What to Wear on a Cruise: The Must-Have Clothes to Pack

The time has finally come for you to head out on a cruise and you couldn’t be more excited. But what are you supposed to pack? What to wear on a cruise is going to depend on where you’re going, the cruise line you’ve picked and any shore excursions you have planned.

Let’s take a look at cruise attire, including tips for packing clothes for a cruise.

Some must-bring clothes for a cruise

• Casual clothes to wear on the cruise. T-shirts, shorts, pants, tops, whatever you feel comfortable exploring the shore and the ship in.

• A jacket or sweater. Being out on the water might be colder than you think. Bring a light jacket or sweater for the nights you might be walking the ship deck or eating outside.

• A swimsuit, cover-up, hat and sandals. Most cruises have pools, hot tubs and sometimes even water slides. You wouldn't want to be a fish out of water because you forgot your swimsuit.

• Smart casual or formal clothes for dinner. It's not required, but some cruises have specialty restaurants or formal nights where guests dress up for dinner. Check if your cruise has a formal night and bring some clothes for a more dressed up occasion. (It'll also be good for taking portraits, a common offering on cruise formal nights).

Other tips for packing cruise clothes

Look up special theme nights

Many cruises have special themes for certain nights. It could be as simple as "Dress to Impress" or it might require a more specific dress code.

For example, the Disney Cruise Line offers a pirate night on many of its voyages. As you’d expect, this is a night where everyone dresses as a pirate. Although you’ll get a free bandana to wear, many guests go all out when dressing up — meaning they packed for the occasion.

Virgin Voyages, meanwhile, has a Scarlet Night on all of its sailings. During Scarlet Night, guests go red from head to toe for a huge party.

More traditional cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean also offer a formal night. It’s exactly as it sounds: You’ll want to wear black-tie if you’re heading out to dinner. This can include ball gowns and tuxedos, but doesn’t need to be that fancy; you can also opt for cocktail attire.

Figuring out which cruise line fits your vibe is important and can heavily impact what you choose to pack, so it’s important to do your research before you book.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Research your itinerary

For best results, you’ll want to take an in-depth look at the itinerary for your ship. If you’re heading out to the Caribbean, you’ll generally want to plan for warm weather. This includes lightweight outfits, like sundresses and shorts.

If you’re stopping at a beach club for the day, bathing suits and coverups are also a good idea. If your ship is stopping at ports, comfortable walking shoes will be a good investment, as will a hat to protect you from the sun.

For cooler destinations like Alaska or Nordic countries, more layers will be important, especially when you get off the ship to explore. Bring rain jackets, sweaters, base layers and waterproof shoes.

» Learn more: The best ways to book a cruise

Plan for excursions

While the temperature aboard your cruise ship is regulated, that all goes out the window when you embark on an excursion. These can vary wildly based on where you’re sailing. It could be as casual as a bus ride into the port town or as adventurous as riding an ATV through the jungle.

Whatever excursion you pick, make sure you’re ready for the elements. While you may not need too many additional items of clothing for a beachy excursion, more adventurous ones may need more attention. Hiking shoes, long-sleeved shirts and sunscreen will be important.

» Learn more: Should you book cruise excursions through a third party?

Pack multi-purpose clothes

It probably sounds like you’ll need to bring your entire wardrobe with you for a cruise, but that doesn’t necessarily need to be the case. If you can, select items that can perform double-duty for you. Have a sun hat for the pool? Bring one with a strap on it so you can take it into town without it flying off your head.

This can help you cut down on the number of items you need to pack — and that’s a good thing! Some cruise lines may limit the number of bags you can bring. Plus, staterooms on ships can be pretty small and too much luggage can make the room feel cramped.

» Learn more: 7 tips for getting the best deal on your next cruise

Best travel cards for cruises

Many popular travel cards come with benefits targeting cruise enthusiasts, others include general travel perks that make them a good option for booking cruises the next time you decide to set sail.

Here's a look at a few of them:

What to wear on a cruise ship recapped

Getting ready for your cruise is exciting! No matter where you’re going, you’re bound to have a good time. Just remember to do your research before you go to make sure you have everything that you need.