Help!! What to wear!!

[Fairydust82]

Hi! My boyfriend and I have just booked our first ever cruise around the Caribbean but I have absolute no idea where to start when thinking about what sort of clothes to pack!!

Would appreciate as much advice as possible!
X

[CruiserBruce]

It would be helpful to know what cruise line you are talking about, as there are some dress code issues, which vary by cruise line.

Some reading here, and on the board for the cruise line you are taking, would help you.

[janetz]

Originally Posted by Fairydust82

Hi! My boyfriend and I have just booked our first ever cruise around the Caribbean but I have absolute no idea where to start when thinking about what sort of clothes to pack!!

Would appreciate as much advice as possible!


X

What cruiseline?

[suezyq50]

Welcome. Resort wear type of clothes. I take shorts, tees, and of course swimsuits for during the day. In the evening, I wear sun dresses, nicer pants or skirts, along with better tops or jackets. For formal or elegant night, what Carnival calls it, I like to wear cocktail dresses, palazoo pants, etc. Go to the cruise fashion and beauty thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=182. You we see pictures posted. Don't fret it. I don't buy specifically for cruising. Have fun.

[Keith1010]

One thing we do is to visit the web site for the cruise line we are booked on if this is our first sailing with them and do a search under attire. They will normally recommend both daytime and evening clothing. On top of this I then ask questions on the cruise line board on CC and to get cruise specific attire recommendations.

Keith

[cb at sea]

Cruiseline really doesn't matter. During the days, it uber-casual...swimsuits, shorts, tees, flip-flops. Standard wear for the Caribbean. Summer weather.

At night, most cruiselines will have casual and formal nights. Casual means slack and collared shirt for men. Women will wear capris, slacks, skirts, sundresses...that sort of stuff.

On "formal" nights, a suit for men and cocktail dress or evening gown for women. The exception is NCL and Carnival...they are much more casual than the rest. Check your cruise brochure for dress codes. If you don't have the brochure, GET IT! Lots of info in the brochure that you'll need!

[ducklite]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

Cruiseline really doesn't matter. During the days, it uber-casual...swimsuits, shorts, tees, flip-flops. Standard wear for the Caribbean. Summer weather.

At night, most cruiselines will have casual and formal nights. Casual means slack and collared shirt for men. Women will wear capris, slacks, skirts, sundresses...that sort of stuff.

On "formal" nights, a suit for men and cocktail dress or evening gown for women. The exception is NCL and Carnival...they are much more casual than the rest. Check your cruise brochure for dress codes. If you don't have the brochure, GET IT! Lots of info in the brochure that you'll need!

Very poor advice. Cruise line absolutely matters. Are you really saying that the dress code is the same on Seabourn as it is on Carnival? Just for starters jeans are allowed on CCL at night, they are never appropriate after 6:00 pm on Seabourn.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Hope you come back and give us more information on what cruise line you will be sailing on.

Also when are you cruising?

[janetz]

Originally Posted by ducklite

Very poor advice. Cruise line absolutely matters. Are you really saying that the dress code is the same on Seabourn as it is on Carnival? Just for starters jeans are allowed on CCL at night, they are never appropriate after 6:00 pm on Seabourn.

Yes, the line does matter.

[SuitCaseBears]

In addition to the cruise line mattering because of rules - it matters if you want to feel the most comfortable. It's one thing to not care what anyone else wears - it's another if someone is asking and wants to know what's most common or expected so they do fit in well.

So yes, what cruise line??

[Cruisin' Chick]

I agree with the others that say that what cruiseline you're going on AND the itinerary does matter.

What works for Oceania might not work for Cunard. What works for Holland might not work for NCL. Many of the cruiselines have a definite personality, which includes norms for dress.

And definitely what you would wear on an Alaskan cruise would be very different for a Caribbean cruise.

So definitely, check the website for your cruiseline. They all have one. And each one probably has a FAQ section. If you can get a brochure for your cruiseline, check out the photos. Some of them may have people looking more formally, or even just feature one age group (like Princess), but you may get a good clue as to what to pack.

[FloridaMomma]

For each day, I packed a casual outfit (like shorts and a cute top), a bathing suit and cover-up, and an evening outfit. If you do that, you should be covered!

The evening outfit will vary depending on your plans. Will you be eating in a MDR on formal night? If so, you'll want to pack something nice for that night. Will you be dancing later? These are things I considered. Every night we ate in the MDR and danced later, so I wore something I could do both in and be comfortable.

[Fairydust82]

Hi all! Thanks for your responses. We're booked on the thomson dream for 14 days around the Caribbean in January.

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[Jana60]

Originally Posted by Fairydust82

Hi! My boyfriend and I have just booked our first ever cruise around the Caribbean but I have absolute no idea where to start when thinking about what sort of clothes to pack!!

Would appreciate as much advice as possible!
X

Caribbean will be warm so shorts or capri pants with shirts or T shirts, bathing suits, a cover up for your swim suit, ocean shoes, sandles, and sports/walking shoes for days. For evenings on a 7 day cruise there will typically be 2 formal nights. So bring at least a nice dress or pantsuit and dress shoes for those nights and then slacks, casual dress or jeans and blouses for the other evenings. Otherwise don't forget jewelry, cosmetics, toiletries, medicine, socks, stockings, a shawl or wrap for evenings in case it gets chilly, undies, whatever you sleep in, a robe, and any electronic devices that you cannot live without. Also don't forget Sun block.

[SMerritt]

After all these years I discovered Skorts - The come in short tennis length and a little longer length.

I no longer arrive back to the ship from the beach and shore tours looking wet and rumpled, great for wandering around the ship. If needed, wash out easy and dry fast. Super comfy and look a little more "dressy".

I have basic colors, pack colorful summer tops, and good to go!

Ebay has Adidas, REI and all the brand names super cheap

And as above, yes which ship makes a difference

[Colorado Kat]

Remember to pack a hat. And a small tote-bag for around ship. I put my electronics in this, so it never travels to the sandy beach with me.

[ThePatientOne]

To the OP..

Some very good advise here all around.. Please check out what everyone is saying..

I will add just one more piece of advice.. While having the "right" thing to wear at different times throughout the day is a good thing..

One piece of advice I got a long time ago that still holds true to this day in regards to taking a cruise to the Caribbean..

Pack half the clothes and twice the money and you will be set.. I will just about guarantee that no matter what you pack, you will bring back a good portion of it, not having been worn.. Just saying is all...

Have fun on your cruise...

[GORDONCHICK]

Originally Posted by Fairydust82

Hi all! Thanks for your responses. We're booked on the thomson dream for 14 days around the Caribbean in January.

X

You should check out the Thomson board and ask you question there. Since Thomson's not a US based line, you will get more accurate answers there.

[Sinppu]

Don't go barefoot to the restaurants
You'll get plenty of info right here on CC, also on Fashions&Beauty section.

[niveamap]

I am also in the same boat...I have been wondering about a few articles of clothing to bring along....but I'm not sure I'll be able to pack everything that I'll need. 1 major thing is my back pain shoes, I need to make sure that I can bring them for the excursions and day trips (they have literally cured my back pain). Another thing I feel that will be super important is a light rain jacket/wing jacket....what else are some major key items that you guys put in your small over stuffed suitcases?? LOL