Whether you’re off to the Caribbean or Mediterranean Islands, dressing for a cruise means packing lightweight, versatile pieces you can style in several ways.
Planning your outfits is essential — it helps prevent overpacking (hopefully!) and the dreaded “I don’t know what to wear” when you get there. You’ll show up to your cruise knowing what outfit combinations you have to choose from. We recommend bringing pieces you can easily wear day or night and in fabrics that resist wrinkles.
Here’s our list of must-have cruise clothes for women to have you feeling chic all vacation long.
Lightweight Cover-Ups
If you’re cruising to a tropical destination with lots of sunshine, you can never pack too many cover-ups. You’ll likely be spending most of your time by the beach or pool, and a stylish cover-up can also double as an elegant dress or top for dinner.
We love our simple White Shirt Dress for a day spent by the water. It’s breathable, protects from the sun, and matches any swimsuit (though it pairs beautifully with any of our Sky Blue Swim). For dinner, simply throw it on with your favorite white denim and gold accessories for a classic coastal look.
Multiple Swimsuits
What’s your idea of a perfect cruise day? Tanning by the pool? Snorkeling with sea life? Swimming in the ocean? No matter your activity of choice, you’ll need swimsuits designed to help you feel confident and comfortable.
For day-long beach excursions where you’ll be away from your room, we recommend the Bandini Top and Hipster Bottoms in our tropical Island Batik Print. Pair this suit with our Relaxed Side Tie Pant in the matching pink print to create the illusion of a trendy jumpsuit.
Inspired by a cloudless summer day (or turquoise blue water), our Ring String Top and Ring Hipster bottoms look stunning against white sandy beaches. This swimsuit has faux-shell rings for an added beachy boho feel and complements the earthy cinnamon-brown of our Sand Dunes Shirt Dress.
Wrinkle-Free Dresses
There’s nothing worse than reaching your destination, opening your suitcase, only to find all of your gorgeous dresses are wrinkled. While a steamer can quickly bring your clothes back to life, you can avoid this altogether by packing dresses made of wrinkle-free materials.
Our favorite cruise attire? The Jolie Bandeau Dress — this effortless dress has a touch of romance, making it our go-to choice for a candlelit dinner with a view of the ocean. And the best part about this dress? It’s made of a durable nylon and spandex mix, which won’t wrinkle in your suitcase. For petite ladies who may not want the length of a maxi, this style is also available in the Short Jolie Dress.
Two-Piece Sets
While we love a matching moment, we also appreciate pieces you can mix and match. For drinks on the cruise deck or excursion into town, wear our Scallop Crochet Maxi Skirt and matching Scalloped Crochet Tank made of soft, wrinkle-resistant cotton.
These pieces are beautiful paired together, but you can also wear them separately! Wear the maxi skirt with a bikini for poolside activities or the crochet tank with jean shorts for a rainy day exploring the ship.
Casual Wear
Dressing in layers is key when traveling from the airport to the cruise ship! Plus, even if you’re traveling to a warm destination, nights can be chilly on the windy upper deck, and most cruise ships are cold due to the air conditioning. So, you can never pack too many casual layers for vacation.
We’d never leave town without bringing our stylish Beach Topper. . Part poncho and part sweater, style this asymmetrical piece with jeans, dresses, or swimsuits. If you’re planning a spa day or relaxing day of reading in the cruise library, try our Logan Joggers, Classic Pink Tee, and White V-Neck Pullover (this look also doubles as a practical airport outfit).
Before you leave town, always check your ship’s dress code. Some ships and cruise lines dedicate certain evenings to cocktail or evening wear, which may impact what cruise attire you need to bring with you.
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Happy packing! As always, please tag us on Instagram wearing Helen Jon, we love to see your style!