Cruise clothes for men can be practical and flattering without resorting to ill-fitting cargo shorts and $2 flip-flops. The tips here will make dressing up simple, smooth sailing.
I’ve been told that the airport is a place without time and without propriety. I’ve definitely had a preflight whiskey neat before noon. How long before noon is between me and the bartender at the Qantas Lounge at LAX.
Many treat cruises similarly. Still, I don’t think this lawlessness should apply to dress. Just imbibing. Even the most sartorially on-point gent might say anything goes when it comes to cruise wear for men.
In a way, that’s true. But, the rules you should be breaking should be your own limits. You should be having fun. And you could do it while still feeling like yourself and accommodating the practical needs of ship life.
And remember — not all boats and cruises are made the same. If you’ve got a fun trip on the high seas planned, sit tight. I’m here to help you make the perfect packing list.
Cruise Wear for Men: What Do Guys Wear on a Cruise Ship?
Yes, what do guys wear on a cruise ship? I’m going to answer this question with a quick 101. Then, we can talk about why these are important and how to make them your own.
You’ll definitely need all of the items below. And this is whether you’re going on a Caribbean cruise or a classy Titanic-esque transatlantic one (do hold the ice, please). This is the base of your cruise packing list.
Cruise Attire Men’s
- Linen shirt
- Classic fit shorts
- Full suit (even on a casual cruise)
- Swimsuit
- Short-sleeve collared shirt
- Classic fit khakis or chinos
- Casual and formal footwear
- Hat
And, of course, the basics will differ for us compared to the ladies in our lives.
That being the case, we’re only covering what to wear on a cruise men edition.
What To Wear on a Cruise Men
When it comes to amounts, this should be enough for a seven-day cruise. Of course, if you’re going on a two-week cruise, you can double my recommendations.
Linen Shirt
Linen is a summer staple. There’s a lot of overlap between summer staples and cruise ship staples.
It’s kind of a cheat code when it comes to looking good in the summer. Imagine a regular t-shirt, shorts, and jeans combination.
Now replace the tee with a blue linen shirt. Now, you look like an off-duty gentleman.
Additionally, they’re light, moisture-wicking, and pretty resistant to stains. As such, you really only need one or two when you pack. And you can wear it with anything, so it’s versatile when it comes to different personal styles.
Classic Shorts
Shorts are equally as ubiquitous to men’s cruise wear. Go for a classic fit, nothing too short and tight, and nothing too long and baggy. A hem sitting on top of your knee is flattering on all body types.
Beige or tan shorts are the most adaptable. Even if you’re a dark color man, they’ll still look great with a dark navy shirt. Otherwise, go for light gray, navy, or olive.
Jersey or linen shorts can be worn with a dress shirt or by the pool — not necessarily in the pool, though.
They’re light and comfortable in warm weather. You can even wear them off the ship if your cruise has port stops.
Having a classic above-the-knee short is especially important if you don’t plan on getting in any bodies of water. For you feet-dippers and sunbathers, these shorts can take you from pool to cocktail party to dinner.
A Full Suit
Some cruises have formal nights, with programming and dinner. Others don’t. Even if you’re going on a cruise with mostly casual evenings, you still need to bring a suit. Part of this is as a contingency plan because, well, you never know. Another reason is that suit separates can be worn casually anyway.
Suit pants with a linen shirt or linen shorts with a suit jacket are acceptable men’s cruise outfits. Plus, if you’re on a boat, your room will never be that far away. Better to overdress initially then make slight costume changes if you feel it’s necessary.
And here’s a trick. If you didn’t bring a dress shirt, a short-sleeve button up or linen shirt can be used to fake it under your suit jacket.
Remember when I said cruises are a great place to break some of your own rules? Summer suits are a great way to do that. Go for fun, warm-weather colors like powder blue or even mint.
Other than the Kentucky Derby, cruises are the best place for this kind of experimentation.
A Swimsuit
I always recommend bringing two quick-drying swimsuits for cruises.
I once went on a cruise, and sat in the jacuzzi for a bit. Then, I went off to some party at another pool on the boat.
Little did I realize that it was a seated drinks situation by the pool for the first hour. Had I not had my second swimsuit, I’d have to do one of two things. I could have my margarita on an uncomfortable wet seat, or change into non-swimming shorts that I’d later get wet.
