Cruises are particularly interesting to pack for because you often wear multiple outfits in a single day. Fitting everything into an appropriate-sized suitcase can be a challenge. Opting for items you can wear multiple times is key! Here are my suggestions on what to pack for an Alaska cruise and what I packed for my most recent cruise in August 2022!

Weather

Check the weather! Most cruises in Alaska are between May and September. The weather can vary drastically from early in the season to late in the season. You will start to see more rain later in the cruise season. Always begin packing by quickly checking what the weather is expected to look like in your ports of call.

In my case, my most recent trip showed rain. Every day, in every location. I focused most of my packing on accounting for rainy days, with some extras for deviations in the forecast. We did end up with a couple of sunny days, so variety was a good call!

Shoes

Shoes are going to be the most challenging thing to pack. You are trying to balance footwear for the cruise and excursions you will take.

Shoes for Excursions

I would focus on two pairs of shoes solely for excursions, sneakers, and hiking shoes. You should be covered for all situations with these two pairs. If you expect more intense hikes, swap in hiking boots with ankle support rather than hiking shoes.

If you don’t intend to do any excursions that require a lot of walking or hiking, you can save space on shoes and reduce to a single pair of sneakers and/or comfortable walking shoes.

Shoes for The Ship

On the ship, you will want to cover all of your bases; daily wear, pool, and dinners. Seven-day cruises have a minimum of 2 formal nights. You should bring dressy footwear if you intend to eat in the main dining room. I focus on 1 or 2 pairs that will match every outfit for dinner. After I’ve covered dinner shoes, I toss in flip-flops and a pair of flats or sandals.

Make sure you pack at least one pair of close-toed shoes, this is still Alaska, and you don’t want cold feet! Once your footwear is squared away, you can focus on fitting everything else into your suitcase.

Hoka Clifton Sneakers (x2), Adidas Hiking Shoes, Dressy Shoes (x2), Flats, Sandals, Flip Flops

Dressy Outfits

If you plan to eat in the main dining room, you should bring a minimum of 6 outfits that range from smart casual to formal. Given that you may not have your luggage on the first night, you usually don’t have to worry about appropriate attire.

Formal means something different to everyone but make sure you aren’t wearing shorts and a t-shirt. You may be turned away from the main dining room if you aren’t wearing appropriate attire. Alaska cruises tend to be on the more casual side so don’t worry too much about getting extra fancy, do what feels natural to you!

Women

For 7-day cruises, I usually bring six dresses; two formal and four casual. Depending on your preference, you can swap in pantsuits, jumpsuits, skirts, and blouses!

For our most recent Alaska cruise, I leaned more heavily on pants and cute sweaters for dinner and only wore my dresses on formal nights.

Men

On the flip side, my husband usually brings two button-down shirts, a pair of dress pants, and ties to match my dresses for formal nights. He rounds out the remaining four nights with a pair or two of khakis, polo shirts, or less formal button-downs.

Following my lead, my husband also wore a nice sweater and pants on the more relaxed evenings in the dining room.

The key is to pack things you can wear more than once; pants or skirts. Or pack items that don’t take up a lot of space. Large poufy ball gowns are probably a no-go. Men shouldn’t worry about bringing a jacket unless they are attending a specialty dinner in which it’s required.

Formal Dress (x2), Smart Casual Dress (x4), Cute Sweaters (x3)

Daily Outfits

I expect that you know how to pack your daily basics. However, I do have two general recommendations:

1. Don’t only pack for cold weather. Alaska can be surprisingly warm, so make sure you toss in a pair of shorts and some t-shirts. Just in case!
2. Layering is critical for all cold weather situations. Bring basics that you can layer. You want to be able to add or shed layers as necessary.

Beyond that, here are some of the key specifics for daily wear.

On The Ship

The on-ship experience is going to be pretty casual. Comfy pants, leggings, and sweatshirts will probably be your go-to for most days. Don’t forget to pack a swimsuit! It may be cold in Alaska, but you don’t want to miss out on lounging in a hot tub.

If you like to exercise, make sure you pack your workout necessities. Bonus if they can double up as daily basics to save space!

Excursions

Excursion outfits depend highly on what you expect to do off the ship. I recommend cold-weather leggings or hiking pants, based on your preference. Jeans can get wet and take a while to dry, so consider that when packing for excursions. You may want to bring a pair of waterproof pants if the forecast calls for rain.

Many excursions in Alaska provide you with the necessary gear, so I wouldn’t worry too much about packing for specific adventurous activities off the ship. Just focus on critical items that make physical activity more accessible and comfortable.

Casual Sweater (x3), Long Sleeve Shirt (x5), Short Sleeve Shirt (x4), Shorts (x2), Pants (x2),
Jeans, Lightweight Hiking Pants, Leggings (x3), Swim Suit (x2), Tank Top (x2), Sports Bra

Outerwear

Like shoes, outerwear is another item that will take up space! As always, the key is to pack a few things that will cover all of your bases. Focus on three main items.

