Friday, April 26, 2024

Ultimate Cruise Packing Tips for an Alaskan Cruise

what to bring on alaska cruise

There are no fees for your bags like you might find on an airline and there are no real limits on how many bags you can bring. Want to know the truth about wiping your backside on a cruise? The toilet paper supplied by the cruise line is the typical thin sheets you can almost see through. Let’s just say that even after a few wipes you still don’t feel clean.

What To Pack For Your Alaska Cruise

Make sure your waterproof hiking shoes are comfortable, breathable and have support for your feet. Speaking from experience, you’re going to need some functional, hiking-type all-terrain pants and shorts for an Alaska cruise. Go from pants to shorts to pants again with these convertible, quick-drying bottoms (and take up less room in your suitcase, too). Taking a page from our “less is more” cruise packing manual, these pants pull double wardrobe duty.

Alaska cruise packing mistakes to avoid

Depending on the month you sail to Alaska, the temperatures and rainfall can vary, which will affect what clothing you should bring. However, since Alaska weather is unpredictable, you should always pack rain gear and warm clothing to layer. This can make it a challenge, even for experienced cruisers. Whether you’re doing an Inside Passage, North or Southbound Alaska cruise, you’ll want to prepared for the weather with the right clothing and gear. If you do a water activity such as kayaking, the operator will loan you waterproof gear. Aside from all of your clothes, don’t forget to bring some of your favorite accessories, including jewelry, an evening bag, hair accessories, and evening shoes.

Waterproof Bag

Unfortunately, much of what you will see is from a distance. Mosquitoes in Alaska aren't always a nuisance, but they can be horrendous. Pack insect repellant and full-coverage clothing as though you were planning to visit a rainforest ... On my last Alaska cruise, I heard about two passenger emergencies. A kid broke an arm on the ship and needed surgery, so a family of five disembarked in Ketchikan — not exactly a cheap end to their vacation, I'm guessing.

What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise (clothing, gear & essentials)

There are a number of kayak, jet boat, and rafting tours of this area. You're almost guaranteed to see the majestic birds and you're likely to come by moose and other wildlife, too. People flock to this northern state year after year to get a glimpse of its vast glaciers, mountains, and coastal scenery.

Small ship cruises tend to offer more adventure-focused shore excursions alongside personalized service and luxurious accommodations and amenities. Smaller ships can reach ports of call and destinations that are inaccessible to larger cruise ships, allowing you to explore more remote settings and communities. For an even more customized experience, consider a private cruise on smaller ships like yachts and sailboats. Start with thin, base-layer undergarments that won't bulk up your clothes and are comfortable even if the day turns out warmer than expected. The final layers of outerwear should be lightweight because you may need to stuff them in your backpack for half the day as the temperature rises. You don't have to stick with ship-sponsored shore excursions in every port in Alaska.

I packed for a 7-day cruise with just a carry-on suitcase and backpack - Cruise Blog

I packed for a 7-day cruise with just a carry-on suitcase and backpack.

Posted: Thu, 14 Jul 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

What Type of Pants Should You Pack?

Jenna DeLaurentis enjoys exploring new ports of call around the world on a cruise ship, learning about new cultures, discovering beautiful landscapes, and trying diverse cuisine. She loves to get active while at port, whether cycling through mountains in the Caribbean or scuba diving under the sea. You can also reduce the amount of clothes you bring to Alaska by relying on laundry services. This portable charger is the one I recommend using (link contains affiliate link that costs you nothing extra). I'd also recommend bringing a camera with a zoom lens or a cellphone that takes high quality photos. You should also bring enough chargers and enough memory cards for the hundreds of photos that you will likely take.

Alaska Cruise Packing List Essentials

Bring a toothbrush, toothpaste (or powder), floss, and mouthwash that will keep you feeling fresh throughout the voyage. SunglassesNo matter what time of year you’re cruising in Alaska, sunglasses are essential for protecting your eyes from the bright sunshine reflecting off the sea or ice. Look for a pair with polarized lenses that will reduce glare and block out UV rays, as well as frames that are comfortable and won’t slip off your head too easily. You can also do a quick search before departing to see if your ship has laundry services available, which may also allow you to bring less clothing than what I’ve mentioned below. Remember the Flight When PackingWhile cruise lines are more relaxed in what you can bring, many people fly into port cities like Vancouver or Seattle to head to Alaska. Due to their location in the northwest, driving simply isn’t an option for many travelers.

Alaska Cruise Packing List: Non-Clothing Essentials

Now that you know what you need to bring from your closet, it’s time to go through all the other items you won’t want to leave out from your Alaska cruise suitcase. For days onboard when you want to enjoy some rest and relaxation, a pair of wool socks will keep your feet nice and warm. Enjoy the view from your balcony with a hot chocolate on hand and comfortable socks on your feet. However, when it comes to capturing faraway images — say, that bald eagle in the tree — your phone won’t do it justice.

The best cruises in Alaska offer unparalleled experiences that will bring you up close to some of the most unique and awe-inspiring places in the world. From the lush rainforests and tranquil seas of the Inside Passage, to the endless horizon and luminous ice of the Arctic, there’s no shortage of what Alaska offers to cruise enthusiasts. Before you bust out the suitcase and start throwing stuff in, consider the weather and how it varies. If you’re cruising the Inside Passage and waterways of Southeast Alaska, expect summertime highs between 50 and 60 degrees, with the occasional 70- or 80-degree day.

Your cruise ship will have plenty of suitable clothing for sale on board and ports of call such as Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway have some delightful shops selling cozy but practical souvenirs. Hopefully, with this list you won’t forget to pack anything or leave any necessary items behind. A change of time zone and thick curtains in your cabin will ensure you sleep well.

Clothing will make up the bulk of what you’ll bring on a cruise, and rightly so. With so many different scenarios to dress for when sailing to Alaska, just know that you’re going to want a little of everything. Remember, you can’t easily run out for something you forgot to pack, so having a full checklist to serve as a reminder of what to bring on an Alaska cruise is ideal. That’s why we’ve put together a printable list to help you plan.

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. As for shoewear, the only rule is that flip flops are never allowed during evenings on the ship.

Depending on the length of your cruise, you’ll have one or more formal dinner nights in which you’ll need to adhere to Celebrity Cruises’s “Evening Chic” dress code. For women, the Evening Chic dress code includes cocktail dresses, skirts, pants, or designer jeans with an elegant top. Men will wear pants or designer jeans with a dress shirt, button-down shirt, or sweater, with the option of a sports coat or blazer. Those traveling during the shoulder seasons (May and September) will want to bring a few more long-sleeved tees than short. Another way to achieve the same effect with less material is a vest.

Then there’s the cold wind off the water and glacier visits. Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Under the Midnight Sun, with the latest updates about new multi-day tours and day trips from Alaska Tours. When selecting luggage, also consider its size in relation to your cabin. 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. Part of the lure of Alaska travel is exploring its majestic outdoors.

what to bring on alaska cruise

You can also loop the little satchel around your carry-on bag handle. Same goes for silk leggings (Long John’s) to wear under jeans. They’re great to keep you warm, especially if you choose one of the helicopter tours to a glacier…in early or late season. If it’s a chilly, damp or drizzly day, instead of a T-shirt under my sweater or sweatshirt I wear my long-sleeve silk-like top.

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