For formal night, I have the silk top/skirt combo from Quince which I can also wear as separates. The skirt is actually a midi length. Scarf has gold and wine and navy in it.

Other more dressy option would be my navy sleeveless faux wrap dress which looks nice and packs like a dream. This scarf is paisley with the beige, gold and navy. The disk is leather, with 9 different earrings I snagged at Ann Taylor for under $25. Yay! I will swap some around, for the trip, but love that as a way of organizing the earrings. They strongly advise against bringing any good jewelry.

Bottoms: I have 2 dark wash jeans for days and navy and gold trousers for evening. I need to get me a navy skirt I think...something knit and easy wear/pack.

Casual tops with or without a sweater or fleece jaket topper for day times...

Love the colors and style choices. Plus everything looks really comfortable!

Dressier tops are silk with another silk scarf in those colors...

Finally, sweaters which can be worn alone or with a shirt under. And another scarf with the key colors in it.

Good color palette!

AD, which cruise line did you say you were sailing with? Crystal?

Are you going to need a wrap with your dresses? I find cruise ship dining rooms to be chilly. I’d also add a pair or two of merino wool socks and lightweight gloves to wear on excursions if the weather turns cold.

DH and I did a similar itinerary at a similar time about 6 years ago, except we were driving most of the time. My recollection is that it was chilly and windy most of the time. And frequent showers.

Flags whipping in the wind in Lunnenberg harbor, Sept 13.

Tips

-Buy Apple Air Tags for your checked bags

- Pack one outfit and accessories in your carry-on that is versatile enough to mix and match with your travel outfit multiple times in case your checked bag gets lost or delayed

The clothes look perfect! I will be doing that cruise but leaving from Boston ending in Quebec the 17th of Sept. I am really looking forward to it as I have never been to the eastern part of the US or Canada. Happy sailing!!!

bbstx, thanks for the suggestions. We're taking Silversea. This is a small ship with under 400 passengers. I've not done the outerwear yet, but really appreciate the suggestions of a wrap. I have pashminas I could use as a shawl.

The color palette is just right for fall and I love both the dressy outfits. I would replace the belt that you’re showing with the Quince set with something else, the belt itself looks very beachy casual, especially the shell.

You might want to include (or substitute) a pair of more flowy slacks for your evening wear, but otherwise everything looks great—nicely complementary and appropriate!

Just came across this design seed this a.m. Hmmm. I could add my sage green top...

kswl, thank you for the suggestions. I don't do flowy pants...they seem to make me look shorter. But the belt suggestion is a good one. I tend to only look at color and didn't even think of mood. I'll have to see what I have...

The plum silky dress is so pretty, and Iike it with the belt, but not at the same time as the scarf. They feel like two different seasons.

I agree kitschykitch...I wouldn't wear them together, but just showing the color combos...so maybe wear the wine top with the scarf and the navy slacks...

Still trying to judge the weather...I think layers will be best. And that's also why I like scarves so much...somehow when my neck is warm, so is the rest of me...

That makes sense, scarves trap your torso's body heat.

Your color choice is great. I love the plum silk separates from Quince. I do agree the belt is not quite right. Do you even need a belt? If you are short it seems a belt would only enhance that. Black leather with a fancy gold buckle would be a better choice and could serve both dresses.

I’ve not been on a cruise that was so formal, so can’t advise on the need for so many dressy outfits. I’ve almost quit wearing, or especially traveling, with jeans because of their weight. I have several pair of Athleta hiking pants I wear or joggers that are so easy. and roll up to nothing in my bag. Their Endless pants are my new faves because they also look dressy. enough for dressy casual. I’m guessing you aren’t so worried about bag size or weight so much since you aren’t flying far. But the air tags are a great suggestion for peace of mind. You can turn on and off or just disable by removing the battery when finished with the trip.

Like any other trip that time of year, and esp in Canada and the coast, I’d think about lightweight layers for the day tours. I love Woolx merino T’s and have several in both long and short sleeves. I think there is a sale right now. Quince may have some too. Maybe a light fleece or vest and a water-resistant or waterproof outer layer.

You might need a light winter coat in Sept, the morning and night temp can be chilly and it will be windy on the water.

