Cruise Outfits for Women
Cruise outfits for women that pack flat and skip the iron: printed knit dresses, tunics, palazzo pants and travel friendly nylon for every day at sea. Free U.S. shipping over $75.
New Cruise Wear Arrivals
Cruise Styles on Sale
Cruise outfits for women should be easy to pack, easy to wear and ready for anything the ship has planned. Barbara Gerwit makes cruise wear for women in soft cotton knit and smooth nylon, with bright printed designs that look good on deck, in port and at dinner. Most pieces fold flat, skip the iron and mix with each other, so a small suitcase goes a long way.
Cruise Wear for Women That Packs Small
Cabin closets are small, and most ships do not allow irons in your room. That is why our cruise clothes are made from fabrics that travel well. Our cotton knit is 95% Supra Cotton / 5% Spandex, soft with a little stretch. Our nylon is 92% Nylon / 8% Spandex, smooth and light, and it resists everyday wrinkles. Roll or fold your pieces, hang them when you board, and they are ready to wear.
Cruise Dresses for Every Part of the Day
Cruise dresses do the most work in your suitcase. One dress can cover breakfast, a walk in port and a casual dinner. Our slit neck and V-neck knit dresses with 3/4 sleeves are easy for long days and cool dining rooms. Sleeveless dresses and halter styles keep you cool on hot port days. For warm nights on deck, a maxi dress adds length and a dressier feel. You can see every style in our resort dresses, and our nylon styles are the lightest to pack.
Tunics, Palazzo Pants and Matching Pieces
Many of our prints come as a dress, a tunic and a matching bottom. Pack two tunics with palazzo pants, capris or skorts in the same print, and you have several outfits from a few pieces. Tunics cover the hips and look neat with pants or leggings. For a full outfit in one choice, try our co-ord sets in cotton knit and French terry.
Formal Night Without a Gown
Formal night does not have to mean a heavy gown. An embroidered dress in a rich color looks polished at dinner and in photos. Add simple jewelry, a wedge or dressy sandal, and one of our coordinated scarf styles for cool air in the dining room. On a longer cruise with two formal nights, pack one embroidered dress and one maxi dress.
What to Wear on a Cruise, Day by Day
Here is a simple plan for a typical week at sea. For a full guide with outfit ideas, read our post on what to wear on a cruise.
Boarding day: Wear a soft knit dress or a tunic with leggings. Keep a light layer and your swimsuit in your carry-on, since your bags may reach your cabin later in the day.
Sea days: Choose a sleeveless dress or a tunic over your swimsuit for the pool deck. Change into a printed dress for lunch and afternoon activities.
Port days: Pick comfortable pieces for walking: a skort or palazzo pants with a matching top, flat sandals and a tote. Bring a scarf for churches or sites that ask you to cover your shoulders.
Formal night: An embroidered or maxi dress with simple jewelry and a dressy sandal.
Casual dinners: A 3/4 sleeve knit dress, or a tunic and palazzo pants in one print.
Last day: A comfortable travel outfit, like a French terry piece with leggings, packed on top of your bag.
Cruise Outfits by Destination
Caribbean and Bahamas cruises call for light pieces: sleeveless dresses, tunics and nylon styles for hot, humid days. Mediterranean cruises mix warm afternoons with dressier dinners, so add an embroidered dress and a few 3/4 sleeve styles for church visits. Alaska and fall sailings need layers. Pair French terry jackets and vests with printed tunics and leggings, and keep one dress for evenings inside the ship.
A Simple 7 Day Cruise Packing List
Three knit or nylon dresses for sea days and shore trips. Two tunics with matching bottoms for casual dinners. One embroidered or maxi dress for formal night. One sleeveless dress or tunic to wear over your swimsuit. A scarf, a resort tote and two pairs of sandals. That is about ten pieces for a full week, and every print can pair back with the others.
Sizes and Fit
Most styles run from X-Small (0-2) to X-Large (16-18), and select styles come in extended sizes. Some dresses also come in an extended length. Each product page has a measurement chart with length, bust, waist and hip, so you can check the fit before you order.
Why Women Choose Barbara Gerwit for Cruises
Our pieces are designed in California for women who travel. The prints are bright, the shapes are easy, and the fabrics are simple to care for at home or on board. U.S. orders over $75 ship free, and orders over $200 get a free resort tote. Planning more trips? See our resort wear and vacation outfits pages.
Cruise Outfit Questions, Answered
What should women wear on a cruise?
In the day, wear light dresses, tunics with capris or skorts, and a cover up at the pool. Most dinners are resort casual, so a printed dress works well. Pack one dressier outfit for formal night and a light layer for cool dining rooms.
What are the best cruise dresses?
Pick dresses that pack without wrinkles and work from day to night. Knit dresses with 3/4 sleeves, sleeveless dresses for hot ports and one embroidered or maxi dress for formal night cover most trips.
What do I wear on formal night?
An embroidered dress or a maxi dress in a rich color works on most cruise lines. Add simple jewelry and a dressy sandal. Check your cruise line's dress code before you pack.
How many outfits do I need for a 7 day cruise?
About ten pieces: three dresses, two tunics, two matching bottoms, one formal dress, one cover up and a scarf. Shared prints let you mix them into new outfits all week.
Will these fabrics wrinkle in a suitcase?
Our nylon resists everyday wrinkles, and our cotton knit rolls or folds with few creases. Hang your pieces when you board and they are ready to wear.
When should I order before my sail date?
Most in-stock orders arrive within 7 to 15 business days, so order early. U.S. orders over $75 ship free, and international orders of $100 or more ship free.