An Alaskan Cruise is an unforgettable adventure and part of a successful cruise experience is being prepared.
I’m sharing practical packing tips and what to wear on an Alaskan cruise to help you anticipate unpredictable Alaska weather.
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This Alaskan cruise packing list will help you remember the essentials and items that will help make your experience even better.
Our family went on an Alaskan Cruise with Celebrity Cruises but these practical tips can apply to any cruise line.
What’s the Weather Like in Alaska in the Summer?
Average temperatures in Alaska can be anywhere from 55- 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wind, rain, and sun can also impact the reality of how those temperatures feel.
If you’ll be watching the sky at night the best months for seeing the Northern Lights on an Alaskan cruise are April, August, and September.
The day we left Vancouver, BC for Alaska in June it was warm enough to lay by the pool, and on other days of our cruise, it was typically sunny but cooler, really windy, or rainy.
On the day we saw Hubbard Glacier we were really cold in the morning while wearing layers of clothes and a few hours later I was sitting on my balcony getting some sun in a tank top.
Luggage for an Alaskan Cruise / Items for Travel Day
I’m going to start with some of the foundational items for packing and your travel day.
- Large Suitcase
- Carry on suitcase
- Backpack
- Digital Luggage scale
- Packing Cubes
- Slim wallet belt
- Snacks for Travel Day
- Water Bottle
- Portable Charger
- Travel Neck Pillow
- Earbuds/ Wireless headphones
- Multi charging cable
- SIM card for International Calls or use WhatsApp when you have WIFI
- Plastic Grocery Bags
Each member of my family had a backpack, a carry-on suitcase, and a large suitcase. We checked the large bags and kept the carry-on and backpack with us on the plane.
As an over-packer, I prefer soft-sided luggage over hard-sided luggage so that I can cram more items in my suitcase.
We had extra clothes in the carry-on in case our luggage was lost along with snacks, a bathing suit, a coverup, and flip-flops. This made it so that we could go to the pool if our room wasn’t ready on the cruise ship.
Packing cubes help me organize my items in groups and create more space in my luggage. We also use packing cubes to separate dirty laundry during the trip which makes it easier to unpack when we get home.
A slim wallet belt that can be worn under a shirt is a nice option for travel days when you want to keep your passport close and secure.
If you tend to overpack this refillable travel pillow is perfect for packing extra clothes or jackets.
Plastic grocery bags are nice to have dirty hiking boots or if you have a wet swimsuit you have to pack.
Packing for the Outdoor Pools and Hot Tub on an Alaskan Cruise
Our cruise ship had outdoor hot tubs and indoor hot tubs.
- Flip Flops
- Coverup
- Swim Shirt
- Swimsuit
- Swim Trunks
- Sunscreen
- Sun Hat
- Portable Travel Safe
- Pool Bag/ Zippered Tote
- Waterproof cellphone case
- Polarized Sunglasses
- Tote Bag
I like to have my cell phone handy when I’m laying out so that I can still take pictures or access the internet.
I’m a huge fan of using our FlexSafe portable travel safe whenever I’m at a pool/waterpark. It can hold several cell phones and it can be attached to a chair.
My family also makes fun of me for packing “a bag within bags” on trips but I take comfort in options and being prepared.
I pack an empty zippered tote in my suitcase that doubles as a pool bag. It’s also another backup option to create more space for your personal items if you have extra souvenirs on the way home.
I prefer coverups that can double as a dress. Many dining areas won’t let you enter if your coverup is see-through.
Casual Clothes for an Alaskan Cruise
During the day comfort is key on an Alaskan cruise with casual wear.
- A pair of jeans
- Lounge pants
- A pair of shorts
- Yoga pants
- Athletic wear
- Long sleeve shirts
- Lightweight Sweatshirts
- Zip up hoodie
If you have a black pair of lounge pants in a flattering style they can double as dress pants for the evening or pjs.
My boys packed more casual shorts than they wore because the weather was cooler in June than they anticipated. They did wear athletic shorts to the gym on the days at sea.
In general, you’ll notice that cruise passengers are dressing more for function than fashion.
How to Dress for a Glacier Viewing/ Alaskan Excursion
If you’re fortunate to have a cruise ship navigating toward a glacier or if you have a glacier excursion you’ll definitely want to dress for it.
Dress like an onion by packing clothing that can be layered.
