For many novices, cruise wear is a bit of a scary subject. After all, once aboard, you will not be able to dash back to your home to pick up the dress you forgot, the heels you feel you will need, and the suit and tie that will not leave you feeling so underdressed. While there are boutiques onboard, they are usually more expensive than what you are willing to pay for some duds, and so it pays to pay attention to the cruise wear requirements that are posted. While cruise ship wear is usually not a formal affair, there are some times when formal cruise wear is requested. Fortunately, there are some standards that will help you understand what you will need to pack.

What to Wear On a Cruise?
What to wear on a Caribbean cruise will pretty much mirror the cruise wear that is required on a different line. Take a look at the itinerary and look for the cruise wear hints. If you read that a hosted dinner requires formal clothes, cruise wear protocol is specifying that the gentlemen will wear a suit jacket and tie, and a tuxedo would not be considered overdressed. Ladies will wear formal dress for the occasion. Women's cruise wear is a bit easier on the ladies, since many will already dress up for the evening dinners as a matter of personal pride.

If you are reading a notation for cruise casual wear, sometimes referred to as “resort casual,” you are looking at casual clothes such as polo shirts for the gentlemen and pantsuits or casual dresses for the ladies. Jeans should be avoided. On the other hand, if you are seeing a notation on your Caribbean itinerary that calls for informal cruise wear, the gentlemen will want to wear a suit jacket but not a tie, and the ladies will want to dress up a bit as well.

It does not matter if you are on a discount cruise, wear the kinds of clothes indicated for the occasion. It is easy to justify a lapse in protocol by the fact that you are on vacation, yet the very ambiance of the cruise depends on each passenger bringing evening cruise wear and also the formal dresses to wear on a cruise that make it such a special occasion. Ladies cruise wear is easily put together and if you follow the simple instructions on your itinerary before you leave port, you will love the look and feel of your cruise!