- Your cart is empty
- Continue shopping
-
admin
- Posted on
- Categories:Travel
- 0 comments
Packing for an Alaska cruise doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Yes, you’ll visit some places where the weather may be colder than back home, but you won’t experience truly arctic conditions. Aside from the spectacular glacier viewing sites and ice fields that brought you to Alaska, you may also find shorts-and-t-shirt-friendly weather.
However, if you’re used to cruising around tropical islands, you’ll find that your Alaska cruise packing list is different from your Caribbean one. Spend some time learning about what to pack for an Alaska cruise so you’re prepared for the changing weather and terrain in the 49th state.
What to pack for an Alaska cruise
Alaska weather can be unpredictable and varies depending on elevation. In temperate southeast Alaska, a prime cruising area, summer temperatures can reach 30 degrees Fahrenheit when close to glaciers, such as when sailing Glacier Bay National Park, Yakutat Bay (home to the giant Hubbard Glacier) and College Fjord, but soar into the 60s or more in the fishing town of Ketchikan, the gold town of Skagway and Alaska’s capital city of Juneau. Juneau can reach 80 degrees on some days. Nights in these cities are usually cooler.
The key is to wear layers of clothing that you can take on and off to help you deal with temperature fluctuations.
Warm and waterproof layers
There will likely be rain in the picture, especially if you cruise during the popular months, July and August. (Want to avoid the rain? This is the best time to take an Alaska cruise.) Jackets, waterproof shoes or boots, umbrellas, and hats will serve you well.
In April, you may experience snow; Anything goes in the fall. There’s a reason you’ll encounter many Alaskans year-round wearing Xtratuf waterproof boots, also known as the “Alaska sneaker.” Jackets, gloves, hats and scarves will help you during early and late cruises, as well as when you’re out on the deck watching the glaciers flow.
Outerwear
You should pack a variety of outerwear options for an Alaska cruise. The good news is that you probably have these things in your closet already: think jackets and sweaters, zip-up hiking pants, and sturdy boots. If you’re not planning any adventurous activities in Alaska, you probably won’t have to prepare in advance at a retailer like REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods, or LLBean or search Amazon for the right gear.
Also, if you’re taking a shore excursion in Alaska where you’re likely to get cold or wet — such as a dog sledding tour up a glacier (highly recommended) — your tour operator will provide specific, necessary gear, such as jackets, waterproof pants, and boots. If you are doing a water activity such as kayaking, the operator will loan you waterproof gear.
Evening wear
While casual attire is the order of the day on your ship, your cruise line may have specific suggestions on what to wear at night. Lines like Princess Cruises and Holland America host both casual and dressy nights.
Reward your inbox with TPG’s daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts.
Some lines always take the casual approach to Alaskan evening wear. Other cruise lines designate certain nights as casual, smart casual, or “stylish,” meaning you’re expected to dress simple, like a nice jacket or blouse for women or a sport coat for men.
Many cruisers wear their uniforms to a maximum at this point. However, there are a few lines that provide the opportunity for guests to get more excited on “formal” nights. Cunard, and to a lesser extent Holland America, are airlines in Alaska where some passengers tend to enjoy dressing up for dinner—even in some cases with suits and gowns. Itineraries longer than a week tend to attract more cocktail and tuxedo crowds.
If you don’t want to dress up at all, you can dine at the casual restaurants on your ship. Or, if your ship will be staying in port late at night, you may want to look for the best place to eat king lobster, wild Alaskan salmon, and other local delicacies on shore. Alaskans tend to dress comfortably at restaurants, even those with fancy menus.
Gear accessories
You don’t have to pack for an Alaska cruise like you would for camping, but it’s important to bring the right amount of adventure and travel gear.
A camera with a zoom lens or a mobile phone that takes high-quality photos is probably already on your list, but make sure you have enough chargers and memory for the hundreds of photos you’re likely to take. A portable charger is useful for day-long trips where your mobile phone’s battery may be drained.
