Cruise/Resort Wear

I am so looking forward to my first Caribbean cruise.  Less than two weeks. I know I live in the sub-tropics with two coconut palm trees lazily leaning over my pool and the vegetation here is always green. Our tropical climate has a rainy season, May-October and the daily thunderstorms keeps the humidity in the sticky zone.  Yes, the tropics.   

Although Florida sticks out into the tropics, the exotic islands seem to be calling me. Why I have waited so long is a mystery. My excitement is growing for an upcoming Caribbean cruise.

This trip is going to be more about cruising than the destinations/ports. For my first cruise that is great. I want to enjoy all that this mega-cruise-ship has to offer. The island ports are described as eastern Caribbean destinations which include Puerto Rico, Port of Philipsburg on Sint Maarten (Dutch spelling) and the private port of Labadee on the northern tip of Haiti. I see these destinations as just the taste of the islands with cruising (the ship) being the heavy emphasis. The next trip, island hopping on a private sailboat in my bikini; OK - a girl can dream.  

After booking was taken care of, I started studying all about cruising and naturally a girl’s heart turns to, “What to wear?” There seems to be a whole wardrobe class designated “Cruise Wear”, so back to Google. First, here are my ship's (Allure of the Sea - Royal Caribbean) suggestions: 

The Code: Royal Caribbean has formal (elegant casual), smart casual and casual nights. Formal attire includes suits and ties or tuxedos for men and cocktail dresses for women. Smart casual attire includes jackets and ties for men and dresses or pantsuits for women. Casual attire includes sport shirts and slacks for men and sundresses or pantsuits for women; vacation wear. 

Allure's three-deck Adagio Dining Room

The Main Dining room is where the code applies. On my cruise there will be two designated formal nights (day 2 and 6) with the remaining being smart casual attire (dress to impress). This is only for dinner in the main dining room with most of the other restaurants having relaxed standards. Example: "Nightly casual option in The Windjammer café is the laid-back evening choice -- though tank tops and caps are not allowed during dinner." 

There appears to be 26 different places (themes) to dine plus room service. The main dining that I have been referencing is Allure's three-deck Adagio Dining Room which had seating for some 3,000.  WOW!   

I believe that dressing for dinner is a cruising tradition going back many decades. Oh darn, must I dress up? Yes, I plan on fully enjoying this carryover  tradition. This is likely a tradition that predates the Titanic. Oh, guess that is a historical reference I should have avoided. Well if I am going down with the ship, I want to be well dressed. Anyone know – Is it still “Women and children first”?

More on Cruise/Resort wear coming up in future post - stay tuned.  Also I am open to suggestions.  What did you wear and see being worn on your cruises? Send photos.