Questions Or Comments On My Alaska Cruise Packing Tips
Thanks for reading through my post on what to pack Alaska cruise! I hope its helpful when youre packing for Alaskan cruise trips in the future. If you think Ive missed anything from the list, please let me know what to bring on Alaskan cruise. Or if you have any clothes for Alaska cruise that worked out really well on your trip then Id love to hear about them. Your Alaska cruise wardrobe needs to fit your own personal style and taste so please feel free to adjust and amend the list Ive provided on what to take on Alaskan cruise to suit your needs.
Example Of What I Wear On A Shore Excursion
Heres what I might wear on a shore excursion, especially to Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. Up close at Mendenhall Glacier is not only icy-chilly but theres also spray off the water.
First, I layer a silk or silk-like top underneath a crew neck or turtleneck sweater or sweatshirt . Then
Over the lightweight sweater or sweatshirt, Ill either wear a thin, loose-fitting waterproof rain jacket or my usual down, water repellent puffy jacket with hood, depending on if its a sunny or rainy day.
Then I either wear or bring along a sleeveless puffy vest with a zipper. This is almost a must-have item to pack. It comes with a little carrying bag to squish the vest into for travel.
Puffy vests are great to toss on in the morning to go to the Lido buffet or for a summers morning walk around the deck with a cup of coffee.
Make sure that it has outside zip pockets and maybe an inside pocket or two. You can put your room card in the zippered pocket and not worry about it falling out when you sit down for breakfast, too.
The Perfect Alaska Cruise Packing List For Any Time Of Year
Are you scouring the internet for an Alaska cruise packing list? Are you excited about your upcoming cruise to Alaska? Look no further because I love Alaska!
I visited there several times, and have put together a packing list for your cruise to Alaska. It is important to bring the proper clothes and shoes and extras in order to be prepared for all the unpredictable Alaskan weather.
Choosing what to put on your Alaska cruise packing list does not need to be difficult or overwhelming. You simply want an idea of what you need. And for your convenience, just about everything can be purchased online.
If this is your first visit to Alaska, or even if not, read aboutthe 9 things to know before traveling to Alaska!
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What To Pack For A 2
If you read my luxury cruise reviews here at My Itchy Travel Feet, then you know that I love to bring fancy cruise wear for dressing up on cruises. But thats not the case for Alaska, where the cruise is all about active travel fun. Here are my suggestions for what to pack for a two-week Alaska cruise:
What To Pack On An Alaskan Cruise For Men
The above Alaska cruise outfits are obviously for women but with a few small tweaks this list can be adapted for me.
- An extra pair of jeans or khakis instead of leggings/yoga pants
- Read my complete guide to packing cubes here including a video on how to use them!
- Hang dresses and shirts on arrival and then put your packing cubes, shoes and toiletries in drawers so you can put your suitcase away for the duration of the cruise. Keeping your cabin neat and tidy is essential on a cruise due to the limited space available in staterooms.
- A mesh laundry is very useful for your dirty items and helps you unpack quickly once youre home.
- A folding backpack is great for taking off the ship during excursions.
- A toilet bag or Ziploc bag for toiletries
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What To Pack For Inside Alaska Passage Cruise In September
Dress for the weather on an Alaska cruise.
Alaska’s Inside Passage tempts visitors with abundant wildlife, jaw-dropping scenery and the rich history of Alaska’s gold rush. From May to September, ships cruise the inside passage from Vancouver, British Columbia, north to Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Haines, Sitka and Glacier Bay National Park. In September, expect to see colorful fall foliage and migrating birds such as eagles and trumpeter swans. Retrace the steps of hardy gold rush pioneers or photograph bears putting on weight before their winter hibernation. Pack right, and you’ll be comfortable no matter what the activity.
What To Pack For An Alaskan Cruise On Months
What to pack for an Alaskan cruise in late May Alaska cruise starts from May. Its still cold, and thats why Alaska packing list can be heaviest. You can add extra thermal tops and leggings. And yet, its still fewer tourists around. The atmosphere gets less touristy.
What to pack for Alaska cruise in June the best time for an Alaskan cruise can be June. Its the driest month. June 21 is the summer solstice. Its the longest day of the year. The weather is stable and is getting much warmer. Its just before the summer holiday season and hence before the cruise prices get higher. Bring insect repellent if you plan hiking.
What to pack for Alaska cruise in July its the best time of a year to cruise Alaska. Its summer. July is the peak holiday season. Its typically the warmest month of the summer. You do not need to add extra tops and leggings. Insect repellent and a hat are mus-items to take.
