Saturday, April 13, 2024

Alaska Cruises: A Cheat Sheet to Planning the Perfect Adventure

what to pack alaska cruise

Different weather conditions, ground conditions, and activities will require different types of shoes. You’ll need a pair for hiking, one to support your feet during days with tons of walking, and a pair of convenient slip-ons for walking around your room, up on the pool deck, and in the spa areas. As mentioned, bringing a quality rain jacket is a must regardless of the season. This Columbia Pouration Rain Jacket works as a lightweight outer layer or shell that you can quickly slip on and zip up for water protection against rain, splashes, or continual mist.

Adventure Cruise Essentials

Saturday and Sunday cruise departures tend to be busiest during the summer months, particularly for families with children. Waterproof clothing, from jackets to shoes to pants, is never a bad idea for combating the Alaskan weather. These ships can also more easily follow aquatic wildlife (within legal limits). Many expedition cruises to Alaska also employ Zodiac rafts and offer kayaks and hiking trips to bring passengers closer to glaciers and creatures. Another tip, bring shoe bags or plastic shower caps to use as foot covers when you are packing up so that the dirty shoes don’t get dirt and mud everywhere. In Alaska, on the other hand, you will want to lower your expectations when it comes to weather.

Packing Checklist for an Alaska Cruise

If you already have a trusty backpack on hand but want to make sure it doesn’t get soaked through on your various Alaskan adventures, consider a rain cover like this one from Osprey. For $45, this large cover will seal over your backpack (from 50 to 75 L). When you’re not using it, the rain cover packs into itself and weighs 4.4 ounces.

Basic Items You Should Also Pack for Alaska

Hats and a warm pair of gloves are small accessories that are essential to include in your Alaska cruise packing list which thankfully won’t take up too much room in your suitcase. Warm beanies and caps will work on cold days if the temperature dips below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. As for gloves, consider buying a pair of touch gloves that will let you swipe and type on your phone while wearing them. You'll likely encounter rain or take a water-based shore excursion on your trip up north, so bring a dry bag or dry pack to protect your equipment.

Or, if your ship is doing a late-night stay in port, you might want to seek out the best place for king crab, wild Alaska salmon and other local delicacies on shore. Alaskans tend to dress for comfort at restaurants — even those with fancy menus. However, a few lines offer the opportunity for guests to gussy up even more for "formal" nights. Cunard Line, and to a lesser extent Holland America, are lines in Alaska where some passengers tend to relish dressing for dinner — even in some cases with suits and gowns. Itineraries longer than one week tend to attract more of the cocktail dress and tuxedo crowd.

what to pack alaska cruise

Also, look for rain jackets that can easily be rolled up and tossed into a backpack so you can bring them along to all of your outdoor excursions. When you’re packing for a cruise to Alaska, make sure to bring all the essentials you would need on any other trip, like casual clothes, dinner attire, technology accessories, and toiletries. As the popular Scandinavian saying goes, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.” It’s true! The better you pack and the better prepared you are for the weather, the more you’ll enjoy yourself. What to pack on a cruise to Alaska is tricky because the weather varies from one extreme to the next, sometimes within a few hours.

Portable chargers

Shore excursions in Alaska range from wildlife viewing tours and glacier hikes to cultural experiences and outdoor adventures like kayaking or dog sledding. Having active and passive options means every sea day can be perfect, regardless of the weather. While Bonine is a considerably less drowsy formula than traditional Dramamine, it’s still not recommended for children under 12 — and it can still make you sleepy. An all-natural alternative that we always have in our bag is ginger.

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The secret to packing right for an Alaskan cruise is layering. Stick with us as we delve into the specifics to ensure you’re prepared for this exciting Alaskan experience. Some people might skip the waterproof pants, but there’s no reason to skip the water protection for your legs after you’ve worked so hard to keep your head, body, and feet dry. That said, you only need to bring one pair of waterproof pants — as long as they actually work.

As a bonus, they’re rainproof and approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Although there is already more room in the toes for comfort, you can also get all sizes in wide options. While you can pick up many of the items on this checklist in certain parts of Alaska or even on the ship, they’ll likely be a lot more expensive.

I’ve worn these gloves in below-freezing temperatures and used them to pick up snow and for clearing ice without water leaking through or losing heat. The adjustable wrist cuff helps to seal in warmth and keep out snow and water, and there are tech-touch coated fingertips on your thumb and forefingers. Moylan cautions that travelers to Alaska should still pack items like gloves or beanies, even in the warmer months. The ribbed beanie is also designed for an exceptional fit, with wide ribbing on the crown and narrower ribbing along the brim. These features come in especially handy on extra cold or windy days. I personally like that these beanies keep my head warm even when they get a little wet from snow or sprinkles and that it’s easy to adjust them to cover my ears.

Of course, you won’t be spending beach time in the warm sun… and you should probably prepare a little differently than bringing a few pairs of shorts and flip-flops. Knowing what to pack for an Alaska cruise can make your journey to new lands even more seamless, allowing you to make the most of your vacation. As you begin crafting your Alaska cruise packing list, allow every item to stir your imagination and spark a sense of excitement for the extraordinary experiences that lie ahead.

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Instead of packing bulky items like towels or blankets, confirm beforehand if these will be provided on the ship. For clothing, opt for materials that are lightweight, quick-drying, and wrinkle-resistant to save space and reduce the need for laundry services. Avoiding overpacking for a cruise can be achieved through careful planning and prioritization.

Research the cabin’s dimensions and storage capacity to ensure your clothing, gear, luggage and, of course, you and your travel companion, all fit cozily. Your base layer will be a short or long sleeved t-shirt and a pair of jeans, leggings, or other lightweight pants. On the warmest of days, shorts may be preferred whereas the coldest days may have you layering both leggings and jeans. The main thing to remember when packing for an Alaska cruise is to plan for any and all types of weather conditions. Royal Caribbean’s Alaska cruises are generally 7-night sailings, offering 3 or 4 days in port with 2 or 3 days at sea. Cruises visit towns along Southeast Alaska, the panhandle of the state, which borders British Columbia, Canada.

Although your cruise itinerary might say you arrive at 6AM on disembarkation day, this does not mean you can get off your ship at 6AM. It takes time for your ship to dock, get cleared by local authorities, and prepare for disembarkation. If all goes to plan, you could start disembarking by 7AM, but unexpected delays could cause a later disembarkation time.

I’ve cruised to the Last Frontier multiple times, including on big ships like Norwegian Encore. It’s one of my favorite destinations in the world and one of the top cruise itinerary recommendations I make when people ask me where to sail. There’s a freshness in the air, a staggering amount of wildlife to watch, and as for the beer and seafood... Katherine Alex Beaven is a full-time travel writer who went on her first cruise in middle school. One of the most impactful and memorable trips from her childhood was a two-week cruise to Alaska. Since then, she’s returned to Alaska several times, venturing around the state by plane, by ship, and by car.

Don’t fret — this is a list of everything you need to pack for an Alaskan cruise, from the essential clothing items and must-have shoes to the perfect accessories, luggage, and gear. Lisa Syme, Vice President of Alaska Product Management at Princess Cruises, adds that it can also be warm one day and rainy the next. Whether you plan on kayaking or hiking, most Alaska adventures require essential gear. A durable, versatile backpack or waterproof dry bag will keep your essential head-to-toe gear and snacks dry and nearby.

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