Dresses For A Cruise

One of the best parts of packing for a cruise is the number of dresses you can take - one for every mood and moment. In our eyes, there are three different types of dress you need to take with you for the perfect holiday at sea:

1. Relaxed & ready: Pop a few lightweight holiday dresses and easy V neck cotton numbers in your case. These are your heroes for sunny days, kicking back on the deck or sightseeing in a new town. They’re super soft to touch, look gorgeous, and work with comfy sandals or white trainers.
2. Smart-casual daytime: Heading out for a yummy lunch ashore? A smart printed dress in a colourful pattern is perfect. Choose something comfortable to keep your style polished without feeling formal, and remember your flats to keep your feet happy!
3. Formal evenings: Ah, the magic of dressing up for evenings aboard the ship. Formal cruise dresses are a must for dinners, catching the cabaret, or having a tipple during cocktail hour. Longer lengths look divine, and a touch of sparkle will make you feel fab all night long. If you're lucky enough to go to the Captain’s Dinner, you won’t go wrong with details like embellishment or a sleek black number.

For more help on what to take, please read our cruise dress code guide.

There are plenty of occasions to put on your best formalwear when sailing the seas. And none more so than ‘Formal Nights’ (also known as ‘Gala Evenings’), where guests will dress to impress.

Floor-length or party numbers are perfect, and popular styles include sequinned, embellished, or lace details. If you prefer a simpler look, a fitted maxi black dress is full of understated charm.

If you fold your dresses, you’ll risk creasing them - and who can be bothered to iron whilst on holiday? Roll your casual dresses to prevent wrinkles from forming. (Plus, it’ll save space in your case.) Some formal pieces can be rolled, too, or try the ‘bundle wrapping’ method to reduce creasing:

1. Lay out your dress.
2. Layer smaller, softer items, like cami tops and socks, on top.
3. Wrap the dress around these pieces to form a bundle.
4. The bundle should keep the dress crinkle-free.

Remember to hang your dresses as soon as you’re able to unpack, as this will encourage any wrinkles to fall out. If there are any stubborn creases, hang the dress in the bathroom - a steamy shower or bath should help to ease them.

Complete your wardrobe by browsing our full cruise wear edit.

The length of dress you can wear on your cruise is ultimately up to you, but it’s best to check the dress code before you begin to pack. Shorter, lightweight dresses are more suitable for sightseeing and exploring during the day times, whereas longer dresses are favoured for nighttime occasions.

Have you spotted our midi and midaxi styles? They’re just as breezy and easy to wear as shorter styles, and can be dressed up or down for whatever your day has in store.

We all know the evening breeze on deck can be a little chilly. Pairing your dress with a light cardigan, shrug, or scarf is always a good idea to keep cosy, without compromising your style. Lace looks lovely and elegant over most dress styles, or you could go all-out in a glam sequin cover up. The choice is yours!