Plus, what if there’s a beach stop, and you get sand all over one swimsuit? You’ll be glad to have that extra pair of swimming shorts for the ship’s indoor pool. I don’t think fellow passengers, or the ship’s crew, would appreciate you bringing outside sand into their clean pools.
I mentioned that ships are good places for experimenting with suit colors. If you don’t have that in you, at least try it with your swim shorts! They’re not as big of an investment. And if it’s a tropical cruise, you can try out some bright patterns and lively colors.
Short-Sleeve Collared Shirts
In more relaxed dress codes, well-fitted t-shirts will also suffice. But, I think shirts with collars on them are way more versatile. Think knit polos, pique polos, short-sleeve button-ups or button-downs, and even camp collar shirts.
This is because you can find collared shirts that are just as comfortable as any t-shirt. However, the added structure allows you to wear them with both shorts and trousers, and with or without a blazer or suit jacket.
Again, you can fake a dress shirt with a collared button-up. You can’t do that with a t-shirt. Unless you want to wear a different shirt every dayeveryday, I think four-to-five tops will do for a week’s long cruise.
Khakis or Chinos
Do you see a trend here? Basically, anything that can be worn casually as well as dressed up are good garments to go for.
You can wear chinos at restaurants on and off the boat. You can wear them at the main dining room. Perhaps while you’re taking a stroll. Really, anything that isn’t black-tie.
Formal and Casual Footwear
You have to have at least one casual shoe and one formal shoe.
For the former, I recommend boat shoes or low-profile, white minimalist sneakers. If you go for
Boat shoes can be worn by the pool, on the beach, and with casual outfits. In fact, on a boat, you can even take them into the smart casual and cocktail realm.
For your dress shoes, I always recommend a nice leather loafer. They can be worn with or without socks, as well as formally or casually.
A Hat
This is for practical purposes. You can go for a casual baseball cap if you want, but a nice straw hat can travel through more dress codes.
If you’ve never found a reason to buy a classy boater’s hat, what better time than for a cruise? It can be worn with a t-shirt and shorts, as well as with a full linen suit.
Other straw hat styles to consider include a fedora, a trilby, or a Panama.
Now let’s go into more nuanced needs for guys, starting with cruise formal wear — men’s edition.
Cruise Formal Wear Men
Some cruises have very specific programming. And sometimes that programming involves a banquet or a gala or something that requires real formalwear.
Fortunately, you’ve already packed a suit.
But, if the invitation requires a full black-tie or white-tie garb, then you’ll follow suit (pun intended).
In this case, there’s no difference between dress clothes and rules for wearing a tuxedo. It’s exactly as you’d find it on dry land.
In many cases, you could wear a black business suit to a black-tie event. Just make sure you consult the invitation and cruise info (or make any calls you need to). There are no substitutes for white-tie, which is the most formal dress code.
Feel free to channel your inner Bond and go for an ivory dinner jacket. They’re the black jacket equivalent in warmer climates and on boats.
Men’s Cruise Outfits: Make It Your Own With Accessories
Fashion, from a cruise clothes men’s perspective, is quite straightforward. If you approach the above based on practicality and dress code, you’ll look great most of the time.
Then, you can add personal touches.
Here are some accessories you can use to experiment with colors and textures to really bring out your personality.
- Ties (bring at least two)
- Sunglasses (have fun with colorful frames if you like)
- Extra hats
- Belts (nautical woven belts, traditional leather belts, woven belts)
- Watches
- Breton stripes
- Lapel pins and corsages
- Pocket squares
Specific Gear
This is less about fashion and more about practicality, but hey, they overlap.
Some cruises feature activity programming, like golf, diving, or watersports.
In these scenarios, don’t forget your golf clothes, cleats, sports gear, wetsuits, and so on. If your stops revolve around hiking, of course, you’ll need hiking boots and sweat-wicking hiking clothes.
And don’t forget to ensure all of your activity-related footwear is broken in. Otherwise, you’ll be in a lot of pain.
Conclusion: Mens Cruise Fashion
Again, cruise wear for men is pretty straightforward. Here’s how to pack in order of importance:
- Have all of the basics, which includes a just-incase suit even on casual cruises
- Prepare for any physical activities
- Make it your own with accessories
Another rule of thumb for a seven-day cruise is make sure you have enough pieces for four semi-formal or cocktail evenings. On top of that, make sure you have casual outfits for every single day.
From there, you can mix and match!
Are you going on a cruise soon? Is it more casual or more formal? Let me know in the comments!
