What to Wear on a Cruise

Some of the items featured in this post were sent to me free for review, and some were not.  All of the items in this post were personally selected by me because I like them.

I recently went on a cruise (my very first one!), and just like I’ve done before every vacation I’ve ever taken, I panicked while trying to decide what to pack.  I don’t know why it’s so difficult for me, but for some reason I start thinking “Oh, but I MIGHT want to wear those neon pink shoes even though I have nothing that matches them, so I should still bring them!”  Learn from my mistakes, friends.  Don’t end up with two giant suitcases filled with “maybes” when you could pack light with the right items.

After I got home, I decided to put together a What to Wear on a Cruise post for any of my readers who might be planning a cruise (or beach vacation) and who happen to share my affliction of over-packing.  I hope this post gives you a few new ideas, and I also hope it encourages you to make your own “what to wear” list.  I find lists always help me streamline.  ☺

1.  A stylish hat.  If you’re going somewhere beachy, a good hat is a must.  It will protect your head from the sun and provide shade for your eyes and face, and if you get the right one, it will also look stylish!  I took this Women’s Ribbon Hat from UV Skinz.  It has wide 5″ brim and (my favorite part) moisture-wicking sweatbands.  This hat is versatile and can be dressed up or down, and it’s easy to pack.
$26.95, UV Skinz Women’s Ribbon Hat.  

2.  A protective water jacket.  I love to hit the beach (or pool) to swim, but I’m always very careful to make sure my skin is fully protected from the sun.  A water jacket is a great way to stay covered without compromising your fun!  It’s certified UPF 50+, breathable, quick-drying, and chlorine and salt water resistant.  I wore this jacket in white, but it comes in a variety of other fun colors.
$48.95, UV Skinz Women’s Water Jacket.  

3.  A versatile swim skirt.  I think swim skirts are great because they’re so versatile; you can wear them while swimming and also walk around the cruise ship or beach without feeling exposed or having to pack extra layers of clothing in your beach bag.  Like the water jacket above, this skirt is UPF 50+ and dries quickly.  It has an attached full-coverage swim liner and stays put all day with a drawstring.
$35.95, UV Skinz Women’s Swim Skirt. 

4.  A cute necklace.  I love this Sandollar Necklace from Dune Jewelry Design.  The neutral colors allow you to wear it with almost anything and it can easily be worn with casual or dressy clothes.  There’s a sentimental twist to it as well:  all jewelry from Dune is made using sand from your favorite beach!  They have a huge selection of beaches to choose from, and you can also send in your own.  And isn’t this necklace so pretty when paired with the earrings below?
$76.00, Dune Jewelry Sandollar Necklace.  

5.  A pair of pretty earrings.  These earrings are also made by Dune Jewelry Design, and can also be made using sand from your favorite beach.  Like the necklace, they come with sterling silver accents and are perfect for any outfit.
$50.00, Dune Jewelry Large Sandrop Earrings. 

6.  The right bracelet.   Another piece from Dune Jewelry Design, this sterling silver bracelet again uses your favorite sand.  It’s so pretty and understated, and just like its counterparts, can be worn with just about anything.
$120.00, Dune Jewelry Sandbead Bracelet. 

7.  A lovely clutch.  Clutches are perfect for vacation, because they’re small, cute, and easy.  A good clutch will hold all your essentials (cell phone, cards/money, a compact and lipstick, and your keys) without being bulky and weighing you down.  It’s a fun, easy purse to carry during the day, and transitions easily to fancier clutch for an evening out.
$25.00, Humble Penguin Bow Clutch Purse.  

8.  A beautiful watch.  I have recently started wearing a watch again, and I’d forgotten how much I loved it.  Watches are especially great for vacations, because you don’t have to carry your cell phone around if you don’t want to, and since you wear them, of course, they’re no-carrying-required.  This gorgeous wooden watch from JORD is lightweight and compact, and perfect for everyday wear.
$129.00, JORD Ely Wood Watch. 

9. A powerful sunscreen.  When you’re picking out what to wear, don’t forget that your skin needs to wear some sun protection!  I love this Isvara Organics Coconut Sunscreen.  It’s SPF 30 and filled with coconut oil and shea butter, so it moisturizes as well as it protects.  And it smells wonderful; it’s totally tropical.
$17.00, Isvara Organics Coconut Sunscreen.  Get it for less at Vitacost.

10.  A comfortable pair of shoes.  For my cruise, I took along my Vionic Tide II Sandals.  These flip-flops are so comfortable and are perfect for the ship, the beach, or the sidewalk.  They feature Orthaheel Technology and a motion control footbed to stabilize and support.  They’re durable and stylish with a leather and woven upper and an EVA footbed.  This neutral bronze metallic shade is great for any color, and just like most of the other pieces I’ve featured, can be worn with just about anything.
$64.95, Vionic Tide II Sandals. 

Those are the 10 key pieces I couldn’t live without on my recent cruise.  How about you – what will you pack for your summer vacation?