Looking for some inspiration for Caribbean cruise outfits? I’ve got you!
I just finished up writing my blog post with all the deets on Virgin Caribbean cruises, and as I was going through the photos I was like dang, my Babes and I really dressed to impress. Our Caribbean cruise outfits deserve a post on their own!
If you’re planning a Caribbean cruise, you’re probably already excited about the sunny skies, turquoise waters, and sandy beaches. But before you set sail, you’ll need to figure out what to wear.
Dressing for a Caribbean cruise can be tricky, as you want to be comfortable in the heat and humidity, but also look stylish and put-together.
Here are some tips and ideas for what to wear on your Caribbean cruise, along with cruise outfit ideas, cute dresses to wear on vacation, and links to our Caribbean cruise wear!
Caribbean Cruise Outfit Ideas & Tips
Lightweight fabrics are your friend
The Caribbean is hot and humid, so you’ll want to wear clothes that are lightweight and breathable. Look for fabrics like cotton, linen, or rayon that will keep you cool and comfortable.
Shop our outfits below:
On our first day which involved traveling into Miami, a few of us wore these super comfortable travel dresses from Abercrombie. They have a built-in skort situation underneath the dress and they’re just very flattering. I want one in every color!
Shop our outfits below:
This two-piece set from Petal and Pup was the perfect cruise outfit. Easy breezy and fun colors.
Plus, a two-piece set like this gives you plenty of options to mix and match. The bandeau top would be so cute with denim shorts, and the skirt would be fun with a crochet cami top.
Shop our outfits below:
Bring plenty of swimsuits.
You’ll be spending a lot of time on the beach or by the pool, so make sure you have enough swimsuits to last you through the trip. Consider bringing a few different styles, like a one-piece, a bikini, and a high-waisted option, to mix and match.
You can never have too many bathing suits!
For higher-end swimsuits that are super chic, try Everything But Water.
Shop Cupshe swimsuits:
If you’re looking for v affordable, trendy swimsuits, check out Cupshe. You can read my Cupshe review here!
Lastly, I’m obsessed with the long sleeve swimsuits from Infamous Swim. They’re perfect for a day of snorkeling out in the Caribbean.
Don’t forget cover-ups
When you’re not in the water, you’ll want to have something to throw on over your swimsuit. We love a lightweight dress, sarong, or kimono.
Shop coverups below:
Iesha, Megs, and Jess are lookin’ so cute in their cover-ups! You can shop affordable cover-ups from Cupshe here.
Sometimes it’s a long walk on the cruise ship from your room to the pool, so I’d consider cover-ups cruise essentials!
Pack sundresses, denim shorts, and jumpsuits
For daytime activities like exploring ports or lounging on the deck, a sundress or jumpsuit can be an easy and chic outfit option. Look for bright colors and bold prints to capture the Caribbean spirit.
For a more adventurous day like when we went ATVing, bring denim shorts. I love the fit on these ones from Abercrombie.
Bring a few dressier options
While most Caribbean cruises are relatively casual, some have formal nights or there may be one or two nights where you’ll want to dress up a bit.
On our Virgin cruise, we got super dressed up every single night because we’re extra and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
On Virgin Voyages we didn’t stick out like a sore thumb when we were all dressed up—most people weren’t necessarily as dressy as we were, but people still looked nice so our outfits didn’t look too crazy.
Shop our outfits below:
But to be honest we’re also used to turning heads when we travel together and get all dressed up, so that wouldn’t really have stopped us anyways, lol.
We basically leave a trail of sequins behind everywhere we go! My sequin dress above is from Dress the Population—they are my go-to for beautiful dresses that make a statement!
Shop our outfits below:
Consider bringing a maxi dress, a cocktail dress, or a jumpsuit with some embellishments or accessories to elevate your look.
Don’t forget your accessories
Accessories can be a great way to add some personality to your outfits and take them from day to night. Pack a sun hat, sunglasses, statement jewelry, a tote bag, and a cute clutch to complete your cruise wardrobe.
Check for themed nights before you start packing
Don’t forget to check if your cruise has any themed nights or parties! On Virgin Voyages Scarlet Night is my fav—everyone gets dressed up and they throw such a fun party!
My red set is from Dress the Population and I LOVED it!
Shop our Scarlet Night outfits below:
Lastly, there was one night where there was a pajama party on the ship, so you know we had to get cute matching pajamas! We also surprised the guys with their own matching PJs.
I hope these outfit ideas for cruise travel were helpful! For more cruise tips, be sure to check out my Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady Review post here as well as my Virgin Voyages Caribbean Cruises post here.
Want warmer weather but to skip the cruise? There are so many fun places for girls getaways in the Caribbean!
Shop all our Caribbean cruise outfits below:
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
