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What do you wear on a Caribbean holiday?

For me, when I go to the Caribbean I live in bathing suits until it is time for dinner. Especially if you are staying at an all inclusive, you'll want to bring your favorite swimsuits for beach/pool days. A one piece can even be worn with denim shorts & sun hat for a day of shopping or sightseeing.



For a Caribbean holiday in 2026, the mantra is "Tropical Breathable." During the day, you should prioritize lightweight, natural fabrics like linen, cotton, and bamboo to manage the high humidity. Men typically wear linen shirts or high-quality moisture-wicking polos paired with tailored shorts, while women favor flowy sundresses, kaftans, and sarongs as versatile cover-ups. Footwear should include a pair of sturdy sandals for walking and flip-flops for the beach. For the evening, most resorts follow a "Resort Casual" dress code—think "smart" shorts or chinos for men and maxi dresses or jumpsuits for women. If you are on a cruise, remember to pack a few formal outfits for "Gala" nights. Crucially, don't forget a wide-brimmed hat and UV-protection sunglasses. Avoid heavy denim or synthetic fabrics that don't breathe, as the Caribbean heat can be unforgiving if your clothing traps moisture against your skin.

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  • Sundresses, Skirts & Shorts.


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Women are usually required to wear a dress, or long pants with a blouse whilst the men must wear long pants or shorts with a collarless shirt, polo shirt, or collared shirt. For both, some sort of nice looking shoes or sandals is also needed.

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Readers say their cruise essentials are bathing suits, cute coverups, lightweight tops and bottoms, and flip flops for lounging by the pool or spending time at the beach. Lightweight sundresses are always a great option, as they can be worn exploring during the day and then dressed up for dinner at night!

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2. Do the clothing countdown: If you need a mantra to help streamline your wardrobe, use the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rule for a weeklong trip: Limit yourself to no more than five sets of socks and underwear, four tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes and one hat. The list should be adjusted to suit your needs.

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Should I bring a jacket on a warm-weather cruise? Even on summer sailings or cruises to tropical destinations in the Caribbean or South Pacific, it's always a good idea to bring a warm layer for unexpectedly cool or rainy days or overly air-conditioned spaces. Jackets can take up a lot of space in a suitcase.

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Royal Caribbean encourages you to “Wear Your Best” whenever you want. This means that you can dress casual with jeans, polos, and blouses for our restaurants, but please do keep the swimwear, tank tops and bare feet to the pool deck.

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Casual attire includes jeans and collared shirts for men and sundresses or pants with blouses for women. No caps, tank tops or bathing suits are permitted in the main dining room or specialty restaurants, and footwear is always required. Shorts are not allowed during dinner.

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For men, resort casual attire typically includes lightweight pants or shorts, a collared shirt, and dressy sandals or loafers. Women's resort casual attire may include sundresses, skirts or shorts paired with blouses or tops, and comfortable sandals.

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T-shirts, swimsuits, robes, bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps, and pool wear are not allowed in the main restaurant or specialty restaurants at any time. In addition, shorts and flip-flops are not permitted during the evening hours.

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While climates will vary depending on which region you're sailing, expect temperatures to range from the upper 80s during the day to the mid-60s in the evening.

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While tipping may not be required at some all-inclusive resorts, many guests prefer to do so. In the event that you would like to tip staff during your all-inclusive vacation, it is important to find out in advance whether staff would even be allowed to accept those tips.

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If you have unlimited suitcase space and don't want to do any laundry, a two-week trip means packing 14/2 = 7 bras and at least 14 pairs of underwear. That consumes a lot of valuable suitcase space! To reduce the number of pieces that need to be packed, simply commit to doing laundry on the road.

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For a weekend trip, one pair of cotton pajamas will be just fine. For a week or more, consider bringing two pairs.

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