Although I really love cruises, the part I absolutely don’t like is the packing and unpacking.
I would like my closet to magically move on the ship, but that’s not possible, we have to make an effort to fit everything into a suitcase.
I know it may seem like a difficult thing, especially for long cruises, but I assure you that if following a few tips you can easily do it.
In this article, we will go over what is best to wear for a Caribbean cruise during the day and at night, and then we will go over some outfit examples.
Daytime and excursions
In my opinion, the first thing you should consider is that cruise ships are casual environments during the day.
You’ll probably just go to the pool, sunbathe, and enjoy the activities that you can usually do on a cruise ship.
For this reason, you should mostly pack casual clothes like T-shirts, tank tops, and shorts. Prefer breathable and comfy fabrics like cotton, rayon, linen, or other lightweight synthetics.
Obviously, you should also include 2 or 3 swimsuits, depending on the length of your cruise.
A one-piece can double as a top with shorts or a sarong, so it might be an interesting thing to consider.
However, also keep in mind that you need to cover yourself when you go to eat, especially in restaurants. So don’t forget to bring some lightweight cover-ups.
Excursions
The Caribbean itinerary is a somewhat special one in terms of excursions.
You can have two main types of choices: classic beach outings or more adventurous kind of activities.
For the first type, you should just bring a swimsuit, a cover-up, and sandals.
Of course, don’t forget also a sun hat, a reef-safe sunscreen, and a refillable bottle that you can fill with one of the 10 drinks that are always free on the cruise.
On the other hand, if you go on a more adventurous hike always opt for athletic wear and sneakers. If your tour includes a visit to cultural or religious sites also bring something to cover your shoulder.
CRUISE PRO TIP: Some excursions in the Caribbean may require specific clothing or equipment. When you book, there should be guidelines for recommended clothing, if you can’t find them ask the tour supervisor for more information.
Evenings on the Ship
Evening wear varies a lot on the cruise ships depending on the type of dinner or event. In the last few years, I’ve noticed that many passengers dress casually in the evening as well, and fewer and fewer people adhere to the dress code of formal nights.
However, even if you are a person who does not like to dress up I still recommend that you bring some slightly more elaborate outfits.
A cocktail dress or elegant jumpsuit will be perfect for a woman, while for a man a sport coat paired with dress pants will be fine. In the end, it’s less about black-tie attire and more about looking polished.
I don’t know if you like theme nights, but some cruise lines have several of them. You can check them in these articles:
- Royal Caribbean Theme Nights 2024
- Carnival Theme Nights 2024
- NCL Theme Nights 2024
- Princess Cruises Theme Nights 2024
- P&O Cruise Theme Nights 2024
- Holland America Theme Nights 2024
The hurricane season in the Caribbean runs between 1 June and 30 November. If you travel during these months remember to bring quick-drying clothing and water-resistant footwear.
Outfits Examples
Now let’s go through some examples of outfits that can give you some good ideas for packing your suitcase.
Let’s start with a very classic beach set. This is a blue and white floral bikini paired with a matching sarong. In this case, the pattern is quite simple but you certainly can play around a lot with prints and brighter colors.
Speaking of brighter colors, below you can see a bold fuchsia wrap set. This type of outfit is very versatile and is suitable for both daytime and evenings.
In this case, we have a one-shoulder crop top, but if you prefer you can recreate the same outfit with the top part of a swimsuit.
Another interesting option for the beach is this sheer white two-piece set.
As you can see, it’s sheer but not vulgar. Overall, it’s a very chic outfit, perfect if you want to have a drink at the beach or pool bar.
On the other hand, for the evening, opt for more elegant outfits that show off your tan but are still suitable for a fancy dinner.
White, green, coral, and beige look wonderful on tanned skin. Below here you can see a white cut-out maxi dress that would be perfect for a night of sailing in the Caribbean Sea.
Final Packing Tips
Just a few final packing tips. Weather in the Caribbean is warm year-round but there may still be rainy days or days when it is colder than usual.
Always pack a raincoat and a jacket to cover yourself if needed. It will also be useful for areas of the ship where the air conditioning is particularly strong.
In addition, don’t forget some important accessories such as hats, bug spray, a waterproof phone case, etc.
You can find a more comprehensive list in the article in which I told you about the 20 cruise essentials that I always bring on a cruise.
