How to pack for a cruise

By Anita Dunham-Potter

Travel columnist

updated 10:42 a.m. ET Feb. 20, 2007

Anita Dunham-Potter Travel columnist • Profile • E-mail

Cruise packing can easily go wrong, and the biggest mistake is overpacking. I know this from personal experience, because I have spent lots of time sitting atop an overstuffed suitcase battling to zip it closed.

Now that the airlines have imposed a 50-pound limit on suitcases, I pack much more judiciously. And while it is true that your cruise wardrobe depends less on your taste than your cruise line, I do have some observations and packing advice that will apply to most every sailing.

Customs are changing
Many passengers look forward to dressing up in the evening; others truly dread it. But these days you don't have to fashion yourself after the latest issue of Vogue to enjoy cruising. Dress codes have loosened up along with dining options — all in response to the changing tastes of the many passengers who prefer a more relaxed shipboard atmosphere. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Freestyle Cruising” policy calls for “resort casual” attire; Windstar Cruises has also gone over to resort casual.

However, formal dress standards are enforced on such luxury cruise lines as Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line and Silversea Cruises. On Cunard's Queen Mary 2 trans-Atlantic crossings, formal attire is expected on three of the six evenings at sea. Some luxury lines do waive formal dress requirements for some itineraries. On a recent Alaska sailing with Regent Seven Seas, for example, I found there were no formal nights, only “country club casual” evenings. Conversely, some passengers on casual cruises like to indulge in swanky attire on occasion. Attend Formal Night on a Carnival ship, and you'll see passengers decked out in ball gowns and diamonds alongside those wearing T-shirts and spandex.

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With attire running the gamut from L.L. Bean to Neiman Marcus, it can be hard to know what to pack. But don't fret. Your cruise line will send you information spelling out its dress policy for your cruise. The one thing you really must keep in mind is that cruise cabins are very small, so you have to pack smart.

Here are some packing tips that will keep you looking fresh — and keep you out of the ship’s laundry room, too.

Day wear
For warm-weather cruises, bring quality swimwear, as you're likely to spend a lot of time in or around the pool. For women, sarongs, coverups and sundresses are necessary, since most cruise lines require that you wear more than a swimsuit in the dining rooms.

If the ship holds an event requiring “smart casual” wear, you’ll be fine in dress shorts, a skirt, or trousers along with a short-sleeved shirt or polo shirt. The rest of the time you can dress pretty much as you like. Useful accessories include flat shoes with a good grip for wet decks, sunglasses and a sun hat.

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If you are going on an Alaska cruise or other outdoor adventure, bring hiking shoes and rugged clothes for the shore excursions. The key to an Alaska cruise is to dress in layers since the temperature can go from cold to hot very quickly.

Evening wear
Most cruises will have one or two formal evenings a week. Men are expected to wear a dark suit or tuxedo; women should wear an evening dress (long or short) or a dressy pantsuit. Men can often rent tuxedos on board. For evenings that are less dressy, women can get away with silky tops and trousers. Be sure to pack a dressy sweater or jacket, especially for the newer cruise ships, whose air conditioning can be quite powerful. I always bring my pashmina wrap; it's versatile and provides an extra layer in the evening, and it does double duty as an airplane blanket.

Remember to pack some loose-fitting clothes. Most passengers find they put on a few pounds during a cruise.

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