How to Take Your Cruise Dress From Day to Evening

Start with a:

1. Maxi Dress

The formal vibe of a floor-length gown meets the ease of a short sundress. Go with a knit jersey style: They’re forgiving, comfortable, fold easily — and magically emerge from your suitcase without wrinkles. Where white can feel bridal and black leans toward evening, a jewel tone offers day-to-night versatility. Modern Surplice Maxi Dress, $98, garnethill.com.

For daytime, add a:

2. Patterned Scarf

Prints tend to telegraph a daytime mood. Choose a scarf with a multicolored motif, and let those hues dictate the rest of your accessories. Lightweight fabrics are best for sunny climates, and keep you warm in an air-conditioned dining room. Katarina scarf, $21, shopsosie.com.

3. Straw Hat

This vacation essential offers protection from the sun and tops off your look with texture, whether it’s a floppy, wide-brimmed sun hat or a tomboy-chic fedora. Fringed edge fedora, $98, hatattack.com.

4. Flat Sandals

Shoes you can walk in comfortably are inherently casual — and the key to nailing your daytime maxi dress look. Skip the flip-flops and go for a flat that feels special, with perforated leather, shell accents, or beads. Kia sandal, $39, zappos.com.

5. Aviators

The perfect mix of sporty and glam, this classic style suits any activity, from shore excursions to lunch by the pool. These rose-tinted lenses offer 100-percent UVA and UVB protection, which is critical at sea. Kylie sunglasses, $72, guess.com.

6. Small Pouch 

No need to lug around a tote: This zip pouch is perfectly sized for your room key, cash, and travel-sized sunscreen — everything you need for breakfast on deck or a short port visit. Small pouch, $20, baggu.com.

7. Delicate Jewelry

Keep it simple during the day. Think understated and easily removable for swimming and spa treatments. Golden anchor necklace, $80, theoneilovenyc.com.

For evening, add a:

8. Statement Necklace 

Go bold: An oversized necklace makes a simple dress Captain’s Table-ready in a flash. A pair of sparkly, shoulder-dusting earrings delivers the same effect. Our advice? Choose one or the other. Midnight bouquet bib, $56, baublebar.com.

9. Shoes With Shine

You already know heels are in order, but how to choose? As versatile as black or nude, metallic styles deliver instant glamour and look gorgeous on a dance floor. Peppa sandal, $98, vincecamuto.com.

10. Glitzy Clutch 

Nothing says evening more than a party-sized gem of a handbag. Kenney minaudiere, $58, ninashoes.com.

11. Cocktail Ring

It pulls everything together. This piece, for example, picks up the gold metal in the necklace but won’t overpower your other jewels. Sparkling Marquis ring, $38, houseofharlow1960.com.

12. Sparkly Hair Accessory

If you have long enough hair for an updo, now’s the time: It’s the ultimate special-occasion hairstyle, especially when accented with a crystal comb, clip, or barrette. Wear yours in the back or to one side so you shine from all angles. Broadway comb, $68, henribendel.com.