Are you heading to Alaska on a cruise this summer? Alaska cruising season is in full swing and you will surely hear lots of advice regarding your upcoming cruise. It’s true. An Alaskan cruise is very different than a Caribbean cruise but there is no need to feel overwhelmed. In this post, I’ll share with you the Alaskan Cruise ESSENTIALS. And, a free packing list for your Alaskan cruise!
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You’ve probably heard the extremely valuable advice about packing layers and the proposed list might have 50 items. Talk about overwhelming! Here you’ll find the essentials list. This list goes beyond the I haven’t standard cruising staples such as magnetic hooks and lanyards. But, seriously, magnetic hooks will change your cruising life. 😉
This list is specific to those items that can be unique to the Alaskan environment and Alaskan cruising!
First, Alaskan cruises, in general, tend to be more casual than other cruises. While there will likely still be a more formal or dress your best nights on board, they tend to be more casual than you may be used to. Unless it’s your personal preference to wear that cocktail dress or sport that handsome tuxedo, you should feel comfortable wearing nice jeans and a sweater or slacks and a blazer. Alaskan cruises are more about the experience and destinations than the glamour onboard.
Alaskan Cruise Essential Packing List
Ok, let’s address the layers. There’s no avoiding the great advice to think of layers when packing your clothing. Temperatures can vary greatly not only throughout your cruise but throughout each day. A great approach is to pack jeans/athletic pants, etc., and pair those with short or long sleeve shirts.
Shirts – Cotton t-shirts and athletic-type shirts are great options for their moisture-wicking properties.
Pants – Jeans, leggings, thermal leggings, and joggers are great options.
Fleece Layer – Next, you’ll want a sweatshirt or fleece layer. I love a good zip-up hoodie. The full zip makes it easy to take on or off as the temperature changes.
Rain layer (with a functional hood) – Do you know what I mean by “functional hood”? Ugh, those jackets with a hood that barely covers the back half of your head. What good is that? Columbia brand has some great options and many are available on Amazon. Make sure that your chosen rain layer can fit comfortably over a sweatshirt or fleece layer if necessary.
Baseball hat – I like to pair this with the rain layer. In my opinion, it can be more effective than carrying around an umbrella.
Glacier viewing day
This will likely be the coldest day of your cruise but you won’t want to miss the incredible views.
Essential items for your colder day(s) may include:
Beanie – Who doesn’t love a great beanie? A cozy beanie and some gloved hands wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee and you are in great shape to check out the amazing views. My personal favorite are beanies from Love Your Melon. They are so comfortable and warm and support an important cause but Amazon has some nice options, too.
Tech Gloves – If you’re going to be taking lots of pics with your phone you will need some tech gloves. Check out these tech gloves with over 50K reviews or these from the Columbia brand.
Packable puffer jacket – These packable jackets have come a long way. I bought one from Costco.com a few years ago but here are some great packable puffer jacket options.
Excursions During an Alaskan Cruise:
Armed with your layers, don’t forget your water-resistant shoes – or at least pack an extra pair of shoes in case yours get wet. Wet feet are NO fun and there are so many great options.
Water-resistant shoes – You can’t go wrong with the speedy duck boot but if you’re interested in more hiking shoes or sneakers there are some great options from Columbia and All-Birds. These shoes will be especially important if your cruise is in late August, September, and early October. Pair these shoe options with some non-porous with Moisture wicking socks/dry socks. I like to have some cozy socks to wear around the cruise cabin, too!
If your excursions include kayaking or other direct water activities, you may want to include a pair of water-resistant pants – Again, Columbia and North Face have great options
Ok, we have covered some of your essential clothing needs, but there are a few extras that you are NOT going to want to skip.
Extra Essentials for Alaskan Cruise
While you may be able to skip the large camera equipment and take great pics on your phone, please don’t skip bringing travel binoculars. A good quality, compact set of travel binoculars can bring wildlife up close and personal without breaking the bank.
Sunscreen – Of course, you likely won’t need the quantity of sunscreen that you would on a Caribbean vacation it’s still a good idea to protect your exposed skin. The sun reflecting off the water (and the snow!) can be misleading and lead to a painful burn.
Bug repellent – while it’s not necessary on the lido deck if you are taking a water-based excursion (kayaking) or taking or heading out on a hiking adventure, please bring and be prepared with bug repellent!
Compression packing cubes – You’re packing bulkier items for this cruise and compression packing cubes can make a huge difference. I like these because they are travel themed!
Swimwear – While you may not be planning for a lot of pool time, several ships do have enclosed pools for cruisers to enjoy. And don’t forget the hot tubs, so go ahead and toss in those flip-flops.
Don’t forget a great, lightweight backpack to store all of your Alaskan cruise essentials. Here are two great options that have been cruised tested and this cruise blogger approved!
Get Packing!
Ok, that is the “essentials only” Alaskan Cruise Essentials list. Of course, there are lots of other great items that you can include but this list covers the DO NOT leave behind items for your Alaskan cruise adventure. So, I’m including my full Alaskan Cruise Essentials Packing List for you for FREE!
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Want more packing tips? I’ve dedicated a section of my site to this important topic. Let’s get you packing!
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