Alaska is a dream destination for many. Snow, reindeer, and the Northern Lights are a huge draw in winter, while bright fjords, blue glaciers, and the Midnight Sun are all among the appeals of visiting in the summer.
Also bringing folks to Alaska around summertime? Cruises. These allow you to experience the many lovely nooks and crannies of the Alaskan shoreline that aren’t available by car or, often, even by plane.
It’s a chance to see unspoiled wilderness and commune with nature – all from the comfort of a ship’s deck. Many adventurers choose a cruise-only experience, exploring the coastline and visiting cities such as Anchorage or Seward.
Others take a boat tour, then travel by bus or train into the heart of Alaska to experience the magic of Fairbanks and other inland destinations. No matter where you go or when you travel, there’s plenty to do in this beautiful state – especially when you opt to cruise.
What to Bring on an Alaskan Cruise
But you don’t want to get caught unprepared. Accordingly, here’s a smart packing list to help you organize your belongings ahead of time, so you can have the easiest, most stress-free experience possible.
Clothing
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First up on any packing list is clothing. Let’s take a look at the essentials:
Indoor Clothing
First, we need to discuss indoor versus outdoor clothing. Your cruise is like a city, with dozens of halls and decks and hundreds of rooms. With so much to do indoors, you’ll want a range of clothing choices that are appropriate for it.
You can break your clothing down further into casual clothing and activities gear. If you’re going to play pickleball, climb a ropes course, or go ice skating, you’ll want comfortable clothes that move with you.
If you’re headed down to Trivia Night, hitting up the mini golf course, or sitting in the casino, you need casual outfits appropriate to a café or restaurant.
Dinner Duds
Dinnertime is another matter. Many cruises have a formal dining room, where folks enjoy gathering in their finery for an evening of good food and entertainment – music, magic, theater, and more.
Check if your cruise line has a dress code in any of its dining rooms. If so, and if you want to be able to eat there, bring appropriate dress clothes.
Loungewear
If you can afford a cruise room that has a deck, then you’re probably going to spend some time on it. In that case, you’ll want warm and comfortable clothing that you can mix and match according to the weather and your needs. This can double as your traveling outfit.
Outdoor Clothing
Many people can’t imagine how cold Alaska is, even in the summer. On a nice day, you’ll want a warm overlayer when you’re outside. Sometimes you can take it off, and sometimes you can’t.
On a not-so-nice day, you’ll need rain gear and close-toed shoes if you don’t want to get wet during a shore excursion. Check the weather ahead of time or ask the cruise line if you aren’t sure.
The Two-Shoe Rule
I live by the two-shoe rule. I’ve never needed more when traveling, and I can always fit two pairs of shoes into my carry-on bag so I don’t need to check one. The two-shoe rule says you need one pair of shoes for nice and one pair for activities.
In the case of a cruise, some nice flats or loafers and a pair of sneakers should do it. If you’re traveling in shoulder season or winter, sub out the sneakers for boots.
Personal Care Essentials
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Beyond clothing, you’ll need personal care items as well:
Toiletries
Alaska calls for the same basic toiletries as anywhere else. My recommendation is to pack these in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost, because replacing them during your travels will cost a grip.
Sunblock and Bug Spray
The bright sun is a killer, even as far north as Alaska. Especially during the long summer days, you need to stay covered up at all times. Bring sunscreen with you so you don’t have to buy it on the ship or in port, both of which are expensive.
Bug spray is also a must.
The mosquitoes in Alaska are like bomber planes: loud, frightening, and dangerous. Okay, they don’t carry diseases as they do around the equator, but they still suck – especially if you’re allergic. Bring your bug spray or oil and you’ll be happier.
Motion Sickness Patches
Not everyone responds to extended time on the water the same way. Some people – even if they’ve never experienced motion sickness before – get very sick when they’re out on the ocean.
Outdoor Equipment and Accessories
You don’t need the following gear, but you might want it to make shore excursions more comfortable or fun:
- Binoculars: Hiking in a national park or viewing wildlife aboard a skiff? You might want some binoculars if your cruise line doesn’t provide them.
- Snow boots: Even in summer, Alaska often has snow. These might be necessary for some shore excursions, but it’s unlikely unless you go in shoulder season.
- Umbrella: Umbrellas are always a good idea this far north!
- Cold-weather gear: Again, if you visit during shoulder season, assume you will face considerably cold weather at points.
Electronics
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No modern traveler would be caught dead without their electronics. Here are the bare necessities:
- Laptops, tablets, and phones: These go without saying, but put them on your list first to reference for accessories and chargers.
- Chargers: A charger for every device unless you have two devices that share the same type.
- Power banks: These probably aren’t necessary, but if you want to make sure you can charge while traveling to your cruise port, they’re helpful.
- VPN: A virtual private network software will help protect your privacy while in airports or on board your boat.
