Last Updated on March 8, 2024
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A cruise to Alaska is often a bucket list trip for many. Those cruises are not cheap, so you want to make sure, when the time comes to go on your dream trip, you are well prepared. Even if you’ve been on other cruises before, packing for Alaska is different than packing for a Caribbean getaway. If you are wondering what to pack for an Alaskan cruise, you are not the only one.
Alaska cruising season runs from April through September, with the warmest months being July and August. Depending on when you go, temperatures range from 40’s to high 70’s. Weather is also very finicky and unpredictable. Temperature swings are real, not just in different ports, but also throughout the day. You have to be ready for chilly days and rain, but also for sunny days and unusually high temperatures. That’s why it’s not uncommon to be confused what to pack for an Alaskan cruise.
Do not forget to also pack for the excursions you choose, not just the cruise itself.
So if your cruise is fast approaching and you are trying to figure out what to pack, keep reading. After my recent experience on a 7 day Alaskan cruise, I put together this post to help you. This Alaska cruise packing list includes not only the things I packed, but also those I regret not bringing, as well as a few items that you won’t need.
What to pack for an Alaskan cruise – Alaska cruise packing list
Luggage
Daypack – you will need a small backpack to put all your essentials in when going on excursions. I always use my Osprey day pack, which came as a detachable backpack with my big Osprey Farview 55. But you can also buy them separately. They are the perfect size to hold all the necessary things, are not bulky and are very comfortable to wear. They also come in several colors.
Cruise luggage tags – once you’re checked in for your cruise, you will receive printable luggage tags to attach to your bags. Since it’s just a piece of paper and can easily rip in transit, I recommend getting these plastic tags for your suitcases. These will work for any cruise line and you can reuse them, if you ever go on another cruise.
Dry bag – for any kind of activity, that has to do with being on the water, I always bring my dry bag, just in case. It keeps my camera, lenses and other electronics dry. This particular dry bag also comes with a little satchel for your phone. I’ve had my bag for almost 10 years and it’s one of my top 10 travel essentials.
Photography/Electronics
Good camera – many people these days stick to their phones when taking pictures and there’s no denying, that the quality of photos our phone take is impressive. But if you have a nice camera and enjoy photography, definitely bring it! Alaska has some of the most incredible landscapes and there will be endless opportunities for you to capture it.
I use my Sony a6000, which paired with the right lens is still a great camera, but if you are shopping for one now, I’d get one of the newer models like Sony a6400 or Sony a6700. And if you really want to invest in a new camera Sony a 7 III is a great camera.
Lens – I recommend bringing two lenses: one for landscape photography, the other zoom.
Extra batteries – always have a couple extra batteries for your camera.
SD memory card – Alaska is insanely beautiful and you will be taking a lot of pictures. It’s a good idea to have a back up SD memory card.
Portable charger for your phone – we use our phones for so many things i.e. taking pictures and looking for directions among other things. You don’t want to be out on an excursion and get stuck with a dead phone. I recently got this 2 pack portable charger and it instantly became one of my travel essentials. Once charged, it lasts for a long time.
Kindle – download everything you want before getting on the ship. Wi-Fi is nonexistent at times, especially on days at sea.
Gorilla tripod – I’d say this is one of the optional items on the Alaska cruise packing list, depending how serious you are about taking pictures. If you are traveling solo, or want nice couple photos, but don’t like asking strangers, having a tripod is God sent. I recently got the Gorilla tripod and I’m obsessed. This particular model is sturdy enough to hold your DSLR camera and also has an iPhone mount. The legs are bendable and you can wrap it around many things. Plus, it’s light and small enough to travel with.
Clothing
Layers is the key word when it comes to packing clothes for an Alaskan cruise. Temperatures will change throughout the day. Instead of bringing a couple of bulky items, pack a lot of layers.
Also, when cruising Alaska, you need to be ready for all kinds of weather. If you take a look at the photos below, you can get an idea what weather you might experience on a weeklong cruise.
Each port has a huge selection of sweatshirts and waterproof coats, if you forget one!
Rain coat/wind breaker – I can almost guarantee you, it will rain at least once during your Alaska cruise. Bringing a rain coat is the single most important piece of clothing you can pack. We went on our cruise in July and while the weather was exceptional and unusually sunny and warm, it still rained half a day in Skagway. This Columbia Arcadia jacket is my go to and it comes in several colors.
Light coat – even though you’ll be visiting Alaska in the summer months, you do need a coat, as it does get quite chilly. However, if you pack enough layers, you do not need a winter coat. A light puffy coat will be enough, even on the coldest days of your cruise like Glacier Bay day. Something like this Columbia or 32 Degrees packable jacket will be sufficient.
Sweatshirt – have a couple of comfortable, warm sweatshirts.
Fleece – a cozy zip-up fleece is another great layering item to bring. Easy to take off and put back on.
Short and Long sleeve shirts – bring a selection of short and long sleeve shirts, again perfect for layering depending on weather.
Beanie hat – Glacier Bay day was definitely on the chilly side and I was happy to have my beanie hat.
Thin gloves – same goes for gloves. You certainly don’t need heavy duty winter gloves, but a pair of light, thin gloves like these will come in handy. They are cheap, warm and you can still use your phone.
Tank tops – pack a couple of tank tops for those really warm days, especially if you are cruising in July or August. Or simply for layering.
Shorts – have a pair of shorts for those unusually warm days.
Bathing suit – it might not be the first thing that comes to mind, when you start thinking about packing for an Alaska cruise, but don’t forget to pack one or two swimsuits. All ships have a pool and the outdoor hot tub is especially fun to use.
Coverup – this is optional, you can always use your bathrobe from your room.
Workout clothes – there’s always a gym on the ship, so if you’d like to get a work out in, don’t forget to pack your workout clothes.
Shoes
Comfortable walking shoes – when packing shoes for an Alaskan cruise, comfortable sneakers or walking shoes are very important. You’ll probably going to do a fair amount of walking during days in port, either around town or on your chosen excursions.
Hiking boots – even if your excursion includes some hiking, you do not need anything more than just a regular pair of hiking shoes. Some people think they need all the hiking gear like they are about to go on an extreme hiking adventure. You do not need any of that. Just a pair of regular hiking boots, like these waterproof Columbia Waterproof boots, is enough.
Flip flops – it’s a good idea to pack a pair of sandals or flip flops, if you plan on using the pool or/and the hot tub.
Other Alaska cruise essentials
Binoculars – if there’s one item I didn’t have on my Alaska cruise and I so wish I did, is binoculars. There are plenty of opportunities to see wildlife from the ship, but without binoculars, they are just a speck in the distance. I really regret not getting one, so don’t make the same mistake. They are available for purchase on the ship, but of course, they are much more expensive.
Now, after the fact and doing some research, there are several great binoculars out there, that are perfect for an Alaskan cruise and are not crazy expensive. But you don’t want the cheapest pair either, it’s worth spending a bit more and get a good quality one. Bushnell H2O and Occer 12×25 come highly recommended and get great reviews. Also, Nikon Monarch 7 is one of the favorites, but this one is on the pricey side.
Lanyard – you will use your room card for more than just entering your cabin. You’ll need it every time you go a bar, when you go on/off the ship and even for the excursions bought through the cruise line. I carried mine in the pocket, but a lot of people like to keep their cards in the lanyard around their neck.
Small umbrella – it’s very likely it will rain at some point during your Alaska cruise, and when it does, a small umbrella will come in handy.
Toiletry bag – I am a big fan of the hanging toiletry bags. You can hang it on the door, which frees up counter space in the bathroom. This is especially helpful on the cruise ship, where that counter space is very limited. Not only are all your products nicely organized, but also out of the way. I love this BAGSMART toiletry bag, it holds a lot of stuff in various compartments and it comes with a hook, so you can hang it on the back of the bathroom door. Great quality too.
Sunscreen – always pack sun protection.
Sunglasses – sunglasses should be one of the first things you pack for an Alaskan cruise. Even chilly days can be really sunny and if you are doing any glacier excursions, the snow can be as blinding as the sun. A pair of good polarized sunglasses will also cut down the glare.
Seasickness meds – if you are prone to getting seasick, it’s always a good idea to pack some meds. Bonine is known to make you less drowsy than Dramamine.
Travel bottles for toiletries – most cruise lines will have shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, but if you are specific about your products and want to bring your favorites, get a set of the travel bottles. Yo can bring just enough to last you the whole trip, without having to drag full size bottles with you. These little bottles are also TSA approved and can be put in the carry on.
Wrinkle release spray – due to fire hazard, using an iron or a steamer is not permitted in cabins. This small can is TSA approved and small enough to go in your carry on.
Passport – bring your passport even if your Alaska cruise begins and ends in the US port ( i.e. Seattle – Seattle ).
What NOT to pack for an Alaskan cruise
Fancy clothes – Alaska cruises are way more casual than other cruises. Even in the formal dining rooms, people tend to dress casually. There’s usually one or two formal nights, and cruise lines have dress code suggestions, but in reality most people dress smart casual. If you really like to and want to dress up, by all means go for it, but don’t stress about it. Also, you do not need to participate in the formal nights, if you don’t want to. There’s always a couple other casual dining options.
Heavy winter coat – surprise, Alaska in the summer months is not as cold as people think. You can leave your warmest winter coat at home, you will not need it. Even on the coldest days, you will be fine with a light puffy coat. Especially if you have enough layers. I’m the biggest whimp when it comes to being cold, and was perfectly fine with my spring/fall jacket even on the coldest day.
Hairdryer – every cabin has a built in hair dryer, so you do not need to bring one
Towels – plenty of beach towels are available on the ship to use by the pool or the hot tub.
Packing for an Alaskan cruise Tips
- There’s a laundry service on the ship
- You can bring one bottle of wine – bringing alcohol on board is not permitted, but many cruise lines allow to bring one or two bottles of wine ( or champagne ). They do charge corkage fee, which is usually $15-20. Beer and hard liquor is strictly forbidden and if you buy something in port, it will be taken and stored for you until you disembark.
READ MORE:
- The Complete Galapagos Packing list – what to pack for a Galapagos trip
- My must have travel essentials
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