Binoculars are essential. Your ship may store some, but you’ll need your own ship to spot whales, bears, eagles, and other wildlife and to get up-close views of glacial ice and other wilderness from the ship and on shore. If you plan to do a lot of hiking, you may want to bring a retractable walking stick for uneven surfaces.
It may seem counterintuitive, but the sun shines bright in Alaska, so don’t forget to use sunscreen. You will also need bug spray since there is a large mosquito population in Alaska.
On your trip up north, you’ll likely encounter rain or a beach cruise, so bring a dry bag or bag to protect your gear. On drier days, consider using a daypack to store any extra layers you’re not wearing.
Pack your bag with packaged snacks brought from home. Cruise lines don’t usually offer them, and they’re useful, especially if you’re traveling with children or on long train or bus trips.
Tips to take the stress out of packing for an Alaska cruise
When packing, keep in mind that your vessel may have a room or offer self-service, free, or coin-operated laundry. Sending laundry and dry cleaning service for a fee. This is especially useful if you extend your cruise with a land tour (or cruise) in Alaska. You don’t need to pack for the whole trip if you can wash your clothes during the trip.
If you forget to pack something, you can make purchases with US dollars in the Alaska towns and cities you will visit. You will find familiar brands in stores and pharmacies.
RELATED: The best Alaska cruise tips to help you make the most of your time on board and on shore
Alaska cruise packing list
With all this in mind, here is a suggested packing list for your Alaska cruise vacation:
- A lightweight, waterproof jacket or raincoat (not a bulky winter jacket or jacket)
- Heavy jackets, blouses, or cardigans (to put under a jacket)
- A selection of t-shirts or other casual shirts (some with long sleeves)
- Two or three pairs of jeans, khakis, or leggings
- A pair or two of good hiking shoes that you don’t mind getting wet or muddy (sneakers are fine, but if you’re an avid hiker, you may want to bring waterproof hiking boots)
- Hat and gloves (when your ship takes you close to the walls of a glacier)
- umbrella
- Shorts (especially if you’re the type to wear them in anything hotter than 65 degrees)
- Swimwear (for hot tubs, pools, or water slides on your ship; some smaller adventure ships may offer polar plunge)
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a baseball or other sun hat (the long midnight sun shines bright in Alaska, especially when it reflects off the ice)
- Insect spray (Alaska has a large insect population, including more than 30 species of mosquitoes)
- A variety of evening wear and shoes for dinner, based on your ship’s suggestions (check your cruise line’s website for details)
- Accessories (a belt, scarf, or fun jewelry that can transform a simple look so you can reuse it)
- Sportswear (if you plan to take classes or use your ship’s fitness center)
- Binoculars
- Toiletries and prescriptions (pack them in your hand luggage). carry)
- Underwear, pajamas, and socks (including some thick wool socks for hiking or trekking to higher altitudes)
- Your mobile phone or camera, preferably with a zoom lens
- Chargers for all your electronic devices, plus a multi-socket extender so you can power multiple devices at once
- Portable charger in case your mobile phone gets low during a trip
- A waterproof backpack or bag to protect your cell phone or camera and store extra layers and snacks
- An e-reader or books, games and cards, as Alaska cruises sometimes include a few days at sea without visiting ports (also look for interesting selections at local Alaska bookstores or Alaska-themed novels, such as “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah, “Alaska” by James Michener or “The Snow Child” by Eoin Ivey)
- Your own wine or champagne (this can be a cost-saving move, but check your cruise line’s policy to see how many bottles are allowed; corkage fees may apply)
Bottom line
Pack with an eye on versatility — and prepare for a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions — and you’ll be ready to cruise Alaska. When in doubt, prioritize outerwear over formal attire. And remember: You’ll be able to inadvertently pick up most of the things you forgot to bring with you on your trip north.
Are you planning an Alaska cruise? Start with these stories:
