Packing for a cruise excursion doesn’t have to be a taxing affair. Start early and prepare ahead of time to save yourself the stress. This includes picking the right shoes.
As you consider the best shoes for cruise excursions, use this guide to put you on the right path.
Best Shoes for On Deck
There are two basic requirements for shoes for onboard a cruise ship. They need to be waterproof and slip resistant. Thankfully, this is a shoe niche that has long been filled under the category of boat shoes. A boat shoe looks like a moccasin or house slipper in that you don’t have to tie or Velcro.
When choosing an onboard shoe, make sure to get one that has a loose fit. You’ll find stylish designs for both men and women boat shoes among these brands:
- Sperry
- Rockport
- Timberland
- Sebago
Best Shoes for Shore Excursions
When shopping for the best shoes for cruise excursions, consider comfort over fashion. Here’s the reality, when you are exploring a fabulous city for a day you want to be able to get a move on without your footwear slowing you down.
Insider Tip: Look for a shoe with a mesh top that allows your feet to breathe and aids in flexible moving. Also, opt for a thick rubber sole and arch support that meets your needs.
You also need a shoe that is flexible in terms of activities. Say you want to stroll along cobblestone streets on a shopping trip, followed by a hike in the neighboring mountainside, you aren’t going to be able to make it back to your cabin to change your shoes, so you’ll want to wear something that suits all activities.
The best shoes for cruise excursions are divided among two camps: walking shoes and hiking sandals. Closed-toed walking shoes including cross-trainers by these brands:
- Adidas
- New Balance
- Brooks
- Fila
- Puma
If you prefer the openness of hiking sandals, these are well respected among cruise-goers. Keep in mind you won’t have the protection over your toes. However, with hiking sandals you won’t have to worry about getting your feet wet and dealing with soggy shoes. If your hiking sandals get mudded up during an excursion, you’ll be able to wash them off in a bathroom sink. Preferred brands of hiking sandals for men and women include:
- Teva
- Keen
- Patagonia
- Chaco
- Merrell
Insider Tip: While socks and sandals are a faux pas here in the US, over in Europe there is a welcomed trend of wearing socks beneath sandals. Who knew?
Dressed to the Nines
One of the most anticipated evenings of any cruise vacation is the formal dinner. This is when you get a chance to go all out as glamour and gourmet become one. How do you manage your slinkiest dress or stuffiest suit without slipping and falling before your reach your table? First of all, do not wear flip flops, hiking sandals, or your cross-training sneaks. That’s a no-go.
For this night, and this night only, have a pair of stylish shoes for you and your partner. High heels are often worn by the ladies, but you can get away with sparkly flats. For men and women make sure your sole has some traction on it. Take your dress shoes to a cobbler before you leave and ask them to attach a rubberized sole to the base of your dress shoes for extra security.
Tips for Packing Shoes
Long before you pack up your shoes for a cruise, you’ll want to get well acquainted with them. This means taking your shoes for a walk or three and wearing them in a bit. The absolutely worst thing that can happen is that you bring brand new shoes for cruise excursions and get lots of blisters.
As you pack for your cruise, take extra care with your footwear. Choose a packing container that will hold your shoes apart from your clothing. This way in case your shoes are wet or dirty after day outings, you won’t ruin the rest of your items. Select waterproof travel shoe bags made with nylon that are soft-sided so they will take up less space.
At the end of the day, as long as you have some shoes that are slip resistant and comfortable, you will be all set for your cruise. If you are worried about how stylish they are or aren't, just make sure all of your vacation photos are shot from the knee up!
Connect with a CruiseInsider advisor for more recommendations or to find the right cruise for you by calling 1 (877) 734-6858.
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