two bottoms.
The most flattering version of any color is the one that suits your own coloring. Find your color season to know which shades to wear near your face.
Details
Things to consider
Your cruise line
Dress codes range from relaxed every night to dressier dinners most evenings. Look up your line's current policy, count the formal or elegant nights on your itinerary, and remember that buffets and casual venues usually stay open if you'd rather skip dressing up.
Itinerary and climate
Caribbean and Mexico routes call for sun protection and quick-dry fabrics. Alaska, Northern Europe and fall New England cruises need layers, a waterproof jacket and closed-toe shoes. Mediterranean port days often include churches and other religious sites that require covered shoulders and knees.
Onboard temperatures
Ships are breezy on deck and heavily air-conditioned inside. Bring a cardigan, wrap or light jacket to every dinner and show.
Luggage and laundry
Cabin closets are small, and most major lines ban clothes irons and garment steamers because of fire risk. Pack wrinkle-resistant knits and blends, bring a wrinkle-release spray, and see if your ship offers a pressing service or a self-service laundry.
Etiquette
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Check your line's dress code and the number of formal nights before you pack.
- Pack a carry-on with a swimsuit, a change of clothes and any medications, since checked bags can take hours to reach your cabin on embarkation day.
- Bring a light layer to every meal and show.
- Choose wrinkle-resistant fabrics like jersey, merino and technical blends.
- Plan outfits by day around a few neutrals and two or three accent colors.
Don't
- Don't wear swimwear or a wet cover-up in the main dining room or indoor restaurants.
- Don't pack an iron or steamer; most lines hold them until the end of the cruise.
- Don't bring only flip-flops; excursions, wet decks and gangways call for secure shoes.
- Don't break in new shoes on a walking tour in port.
- Don't overpack formalwear; one outfit per formal night, rewearable accessories and one pair of dressy shoes are plenty.
Questions
Cruise outfit FAQ
What do you wear on a cruise formal night?
Most mainstream lines suggest cocktail dresses, dressy jumpsuits or elegant separates, and suits or a jacket with dress trousers, with tuxedos and gowns welcome but optional. Some lines have relaxed formal nights into "elegant" or "chic" evenings, where a nice dress or a collared shirt and slacks is enough. Check your cruise line's current policy.
Do you have to dress up on a cruise?
No. You can skip formal or elegant nights by eating at the buffet or casual venues, which usually stay open. Main dining rooms typically ask for smart casual clothes in the evening, like long pants or a nice dress, and no swimwear. On a few upscale lines, dressier evenings are the norm, so check before you sail.
Can you wear jeans on a cruise?
Yes. On most cruise lines, jeans are fine during the day and at dinner on casual nights, as long as they're clean and not ripped. On formal or elegant nights, main dining rooms usually ask for dressier clothes. Jeans are heavy to pack and slow to dry, so one dark pair is usually enough.
What should I wear on a shore excursion?
Dress for the activity and the destination: breathable, quick-dry clothes and comfortable walking shoes for tours, water shoes and a swimsuit under your clothes for boats and beaches, and a rain layer anywhere the weather changes quickly. Bring a cover-up for shoulders and knees if you'll visit churches, temples or mosques, and wear sunscreen.
How many outfits should I pack for a 7-day cruise?
Plan on a daytime outfit for each day, three to five dinner outfits you can remix, one outfit per formal night, two swimsuits and a cover-up, plus a warm layer, walking shoes, sandals and dressy shoes. Rewearing pieces is completely normal, and packing cubes help everything fit in a small cabin.
Can you wear shorts to dinner on a cruise?
It depends on the line and the restaurant. Buffets and casual venues almost always allow shorts. Many main dining rooms prefer long pants or at least tailored shorts in the evening, and most expect long pants on formal nights. Pack a few pairs of lightweight chinos or trousers so you're covered either way.
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