What to Wear on a Cruise: Vacation Outfits From Day to Night and Boat to Shore

By Lisa Oberst 20 August 2025

Woman walking on the pier  in a long flowery dress, throwing her hands in the air and wearing silver Peep toes, while holding a basket.

Smooth Sailing Starts with Smooth Packing

There’s something oddly satisfying about packing for a trip—especially when you finally crack the code on how to pack smart. For me, it all changed when I discovered packing cubes and started shopping with a capsule wardrobe in mind.

Packing for a cruise is all about balance: you don’t want to overpack, but you do want to feel like you have the perfect outfit for any occasion. And it isn't like a crazy secret you just need to focus on versatile pieces.

Woman walking down a crosswalk in a matching sweat suit and light blue peep toe sandals dragging carry on behind her.

Pack pieces that layer well, mix-and-match easily, and pack light. Think airy sundresses, two-piece sets, swimwear that plays nice with different coverups, and shoes that are super flexible and can easily slip into a bag, that way you can bring options and not just be stuck with one. Quick plug for Womads here. You can grab a couple pairs of bright colors and maybe a caramel pair for your neutral and they will all easily slip right into your bag.

Creating a Cruise Capsule Wardrobe

Woman wearing a floral print dress, silver Peep toe flats holding a wicker bag at her front.

Basically a cruise capsule wardrobe, is a capsule wardrobe but just on a cruise ship. The idea is the same: bring a few key pieces that all work together. That way, you're prepared for pool days, excursions, and elegant dinners—without bringing a bunch of pieces onboard.

Woman wearing bright colourful dress with orange peep toes and blue sunglasses sitting on steps.

Start with sundresses as a cruise outfit staple. They’re lightweight, easy to throw over your swimsuit, and can take you from breakfast buffet to beach bar with just a switch of accessories.

Two women wearing colorful sundresses. Woman to the left is wearing yellow peep toe sandals with a yellow crossbody bag while the woman to the right is wearing red peep toe sandals and a red crossbody bag.

Bonus: they pack super light and look so put together and beachy.

I love a bold vacation color palette. Blues, oranges, yellows, and greens all pair beautifully together. A pop of yellow looks amazing with green or pink. Grab a bright yellow cropped top and you can pair it with blue shorts or a pink skirt. And if you bring a white staple top, those blue shorts and pink skirt can be a whole other outfit.

Two women posing in field. Woman to the left is wearing a green blouse with white Oxfords and pink laces. Woman to the right is wearing green crop top with green skirt and fuschia peep toe flats.

Every single outfit I just named also looks amazing with a neutral shoe like our Vanilla Peep-Toe Flats—they’re lightweight, super breathable so your feet aren’t sweating and bright enough for a cruise vibe.

Also in a capsule wardrobe I highly recommend a matching two-piece set. Not only is it easy to style (hello, instant outfit), but you can also break it up to create even more looks. Remember the shorts I just mentioned, pair those with the top part and another outfit is made.

Woman sitting on beach with yellow peep toe sandals in floral two piece set holding a coconut drink.

Pro Tip: When you're packing cruise outfits, think multiply. If each piece can create at least 2–3 outfits, you're golden. The next part is shoes, you don’t need to pack a bunch but a couple so that you can mix it up while you’re living your best life on the cruise. Womads are the perfect example of what to look for. They are easy to slip into your bag since they don’t take up too much space. They are breathable which is ideal for being outside in the heat all day, and they are super easy to slip on and off.

Cruise Excursion Outfits: Function Meets Fun

Let’s talk about what to wear on cruise excursions. These are the days you’ll want hands-free bags, breathable fabrics, and shoes that can handle a full day of walking, sightseeing, and maybe even dancing with locals at a beach bar.

I took the guess work out and made you a go-to excursion outfit checklist:

Supportive, breathable shoes – Our Womads Peep-Toe Flats have a lightly padded insole for added support and comfort. So these cuties will stay on your feet no matter what!

Woman laying in beach with yellow sandals in the air.

A lightweight crossbody bag – Try the Womads Crossbody with interchangeable straps to mix up your look without packing a second bag. It’s stylish and safe—you no longer need to set your bag down; it's always with you.

Woman wearing white dress and blue crossbody but gold oxfords standing on a boardwalk.

Comfy light weight clothes – Think dresses, something easy to slip on and gives you the freedom to walk around in comfortably.

Cruise Evening Outfits: Chic, Effortless, and Comfortable

Evenings on a cruise are where your outfits can really shine—but still keep things easy. You might be heading to a formal dinner, a sunset deck party, or a live show, so pack a couple elevated but comfy looks.

Woman standing on steps with red maxi dress, red crossbody bag and red peep toe sandals.

Our go-to cruise evening styles:

A maxi dress that flows beautifully and pairs perfectly with your new Womads peep toes.
A bold two-piece set with luxe details like ruffles, pleats, or satin-like fabrics
A crossbody bag so you don’t need to set yours on the floor and can easily access all your essentials.

If You Could Only Bring 3 Womads Pieces...

Let’s play a game: If your suitcase only had room for three Womads essentials, what would make the cut?

Here’s what we’d bring:

Vanilla Peep-Toe Flats – Perfect for day or night, and go with everything. Plus white is like the neutral for vacations.
Lilac Peep Toe Flats – The lilac color is the perfect summer shade and the perfect vacation shoe. It pairs well with everything because of its soft shade.

Woman wearing patterned dress with lilac peep toe flats.

Fluo Green Crossbody Bag – Because it's a cruise, why not pack a bright crossbody bag.

Woman placing essentials in Fluo green crossbody bag with red interior.

Final Boarding Call: Your Cruise Outfit Wrap-Up

Woman wearing orange and pink dress paired with pink sandals holding plates of food.

At the end of the day, what to wear on a cruise should feel like a celebration: lightweight, versatile, stylish, and above all, comfortable. With the right capsule wardrobe and a few go-to Womads pieces, you’re ready for sun, sea, and everything else during your cruise vacation.

Shop all our vacation-ready shoes and bags here, and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram on your cruise adventure!