Although on a trip you should be prepared for any circumstance, be it a dinner party or trekking, one could easily compromise on the packing. If you have only that one outfit for a formal get-together, trust us, no one will really notice as long as you are looking ravishing. And your pretty black outfit can always be jazzed up with super cool accessories like a cute handbag, beautiful sandals, a shawl or a wrap and nice jewellery. Although long and flowing dresses are generally preferred on a cruise, a short one will be just as appreciated, except only for an extremely conventional tour.

What to wear on a Cruise

For guys, do remember to include a dark colored suit for a formal evening, a tie and a coat for semi-formal parties and a dinner jacket, in your travel bag. But first consult with the ship in-charge about dressing; you don’t want to pack a tuxedo only to discover that a thing such as a strictly formal evening no longer exists aboard the summer cruise on the Mediterranean. Most ships are equipped with boutiques or a clothing store where ladies are sure to find the well-known variety of evening dresses with lots of glitter on them. Cruises also have rental services which rent out such articles of clothing as you may have forgotten to pack but it wouldn’t be too wise to rely solely on these.

Combining different articles of clothing to match your outfit

Men can dress themselves in good-looking pants and a polo-neck tee-shirt for the evening. Remember not to take the word ‘casual’ printed on the card too literally and wear jeans to the party. Shorts, football jerseys, beach wear and tank tops are a strict no-no. If dress code on the card reads ‘informal’ or ‘smart casuals’ then women can wear a short cocktail outfit to this party or even a pair of formal trousers which are well-cut and smart. For a party which is to be ‘casual’ or requires you to dress in ‘resort wear’ you can make do with a classy silken or flowing blouse paired with black or white colored pants.

Be careful about your Hat

For those of you who intend to wear hats on the cruise beware lest it is blown off your head and into the sea by a strong gust of wind. On the ship’s upper decks there is bound to be a strong wind blowing and therefore you should wear a sturdy hat or one with ribbons which you can tie around your face. A comfortable robe that can decently cover your swimsuit so that you can go straight from the pool to your lunch is a must. Carry a pair of shoes that will see you through when you are visiting places of attraction. ‘Deck’ shoes which have soles made of rubbery material are good for the times you want to wander around while onboard the ship.

Carry a stole or a wrap

For that evening party in the air-conditioned ballroom remember to carry a warm wrap or a stylish shawl because room temperature is bound to be very low. Also, while stilettos add a certain pizzazz to every outfit mentally calculate the distance you have to walk to get from your cabin to the ballroom; it wouldn’t do to wear your feet out even before you reach the dance floor.

Wear protective covering

You will often be exposed to those harsh rays of the sun so wear an adequate amount of sun-screen or sun-block. The wind may be light and cool and you will end up with a dreadful tan or sunburn. Women should carry good hair-care products like conditioner or serum so that your carefully done up hair doesn’t go awry. Hairdryers which you might get on the ship are seldom reliable. If you want to look perfect for the big night be sure to visit the hair-stylist first.

When you want to visit the local church or holy seat at a port take care that you don’t find yourself without suitably covered clothes to wear. Carry relatively long shorts, some skirts which aren’t figure-hugging, and long-sleeved tops for these occasions. When stepping on the shores of a Moslem country, you need to wrap some clothing around your shoulders, head and legs as well, since they follow a strict protocol about dress codes. In such a situation men should also dress themselves somewhat according to local custom.