Thanks summersrhythm. We definitely will be packing some very warm gear, especially since DH is anemic and gets cold when it gets below 65! I think we'll want something nylon not just for rain but to cut the wind too. He has a winter coat that's actually 2 coats, one inside the other which could work well for him to swap out. I have a rain coat with hood that has a lining I can add or remove too.

Annie I hear you—- I do think the proportions have to be perfect for flowing pants to look good. I have bought them and left them unworn because they don’t usually look good unless one is wearing heels, which I rarely do. But I see pictures of women in elegant, flowing pants ensembles and want to look like that! 🤔

Hahaha kswl! I too see those photos and then realize they have legs like barbie dolls, not stumps like me!

Don't know why it took me so long, but I finally ordered a steamer! The wrinkles in the silk drop out like magic. Still will need to iron the cotton shirts and such and of course to make creases in slacks, but I was very impressed with how it worked. Wahoo, finally making it into the 20th century! (Next up, the 21st!)

Not sure if you mean to take the steamer with you, but most cruise lines do not allow steamers and they will confiscate from your bag. If you already knew that, sorry for the unneeded advice.

I love your colors. I hope you have a wonderful trip. Boston to Quebec is one of the cruises I would like to do someday but I usually lean to warm weather for vacations. One day, though.

I did not know that Silversea is so dressy for dinner. That pretty much rules out that line for us. I'm over packing formal clothes for vacation. DH used to bring 2 tuxedos on our cruises back in the day. No more..

I'm always impressed how organized so many of you are about your outfits for vacay. I basically decide the day before leaving when I'm packing. But again, our cruises so far are warm weather trips. So I pack sun dresses, bathing suits, cover ups, shorts and tops. There are 'dressy nights' on our cruises, but I just wear a sundress and sandals and I never feel out of place. So few people get really dressed up these days.

We are booked on an Alaska cruise next summer. That will be a whole new world for me and will definitely take some careful prep and lots of shopping.

Jsk, I was on a Regent cruise in the Mediterrean last year. One night, an elderly woman showed up in an ankle length, silk, very dressy suit - definitely formal attire. Everyone else was in nice clothes but hardly that dressy. My only thought is I would me soooo mad if I had gone to the trouble to pack something like that only to find out that the rest of the world was dressing down. I think it may have been a while since she was on a cruise.

Thanks jsk, but I wasn't planning on packing it...too big. Silversea has recently toned down their dress code so I was going by the latest info they posted. Still sounds pretty dressy with men required to wear jackets and ties in the french restaurant.

bbstx - I belong to a bunch of facebook groups for the cruise line we travel on. There are definitely 2 camps of people -- those that are so happy the dress requirements have been relaxed, and those that hate that people do not dress to the nines. You can count me in the first group!

I'm also always so shocked how much people care about what other people are wearing. Those that like to dress up claim it ruins the ambiance. Oh, please. You're on vacation. Stop worrying about what other people are wearing! If you want to wear ball gowns and tuxedos, go for it. If you want to wear jeans (that aren't torn), enjoy.

One thing I liked about Virgin Voyages was there is no dress code. You can wear your PJs to dinner if you want. There was one night I was very tired and really did not feel like getting dressed. I wore my joggers and a cute solid t-shirt. I looked fine, nodoby gave me a 2nd glance, and I was comfy and happy I didn't have to get room service. Note, there were other things I didn't like about VV and unless there's a ridiculously good deal, won't be cruising on them again.

Thanks, Annie. I guess if we go on Silversea one day, we'll just have to not go to the french restaurant. Unlikely my DH will be packing a jacket and tie on vacation.

All the guys I’ve cruised with (DH, DBILs, and friends) wear a jacket to the dining room or the specialty restaurants…not necessarily a tie. For formal nights, they will add dark slacks and a tie.

Tell me about VV. Did you get a tattoo? I like that they have good rates for solo travelers, but I didn’t think it was my vibe.

Annie, it may not work because of the fabric (silk), but I often take an empty spray bottle (just a little one) and give my clothes a light misting with plain water while smoothing over the wrinkles with my hand. It will take most of the wrinkles out. I like doing that better than hanging in a steamy bathroom.

