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If you've never sailed before, you might be wondering how to dress on a cruise.

Below, broken down by line, learn what to wear on a cruise during the day, in the evening and on formal night, so you'll be properly outfitted for your voyage.

But first, there are a few things that are universal across nearly all major cruise lines:

Universally, one of the most annoying and stressful parts of planning for a cruise is packing. Sure, we all obsess over what to toss in our suitcases, but how often do we think about things not to pack on a cruise?

Today, many cruise lines have developed their own applications to streamline the check-in process, as well as enhance the onboard experience. Rather than have to carry around a paper copy of the ship's schedule, many cruise lines allow you to access it on the go at the tips of your fingers. 

Depending on which cruise line you're sailing with, you might be able to do even more with the app, like open your stateroom door, make dining reservations, order food to your exact location on the ship, and even browse menus. 

If you have questions about what to do on a cruise, don't worry: you'll be anything but bored.

Activities on a cruise ship run the gamut from relaxing and quiet to exhilarating and high-energy. Below, we've listed the top 40 most popular and, perhaps, surprising cruise activities if someone you know needs a little convincing to give sailing a try.

So, what is there to do on a cruise ship? Check out our picks, and once onboard, check your daily schedule for a list of what's happening, where and when.

Even if you're an avid traveler, your first cruise can be daunting. Because ships are self-contained on some days and end up in different locations on others, there are many moving parts that make cruising different from other vacations you might have tried.

We've rounded up 20 things first-time cruisers might not know before they go so you can be ahead of the game on your inaugural voyage.

This article was last updated on May 24, 2021.

In March of 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a no-sail order, which kept the industry at a standstill for nearly a year before it expired and was replaced with a conditional sail order. Since then, cruise lines continue to voluntarily cease operations as the world faces ongoing threats from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.