You have just found a great cruise at a great price and you are ready to sign up. But, you keep looking at that cruise brochure with its Madison Avenue photo of Ken and Barbie, smiling on their stateroom balcony. And, when you gaze into your full-length mirror, you see yourself…a cute, but somewhat overweight, North American chick.
Curvaceous Cruisers
There will always be some "beautiful people" on every sailing, but most cruisers will look just like you and like me, only a bit more dressed up. In reality, you are more likely to find yourself hanging out with some newfound friends from Sacramento than with aging supermodels and their buff-but-graying husbands.
So, don’t worry if you feel like Kirstie Alley after she has scarfed down a box of Ding Dongs. Don’t worry about going on a pre-cruise diet. Don’t worry about wearing a swimsuit at the pool. This is your cruise, your vacation, and your time for line dancing all night at the ship’s bar. You don’t have to buy new duds for your upcoming cruise, if you don’t want to, but since you're here, you might as well look around.
Cruise Wardrobe
Not everyone agrees on the perfect cruise wardrobe, and there are lots of reasons why.
- People pack differently for Alaska than for Jamaica.
- Cruise lines are diverse. Some lines, like Oceania, don’t have formal nights.
- Lots of elegant women look sharp in classic blazers, while other women adore the floaty comfort of gauzy silk caftans.
Packing for Daytime at Sea
In general, people look best in nautical attire when at sea. I discovered this on my first cruise, when I packed my standard landlubber outfits, which consisted of high-heeled boots, suede skirts, and flowery bohemian tops. Fortunately, my first cruise was to the Inside Passage of Alaska, so I had a pair of jeans and some sneakers to get me through that fabulous journey. Now, I depend on a ship-shape color scheme of navy and white or black and white, peppered with bright colors like red, turquoise, and yellow. Here are some examples of plus-size clothes that look beautiful at sea.
Better When We're Together Maxi Curvy Plus Dress at ShopRuche.com I love this in cobalt (it can be played up nautical or glam) and in black. If this style looks good on you, buy it in both colors. It's only $39.99 and you will kick yourself later for not buying more than one. This is the kind of dress you can wear for day or evening by changing your accessories. Get a cute sunhat for daytime or tart it up with CZs for nights at sea. Sizes 1X, 2X, 3X.
Mojave Mesh Tunic and Cropped Pants at Drapers.com: Normally, I dislike capri-length trousers, but this set, in white or marine, will look fab on any female who is aboard ship or excursion bound. Sizes 1X-3X. Draper’s and Damon’s is one of my go-to cruise sites. Check out their Flatback Rib separates, pinstripe tees, and boaty jogging suits.
Darted Scoop Tunic with Laces at AstarteWoman.com: This top is expensive but, in cobalt, worn over any black, white, or blue pants, this top would be fabulous for daytime seafaring or smart casual evenings. Astarte uses your body measurements and body shape to give you the right fit. Sizes X, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X.
Must Have Maxi Dress at Avenue.com: This long sundress doesn’t wrinkle, has bra-friendly straps, and comes in beautiful, stretchy fabrics. At $29.90, it’s less than some tee shirts. All of the colors are perfect for sea days or excursions. Spark this up with faux pearls and it becomes a party dress. Sizes 14/16, 18/20, 22/24, 26/28, 30/32. Search this site for nautical blues, whites, blacks, and brights.
Stretch Knit Dress by Jessica London: The blue lagoon color is perfect for sightseeing in Venice. In black, the sweetheart neckline is gorgeous in formal-night photos, making this little frock worth more than $49.99 or $59.99. Add a gauze or lace bolero if you want sleeves.
Some, but not all, tropical and semi-tropical cruises call out for flowery Hawaiian prints. In my opinion, most shipboard passengers look best in nautical stripes and crisp solids, but a lot depends on the cruise line and the destination. Resort prints are fine for cruises to the Caribbean, Hawaii, the South Pacific, Mexico, and Panama, but not the Mediterranean. If unsure, nautical is the classic look.
Packing for Evenings at Sea
The fright of formal evening attire is what sends ladies in search of articles like this. Well, all cruise lines and individual ships have varying levels of formality and enforcement. On my Oceania cruises, the female passengers wore better (more expensive) outfits for “smart casual” dinners than most women had on for other ships’ formal events. CruiseCritic.com has more info.
Here are ideas for beautiful evening outfits.
Kiyonna.com: I think that everything at Kiyonna is tasteful and elegant. I have several stretchy Kiyonna tops that can be worn for low-cut sexiness at night or thrown over a stretchy sheath for daytime fun. Their jersey is fabulous and their prices are reasonable.
Claudia Lace Bolero from Igigi: I love Igigi, especially for pear-shaped women. And, for a small investment in this black lace bolero, you can turn any black sleeveless dress, no matter how lowly, into a luxurious cocktail dress or evening gown. What a fabulous idea. For cheap shrugs, try Alight.com.
Plus Size Wrap Dress at MylesAhead.com: If you are a really big girl, and you don’t want to learn to sew, this timeless black dress with white trim is perfectly nautical. Sizes up to 10X. I also like their Dress Wrapped in Red. It’s about time that internet stores catch up with women’s needs.
Double Pleated Bodice Dress at Astarte: Yes, Astarte is expensive, but if you want larger-than-life, tasteful clothing in larger sizes like 4X (or custom sizes), a dress like this may be worth the bucks.
Jkara at Dillards.com: If you are more into glittery gowns, Jkara is a gorgeous brand. Remember that beading will save you money, in some ways, because you won’t need a sparkly necklace or a pair of large shimmering earrings to take your look to the next level.
Joanna Hope Print Maxi Dress at SimplyBe.com: This gorgeous, youthful dress curves like the waves of the ocean. Wear this with a shrug if you need more coverage.
I remember my wealthy, jumbo-sized grandmother and the horrors that she ended up wearing. Large-sized cruisers have so many more options than they had in “the good old days.” Of course, these plus-sized items are just a small sample of the goodies I have discovered online.
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Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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