This guide walks you through exactly what to put on your Alaska Cruise Packing List.
An Alaskan Cruise is a whole nother beast in the cruising scene. Instead of soaking up the sun in a bikini, you will likely be bundled in layers, ready to experience everything from towering glaciers to majestic wildlife. The crisp air in return means you need a whole different wardrobe than a traditional cruise.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the essentials of packing for an Alaskan cruise, by helping you strike the perfect balance between comfort and adventure.
From versatile layers to specialized gear, we’ll cover everything you need to make the most of your Alaskan expedition. Let’s dive into this Ultimate Alaska Cruise Packing List.
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Essentials
Of course, these are the items everyone should bring along for just about any cruise.
- Passport
- Vaccination Card (if needed)
- Travel Insurance (optional)
- Wallet/Purse
- Credit Cards
- Cash (~$100)
- Suitcase (we love our Monos Carry-on)
- Luggage Tag
- Packing Cubes + Shoe Bags
Clothing
Clothing will depend a little more heavily on the type of weather you will encounter. If you are going in the summer months, the weather might be a bit sunnier and you can get away with lighter layers. But if you are traveling in spring or fall, then you will likely experience cold weather and want many warm layers.
Conversely, many cruise lines have a dress code for formal nights on board at some of the nicer restaurants. Therefore, it can be nice to bring along a few nicer outfits to dress up at night.
Tip for women: for an Alaskan Cruise, you may want dress pants and sweaters, rather than dresses!
Additionally, Alaska weather is wet, so you will definitely want some waterproof layers to protect you from the elements. A waterproof jacket is mandatory, but you may also consider waterproof pants too.
Lastly, consider the shore excursions you plan to participate in. If your excursion is hiking, you may want to pack some hiking attire.
- Lightweight Jacket (we love our down Patagonia Nano Puff)
- Thick Jacket/ Winter Jacket (Spring & Fall)
- Base Layers (both top & bottom)
- Hiking Pants / Leggings
- Underwear (1 pair for each day of cruise)
- Bra/Sports Bra
- Casual Wear (for days on board)
- 3-5 shirts (both short sleeve & long sleeve)
- 3-5 pants (jeans, leggings, etc)
- Loungewear/Pajamas
- Rain Jacket
- Rain Pants
- Heated vest (I love my Venustas Heated Vest)
- Workout Clothes
- Warm Hat/Headband
- Sun Hat/Baseball Cap
- Few nice outfits (optional, for formal nights)
- Thick Hiking socks (preferably wool socks)
- Swimsuit
Footwear
Footwear might depend on the type of excursions you are going to do. If you see yourself doing more adventurous activities, having a pair of waterproof shoes might be necessary.
- Hiking Boots (preferably waterproof – we recommend Altra Lone Peaks)
- Sneakers
- Rain Boots (optional)
- Nice dress shoes for dinner
- Flip Flops (for pool/hot tub)
Accessories
These are the items that aren’t totally essential but items that will certainly make you more comfortable when you are out in the elements.
- Sunglasses (optional: case)
- Winter Hat
- Gloves
- Hand warmers
- Lanyard for key card
- Day Pack (for port days)
- Backpack Rain Cover
- Dry Bag (to keep electronics dry in rainy weather)
Electronics
Some of these electronics won’t be necessary for everyone but are good items to bring if you have them.
A camera is something every tourist should have, whether it be just on your phone or a digital camera. But Alaska cruises are all about scenery, and you will definitely want to snap some keepsakes to remember the trip. Plus you can never have too many memory cards, because trust me, it will be easy to fill up your SD Cards with the stunning scenery.
Jake and I like to have an Apple air tag in our luggage in case it gets misplaced or brought to the wrong room. If you have an iPhone, you can easily keep track of your luggage’s location. Especially since cruise ship staterooms aren’t typically ready until 3, and most people have their luggage delivered to their room by staff.
- Apple Air Tag (great to keep in luggage)
- Camera
- Additional Lenses (preferably a zoom lens)
- Extra Memory Card
- Go Pro
- Tripod
- Headphones
- Kindle/Tablet + Charger
- Cell Phone Charger
- Portable Charger/ Portable Power Bank
- Laptop + charger (optional)
Hygiene
The rooms on board do come with shampoo and soap. But if you are particular with brands then you might consider bringing your own. Additionally on the list is every other hygiene product you might need for an Alaska Cruise.
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Soap
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Hair Brush/Comb
- Any Hair Styling Products
- Curling Iron/Straightener
- Hair Ties
- Make-up
- Makeup Remover Wipes
- Razor
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen
- Lip Balm w/ SPF
- Kleenex
- Moisturizer
- Feminine Hygiene Products
Medications
Of course, bring any medications you are prescribed, along with a few others to make your time on board more enjoyable!
- Any prescribed medications
- Dramamine or Motion Sickness medication
- Tums
- Imodium
- Ibuprofen/Advil
- Pre or Probiotics
Bonus Items
Also on our Alaska Cruise packing list are a few bonus items. These are things I wish we either had on board or were suggested by other cruisers.
For example, every morning I got up to enjoy the scenery with a cup of coffee. They only had traditional coffee cups and they were quite small. So I personally wish I brought my own insulated cup that had a lid, so I could walk around the ship without worrying about spilling hot coffee all over my hands.
Also, you will definitely want some binoculars to get a closer look when some of the scenery or wildlife is far away.
- Reusable Insulated Coffee Cup
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Binoculars
- Insect Repellent (we didn’t deal with bugs on board the ship, but for some excursions, bug spray could be nice)
- Umbrella
- Jewelry
- Ear Plugs
- Eye Mask
- Magnetic Hooks (optional to optimize more storage inside the room, the bathroom door and main door are usually metal)
Find Related Alaska Content:
- Check out our in-depth review of the Norwegian Jewel Cruise in Alaska
- Love to drink a few cocktails on vacation? Learn more about the Norwegian Drink Package
We hope you have the trip of a lifetime on your Alaska Cruise! Be sure to check the weather conditions before your trip to fine-tune your packing list.
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