Even experienced cruisers find themselves asking this question prior to their first sailing to Alaska: “What the heck do I pack?” Because if you just followed your typical cruise packing list, you’d end up looking something like this:
I mean, you should still pack a swimsuit for heated pools and hot tubs, but you’re not going to spend a lot of time showing off your wax job and tan. Instead, you’ll find people relaxing on deck looking more like this:
Maybe I like cruising to Alaska so much because I get first degree burns just contemplating stepping into the sun from under the full shade of a tree and because I got my first (and last) bikini wax five years ago just prior to a big extended family cruise to Bermuda. I’m still in therapy and applying a nightly ointment.
In any case, I’m fortunate enough to get to cruise to Alaska frequently (I live in downtown Seattle within walking distance of the cruise piers, so I shop for bargains and hop on multiple sailings each season) and after some significant trial and error, think I finally have packing for an Alaska cruise mastered.
I’ll be focusing here on packing items unique to Alaska. That’s to say you shouldn’t interpret this as permission to leave general cruising essentials like prescription meds and Poo-Pourri at home!
Let’s begin with clothes, because they ain’t letting you onto the ship without clothes, and then we’ll move onto other items you’ll need to avoid being attacked by a bear and such. Note that I’ve focused most on cold and wet weather clothing. The amount of cold and wet weather clothing you’ll need will vary depending on the specific weather conditions you experience on your sailing. Check the forecast for each port a few days before your cruise and adjust your clothing as necessary. But these are items I ALWAYS have on hand prior to an Alaska cruise (and more times than not, I’ve needed them all):
I’ve included some specific styles and brands that I like and recommend (affiliate links below), but any similar item that you may already have or prefer will, of course, work too. It would be fun if we all showed up to the ship in the same outfit though. Or awkward? No, fun – let’s do it!
1- A waterproof rain coat. Ketchikan gets precipitation, on average, 234 days per year. Expect rain and hit the casino that night if you don’t have it (luck is on your side, friend!).
2- Waterproof hiking pants. So your bottom half isn’t resentful of your dry top half.
3- Wool hiking socks. I remember having extremely cold feet on my honeymoon cruise (my first to Alaska). Don’t worry, I was already happily married. I just forgot warm socks.
4- A fleece for layering. There can be fairly dramatic temperature shifts in Alaska, with morning and evening being very chilly and afternoons during the summer getting very warm. Pack items you can layer and shed as needed depending on the weather or for a little strip tease in your cabin later. Be sure to get your partner/spouse one of the books I’ll be recommending though, because with all those layers it might take a while to get to the good part.
5- A warm hat. To keep your head warm, but also to avoid this:
6- Waterproof hiking boots. Break them in in advance though, unless you’re prepared to tip extra for your tour guide to “sack of potatoes” you over his shoulder back to the ship.
7- A packable puffer coat. Even if you’re cruising to Alaska during the summer, you’ll want to pack a warm coat for out on deck and especially for your scenic cruising days. It can get cold. And I mean COLD. I used to lived in Michigan where my eyebrows didn’t unthaw from November to March and I STILL froze on my first cruise to Alaska. Trust me, pack a coat just in case. I recommend a puffer coat that can be jammed into a little bag and then stuffed inside a shoe to save suitcase space. I really like this one for women (it’s a great value!).
8- Waterproof, touch screen gloves. So your hands stay warm while you’re snapping glacier selfies. While I look hot (as in warm, but also sexy AF) in this coat, hat, glasses getup, my hands were freezing.
Here are the men’s versions minus the witty commentary, because it really wasn’t that funny the first time around.
5- A warm hat.
8- Waterproof, touch screen gloves.
I’d also throw in a few slightly offensive graphic tees and a pair of versatile shorts for formal night. Just kidding. Although formal nights (and all nights) tend to be much more casual on cruises to Alaska (think about what you’d wear to TGI Friday’s on a Saturday night and pack that). But do bring the tees and shorts because sometimes you’ll get a really warm day in port or sometimes you don’t feel like chit chatting at the bar:
1- Insulated travel mug. Pack two of these. One for coffee to keep you warm and alert on deck while you obsessively look for wildlife for days on end. And one to pee in so you don’t lose your prime spot. Best to buy two different colors so you don’t mix them up. Maybe one in black and one in yellow.
2- Sport sunglasses. Glare from the water and ice can be quite strong. Also glare from my pasty legs in the hot tub can be quite strong. Pack a pair of lightweight sport sunglasses.
