Ready for a cruise to Europe but not sure what to pack? If you’re like me, you might be most worried about what you’ll be wearing.
Bringing the right wardrobe for a cruise - or any trip for that matter - is crucial. You’ll need to do a little research before setting sail in Europe to pack appropriately. If you embark on a cruise without the proper wardrobe or necessities, you’ll be spending some money in port to purchase whatever you might have left behind!
If you’re overwhelmed with packing for your upcoming trip to Europe, I’m here to help! I just returned from a fabulous 7-night European cruise from Southampton, England. My itinerary had stops in Norway and Belgium with weather that spanned from sunny and warm to cool and rainy.
In addition, my husband and I spent three nights in London before our cruise to explore the city - it’s one of our favorites! Most travelers will spend a few days exploring the embarkation port, or a nearby destination, before sailing on a European itinerary.
If you’re spending the time and money to travel to Europe from North America, I highly recommend adding a few days before or after your cruise to explore. This means you’ll need to pack a little more than you might typically for a 7-night cruise, especially those who are used to Caribbean itineraries.
Keep practicality at the forefront of your packing strategy for Europe. Pack clothes that are both cute and comfortable for long days ashore.
For instance, I can almost guarantee on any European cruise that you will be doing plenty of walking. You can easily hit 15,000 steps each day while cruising in Europe. With so much walking, be sure to pack comfortable shoes that are broken in. You don’t want to deal with painful blisters during your vacation.
In addition, you’ll need to pack outfits and necessities for your time onboard your cruise ship. I typically plan for one outfit each day followed by one evening outfit for the ship. This also includes one or two lounge outfits for sea days.
Please note, if you’re sailing to or around the Mediterranean, you will need a completely different wardrobe than the one I’m about to provide. Mediterranean cruises are much warmer compared to cruises farther north.
Read more: What to wear on a Mediterranean cruise
My outfit and packing guide will focus on necessities and inspiration for Northern Europe. This could include cruises across Northern Europe and the Baltics, such as itineraries from popular embarkation ports like Southampton (England), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Reykjavik (Iceland), Oslo (Norway), Copenhagen (Denmark) and Stockholm (Sweden).
Weather Expectations
The cruise season for Europe starts in April and ends in October. However, cruises around Northern Europe are typically from May to September due to cooler temperatures in the spring and fall.
As you might guess, sailing around Northern Europe will be inherently cooler than the Mediterranean. Cruising on the North or Baltic Sea means you’ll be experiencing a cooler climate, even in the summer.
Temperatures will be anywhere from 40 degrees F to 70 degrees F on a European sailing. However, cruises in the shoulder season (April/May or September/October) mean you’ll veer towards the cooler temperatures.
Weather in Europe can often be unpredictable. For instance, during our cruise to Norway, it would be cold in the mornings at 40 degrees and warm up to 70 degrees later in the day. The following day could bring cold, rainy weather all day in the 50s.
However, this region of Europe can still experience heat waves, so packing layers is the key. We didn’t necessarily have a heat wave during our cruise, which was in early June. But, we still had a few warm and sunny days.
Moreover, if you’re sailing towards the Arctic Circle on itineraries to Iceland or Norway, you’ll need to prepare for mostly cold and rainy weather. The further north you’re sailing, the cooler you can expect the temperatures.
Finally, European cruises are notoriously rainy. Every cruise I’ve sailed around this region has experienced multiple days of cold weather and rain. The weather can change quickly with spurts of rain throughout the day.
General Cruise Packing Tips
While packing for your European cruise, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind. First, focus on packing layers. This will allow you to bundle up when the weather is cool while also being able to shed layers if it warms up.
For instance, choose neutral-colored jackets that you can wear with the majority of what you’re packing. For me, this includes a long black raincoat to wear over a sweater or a denim jacket to pair with a short-sleeved dress or top.
In terms of layered clothes, you should also prioritize packing items that you can mix and match. Again, neutral-colored clothes or capsule items are usually good for this, as you can wear multiple pieces together over the course of your cruise.
The mix-and-match strategy also allows you to pack less overall. If an outfit is a one-and-done, it probably could stay home. The same principle applies to shoes and outerwear to ensure you aren’t wasting precious space in your luggage.
Moreover, make sure you consider your daily activities while in Europe. If you’re visiting churches or holy sites, make sure you pack appropriate clothes that cover your knees or shoulders (if needed). Those doing adrenaline-pumping or active excursions should look for outfit guidelines on tour descriptions. For example, hiking excursions often suggest wearing hiking shoes.
Finally, aim to pack clothes that are always comfortable. It’s not uncommon to feel bloated by the end of your cruise, and this isn’t the time to try squeezing into your fitted jeans, at least for me! Versatility, comfort, and practicality are all key when choosing the outfits for your European cruise.
Try not to overpack if you can. I struggle with this, especially for colder climate cruises. Remember, you will need to lug your suitcases around from the airport to the cruise terminal. This could also include train stations, taxis, hotels, and more depending on your plans before and after cruising.