I was worried that VV would be too much of a party ship. It was a bit of that, but easy to avoid if it's not your thing. It is not our thing at all. The first day, I was relaxing in a lounge chair a deck above the pool. It was glorious until around 12 or 1pm when the music started and it was ridiculously loud. I thought, no biggie, I'll just put my ear buds in and listen to my own thing. Nope, it was so loud that didn't help at all. DH was off getting us food (I think). I texted him that we had to move. We found a spot at the back of the ship that was much quieter and that's where we went for the rest of the cruise and it was fine.

Things I liked -

Very nice ship since it was brand new

Food was excellent. At the time we took that cruise (March 2023) it was by far the best food we'd ever had on a cruise ship. Since then, in Jan of this year we were on the Rotterdam (Holland America) which we've been on before. The food this last time was the best ever. Rivaled VV, and maybe even surpassed.

All restaurants included. No upcharge for any restaurant like on other lines.

The hammock on the balcony is really wonderful.

No dress code. Very unpretentious.

A nice mix of ages. I was expecting to be the oldest couple on the ship, but that was not the case at all.

No kids! I love kids. But I don't love screaming kids that aren't mine at meals when I'm on vacation.

Their private beach club on Bimini - spectacular. Crowded but still great.

The 'buffet' style restaurant isn't buffet. You can walk around and see all the different stations, but it's sit down and a waiter takes your order and brings you the food. I appreciated that since I'm spoiled and don't like getting my own food on vacation!

I got a keratin at the salon (not something I would normally do on a ship, but didn't have time before we went). It was not at all expensive and it was fantastic.

Things I did not like -

Cabin - they went for a hip feel. They tout that it's not like other cruise line's cabins. They're right -- it's so much worse. Very sparse. There is only 1 extremely uncomfortable chair. I do not like having to sit on the bed. Other cruise lines have small love seats. The storage space is very lacking. The lighting is horrendous, especially if you're not 20 anymore and need more light to do makeup.

Bed - the worst bed I have ever slept on on vacation. Extremely hard. DH didn't mind it but I had a lot of trouble with it. I read afterwards that you can ask for a mattress topper. If we ever go again (unlikely), I would ask for one but honestly I am not sure how much it would help given how hard it was. Worst sleep on vacay ever.

Limited restaurants - the idea is there is no main dining room like other ships. I get that and I do appreciate that. But there are only 4 (I think) restaurants and the menu does not change. Our cruise was 8 days, so we were repeating restaurants. I'm a picky eater and at most restaurants there was only 1 thing I wanted to eat so I was repeating meals. On other lines, there are specialty restaurants (add'l charge) and the menu doesn't change, but the main dining room menu changes every day.

They don't do drink packages. They do bar tabs and they entice you to buy one by offering you some free money added on. We purchased $300 bar tab and got $50 added (I think). DH was determined to spend every dime of that $350 and it was not easy for us not heavy drinkers.

When we went, it was only slightly more expensive than our regular cruise line (Holland America) and I wanted to try it. I liked the 'no kids' aspect. Now it's significantly more expensive. I've had people tell me once you add all the add-ons for other lines it's the same or cheaper. Nope, not true. We cruise fairly often and I know what our final cost is and VV is more now. It's just not worth it to me.

That was longer than I thought it'd be. Sorry to hijack Annie!

ETA: no, I did not get a tattoo! I can't even imagine -- what happens if the ship rolls at just the wrong moment? I guess they have it figured out because a lot of people get them!

Gale, Holland America has single cabins. They are on the 1st deck all the way forward. I booked one for the NYE cruise with my sister and her friends. I was skeptical, but thought I’d give it a try. When I later talked to the cruise consultant and asked what better she could do for me, she found a deal to put me in a balcony cabin for the same price (maybe $50 more).

Last summer, I took a Regent cruise. The single supplement was only 15% more. Some of the more upscale lines have lower single supplements.

bbstx, I have always booked my cruises online. I had no idea that Holland had single cabins. Or that there were any cruise lines offering reduced fares for singles. I have only looked for reduced supplements on cruiseplum.com. Thanks so much for sharing this with me!!!

Gale, here is a list to start https://philatravelgirl.com/travel-solo-cruise-which-ships-have-solo-cabins/ but I know at least one they missed, HAL Rotterdam. Also, I see that she has listed Regent Seven Seas as a river cruise line. It isn’t.