5 things you should never wear on a cruise ship

Most first-time cruisers pack at least one of these clothing items.

Cruising may seem like one of the easiest vacations to pack for because you unpack once, settle into your cabin, and let your floating hotel take you from destination to destination. But that doesn’t mean you can simply throw a week’s worth of clothes into a suitcase and hope for the best.

Unlike a typical land-based vacation, a cruise combines pool days, shore excursions, specialty restaurants, entertainment venues, and changing weather conditions—and all that can happen in just one day. What works at a beach resort or city hotel doesn’t always translate well at sea, where wind, ship movement, dress codes, and port-specific regulations can come into play. And if you realize you need to grab a few items of clothing along the way, it’s not as easy to find stores as if you were on land.

“First-time cruisers just don’t know what to expect and often pack for what they may need instead of planning outfits,” says Lauren Doyle, owner of The Travel Mechanic, a member of Ensemble based in Raleigh, North Carolina. She recommends packing strategically and thinking through your days in advance, which can help reduce cabin clutter, simplify getting dressed, and make your vacation more enjoyable.

Before you zip up your suitcase, double check your items against this list of 20 essentials you’ll be glad you packed for your cruise, and then remove these five things Doyle says you should leave at home.

Sky-High Heels 

Even the world’s largest cruise ship can rock a bit (nevermind the smaller ones!), and that’s something many first-time cruisers don’t fully appreciate until they’re on board. While a pair of towering heels may perfectly complement your dinner outfit, Doyle says they’re often more trouble than they’re worth.

“The heels may make the outfit, but on a cruise, when the boat can sway, we recommend leaving them at home,” she says.

Beyond the ship’s motion, cruise passengers also encounter varying flooring surfaces as they move between cabins, restaurants, pool decks, and outdoor spaces—not to mention tricky raised thresholds on older vessels. The result? A greater risk of trips, slips, and rolled ankles that are sure to ruin your vacation. If you want to dress up for dinner, consider a lower block heel, wedge, or stylish flat instead. 

Short Dresses and Skirts

Cruise ships and ocean breezes go hand in hand. While that’s wonderful when you’re lounging on deck, it can create an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction if you’re wearing something too short that’s made from a lightweight fabric.

“Cruise ships are usually windy, and you may have a Marilyn Monroe moment,” Doyle says, noting that she’s speaking from her own personal experience.

Whether you’re watching sailaway from an upper deck, strolling the promenade, or posing for sunset photos, wind can appear unexpectedly. Midi and maxi lengths tend to be safer choices, as do heavier materials, especially on sea days when the ship is moving at full speed.

Clothing with Political Statements or Offensive Language

A cruise ship brings together thousands of people from different backgrounds, regions, and viewpoints. Doyle advises leaving clothing with political slogans, inflammatory messages, or offensive language at home.

“My mindset is why ruffle any feathers when you are in a confined space with strangers you don’t know,” she says. 

For instance, Carnival Cruise Line’s “What to Wear” policy states: “All guests are expected to ensure their clothing and accessories are respectful to fellow guests and reflect our family friendly atmosphere. Specifically, items worn during the cruise should not contain any message that may be considered offensive or contain nudity, profanity, sexual innuendos/suggestions. In addition, clothing and accessories should not promote negative ethnic or racial commentary, hatred, or threats of violence in any form.    

In some cases, cruise lines may even ask guests to change clothing that is considered offensive, inappropriate, or derogatory. Since you’ll likely encounter the same passengers throughout the voyage, it’s worth keeping the onboard atmosphere as neutral as possible. Plus, not respecting the dress code is just one of 11 etiquette mistakes you might be making on a cruise.

A Swimsuit without a Cover Up

Pool decks and spas are naturally swimwear-friendly, but that doesn’t mean a bikini or swim trunks are appropriate everywhere onboard.

Doyle recommends packing versatile cover-ups that can quickly transform pool attire into something suitable for grabbing lunch, ordering coffee, or heading into indoor areas of the ship. 

Many cruise lines expect guests to wear a cover-up and footwear in restaurants, buffets, and interior public spaces (like walking back to your cabin). Fortunately, shorts, skirts, sarongs, and convertible cover-ups make it easy to go from poolside to lunch without returning to your cabin.

Even when you’re not on the ship, covering up matters—Carnival Cruise Line recently advised passengers to follow local customs and dress conservatively onshore in New Caledonia (read: no G-strings or thongs). 

Avoid Camouflage Clothing

This one surprises many travelers.

“Many Caribbean countries have a ban on army-style camouflage print, so if you step off board, keep that in mind,” Doyle says. That means an outfit that’s perfectly acceptable onboard could create issues when you step ashore.

If your itinerary includes Caribbean ports—Royal Caribbean’s blog names Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago as the destinations that have outlawed civilian-use of camo—it’s best to leave camouflage shorts, shirts, hats, and accessories at home altogether. That way, you won’t have to worry about accidentally violating local regulations while exploring.

Read the original article on Southern Living