Caribbean Cruise Outfits For Men & Detailed Packing List
This men’s cruise packing guide includes ideas for cruise outfits for men that will help guide you in what to pack and wear on your trip.
Packing for a cruise can be such a struggle. On cruises, you will easily wear three outfits a day which makes choosing what to bring even more difficult.
As I mentioned, it’s easy to wear three outfits each day on a cruise. On a typical port day, I’ll wear a casual outfit for exploring, swimwear for the pool, then a nicer outfit for dinner. The trick is packing items that you can wear for multiple occasions.
As a women, I always pack my own bag for a cruise vacation, but end up helping my boyfriend pack as well. After taking 5 cruises together, I have cruise wear for men down to a science.
Keep reading for this simple guide to cruise outfits for men to learn what to wear when and other packing tips. Learn the best mens cruise outfits for every cruising occasion from the pool to formal dining room.
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Packing for a Cruise
Before you decide what to pack, let’s talk about how to pack it. I recommend bringing one checked luggage per person and one backpack carry on.
When you arrive at the embarkation terminal, you will pass off your checked luggage to be delivered directly to your stateroom. From when you board the ship until staterooms are open (usually a few hours), you will only have access to what’s in your carry on.
I recommend keeping the following items in your carry on, then packing the rest in your suitcase.
- Wallet/Passport/Documents
- Swimsuit
- Flip Flops
- Sunscreen
- Simple Outfit for Dinner (in case your luggage isn’t delivered in time)
Throughout this guide you will notice some items are included in multiple collages. This is intentional to show that versatile items can be worn throughout the day by pairing them with different clothes.
For example, you can wear a button down shirt to dinner with khakis and loafers then around port with shorts and sandals. Packing versatile clothing items is the best way to fit all you cruise clothing items in one checked bag.
Port Day Outfits for Men
During the day in port, you will likely be doing any of the following three activities: exploring the local town, sightseeing the port, or spending time at the beach. For either of the first two, focus on comfortable footwear for walking and a casual, but nice looking outfit.
For a beach day or water excursion, I love these swim trunks because they look like shorts. Throw on a shirt and you can walk around port or town before visiting the beach.
Shop these casual cruise clothes for men
Cruise Pool Fashion for Men
For the pool, don’t overthink it! Bring at least two swimsuits so you can always have a dry one. A good, comfortable pair of sandals can be worn to the pool and port. Finally, don’t forget sunglasses and a hat to protect yourself from the intense Caribbean sun.
Shop this collage of men’s swimwear
Dinner Outfit Ideas for a Cruise
On a cruise, there will be formal nights and casual nights. Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines will outline the attire for dinner each night in your cruise compass. For a typical 7-night cruise, there are typically two formal nights and five casual nights.
On a casual night, a wide variety of outfits are appropriate. Some clothing items to avoid are tank tops, swimwear, hats, and sports gear.
The above collage shows a range of outfits to wear to dinner on a cruise. A nicer outfit is a button down shirt, slacks, and dress shoes. On the more casual end, sandals, shorts, and a collared shirt is also appropriate.
Shop this dinnertime cruise attire for men
What to Wear to Formal Night for Men
When packing for a cruise, formal night is often what brings people the most stress. If formal night does not sound appealing to you, you can easily avoid the main dining room on these nights.
I personally love formal night! Its fun to dress a little fancy and experience a nice dinner. As with casual dinners on board, you will see a wide variety of outfits on formal night. Some people will be in tuxedos and others in shorts.
While you technically won’t be turned away for casual clothes, I recommend dressing up a bit. On the casual end, I recommend slacks and a collared shirt with dress shoes. On the fancier end, a suit is always a great decision.
Shop this formal night cruise mens fashion
Cruise Shirts
On boarding day of a cruise, you are guaranteed to see groups of friend and families wearing matching cruise shirts. If I’m being honest, these shirts tend to be a bit tacky, but are a great way to kick-off a group cruise.
In the above collage, I share some cruising shirts and sweatshirts that are actually cute. They are great to wear on the first day of a cruise, matching with your travel party, or as a gift for someone heading on a cruise.
Shop these cruise shirts and sweatshirts
Other Cruise Essentials
In addition to all the outfit ideas shared above, don’t forget to pack these cruise essentials:
Sunscreen– The sun is intense, so protect yourself. Supergoop is my favorite for a lightweight formula and high SPF.
Portable charger– There’s nothing worse than running out of battery when you are relying on your phone for navigation and photos. This portable charger with built in cords will help with that!
Hat– A hat is another great way to protect yourself from the sun or hide crazy beach hair.
Bug spray– Bug spray is a great item to have on hand for any jungle excursions.
Good book– Don’t forget a book for the plane and poolside. People You Meet on Vacation is one of my favorite travel-inspired books that is an easy-read.
Imodium– In case you have any stomach issues, you will thank yourself for having this on hand.
Reusable water bottle– Bring a reusable water bottle to fill up on board to take with you on port days. Its great to have a reliable source of water throughout the day.
Waterproof phone case– Pack a waterproof phone case so you can safely take photos on or in the water.
Towel Clips– The pool deck gets very windy on sea days. These towel clips will keep your towel from blowing away.
Cruise Packing List for Men for a 7 day cruise
- 1 pair of dress shoes
- 1 pair of casual sneakers
- 1 pair of flip flops
- 5 short sleeve collared shirts
- 2 long sleeve dress shirts
- 4 pairs casual shorts
- 2 pairs slacks or dress pants
- 4 swimsuits
- Sunglasses
- Hat
Summary of the best mens cruise outfits and packing list
To summarize mens cruise wear in a few words, it’s all about being comfortable, tropical, and appropriate for every occasion. Your suitcase should be full of shorts, Hawaiian shirts, sandals, and swimwear.
While there are no strict dress codes on cruises like there used to be, there are still a few occasions to dress up. For more dinners, smart casual is the way to go with a collared shirt or polo shirts being the perfect thing to wear. On formal night, step it up a bit with a long sleeve dress shirt and pants.
Remember, clothes to wear on a cruise are meant to enhance your experience. This means dressing for the occasion for also wearing what’s comfortable.
FAQ
Yes, it is ok to wear jeans on a cruise. In fact, they are a great thing to wear to dinner on a non-formal night. For formal night, jeans are too casual to adhere to the dress code.
There is no dress code on a cruise outside of the dining room and restaurants. The dress code for the dining room varies each night depending on the theme. On casual nights, resort wear such as a collared shirt and shorts are appropriate. For formal night, wear long pants and a long sleeve collared shirt. You can also wear a suit to be on the dressier side. On any night, swimwear is prohibited in the dining room.
Some people get dressed up on cruises and others prefer to stay casual. If you don’t want to dress up, simply avoid the dining room on formal night. Other people enjoy dressing up and will wear a suit or tux on formal nights.
No, you do not need a suit on a cruise. Some people will wear a suit on formal night but it is not required buy the dress code.
Related Posts:
- What To Pack For A Caribbean Cruise | Cruise Outfit Ideas For Women
- Guide to a Western Caribbean Cruise
- Southern Caribbean Cruise Travel Guide
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