I’m going on a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean, so I rounded up 12 vacation essentials that I’m packing. My picks include Birkenstock sandals, J.Crew linen dress, a Béis suitcase, white tank top, and more.

Including breezy linen pants, comfy tanks, and my go-to suitcase.

I’m counting down the days until my first-ever cruise. We’ll be on board for seven days, docking in the Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. I’m going with my mom and sisters, so it’s all we’re talking about—so they’ve already finished up most of their shopping. I, on the other hand, have just started, and I’m going for an elevated beach look that’s versatile, comfy, and chic. 

My vacation capsule will include breezy linen pants and dresses, sandals that can be styled by the cabana or on the beach, and luxe swimwear that can double as tops. I’m a notorious over-packer, but I was able to consolidate down to 12 picks from Madewell, J.Crew, Levi’s, Birkenstock, and Coach. As a bonus, I even included my favorite Calpack packing cubes and my durable suitcase from Béis on the list.

12 Editor-Picked Vacation Essentials:

• Levi’s Baggy High-Waist Denim Shorts, $70; nordstrom.com
• Ssoulm Shirring Racerback Tank Maxi Dress, $29; amazon.com
• Madewell Split-Crewneck Cardigan Tank, $52; madewell.com
• J.Crew Capitaine Linen Shirtdress, $75; jcrew.com
• Birkenstock Arizona Big-Buckle Slide Sandal, $170; nordstrom.com
• Artfish Tank Top, $20; amazon.com
• Same Los Angeles Color Block One-Piece Swimsuit, $195; samelosangeles.com
• Chartou Linen Pants, $27; amazon.com
• Béis Medium Check-In Roller Suitcase, $308; beistravel.com
• Calpak Five-Piece Packing Cubes Set, $68; calpaktravel.co
• Apple AirTag Four-Pack, $80 (Originally $100); amazon.com
• Coach Small Straw Pocket Tote, $295; nordstrom.com

J.Crew Capitaine Linen Shirtdress

Buy on Jcrew.com $75

I plan on doing two things on my trip: lounging and eating. In doing so, I need a dress that can double as a breezy cover-up over my swimsuit while also being dressy enough that I could pair it with kitten-heels—J.Crew’s Capitaine Linen Shirtdress is that dress. The linen dress comes in white, beige, black, light blue, and navy, with sizes ranging from XXS to 3XL in regular, petite, and tall. Made from 100 percent linen, the design features a button-front closure and removable belt to cinch the waist, plus pre-folded sleeves. It falls a few inches just above the knee and has an easy, relaxed fit that’ll keep you cool. 

Artfish Tank Top

Buy on Amazon $20

I’ll likely be wearing a swimsuit for most of my trip, but my go-to uniform when I’m not in one is a pair of Levi’s denim shorts and my go-to Artfish tank top. The tank comes in 39 colors from white and black to pink and green, and sizes range from XS to L. It has a close-to-the-body fit, a stretchy and thick ribbed fabric, a scooped neckline in the front and back, and a hem that stops at the hip, making it perfect for tucking. My favorite detail? The ultra-flattering thin, overlapping straps.

Birkenstock Arizona Big-Buckle Slide Sandal

Buy on Nordstrom $170

I need a shoe that I don’t have to fuss with, meaning it can easily be taken on and off and be dressed up or down; these Birkenstock Arizona Big-Buckle Slide Sandals check off all those boxes. It comes in four colors, black, beige, pink, and green, with sizes ranging from 5 to 11.5. The slides have a cork-latex footbed that offers shock absorption, arch support, and a custom fit that mimics the shape of your foot with constant wear. They also feature two straps with an adjustable buckle that’s oversized and gold-plated, making it a great choice for more dressed-up occasions.

Chartou Linen Pants

Buy on Amazon $27

Since comfort and versatility are a must on my cruise packing list, it was a no-brainer that I added a pair of linen pants from Chartou to the list. I can easily style the pants over my swimsuit or with a crisp white button-down shirt and a sweater draped over the shoulders for a preppy coastal feel. The drawstring pants come in eight colors including beige, blue, green, white, and black, and sizes XS to 2XL. They’re made from a cotton-linen blend and feature a high-rise fit, two front pockets, and a full-length relaxed design.

Shop more of my cruise must-haves, below.

Béis Medium Check-In Roller Suitcase

Buy on Beistravel.com $308

Calpak Five-Piece Packing Cubes Set

Buy on Calpaktravel.com $68

Same Los Angeles Color Block One-Piece Swimsuit

Buy on Samelosangeles.com $195

Levi's Baggy High-Waist Denim Shorts

Buy on Nordstrom $70