Things Not to Wear on Cruise: 7 Common Mistakes to Avoid!

Hello everyone! I was packing my suitcase for my upcoming cruise, and I remembered that I had never told you about the things you should not wear on this kind of trip.

Yes, there are some clothes and accessories that you should leave at home, either because they are forbidden or because they would be uncomfortable to wear during a cruise.

I took pen and paper and started making a list of what I think are the most common mistakes.

Don’t wear flashy jewelry

The first thing you must absolutely avoid wearing is precious jewelry, especially if it is very flashy.

As you probably already know, some cruise ports are not exactly safe, and many thieves wait for tourists since they are considered easy prey.

I have heard several stories of cruise passengers who have had gold bracelets or necklaces ripped off, sometimes violently.

To avoid these situations, it is best to leave the jewelry in the safe on the ship and wear it only for the formal night.

Don’t wear camouflage prints

A few years ago, I was gifted a backpack. I loved it; it was comfortable and spacious. But it had one big problem: It had a camouflage print, and I had to leave it at home.

Why did I make this choice? Camouflage-print clothes and accessories are banned in many countries, especially the ones you visit on Caribbean cruises.

In these countries, according to the law, military-type prints can only be worn by members of the army.

This is the updated list of countries where wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Jamaica
• Nigeria
• Oman
• Philippines
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Saudi Arabia
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

As you can see, the Bahamas, Barbados, and Jamaica are also very popular cruise destinations, so be particularly careful.

Don’t wear pretty things at the expense of comfort

Let’s make one thing clear right away: there is a lot of walking on a cruise! Both to get off the ship and out of port and to visit all the cities.

For this reason, do not wear shoes or clothing solely because it is pretty. Instead, you should prefer comfortable things.

For example, shoes are very important. Bring a pair of sneakers that you know are comfortable and that you have used before. Don’t just bring sandals or heels!

Avoid wearing only a swimsuit in some cities

Another thing you should know is that in some cities, wearing only a swimsuit is prohibited by law.

I know this well because it is a frequent law in many Italian coastal cities.

Until a few years ago, many tourists returning from the beach would walk around the city shirtless or in swimsuits.

To avoid this, many mayors have imposed fines (up to €500) on people who do not wear a t-shirt or swimsuit cover-up.

It’s considered a rule of “public decency.” I know it may seem strange to some Americans, but Italians care a lot about the way they dress and look, especially in some cities.

Don’t wear designer clothes or bags

Another thing I recommend that you do not wear on a cruise is designer clothes, especially handbags.

Similarly to jewelry, designer and expensive clothes can attract thieves who might identify you as a target.

Muggings are common in several cruise ports, and they are even more common for high-value bags. Here, you can see the list of the most dangerous cruise ports.

In that case, the thief will not only steal the contents of the bag but may also resell the latter for a good price.

I prefer plain backpacks or bags. On my last cruise with Royal Caribbean, I found some nice ones for sale in the ship’s stores.

Do not wear clothes that are not appropriate for religious places

If you are planning to visit sacred or religious sites, avoid wearing clothes that leave your legs or shoulders too exposed.

If you take a cruise in Europe, you will probably visit many of the beautiful churches on our continent.

However, since they are holy places, appropriate attire is required to enter. So, no bathing suits, hats, miniskirts, or shorts that end above the knee.

In stricter churches, you must also cover your shoulders and not wear tank tops or too low-cut shirts.

My advice is to carry in your bag a shawl or stole that will be enough to cover yourself.

Do not wear clothes that do not adhere to the dress code

Cruises have changed a lot in recent years. They used to have a much more formal dress code, while nowadays, everyone dresses a little more casually.

However, a certain way of dressing is still required, especially when going to restaurants or on formal nights.

Many cruise lines do not let passengers into the restaurant if they are wearing tank tops. In addition, check the 10 Things You Must Never Do in a Cruise Cabin (Can Get You Banned).