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I have two cozy turtleneck sweaters that I really love but are way too bulky so they stay home. Even putting them into plastic bags and squishing out the excess air, I won’t bring them with me. Here’s what I might wear on a shore excursion in the Inside Passage, especially to Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. Up close at Mendenhall Glacier may not only be icy-chilly but there’s also spray off the water. Similar to the one above with the Long John’s, this is a mock turtleneck top for when I need something to keep my neck warmer.
I booked a Princess cruise to Alaska for $1147 per person—take a tour of my tiny inside cabin - Cruise Blog
I booked a Princess cruise to Alaska for $1147 per person—take a tour of my tiny inside cabin.
Posted: Fri, 21 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Useful Things to Pack For Your Cruise (Including 17 You’d Never Think Of)
If you’ve never taken a cruise, you might be surprised at the lack of outlets in a cabin. Now imagine trying to plug in phones, battery chargers, hair straighteners and more. Packing for an Alaska cruise and knowing what to wear can be a challenge. However, since Alaska cruises are more casual than other cruise itineraries, planning your Alaska cruise outfits isn’t as hard as it seems.
Alaska Cruise Packing List
If you want to keep your feet warm, you also need to keep them dry. Wet feet get exposed to cold air and make it tough to feel toasty. A good pair of wicking socks can help pull moisture from your feet while out hiking, keeping you feeling comfy on you excursion. When you head to Alaska, you pack a lot more than just a few swimsuits and a hat. And when you are out and about, there is usually plenty to bring along with you like a camera, extra layers, and more.
Cell phone dry bag
I like this one as it has a waterproof bag insert, good for potential Alaska downpours. Depending on the time of the year, a rain jacket is a clothing item to pack for your Alaska cruise. If I was cruising to Alaska in June, July or August, I would have brought mine and layered it on top of a long or short sleeve shirt. This water resistant puffer jacket kept me warm, without feeling overheated, during my days in port. I could also unzip my jacket when I was in the bus on tours and excursions. I’ve included examples of Alaska cruise outfits for daytime, evening and formal nights.
Final Thoughts on What to Wear on 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. Their wool is softer and thinner, making it easier to regulate body temperature and keep your tootsies warm. The fibers also magically wick away sweat and moisture, keeping your feet not only dry but less likely to smell like you were walking around all day.
Always remember that your base layers (ideally all layers) should be moisture-wicking to keep you dry and comfortable. 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.
What To Wear On Nights At Sea
We were very lucky during our Inside Passage cruise as it only rained two days out of 7! We had some rain on our embarkation day in Vancouver and in the afternoon while we walked around Ketchikan’s Creek Street and the cruise port. You’ll want to pack short sleeve and long sleeve t-shirts, to wear under a fleece sweatshirt or hoodie.
Electronics to Pack for an Alaska Cruise
When it’s colder, breathable wool socks and hiking boots along with hiking pants and a winter coat are essentials. As mentioned previously, when in Alaska, prepare for any kind of weather. While there’s a lot of overlapping in clothing, there are still trends in seasons. Summer in Alaska can be cool and even a bit warm, but never “hot”. If you are going more north, however, it could easily require you to bring a warm jacket.
Some cruises do have theme nights or themed dance parties. On our cruise, we werent aware of these in any of the pre-cruise information we received but those in the know on board came prepared. We found the restaurants to be chilly and it is a good idea to bring a sweater or wrap in the evenings.
I’ve even used it to cover my legs on a particularly cold and windy whale watching tour. Instead, I found and will bring two lighter-weight knit crew neck sweaters. I’ll almost always wear the silky mock turtleneck underneath. Get tunic tops for Alaska with enough room in the arms so you can wear a layer or two underneath.
There are a ton of stores in each port selling wool clothing and cold weather gear if you didn’t pack enough warm clothing. You can get these items, hats or t-shirts as extra souvenirs to use after your adventure. The beauty of the rugged, untouched wilderness is like nothing we have ever experienced. Enjoy the landscape, food and locals without worrying about what you forgot to pack. Daytime ship wear was similar to port days with more leggings, tunics and slip on shoes. Carrying a sweater or sweatshirt around the ship is always a good idea as some venues can be cold on any cruise.
Invest in travel-size toiletries and consider sharing items like shampoo or toothpaste if you’re traveling with others. 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.
Portable phone charger – These are always a good idea when traveling. In Alaska, you’ll likely be snapping so many photos and sharing them online that your phone could lose battery before the end of your port day. Don’t forget to pack a swimsuit, flip flops and coverups for the pool, hot tubs or spa.
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. This jacket stands out for being waterproof but breathable, and because it can pack down into its own pocket for easy portability. I like this jacket because it’s lightweight, has a detachable hood with a slight rain-blocking brimming (so no need to pack a rain hat), and has hand and chest pockets with easy zipper pulls.
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.
We purchased these lighter weight bottles for the trip as they worked well while hiking. Derrick wished we would have purchased a filter water bottle as we started to run out of water on one of our hikes. He also just wanted to drink water right from the rushing rivers. Hand warmers – If you’re traveling in the cooler months and get cold easily, you may want to bring hot hands. We thought we may need them on our glacier trek, but we had gorgeous sunny weather.
