Caribbean cruise outfits for women need to cope with strong sun, sticky heat, the odd tropical shower and cold air conditioning back on board. The looks that work are loose and flowing: crochet over swimwear by day, linen in port and bright, easy dresses for evenings and Caribbean night, with flat sandals that cope with sand and gangways.
A Caribbean cruise is the easiest holiday to pack for and the easiest to overpack for. Every port is hot, every deck has a pool, and most evenings are relaxed, so it’s tempting to throw in a different dress for every hour of the day.
These 20 outfits are built around the way a Caribbean cruise actually runs: beach mornings, port walks, sail-away at sunset, the ship’s Caribbean night and a couple of smarter dinners. Most of them share the same sandals, bag and jewellery.
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What Should You Wear on a Caribbean Cruise?
What you should wear on a Caribbean cruise is light, loose clothing in breathable fabrics, a cover-up for walking through the ship in swimwear, one layer for cold restaurants and theatres, and flat shoes with grip.
- Sun. The sun is strong all year. A wide-brim hat, sunglasses and loose sleeves do more than any amount of sun cream reapplied in a hurry.
- Heat and humidity. Linen, cotton, crochet and viscose let the air through. Tight polyester and heavy denim are hard work by mid-morning.
- Showers. Short tropical showers blow over fast. Quick-dry fabrics and sandals you don’t mind getting wet beat a raincoat.
- Air conditioning. Dining rooms and theatres are kept cold. A light shawl, shirt or kaftan in your bag solves it.
- Swimwear rules. Cruise lines ask you to cover swimwear inside the ship, including the buffet, so every beach look needs a cover-up.
Which outfit for which kind of day?
| Your day | Outfits to look at |
|---|---|
| Beach or pool day | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Walking round a port town | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| Snorkelling, catamaran or active excursion | 10 |
| Sail-away and sunset drinks | 11, 12, 13 |
| Caribbean night on board | 14, 15, 16 |
| Casual dinner and evenings | 17, 18, 19 |
| Flying out and embarkation day | 20 |
Caribbean Beach and Pool Outfits
1. Crochet Mini Dress over a Bikini
A crochet dress over a bikini is the Caribbean beach look of the moment, and the short, open-knit version is the one to pack. It covers you for the walk from the beach to a bar or back through the ship, the bikini shows through, and it dries in minutes.
Choose cotton crochet in cream, sand or white so the bikini underneath can be any colour. A raffia tote and a wooden bead necklace finish it.
Best for: Beach days, beach clubs and the walk back to the ship.
2. Cut-Out Swimsuit and Linen Shorts
A one-piece with a cut-out waist or a high leg looks sharp on a sun lounger and stays put when you jump into the pool. Pull a pair of loose linen shorts over it and you’re covered for lunch at the buffet.
Chocolate, terracotta and emerald look rich against a tan and turquoise water. Flat sliders save your feet on a hot deck.
Best for: Sea days by the pool and lunch on deck.
3. Bikini and a Sheer Wrap Sarong
A bikini with a sarong in the same print looks like a set rather than an afterthought. Tie the sarong at the hip for the beach, knot it at the neck as a dress for the beach bar, and it rolls up to nothing in your bag.
A sheer chiffon or voile sarong dries faster than a heavy cotton one and doesn’t stick to wet skin. Scarf prints and paisleys look fresher than the old palm-leaf prints.
Best for: Beach breaks, private island days and catamaran trips.
4. Bold Swimsuit and an Open Linen Shirt
An oversized white linen shirt is the most useful cover-up you can pack. Worn open over a swimsuit in one bold colour, it shades your shoulders on deck, covers you in the buffet and still works over a vest top in port.
Cobalt, cherry red and chocolate look sharp against white linen. Roll the sleeves, add a straw hat and you can go from the pool to lunch to the top deck without going back to the cabin.
Best for: Long sea days and swim-to-lunch afternoons.
Caribbean Port Day Outfits
5. White Halter Linen Jumpsuit
A wide-leg halter jumpsuit in white or cream looks smart with no effort at all and is cooler than it looks, because the loose legs let the air move. It takes you from a walk round town to lunch on a terrace without a change.
A round rattan bag and flat leather sandals keep it relaxed. Check it isn’t see-through in bright sun before you pack it.
Best for: Town walks, lunch ashore and photos in colourful streets.
6. Tangerine Linen Shirt and Shorts
A matching linen shirt and shorts in a bright colour looks planned and photographs beautifully against Caribbean blues. Wear the set together in port, then split it: the shirt over swimwear, the shorts with a white tee.
Tangerine, coral and mango are everywhere on Pinterest right now, and they hide a creased afternoon better than white.
