Summer is around the corner and I know travel is on everyone’s radar. I keep thinking about our incredible Regent Seven Seas Cruise through the North and Baltic Seas we did in June 2023—it was truly a trip to remember! You can read more about our full itinerary and experience here. I get asked about packing lists a lot so today, I’m sharing what to pack for a Northern European cruise. Since we traveled so far north, the temperatures were cooler, and our excursions included lots of sightseeing and walking. That meant I needed outfits that were not only stylish but also practical and comfortable. Keep reading for expert packing tips and the ultimate Northern European cruise packing list!
I did have Lexi Dennis help me style outfits after I was done shopping to get ready for the cruise. She is so good at putting outfits together and coming up with a strategy before you pack. If you are in the Dallas area, she is a great stylist to work with. You can watch her work to put my outfits together in this video. One of the first things she advises to do is to check the weather of your destination about two weeks before the trip. This really helps with packing. The name of the game is be prepared to layer.
Regent Cruise dress code is no jeans after 6 PM. Pete and I would always change for dinner. Since the temperature didn’t matter onboard, I wore dresses and chic pant combinations. Pete had jackets, collared shirts and slacks for outfit options. I wore everything I packed for the trip so I consider that a huge victory!
I have several more helpful packing posts that might be helpful. If you are headed to the Mediterranean, check out this post with more summertime looks (think Rome, Barcelona, islands and F1 race in Monoco). We recently returned from Greece and Turkey so this post might be helpful.
Northern European Cruise Packing List
Specific items to pack:
Outerwear: A wind and waterproof jacket. It can be rainy and you don’t want to miss anything.
Base Layers: Tops, shirts, and bottoms made of performance fabrics like polyester or nylon.
Warm Layers: Sweaters, cardigans, and potentially fleece-lined jackets or vests.
Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes are a must for excursions and cobblestone roads! Dressy shoes are great on the ship.Be sure to read THIS BLOG POST to help you round up the best shoes for travel
Casual Wear: Dresses, skirts, pants, and casual shirts for day-to-day activities. I pack jeans too.
Dressy Attire: If your cruise has formal nights, pack appropriate outfits. Ours did not be there was a dress code.
Swimsuit and Cover-up: If you plan to use the ship’s pool. Don’t forget your sunscreen!
Let’s start with my travel look for a long haul flight. A super soft loungewear set from Cozy Earth is the best. Right now, get 40% OFF with code CE-TANYA for a limited time! You can shop HERE. I am in a size S. I styled it with a denim jacket (size S) and sneakers for a pulled together that’s still comfortable enough to sleep on the plane.
This was the perfect bon voyage look as we set sail! A double-breasted blazer is so chic and can we worn year round. It paired perfectly with these black linen high-waisted shorts. They are made out of a linen blend so they’re great for summer. I am in a size S blazer and shorts.
This easy summer look is what I wore on our first night in London before we embarked. These white wide-leg jeans are a great fit and style. I’m in a size 6. I styled it with a simple tank top and a light wash denim jacket.
We had a chillier day, so layers were key. A cashmere travel wrap was the perfect weight and easy to carry around once the temperatures warmed up. It comes in tons of color choices. Pair it over a classic button down shirt and jeans. Then of course you need great walking shoes, like these suede Tod driving loafers. They are featured in my 10 best travel shoes blog. So chic!
Another perfect, casual everyday look for your journey. Wear a white tee underneath a crewneck sweater so you can easily drape it over your shoulders and still have a chic look. When it got chilly, I wore the sweater over the tee.
The perfect look for exploring! Khaki cargo pants are so flattering and a current trend. Plus, they’re under $60. I paired it with a graphic T-shirt for a cute and comfortable look. For shoes, New Balance sneakers are super trendy plus so comfortable. I am obsessed. Don’t forget a leather belt bag. It’s a must-have for traveling, especially long walking days.
You need a sundress that is versatile. I wore it both for walking around and dinner one night. I also love this linen shirtdress for a great summer travel dress.
Another look that was perfect for walking around town! A sleeveless cable knit sweater is perfect for a mild summer day. I wore it with white cotton-linen pants for a breezy, lightweight look. I am in a size 6 pants.
The perfect walking style. For this look I paired wide leg linen pants with a sleeveless turtleneck sweater, a leather belt bag and leather wrap sandals.
This was the perfect evening look for a more casual fare. I paired a tie-neck blouse with a cropped jacket for an added layer and styled it with white jeans.
This all black look is a super chic and easy option for dinner. I wore this elevated black tank and these slim black pants for a sleek and flattering look. I added a silk wrap for a layer when I got chilly.