3- Sunscreen. So white that medical schools use me to train their students because you can see right through my skin to examine how live organs work, I’ve become a bit of a sunscreen sommelier. I use this Thrive sunscreen because it’s natural, reef safe, plant-based with a hint of antioxidants, and works great. Bring whatever you like though. Just remember to BRING it, because it will be expensive to buy onboard.
4- Trekking poles. For balance and stability on walks and hikes on uneven surfaces and for fighting off bears if you forget item #7.
5- Bug repellent wipes. For repelling bugs and getting all your drinks paid for by fellow cruisers getting eaten alive by mosquitoes on your excursions, “an Off! wipe in exchange for a drink at the bar later?”
6- A good camera (or smartphone with a very good camera). I’ve gone full Goldilocks and the Three Bears on this one. I brought my giant, expensive DSLR camera with 40 pounds of accessories on my first few cruises to Alaska and got some great shots of the ship pulling away from Skagway without me because I couldn’t run fast enough with all my equipment as they were pulling up the gangway. So then I decided to leave my camera at home and just use my phone. But when I shared my photos with people back home, they kept trying to wipe dust off the screen while I grew increasingly frustrated, “no, that’s a breaching 66,000 pound humpback whale!” So finally I settled on this premium quality but compact point and shoot camera. I get great wildlife shots, but I don’t need a post-cruise visit to the chiropractor.
7- Bear bells. My husband Mr. Cruise spent a LOT of time together working from home during the pandemic. And he seemed to walk into the room EVERY TIME I was about to eat directly out of a giant tub of ice cream. So I made him start wearing these bells so I could hear him coming and wouldn’t get startled and accidentally attack him in defense of my Cherry Garcia. But these are also great for excursions into bear country. And pretty much everywhere in Alaska is bear country. They will alert bears to your presence so you don’t startle them (that’s when aggressive bear behavior, while rare, is most likely to happen).
8- Binoculars. A high quality pair of binoculars is a must so you can pretend to see the wildlife pointed out to you by the onboard naturalist. Be sure to practice your “wows!” in advance so you sound convincing (you don’t want to hurt her feelings or admit you have no idea where 2 o’clock is). If you’re looking for an inexpensive, but excellent pair, I have these and love them.
9- Reading material. I’m of the opinion that everyone who cruises to Alaska should read John Muir’s Travels in Alaska. The book contains Muir’s lyrical observations from three explorations between 1879 and 1890 on foot and via canoe through the mountains and fjords of Southeastern Alaska. But if you just want a harrowing, page-turning novel set in Alaska to read on deck, I highly recommend The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah. If you have any other Alaska-related books you’d suggest, please mention them in the comments.
10- Hiking backpack. The only way I can get my 11 year-old to hike with me is to pack a backpack full of snacks to bribe him with, “I’ll trade you this bag of chips for 10 more steps.” This also works for wives who hate fishing. Throw in some wine and a giant bag of chocolate covered almonds and frame it as a romantic picnic on an intimate vessel with a local guide to point out wildlife. But be sure to also pack her waterproof pants for large swells and fish guts. But seriously, a hiking backpack that folds up small in your luggage, to carry your port essentials and to stuff full of your shedded layers as the temp rises making it impossible to find your tiny tube of sunscreen all the way at the bottom, is essential. I like this one, but anything durable, but compact will do.
Me! Prof. Cruise! I’m compact enough to fit in a medium-sized roller bag, don’t snore (I mean a lot of other sounds come out of me at night, especially if I dinner at the buffet, but we won’t get into that) and will happily serve as your right-hand [wo]man, the Robin to your Batman, the Sam to your Frodo. Whadaya say? I’ll interpret your wide eyes and dramatic shake of the head from side to side as an enthusiastic yes and declare…
Class Dismissed. I’ve got a cruise to catch!
Homework (10 points): Check out my Guide to Cruising from Seattle, First Time Cruisers to Alaska: Answers to 10 Common Questions, and all my previous Alaska port posts:
And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog (scroll up to the top right if on a computer or keep scrolling down if on a mobile device) and follow Prof. Cruise on social media:
Five things I'm looking forward to on my Holland America holiday cruise.
Carnival announced the return of midnight buffets to all ships. See the late night buffet…
Booked on or considering a cruise on NCL's Jewel? Read my full trip report and…
Looking for the December 2024 Carnival Dive-In movies? See all the movies coming to Carnival…
A complete guide to cruising from Seattle in 2025 written by a downtown resident. Includes…