Best for: Hot port days and harbourside lunches.
7. Striped Maxi Skirt and an Off-Shoulder Top
A flowing striped maxi skirt with a plain off-shoulder top is one of the strongest Caribbean looks on Pinterest this year. The long skirt keeps the sun off your legs, covers your knees if you pass a church and moves beautifully when you walk.
Keep the top plain so the stripes do the work, and add a big woven bag.
Best for: Old towns, markets and shopping streets.
8. Crochet Halter Top and a Sarong Skirt
A crochet halter top with a knotted silk sarong skirt is the boho look that’s all over Pinterest this summer. The sarong ties at the hip, so it’s as easy to wear as a beach wrap but looks like a proper outfit for a beach club lunch.
Pick a sarong in warm earthy prints, rust, ochre and green, and add a slouchy leather shoulder bag, layered bead bracelets and woven slides.
Best for: Beach clubs, island lunches and beach bars.
9. White Eyelet Mini Dress
A white cotton mini dress with eyelet or broderie detail is the easy Caribbean day dress. It’s cool, it washes in a cabin sink, and it looks right in a port town, at a beach bar and at a casual lunch on board.
Pick one with a lining, or wear nude underwear, so strong sun doesn’t make it see-through.
Best for: Beach bar lunches, port days and sail-away drinks.
10. Excursion Outfit for Snorkelling and Catamarans
For snorkelling, catamarans and beach excursions, wear your swimsuit under quick-dry shorts and a light top, so you can strip off on the boat and dress again for the ride back. A cap stays on in the wind far better than a wide brim.
Pack a waterproof dry bag for your phone, cruise card and cash, and wear sandals with a back strap for climbing on and off the boat.
Best for: Snorkelling, catamaran trips and kayaking.
Sail-Away and Sunset Outfits
11. Sunset Ombré Maxi Dress
An ombré maxi that fades from coral into teal looks like the Caribbean sunset it was made for, and it’s the dress people stop to photograph at sail-away. Chiffon floats in the breeze rather than flapping, and weighs almost nothing in your case.
Keep everything else simple: flat sandals and one gold necklace.
Best for: Sail-away, sunset photos and casual dinners.
12. One-Shoulder Linen Mini Dress
A one-shoulder linen mini feels modern and dressed up while staying as cool as anything else in the case. The single strap stays put in the wind, unlike thin spaghetti straps, and the short hem keeps it out of the sand.
White, cream and black all work. Add statement earrings and leave the necklace behind.
Best for: Sunset drinks on the beach and on deck.
13. Off-Shoulder Top and Linen Shorts
An off-shoulder top with high-waisted linen shorts is the outfit for a beach bar at sunset: dressed up enough for cocktails, relaxed enough for sand between your toes. A bright coral or turquoise top looks great at golden hour.
Flat sandals you can slip off and a small raffia bag are all you need.
Best for: Beach bars at sunset and the last evening ashore.
What to Wear to Caribbean Night on a Cruise
What to wear to Caribbean night on a cruise is anything bright, tropical and easy to dance in: a vivid halter maxi, a bright print skirt or a colourful jumpsuit, with a flower in your hair and flat sandals. Many cruise lines hold a Caribbean-themed party or tropical deck night on Caribbean sailings, usually out on the open deck.
It’s a party, not a formal night, so leave the sequins for gala evenings. Think colour, bold prints and flowers, and shoes you can dance in on a wooden deck. Check your daily planner on board for the night it’s on.
14. Tangerine Halter Maxi Dress
A tangerine or mango halter maxi is the easiest way to look right at Caribbean night. The colour does all the work, the halter neck shows off a tan, and the long skirt moves when you dance.
Add a chunky wooden bead necklace, a flower clip in your hair and flat sandals.
Best for: Caribbean night and deck parties.
15. White Top and a Tiered Print Skirt
A fitted white top with a bright tiered print skirt is a fresh take on Caribbean night. The skirt brings the colour and swishes when you dance, and the plain white top keeps it from feeling like fancy dress.
Blues, greens and yellows in a busy boho print work brilliantly against a tan. Add gold hoops and flat sandals.
Best for: Caribbean night, deck parties and island dinners.
16. Bright Halter Wide-Leg Jumpsuit
If you’d rather not wear a dress, a bright halter jumpsuit in sunshine yellow, turquoise or coral is just as festive and far easier to dance in. Wide legs keep it cool and look elegant as you move.
Gold hoops and flat sandals are all it needs.
Best for: Caribbean night and evenings when you’ll be on your feet.