Clothing Essentials Overview
For this cruise, I packed one outfit for each day of our cruise - so 7 different daily outfits. Our itinerary included three days in Norway and one day in Belgium. As we cruised further north in Norway, the temperatures dropped.
Our activity schedule included a train ride in Flåm, Norway and a glacier hike in Olden, Norway. As such, one of my outfits was an athletic fit for the hike, including workout leggings, a long-sleeved workout shirt, and appropriate undergarments.
I also packed a dress to wear each evening onboard our cruise, meaning I also packed 7 dresses. Most of these dresses were versatile and comfortable pieces that I could layer with a coat if needed. I also packed practical dresses that I could wear during the day, if needed.
How you choose to dress on your cruise is up to you. Most cruise lines have dress code guidelines that forbid shorts, flip-flops, and swimsuits for restaurants. You should also consider if your cruise has any formal or elegant nights.
This could include a cocktail dress or even a formal gown if you feel like dressing up. For me, I tend to wear casual and comfortable dresses during my cruises in the evenings. I also try to pack dresses that I can wear during the day, meaning only a few dresses are strictly for evening wear.
I kept lounge wear minimal for this cruise, as we only had two sea days. I packed a crewneck and short matching set to wear onboard. I typically wore this to breakfast each day before changing for the daily activities. I also packed sweatpants that I wore in our cabin while enjoying the balcony. If you have more sea days, you will need to pack more casual clothes to wear onboard.
Finally, don't forget a swimsuit! I love this long-sleeve swimsuit from Amazon (this contains an affiliate link) because it's warmer and I don't have to worry about getting sunburnt.
Without further ado, here’s everything I wore and packed for my 7-night European cruise to Norway and Belgium. This is a breakdown of exactly what I wore during my cruise.
European Cruise Packing List
Outfits:
- 2 pairs of pants (cargo pants and jeans)
- 3 pairs of leggings (casual and workout)
- 3 workout skorts (to wear under dresses or alone)
- 4 long sleeve dresses
- 3 short sleeve dresses
- 2 elegant night dresses
- 2 sweaters
- 2 casual tops
- 1 long sleeve workout top
- 1 black denim jacket
- 1 lounge outfit (matching shorts and crewneck)
- 2 pairs of pajamas
- 1 swimsuit (pack extra if you plan to hot tub more than once or twice)
- 14 days worth of undergarments (I packed extra in case of travel delays)
- Optional: Workout clothes (if you plan to exercise on your cruise, pack accordingly)
Outerwear:
- 3 coats (raincoat, fashion coat, puffer coat - I could have left behind the puffer coat, but it packed easily in a compression packing cube and I wore it onboard. Having a waterproof coat is key)
- 2 hats or warm headbands (in case one gets wet)
- Gloves
- Optional: Scarf (I didn’t wear one this summer, but I did last year when cruising to Iceland and it was colder!)
Shoes:
- Comfortable walking shoes (I packed white tennis shoes and wore them almost every day)
- Waterproof boots
- Dinner shoes (I brought casual platform sandals that could be dressed up or down. I wore these every night)
- Sandals (I packed casual slides to wear around the ship - I wore them with socks)
Accessories:
- Crossbody purse (Mine was used daily for ashore exploration and dinners onboard)
- Daily jewelry (I keep this simple and wore my wedding rings with gold hoops each day)
- Sunglasses
- Umbrella
- Small travel wallet
- Larger purse (I use a small backpack-style purse to hold more for longer travel days)
- Packing cubes
- Jewelry travel case
- Electronics organizer
- Tote or bag to use around the ship
- Hair clips or ties (I use claw clips and scrunchies mostly)
Daily Necessities:
- Sunscreen (I prefer a tinted moisturizer with SPF when cruising, but sunscreen is still important)
- Skincare (I bring travel-size products, including face wash, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and eye cream)
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Body spray or perfume
- Makeup and makeup remover
- Prescription medication (I pack extra medication in case of emergency or travel delays)
- Over-the-counter medication (My travel pharmacy contains a variety of OTC medication that might be needed, including pain relief, seasickness, cold/flu medication, sleep aid, and allergies)
- Contacts/glasses and solution
Technology:
- Phone
- iPad or tablet with downloaded shows
- Wireless headphones
- Wired headphones (for the plane)
- Smartwatch
- Charging cords
- Portable charger
- Camera (I have a nicer digital camera I bring while traveling)
- Optional: Laptop (I always travel with mine) and e-reader/book
Travel Needs:
- Valid passport (and any necessary visas)
- Travel insurance
- 2 credit cards, including Visa or Mastercard with no foreign transaction fees
- ATM card (in case of an emergency where you need cash)
- Cash or local currency (I don’t deem cash necessary anymore for European travel. Everywhere we went accepted credit cards. But if you like to have cash or want to tip onboard, bring some local currency)
Cruise Items:
- European converter
- Outlet expander
- Magnetic hooks
- Travel-size sound machine
- Hanging cosmetic organizer
