Aim for eight versatile pieces: two flowy maxi dresses, one embellished gown for formal night, one printed mini, one shirt-dress that doubles as a beach cover-up, one long kaftan, and two swimsuits. Choose a single color palette (we love teals, corals and ivories) so every piece mixes back. Browse the full resort wear edit to see how the capsule builds together.

Cruise dress codes have relaxed dramatically — a floor-length, embellished maxi dress in a tropical or botanical print is now the most photographed formal-night look on most ships. Skip heavy cocktail dresses in favor of drapey, silk-feel fabrics that breathe through dinner and dancing. Browse our maxi dress collection for cruise-formal options.

A long kaftan is the single most useful piece in any cruise wardrobe. It works as a poolside cover-up, an excursion-day modesty layer, and a sundowner outfit when paired with sandals and a clutch. Look for painterly prints, tassel details and a relaxed silhouette. Shop the full edit in our kaftans collection.

Two is the sweet spot — one one-piece for breakfast-deck mornings and longer pool days, and one bikini for port-day beaches. Pack them in a small mesh bag so wet suits never touch the rest of your capsule. Shop our one-piece swim and bikini collection.

Look for silk-feel synthetics, lightweight chiffons and rayon blends — they pack flat, dry quickly between port days, and shed wrinkles overnight on a hanger in the steam from a hot shower. Avoid linen for ship days (it creases on the chaise) and heavy cotton (it stays damp). Most pieces in our resort wear collection are chosen specifically for their packability.

Cruise wear has to work harder. You're packing a full week into one suitcase, moving between formal dining rooms, sun-soaked decks, port towns and beach excursions — often all in a single day. The capsule above is built around the silhouettes that handle all of it: drapey maxis, embellished kaftans, and easy mini dresses. For more inspiration, read our Resort, Beach & Cruise Wear Trends blog.