Caribbean Cruise Outfits for Evenings and Dinner
17. Flowing White Maxi Dress
A flowing white maxi is the dress that does the most work on a Caribbean cruise: smart enough for the main dining room, cool enough for a hot evening ashore, and perfect for any white night on board.
Choose cotton or a linen blend with some weight so it hangs well, and dress it up with wooden beads or gold.
Best for: Dinner in the main dining room and white night parties.
18. Knit Tank and Wide Linen Trousers
A fine knit tank with wide, flowing linen trousers looks expensive with no effort at all. The trousers keep the sun off your legs, move in the breeze and are smart enough for a marina restaurant or dinner on board.
Blush, butter yellow and sage tanks all work with cream trousers. A long pendant necklace, a canvas tote and flat sandals finish it.
Best for: Lunch ashore, marina restaurants and dinner on board.
19. Short Silk Kaftan
A short silk or satin kaftan in turquoise, cobalt or a jewel print is the most comfortable smart outfit you can wear. It floats away from the body on a hot evening and looks expensive with almost no effort.
Belt it if you want more shape, and add gold sandals for a dressier night.
Best for: Warm evenings, dinner ashore and beach parties.
What to Wear to Fly Out to a Caribbean Cruise
20. Embarkation Day Outfit
Most UK cruisers fly out to the Caribbean, so embarkation day starts on a cold plane and ends in heat. A linen shirt and trousers set with trainers works on the flight, in the terminal queue and on deck once you board, and the shirt comes off over a vest when the heat hits.
Put a swimsuit, sun cream and a change of top in your hand luggage, because cases can take until the evening to reach your cabin. Our first-timer’s guide to Caribbean cruises covers the rest of the day.
Best for: Flying out, embarkation day and the trip home.
Caribbean Cruise Outfits for Black Women, Plus Size and Formal Nights
Caribbean cruise outfits for Black women, plus-size women and formal nights each have their own guide, with many more looks than this page has room for.
- Cruise outfits for Black women: bold colour, prints and gala looks
- Plus-size cruise outfits: flattering swimwear, cover-ups and evening wear
- Cruise formal night outfits: what each cruise line expects on gala evenings
How to Pack for a Seven-Night Caribbean Cruise
How to pack for a seven-night Caribbean cruise is to choose eight or nine of the outfits above and build them from pieces that mix together, with three swimsuits rather than three pairs of shoes.
- Swim: three swimsuits or bikinis and two cover-ups, one crochet and one shirt
- Day: two pairs of shorts, linen trousers, a jumpsuit or romper and three tops
- Dresses: two short day dresses and one maxi for the evening, bright enough for Caribbean night
- Layers: a light shawl or kaftan for cold restaurants
- Shoes: flat sandals, sliders for the pool and one dressier pair
- Extras: a wide-brim hat, sunglasses, a raffia bag and a waterproof pouch
Several Caribbean islands, including Aruba and Bonaire, have banned sun creams with oxybenzone and octinoxate to protect their reefs, so pack a reef-safe sun cream before you fly.
Caribbean Cruise Outfit FAQs
What is the dress code on a Caribbean cruise?
The dress code on a Caribbean cruise is casual during the day, with swimwear covered up indoors. Evenings are smart-casual on most nights, with one or two formal or dress-up nights on a seven-night sailing. Check your cruise line’s current policy before you pack.
What colours should I wear to Caribbean night?
The colours to wear to Caribbean night are the brightest you own: tangerine, mango, hot pink, turquoise, yellow and big, bright prints. White also works if your ship holds a white night instead.
Can I wear my swimsuit in the buffet?
You can’t wear just a swimsuit in the buffet on most cruise lines. Cover up with a dress, shirt or shorts and top, and don’t sit down in wet swimwear.
What shoes should I pack for a Caribbean cruise?
The shoes to pack for a Caribbean cruise are flat sandals that grip, sliders for the pool deck and one dressier pair for the evening. Add water shoes if you’re snorkelling from rocky beaches.
Do I need a jacket on a Caribbean cruise?
You don’t need a jacket on a Caribbean cruise, but you’ll want a light layer. Restaurants and theatres are kept cold, so a shawl, shirt or kaftan in your bag is enough.
Is it OK to wear shorts to dinner on a Caribbean cruise?
Shorts are fine at the buffet and casual restaurants, but most lines ask for no shorts in the main dining room in the evening. A sundress or linen trousers are the easy swap.
More Caribbean Cruise Guides
- Caribbean cruise ports: what to do in each port
- Winter Caribbean cruise outfits
- Bahamas cruise outfits
- Aruba cruise outfits
- Cozumel cruise outfits
- Casual cruise outfits for women