Of course you need a gorgeous floral wrap dress. It was the most elegant dress for an evening on board the ship.
You need an easy cotton or linen dress for dinner! I paired them with these espadrilles for a summer look.
Of course you also have to pack for the pool! A blue one-piece swimsuit is so flattering and a great color! Just add a lightweight sarong and sandals. It was great to lay out on the deck and get some much needed Vitamin Sea!
You also need a casual workout look in case you want to hit the gym or just want a comfortable look for on board. These lululemon leggings and define jacket are some of my favorites as well as this sports bra. I love the front zipper so it’s easy to get on and off. I wear size M in the sports bra and size 6 leggings.
Lastly, here is my travel look coming home. These Spanx wide leg pants are so soft and cozy! I paired it with this half zip for when my flight got chilly. They are both made of the Spanx AirEssential blend, which is the perfect weight and is so comfortable. I am in a size M.
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Which looks are your favorites from my Northern European cruise packing list? Since it was 10 days, there were many options. Don’t forget to read my detailed post about our itinerary and experience onboard the Regent Splendor. I hope this post was helpful. You can also check out more travel essentials here.
xoxo – Tanya
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Tanya Dan and I are on board pardon the pun with going on RSS cruises! I watched some YouTube videos of RSS cruises the passengers are really casual! Like slob kabobs! I was expecting country club for day cute cocktail dresses for night. Men in jackets slacks. I’d wear dresses similar to what you wore.
Hi Kris,
We didn’t see any slob kabobs on our trip although some people are very casual. There is a dress code for evenings and they do enforce it.
Hope that helps.
xoxo- Tanya
Great outfits! Inspires me for our trip to Italy, thanks for posting!
Hi Cindy,
Glad this post was helpful.
xoxo- Tanya
Really great outfits! Love those khaki cargo pants! My fave item is the New Balance sneakers, since they’re a cream color I’d be less worried about them getting dirty. Haha!
Luci,
The sneakers were a game changer for all the excursions and walking tours. So supportive! I love that they are a good neutral.
xoxo- Tanya
I just came across this amazing post when looking for what to wear on an upcoming cruise and it’s perfect….but can you do it for Fall?? Please!! I’m desperate.
Hello Tanya,
Funny, I am in Dallas as well. My husband and I are going on a 14 day Mediterranean cruise at the end of May with Regent as well. This is our first time. What is the evening attire? We embark in Rome and cruise to France, Spain, Morocco and Portugal. I am trying to plan what to bring to wear to dinner. I am thinking long maxi dressy dresses.
Hi Cory,
You’ll love your trip!
No jeans after 6 PM anywhere on the ship.
Yes, maxi dresses are perfect. Collared shirt and slacks for men.
xoxo- Tanya
All excellent choices for travel, and you look great in everything! I was on the 16-night North Seas cruise on RSS in 2023 and will be going again in 2025. I will up the challenge to you….can you pack just a carry-on and a personal item? I do. My trick is to not pack anything (except a work out bottom) that cannot be worn after 6 pm. That means no jeans, shorts or denim jacket. I pack multiple colors of wide-leg pants that can be worn with sneakers during the day and change out the top and wear with dress shoes to dinner. My formal night outfits are silk slip skirt and crystal pleat skirt that do not wrinkle. Lots of accessories and a black jacket. I also have a t-shirt dress that is reversible from a print to solid black, wish I could find another. My bag is very heavy and my personal item is huge. We board the plan first to be sure to get overhead space.
Tanya, thank you so much. I have been trying to find a style similar to my own aesthetic to put together looks for an 11-day cruise without overpacking. I have made my list and 95% of this is in the closet already. Ill go through this THEN go shopping.
On a Mediterranean cruise a few years ago we overheard locals comment on us as Americanos. Guess we stuck out like sore thumbs . Europeans don’t wear athletic wear, especially white workout shoes unless their working out. No baseball caps or logo shirts.They wear neutral colors not bright loud colors and prints according to our friend in Coppenhagen. We will be on a Baltic cruise in June and will be more careful on our packing choices. Pickpocketing tourists is on the rise in Europe and they are excellent at it! Dressing more like locals will hopefully deter those handbag, wallet and camera predators from ruining your trip.❤️
Hello, can you update this for a late September Northern European cruise? Thanks.
Hi. I will be sailing from Rome to Lisbon in mid-October. We will spend 9 nights on board. If I can coordinate styles/colors/etc. well, how many sets of bottoms/shirts and skirts/tops should I take? I like to travel as light as possible, but I don’t want to be totally unprepared for a trip of this length. Thanks for any advice you can give.