You have finally booked that dream cruise to Alaska this summer, and now you just need to start packing! Well you are in luck, because my Alaska cruise packing list just gives off the cutest vibes. This is a super juicy collection, and experts everywhere agree you are basically guaranteed to find your best Alaska cruise packing guide here with a printable checklist included!
If you are wondering how to get your hands on this printable checklist, stick around until the end. Now let’s get to the good part of this post!
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Between you and me, the weather in Alaska can be far different than what you planned for according to the weather report you pulled up on your phone when packing for this trip. Trust me. The weather forecast leading up to our second trip was filled with mostly rainy days (just like our first trip), so naturally we planned accordingly. Both of these trips took place in late August. So what happened? We got sunshine and warm weather. And you know what I didn’t pack? Clothes suitable for that warmer weather.
What I am trying to say is that you should pack for both cold and warmer weather.
So you want to know how to pack for Alaska? I have broken it down by all the travel essentials you will need on your Alaska cruise and things I wish I would have packed and taken with me. This wouldn’t be my type of Alaska cruise packing guide without including some cute items to bring along with you!
It is almost guaranteed you will experience some rain on your trip through Alaska, and you will want to make sure you have some waterproof clothing to protect you from the elements. A waterproof jacket that is equipped with a hood is ESSENTIAL. You will also want to make sure you pack some waterproof shoes. This doesn’t necessarily mean rain boots, but they may get muddy so keep that in mind when choosing footwear. There are many guides out there that say you should pack waterproof pants, but I have never been a fan of waterproof pants myself because I find them to be so uncomfortable. Tbh, even on rainy days I didn’t feel like they were needed.
My favorite rain jackets aren’t in stock, but I found a good one here and here. And I know I said you should make sure you pack a jacket with a hood, but I couldn’t resist including some cute waterproof jackets without a hood. Don’t believe me? See this, this and this.
If you aren’t a fan of sweating, I am going to share an insider tip. Don’t over-do it with the layers! Our first trip to Alaska I prepared for extra cold weather by layering sweaters with jackets with long sleeves and it was TOO MUCH. Although it’s a good idea to have these items in your suitcase, keep it simple. I found that wearing a rain jacket with a long-sleeve top on most days was the perfect balance in warmth. And this will help you lighten your load while you go out and explore!
Layering pieces include lighter long-sleeve tops, some nice t-shirts here, here and here and I even liked packing some bodysuits.
Comfort is key when picking the right shoes for your Alaska cruise, but there is some footwear you will want to make sure you include in your suitcase. The most obvious footwear to bring to Alaska is waterproof shoes, and no this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to pack bulky rain boots unless you want to (I personally cannot walk around in rain boots all day, so I left these behind). Some good waterproof boot options can be found here, here and here.
The next thing you want to make sure you have on hand is a good pair of tennis shoes that are comfortable. On days when there is no rain in sight it’s good to opt for some nice walking shoes you can happily explore in without the concern of getting blisters. I am sharing some of my favorites here and here.
Don’t forget to pack a nice pair of formal shoes if you are planning on participating in a formal night on the cruise. I packed a pair of small nude heels. You also want to pack a nice pair of flip-flops for the pool/hot tub. I forgot to pack a pair on my second trip to Alaska and couldn’t find a pair of flip-flops for a reasonable price anywhere, so I was forced to totally dry off my feet before using my heels (thank goodness they were waterproof).
Most cruises will host 2 formal nights per cruise week. This means you will find many guests dressed in cocktail attire on these nights as they make their way to one of the more formal restaurants the cruise has on board. If you do plan on dining in one of these restaurants, keep in mind this does come at an added cost (depends on the cruise line). It’s not mandatory, but I love any excuse to get dressed up. If that’s not your style though, you can skip and just head to the cafeteria for some more casual dining (and it’s free).
If you are planning on participating in these formal nights, I would recommend having a sweater or pashmina on hand because it is Alaska after all and you may get cold. Although the dresses I wore on board are no longer in stock, I am sharing some of my favorite formal pieces here, here, and I would also recommend checking out Nuuly. Nuuly is a rental company that has a great selection of items to choose from for a reasonable rate.
Alaska is absolutely FILLED with some of the most captivating landscapes in the world, and you will want to capture all of it! With the technology of smart phones these days, it isn’t essential you have a nice camera but I have to confess it definitely helps! We used our Sony A7riii camera, but before you rush out and purchase you can actually rent here. It will be impossible to resist filling up your camera roll with photos of this place so come prepared with memory cards and batteries.
No trip to Alaska would be complete without binoculars and you will want them to spot wildlife in the water and on shore. This particular pair is reasonably priced and has great reviews online. You’ll want to be prepared with sunscreen while you’re out on deck trying to spot some animals. And pack that umbrella just in case you need some extra coverage.
Should you bring a drone to Alaska? We were pleasantly surprised to find many spots that allowed drones. We experienced a lot of warm weather during our second cruise to Alaska, so we were able to get some great drone shots. I recommend bringing a drone along with you if you have it! You can find all these items and more in my printable packing guide below.
Looks like your Instagram is about to get shockingly good, because I have rounded up some of the best items to include on your Alaska Cruise packing list! I am just doing God’s work over here, and giving you an excuse to get some extra shopping in. And you may think you got everything from my packing guide above, but I have included some bonus items below.
You can find the links to all the items above here.
I hope this Alaska cruise packing guide has helped and while you are here, make sure to fill out the form below to get my printable packing guide delivered straight to your inbox! And if you’re looking for more great Alaska cruise travel tips, read my guide here.
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