What to wear in Alaska in August its summer, and the daylight is still long. Its a beautiful month and is the hottest month. Waterproof jacket and shoes are the must item to bring with you. August tends to be the start of the rainy season.
Weather in Alaska in September for a cruise its the end of summer and is getting colder as same as May. It is still a nice season because things are much less touristy. Add extra thermal tops and leggins.
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Formal Attire For Evenings
Most 7-day cruises will have two formal dining nights. How far you choose to dress up is entirely your choice! Smart cocktail dresses are always a winner. On regular dining nights you should still change out of your excursion clothes into jeans a dressy top at the least.
- Dress skirt I love this statement black & white stripe skirt
- Kimono top A kimono top is an easy way to dress up a black tank & jeans for dinner when youre in a rush. Kimono tops are also really lightweight so a great choice for packing light. It can also double as your pool cover up!
- 2 Pashmina or scarves Two pashmina or scarves in different colours & prints to change the look of your outfit and add a layer of warmth as you go to or from dinner. You can also double them up and wear them as scarfs during the day. See this video on 25 different ways to style your scarf.
- Statement jewelry Pick a couple of times items with colour that can instantly change the look of your evening outfits. Necklace #1 and Necklace #2 from my graphic are here.
What To Wear For Excursions
If you are doing anything too adventurous, check with the outfitter to see what gear they provide. For example, when we went sea kayaking it was raining pretty hard when we arrived and they provided everyone with rain boots, rain slickers, and a waterproof kayak skirt. Likewise, our hiking tour guides provided everyone with a hiking pole but rain gear was up to us.
Most importantly, you want to be prepared for cold weather and rain. Of course, the weather is fickle and you may end up warm so dress in layers that can be added or shredded as needed.
What to wear on excursions:
- Long sleeve t-shirt or thermal
- Flannel shirt or second layer
- Baseball hat or knit hat
- Day bag to fit your camera, water bottle, wallet, and other necessities
- Refillable water bottle
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Alaska Cruise Packing List
What to pack for a vacation and what to bring on a cruise? In selecting the essential items for cruising Alaska, there are three things you may consider:
On a crusie packing: 1. Your day activities at the ports 2. Your evening activities and formal nights3. Weather in Alaska
This way you can get some ideas of what you need to pack for an Alaska cruise. For example:
- You will have two formal nights on a 7-night cruise. No worries. It is unnecessary to wear something strictly formal, but you can present yourself nicely. Everyone is casual at day time but get dressed up so well on formal nights. Thats quite impressive. You will be comfortable if you prepare for it in advance. Your man needs a bow tie. The cruise ship may not sell it. At least at Princess fleets, I could not find it.
So, what to wear on a cruise during the day?
- The popular excursions in Alaska are outdoor activities. You will get a train or a tour bus and go out for hiking. You may enjoy kayaking through the fjord or may join a zipline activity. You will wear something casual and may need sportswear for particular outdoor activities.
- You may be landing on the glaciers! Or at least you will get out and observe. You need to add something to protect yourself from the cold. You need it if you do not join shore excursions and explore by yourself. When the weather is not good, even in the summer, and often in the evening, its cold. It also rains. Waterproof wear and shoes will help you a lot.
Luggage And Bags For Your Alaska Cruise Packing List
Luggage
How much luggage to bring is always a personal decision. Carry on? Checked?
First off, check with your cruise company to verify luggage restrictions, if any. When I travel, cruising or not, I always try to limit my packing to a carry-on bag, along with my personal bag.
I have learned a few tricks on packing for extended trips using only a carry on wheeled aboard bag. You can read my tips and tricks abouthow to pack a carry on here.
I never really liked packing cubes, until I tried them! Wow, they revolutionized my packing. I can say with certainty that they keep me much better organized
. These Bagail packing cubesare the exact ones I use now on every trip. I would not leave home without them!
If you decide a twenty-one or twenty-two-inch roll-on bag is the way to go for you, inquire with your cruise line if you are able to keep that bag with you once you embark on the ship, or if you must check it with all the larger pieces of luggage.
Here is a hardshell set of luggage that is lightweightand has TSA-approved locks. It comes in many configurations and colors to select from.
This spinner softshell set of luggage is very lightweight and comes in several colors to choose from.
Watching and listening intently to the glacier.
Backpack/Daypack
You will want a durable backpack or daypack on your Alaska cruise packing list.
This Columbia Backpack/Daypack is a great option for you as you venture off your ship.
It is available in super cute colors and is affordable.
