Best Swimsuit Cover-Ups for a Cruise

If you've booked a cruise, especially to the Caribbean, your packing list will likely include swimwear and swim cover-ups. So, what are the best swimsuit cover-ups for a cruise? 

Well, that depends, of course, on your personal preference, but finding the perfect swim cover-up isn’t as easy as it sounds. It's like the three bears... some are too short, some too long, few are just right. Some are made of material that's too hot (and therefore unpleasant in tropical climates), and others are see-through in all the wrong places. Others just don’t fit right.

Finding one that is "just right" and makes you feel confident, comfortable, and stylish without breaking the bank can be challenging. I recently did an Amazon haul to find some new cover-ups for my wardrobe, and here are my findings, including the good, the bad, and the ugly.

For reference, for all of these, I'm 5'9", 36DD, and typically wear a size 8/10. Want to see my quick video review of these? You can find it here. 

 Related: The Best Full-Coverage Two-Piece Swimsuits For a Cruise

The Cover-up Dress: My Favorite

Let's just go ahead and start with the best of the best. Finding the perfect cruise cover-up is also challenging because, for me, an ideal cover-up also functions like an actual outfit that you can wear off the ship with your swimsuit underneath.

I really love this cover-up! It looks like a dress, so you can wear it beyond the pool or beach. I got so many compliments on this on my recent cruise from folks who thought it was just a cute dress, having no idea it was a swim cover-up.

The material is nice, stretchy, and not too heavy. I wore it in Roatan, Honduras, and pictured here in size medium. Even after a full day of activity, it still looked great. We visited one of Roatan's eco-parks, where monkeys with cute (but muddy) little paws literally walked all over me, and I was bummed to see muddy little pawprints on the white material. I was pleasantly surprised that a light scrubbing with a Lysol wipe got it all off without staining!

One thing to note is that if your swimsuit has any details, like ruffles, that texture and pattern might show through. Also, this fabric isn't as wrinkle-resistant as I'd like, but it wasn't too bad. Overall, this one is a winner! (Get it here)

Related: What to Wear on Cruise Elegant Night

Sheer Mesh with Bell Sleeves: Cute, But Runs Big

Mesh is a commonly used material for swimsuit cover-ups, which makes sense on many levels, but that means that these are usually not cover-ups appropriate for just wearing straight off the ship with a swimsuit underneath. 

Still, I like this cover-up a lot. I like the bell sleeves and slightly stretchy material on this one, but it does run a bit large, so keep that in mind when picking your size. It's pictured here in size large, and I tucked it in the back, but I ultimately exchanged this for a medium. The little keyhole tie at the top adds a nice touch. (Get it here)

Tank Dress Cover-up: Too Short and Just Not It

This tank dress cover-up was an instant disappointment. The length was way too short for me, making it uncomfortable to wear anywhere other than poolside. I'm a tall girl (5'9"), though, so this may work for the shorter girlies. I got it in a size medium.

The material felt thin and was quite sheer, so it didn’t offer much coverage, and I didn't love the tank top style. I did, however, like the drawstring sides, which offers some versatility, but overall, this one was (for me) a miss. (Get it here)

Lace Detail – Pretty and Classic

This cover-up is really pretty with its lace design, and I love the longer length and classic, feminine style, but it doesn’t actually give you much coverage. It’s cute for the beach, but it's not one for just wearing off the ship. Still, I liked this one a lot. 

My only issue with this is that it runs very big. It's pictured here in size large, and even tucking it a bit in the back it was still much too big. I exchanged it for a small instead. (Get it here)

Related: Shop all my favorite Amazon cruise clothes and essentials

Bright Colors with Ring Detail - Sexy, but No

While shopping for this haul, I wanted to include a cover-up in something other than black or white, and this one fits the bill, as it comes in several vibrant color options. While the color is fun, this one isn't for me. It's too short and just a little "too much." I ended up returning this one.

If you're looking for something eye-catching or for a beach club scene, this is a great choice, but it just wasn't for me. (Get it here)

Conclusion

Trying on new clothes can be fun, but finding the perfect garment for you takes some trial and error. The right cover-up should be comfortable, stylish, and practical—so always check the length, material, and fit before buying... and dont' forget to check the backside. ;)

To see more of my favorites, shop my custom-curated Amazon storefront and find the best cover-ups and clothes for your next cruise. I'm careful only to recommend things that I genuinely find to be quality products, and I'm always honest in giving my thoughts on all my clothes hauls (the stinkers don't make it to my storefront). 

Happy shopping!