1. Jacket or shell for rain/wind
2. Jacket for cold weather
3. Hoodie or Sweatshirt

With these three items, you’ve covered all scenarios. The first two are essential not only for excursions but also for glacier stops during your cruise. It can be surprisingly windy while stopped at a glacier, and it’s always good to be prepared for rain. I have a light rain jacket that fits over my other outerwear but folds up into itself; it’s easy to transport and takes up very little space. The basic sweatshirt is perfect for various situations and is more casual and lightweight than your full jacket. Perfect for everyday wear around the ship.

If you have space or different needs, you can add additional jackets, vests, and sweaters. Sometimes I will add a cardigan that I can use for dinner or as a coverup for swimwear. For this particular cruise, I had enough space that I packed two extra jackets, one heavy and one light so that I had some variety or backups in case they got wet.

Don’t forget the outerwear accessories; a hat, scarf, and gloves! You may not need them, but they don’t take up much space, and you may be happy to have them.

Columbia Rain Jacket, Columbia Sherpa Jacket, Eddie Bauer Down Jacket,
Columbia Fleece Jacket, Casual Cardigan, Hoodie, Scarf, Hat, Gloves

Accessories and Miscellaneous

Along the same lines as your basics, you know what travel accessories you need to pack. Don’t forget your toiletries and chargers!

Other items you should consider

• Dirty Laundry Storage
  I will bring a separate duffle bag, dedicate half of my suitcase, or utilize an empty packing cube to separate dirty laundry. Another nice to have on cruises is a pop-up laundry basket that you can put in the closet.
  
• Magnetic Hooks
  Cruise ships often have metal walls; grab a set of magnetic hooks off of Amazon. These will help you get items off the floor and limited flat surface space. They are perfect for hanging up your jackets.

• Refillable Water Bottle
  Water is easy to come by on the ship, but it’s always nice to have water readily available in your room or off the ship. You can bring plastic water bottles on the ship, but I suggest a refillable water bottle that you can top off. The same goes for a hydration pack if you think it’s necessary for your off-ship adventures.

• Outlet Extender
  Unless you are on a new ship or the rooms have been refurbished, you will severely lack plug space. Bring something that has both extra outlets and USB slots. Make sure that the extender you choose is cruise safe!
  
• Binoculars
  Seeing all of the amazing scenery and wildlife in Alaska is so much easier with a pair of binoculars, they are a must-have! Spotting whales in the distance and getting a great view of them can’t be beaten. Even picking up a cheap pair will suffice and you will be happy to have them.

Small Carry On Dufflebag, Magnetic Hooks, Camelbak Eddie Water Bottle, Covid Tests (x2),
Cold & Flu Medication, Anker Outlet Extender, Portable Charger, Mini Tripod, Binoculars

Packing Your Cruise Carry-On

You are going to drop off your large suitcase with the porters for it to be transported to the ship and ultimately to your room. However, you should bring on a small carry-on with essential items to use until you get your main luggage. Some people will swear by bringing a small suitcase onboard, but honestly I would say don’t bring something larger than a small backpack or tote, you are going to be carrying it around until your room is ready.

The items to bring will vary by person and need, but here are some suggestions of what to bring in your carry-on!

• Important Documents
  This one is really obvious, but just a reminder, don’t forget to pack passports and boarding documents in your carry-on!
  
• Electronics – Laptops, Tablets, Game Systems, Kindles
  It’s always smart to just keep your valuable items on your person. Additionally, you may want to use these items after you’ve boarded the ship while you wait for your room.
  
• Medication
  Another common sense reminder, bring necessary medication directly onto the ship with you. You don’t know when you will get your main luggage delivered to your room and you don’t want to be waiting on your medication to arrive. This includes any sea sickness medication you may need.
  
• Swim Suit
  I honestly think this is the key item that most people would forget. Pack a swimsuit in your carry-on no matter what cruise you are on. The pool and hot tubs are the quietest on embarkation day. This is your chance to relax in peace or enjoy any water activities that the cruise may off (surf simulators, slides, etc.)
  
• Toiletries
  You don’t necessarily need to bring every toiletry you’ve packed for vacation, just what you think may be necessary to freshen up for the evening and dinner. In the same vain, pack a comb or brush to straighten up your hair. It can be windy up on deck.
  
• Portable Charger
  You will probably use your phone more than you think, especially if you are taking photos and videos. Bring a small portable charger with you to make sure your devices are topped up on a charge and available to capture all of your memories from the moment you board.
  
• Water Bottles/Wine
  If you are going to bring water or wine on board, carry it on with you. It’s probably required by your cruise line that at least the wine in your carry-on, but you should do the same with water. You risk your luggage ending up in “luggage jail” if you pack the water in your main suitcase. Save yourself the hassle of wondering why your luggage hasn’t been delivered and having to go pick it up later; just carry the water on with you. Having a refillable water bottle will help negate this situation and is much lighter.

Enjoy your Alaska cruise and don’t worry too much if it feels like you are overpacking. I always feel like I’m playing suitcase Tetris when vacationing on a cruise. Just make sure you are packing the key items that will make or break your trip. Most of all, have an amazing cruise!

Looking for more on Alaska Cruises?
Check out: 5 Alaska Cruise Tips

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