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Do Make Room In Your Suitcase For These
There are two accessories you wont want to forget at home. We strongly suggest a travel size set of binoculars& a great camera for your cruise to Alaska. For us, a great camera can mean the latest version of our phone . But, if there were ever a time to bust out that fancy lens or DSLR camera, Alaska is that time. GoPros can be great too, if youre willing to keep up with the firmware updates, and learn how to use them.
Wildlife spotting, distant waterfalls and glaciers also call for a nice, high quality set of binoculars. Travel size will do the trick, but if youre not worried about weight or bulk in your luggage, pack whatever you have on hand.
How Should I Dress On An Alaskan Cruise
So what should you wear on an Alaskan cruise? That was something I stressed about a lot when planning an Alaskan cruise. After all, if you forget something you are kind of out of luck, at least until you get to the first port. If you are having similar worries, hopefully this guide will help.
I have also created a and guide to what to pack for Alaska.
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What Deb Would Have Changed
Should have brought:
- 1 pair bum around pants.
- 2 More casual/sharp shirts
- 1 more fleece jacket or sweater
- wool hat
Should have left at home:
- Skirt
- 1 pair of dress shoes
- 1 pair of dress pants
- dress boots, could have just used my dress shoes.
- 1 trekking shirt. Didnt need two as the excursions are short and not strenuous.
What To Pack For An Alaskan Cruise
Below, weve rounded up a list of items that youll want to pack for your Alaskan cruise. Keep in mind this doesnt include obvious things to pack like underwear and t-shirts. Instead, our list focuses on many items you may never think to bring
Note: The links to Amazon used below are affiliate links. Should you make a purchase, we receive a small percentage of the sale.
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A Locals Guide: Your 2021 Ultimate Alaska Cruise Packing List
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Taking a cruise along the Alaskan coastline is one of the most comfortable and picturesque ways of visiting the Last Frontier. Alaskas jugged landscape is full of glaciers, deep valleys, river canyons, and very long coastal stretch. This is your ultimate Alaska cruise packing list.
On an Alaska Cruise tour, you can explore all of these natural wonders at one go while also enjoying the convenience of luxurious cruise ships.
With a smart Alaska Cruise packing list, you will be perfectly prepared for the cold weather conditions or any type of emergency regardless of whether youre traveling in May, June or July.
Alaska Packing List For Men
Gentlemen, to better help you prepare for your Alaska cruise vacation, here are some guidelines on what topack. Keep in mind that although Alaska is a more “relaxed”destination, your own taste, interests and activities will determine what youbring. You will need three types of clothing: casual shipboard attire or day wear, comfortable apparel for sightseeing and evening wear.
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Cruise Cabin Packing List
Magnetic Hooks– Magnetic hooks work great on most stateroom doors and walls. You can hang your jackets, sweatshirts and wet gear off the door so it doesn’t drip on your other clothes.
Stateroom Door Magnetic Dry Erase Board – On our last cruise a couple of cabins had dry erase boards and a pen near their doors. It was so fun to see the cool messages other passengers shared with them.
Cruise Luggage Tag Holders– I love that these luggage tag holders are reusable and have a metal ring to keep them attached to your suitcase along with being sealed so they don’t get damaged in the rain.
What To Wear On Nights At Sea
Many restaurants do have a no jeans or shorts policy in the evenings, although Im not sure how tightly enforced these are and most ships will have a more casual option. However, with the exception of the embarkation night, most people do dress a bit for dinner.
Expect to see a mix of dresses, dress pants, dress shirts, and blouses. Get as fancy as you would like, but to minimize your packing list, you can get away with just a couple of pairs of nice pants, a few nice tops/sweaters, and one pair of dress shoes that go with everything.
We found the restaurants to be chilly and it is a good idea to bring a sweater or wrap in the evenings. Keep in mind that the ship photographers are available to take family photos so you may want to coordinate one nice outfit for each.
Some cruises do have theme nights or themed dance parties. On our cruise, we werent aware of these in any of the pre-cruise information we received but those in the know on board came prepared.
There was a country and western night in the BBQ restaurant and bar one evening. I was surprised to see people decked out in cowboy boots, hats, and western gear. Even more surprised that they bothered to pack all of that just for one event. But if you love a good theme party, find out in advance what is happening during your sailing.
What to wear at night:
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Best Time To Go On An Alaskan Cruise
The season starts from May and ends in September. The best time to take an Alaskan cruise is in summer.
When is the best time to take an Alaskan cruise?
- One of the best time to take an Alaskan cruise is in June. Weather in Alaska in June and July are rather stable. July has good weather, but the cruise rates get higher due to the holiday season.