- Waterproof jacket with a hood
- Rainjacket/ Lightweight jacket
- Fleece jacket
- Puffer vest
- Warm hat
- Waterproof pants
- Thermal underwear
- Ball Caps
- Wool socks
- Backpack cover
- Gloves
- Travel Umbrella
- Polarized glasses
- High Powered Binoculars
- Zoom lens for camera
My husband and I joined other guests at the bow of the ship at the front. We were out watching our cruise ship in its approach toward the glacier for over 3 hours.
Thankfully it did warm up as the day progressed because it was sunny but the first few hours were really cold!
I wore more ball caps on this vacation than on any other trip. It was nice to have another layer to help protect my face on rainy days.
I brought multiple jackets with me for the range of weather and I like variety when it comes to color. My lightweight red puffer coat from Amazon Essentials is easy to pack and water-resistant. (I actually own it in 3 colors.) I also brought another warm coat that was lined for cooler days.
A backpack cover was also essential on rainy days when I didn’t want to carry an umbrella.
On sunny days polarized glasses will help keep out the glare from the snow, especially if you go dog sledding on a glacier.
High-powered binoculars are great on tour excursions for viewing humpback whales and also for viewing wildlife during sea days.
We discovered why Ketchikan is known as the “Rain Capital of Alaska” because it lived up to its nickname during our visit.
Our original wildlife cruise excursion was canceled due to rough seas so we booked last-minute tickets for The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show that was outdoors and covered for most of the audience.
The Saxman Native Village and Ketchikan Highlights & Lumberjack Show is another tour to check out if you want to extend it.
Shoes to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise
I love the Adidas Women’s Terrex Choleah High Cp Walking Shoe that can double as a hiking boot, waterproof boot, and keep you warm.
If you’re going on a dog sledding excursion check if they provide shoe covers for your boots. Gym shoes are nice for getting your steps in on the ship in between meals.
I didn’t bother to pack a high heel because I didn’t want to be uncomfortable from walking around a lot on the ship.
I have a short timespan in heels and it wasn’t worth it to me. I wore a dressier low heel or sandal.
I wore my “Hey Dudes” leopard print slip-on shoes a lot during our downtime on the ship.
How Should You Dress For Dinner on an Alaskan Cruise?
- Polo shirt
- Short and Long sleeve collared shirts
- Khaki/ dress pants
- Nice tops
- Dress
Cruising is more casual in general than 20+ years ago. Formal nights are no longer required for dining every night of the cruise.
There are typically 1-2 “formal” nights with evening chic but it’s anything goes.
You could dress “formal” in anything from an evening gown and suit to a nice top and designer jeans as smart casual/ business casual.
My husband and sons wore a long sleeve or short sleeve button down collared shirt or a golf-style polo with khaki pants or black jeans, dark jeans to dinner.
You can’t go wrong with a black dress and black pants.
I wore pants with dressy tops more than dresses because I don’t like being cold and many nights we would go out on the top deck before or after dinner. Dresses and the wind aren’t a good combo.
If you like to dress up at least once during the cruise do it! Or if you want to dress up every night, go for it! Whatever makes you comfortable.
You can also opt out of dining in the main dining room in the evening and eat at the buffet instead if you want to.
We loved our time in the main dining room along with getting to know our servers.
Essentials for Your Cruise Cabin
There isn’t much room in the cabin for most cruise lines unless you upgrade your room to a larger suite.
These are a few items to make your life easier
- Over-the-door shoe organizer
- Magnetic Hooks
- Lanyard for Cruise ship card
- Travel Adapter
- Anti-nausea bracelets or motion sickness medicine
- Travel curling iron/straightener
- Oven mitt to store the travel curling iron
- Travel RX kit – for headaches, indigestion, etc.
If you’re concerned about nausea during your cruise I’d recommend packing anti-nausea bracelets that you wear during your cruise.
I liked their plain anti-nausea bracelets that doubled as an accessory and matched more of my outfits.
An over-the-door shoe organizer is essential especially if you have multiple people in your cabin.
We hung up our shoe organizer on the outside of the bathroom door and used it for items that would clutter our counters.
The pockets were perfect for sunglasses, gloves, deodorant, cords, phone accessories, etc.
If you tend to misplace key cards a lanyard is a great option to keep it handy at all times.
The walls on a cruise ship are metal and our heavy-duty magnetic hooks create more space for our ball caps, wet swimsuits, and jackets.
If you need to plug in a lot of devices including multiple phones you may want to bring a travel adapter for your room.
I hope that these tips help you have an incredible adventure on your Alaskan cruise!
