The Stylish Girl’s Guide To A Caribbean Cruise

When it comes to out-of-town vacationing, one should use that period of carefree relaxation as an opportunity to shine like a fashion star. During my recent trip over the Caribbean seas to the Bahamas, I made sure that I brought a wide assortment of my cutest tropical vacation gear as I wasn’t about to let a little sand and sun get in the way of my style game.

So, what exactly would a fashion-conscious gal bring on a four-night cruise through crystal blue waters?

Jet Setter

The number one rule of travelling is that nothing ever goes exactly to plan– always be prepared to roll with the punches and adapt to changing, possibly horrible situations. Therefore, when dressing and packing for a trip requiring air travel, one must always consider a myriad of potential crises that might occur. For instance, even though I was headed for a tropical destination, I made sure to bring one light sweater and blazer just in case the airport terminal or the airplane were chilly. Additionally, after hearing several horror stories from my friends regarding lost check-in luggage, I became paranoid enough to pack almost everything I needed within my carry-on luggage. As the airline actually did end up losing our check-in luggage for one night, our fears were actually well-warranted.

Stylish in the City

When I arrived in Miami for the first portion of my vacation, I found that several items were crucial to my survival within that urban jungle: a good straw wide-brimmed hat (which would come in handy throughout the entire trip), comfortable footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses (bring at least two pairs), and cute, light-weight attire. During the daytime, you’ll most likely be focusing on sight-seeing, eating food, and shopping. Therefore, for shoes I would opt for either stylish sandals or light-as-air wedges. As well, I wore a floral print romper that was perfect for doing touristy things in a brand new city.

Cruise Control

On the cruise ship itself, I would suggest bringing pieces that would be suitable for casual daytime activities, the swimming pool, and formal evenings. Since the ship can sway back and forth when it reaches deeper waters, flat-heeled or stable footwear would be highly recommended. If you plan to hit the buffets hard but also care about keeping in shape, be sure to also bring gym-appropriate gear such as runners, shorts, and tank tops. For the swimming pool, towels are provided but be sure to bring an assortment of cute swimwear for the pool parties or general hot-tubbing. During the evening, pack several formal pieces for dinner and nightclub-appropriate items for the nightly dance parties. I personally recommend wearing food-baby-friendly ensembles as your distended stomach will thank you later.

Island Babe

For the three island excursions I embarked on, I found that paranoia was the best way to go: try to be overly-prepared for any manner of emergency. Allergic to anything? Bring an epipen. A clutz with sunglasses? Bring more than one pair (I lost one pair while going down one especially terrifying ride called “The Abyss” in Nassau). As well, make certain that you wear appropriate outerwear that can easily dry after a flash rainstorm (I was victim to at least two of these mild natural disasters). This is also where a good straw hat becomes invaluable; especially one that remains on your head during a breezy day and shelters you from harmful sun rays.

As you might be able to glean from these photos, I had a fantastic time on my Caribbean cruise. Even more satisfying for me was the ability to look somewhat fashionable for a rather laid back sort of trip (most of my fellow passengers wore flip flops, shorts, and T-shirts).

Would you want to explore the Bahamas on a cruise in the near future?