Don't get uptight about what to wear while on your cruise.  After all, you're on vacation!  You're about to embark on a Caribbean cruise.  The mere thought of those idle, carefree days onboard ship has you leaning back in your chair daydreaming..... Then your itinerary arrives and two little words leap out at you: FORMAL NIGHT.  You sit upright.  The stress builds.... Does  "formal" mean tuxedos and evening gowns???  "Relax", on most ships, "formal" doesn't mean "black tie".  A suit for men and a cocktail dress or evening pantsuit for women is usually dressy enough.  You'll be fine with the same kind of outfit you'd wear to a nice restaurant.

 

Only a few cruise lines, including Holland America, Crystal, and Silver Sea, require formal dress for some events.  On  most lines, formal night coincides with the cocktail parties hosted by the ship's captain to welcome guests onboard.

 

On 3 and 4 night cruises, there is just one formal night.  On cruises of seven or more nights, there are at least 2 dress-up nights (Captain's Cocktail Party and Farewell Dinner).

 

1- How do I get a general idea what clothes I should pack? The key is to pack versatile, mix and match garments, with the emphasis on clothes that are casual, comfortable and wrinkle resistant.

2- Can I wear shorts in the dining room? For breakfast and lunch- yes. For dinner- no.

3- Can I wear a swimsuit in the dining room or indoor entertainment areas? No. And keep a cover-up handy for the trip from your cabin to the deck and adjacent areas.

4- What kind of shoes will I need? Casual slip-ons (sandals, boat shoes) for the ship, dress shoes for evening events and comfortable walking shoes for shore excursions.

5- How cold will it get?  On Caribbean cruises, the weather is hot in summer and warm in the winter.  A light jacket, sweater or wrap can come in handy for a breezy evening stroll on deck- or for warding off the chill of indoor air conditioning.

6- For daytime and casual nights what should I wear?  Shorts or slacks for gentlemen and shorts, skirts, capris for ladies is appropriate during the day.  For evenings on board, ladies may wear sundresses, skort outfits, dresses or pantsuits.  Gentlemen may wear casual slacks with open shirt collars.

7- In additon to basic clothes, what should I pack?  A hat, sunglasses, sunblock, light tote bag (for beach supplies, souvenirs), costume jewelry.  If you take valuable dress jewelry, check ahead of time, some cruise lines have access to a safe in the individual staterooms.

8- Can I rent a tux onboard? On most ships- yes.

9- Can I buy an evening outfit onboard? Ships' boutiques offer a wide selection of fashions and accessories (excluding shoes, usually).

10- Are cleaning services available? Yes, both laundry and dry cleaning.

11- Is there anywhere I can eat wearing just a swimsuit and cover-up, or shorts and tank top? Yes, poolside snack bars or the "alternative" dining areas that many ships have introduced, such as pizza parlors.