- Headphones: Whether you’re more of an earbud lover or a full-on, noise-canceling, earmuff type, you’re going to want your headphones on your Alaskan cruise.
- Waterproof phone case: If you’re planning to go on any glacier boat trips or diving expeditions, it’s a good idea to get a waterproof case for your phone.
- Flotation strap: Flotation straps attach to gear to ensure that if you drop it in the water, it will bob there until you can retrieve it.
- Power adapter: Some outlets are weird. If you want to be sure of charging any device and plugging in anything, bring an adapter.
Documents
As with all travel, there are a few important documents you’ll need to have with you on the ship:
ID
Your ID is necessary, even if you won’t drive. Your cruise line will check it while boarding and possibly at other times as well. Plus, if you lose your passport (see below), you’ll need it.
Passport
Depending on where you start your cruise from, you may or may not need a passport. If you’re going to drive through Canada to Alaska (which takes a week or so from the Southern border), you’ll want it with you, though.
Insurance
If you buy trip insurance to cover a medical emergency or another mishap, then you should keep it with you in your carry-on. That way you know where to find it and it can’t get lost in checked baggage.
Medical Card
If you’re American, good news: you won’t have to pay for international medical coverage. While you may pay extra for being out of state, your medical insurance should work fine in Alaska.
Luggage and Bags
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Ideally, you want to travel light when you go on a cruise. Having the right luggage can help. It’s also helpful to get nice luggage tags to protect your information in case a bag is lost or stolen, luggage scales to make sure you don’t make a checked bag too heavy, and packing cubes to organize the insides of your luggage.
Food and Drink
Cruise ships are known for their convenience, so you don’t need to pack a lot of snacks and drinks like you do on a road trip or for long airplane flights.
However, it doesn’t hurt to bring some small snack baggies so you can pack food for shore excursions. A water bottle also helps to avoid using unnecessary plastic on board.
Things to Consider
Here are a few more elements to consider when packing for a cruise:
- Don’t forget shore excursions. While many people think about the time spent on the boat – which will admittedly be the majority of it – most cruises offer at least a few shore excursions. Make sure to read your itinerary carefully to determine if you need any special items for this.
- Even if it won’t be rainy, you might want to consider bringing a rain shell. Some of the activities may require transfers on smaller boats, which can send up a lot of spray. Having a light waterproof layer for such situations will come in handy.
- Dry bags are also a good idea. For the same reason, you may want to bring a dry bag or two. They’re inexpensive, long-lasting, and easy to carry, and they roll up small in your suitcase. If you can protect your daypack or luggage this simply, why wouldn’t you?
- If possible, drive to your port. Cruises are already expensive (though we discuss a few cost-saving measures below), so ideally you can avoid the cost of a plane ticket to boot. Drive-to ports charge way less for a week of parking than you’ll pay for airfare.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are a few more questions about packing for your Alaskan cruise:
Is the cruise all-inclusive?
This is a question only your cruise line can answer. Whether they charge for snacks, alcohol, activities, and other perks is up to the individual company, so find out before you book.
What should I wear at dinner?
Some cruises have dress codes, others don’t. Some have formal dining rooms and casual lounges, others have expectations that hold across the boat. This will depend on the size of the vessel, the type of cruise, and the company. Again, ask ahead of time.
How many shore excursions are there?
There’s no way of estimating this, because it too depends on your specific cruise line and adventure. However, most Alaskan cruises have some shore excursions and boat cruises included or available.
How can I save money on an Alaskan cruise?
To save money, you can either book early or at the last minute; take a shoulder-season Alaskan cruise (in the spring and fall rather than summer); book a cabin without a window; use flexible dates when booking; travel on an older ship; and rack up points by using one cruise line.
Another good way to save money is to price-shop. If you do this, I recommend doing so in incognito mode. Your browser tracks your activities online via little code snippets called cookies that get stored on your computer and tell websites that you’re interested.
When you return – say, to that cruise line’s site or a travel site such as Kayak – you may see higher-priced results because of this.
Instead, stay in incognito mode until ready to book. That way, the bots can’t take advantage of you.
Where do I keep my luggage?
Your luggage goes in your room, either under the bed or in a closet when you’re not using it. There are usually lockers on a ship, but those are for your possessions while you’re at the gym, pool, and so forth.
How do I get on the ship?
Most cruise ships have a gangway or ramp that takes you onto the ship. For shore excursions, however, you may be transferred to and from the ship by boat.
When should I take my cruise and what will I need to bring?
The best time to go on an Alaskan cruise is in the summer. Mountains and glaciers are still evident, so you get those beautiful views, but you won’t freeze your you-know-what off.
That said, you should still bring warm clothing in case you’ll be on deck at night, as well as a light rain shell for inclement weather – not uncommon in midsummer that far north – and boat transfers.
The Adventure of a Lifetime: Alaska Ho!
Ready for your Alaska adventure! Just make good use of this list and you’ll have everything you need for the trip of a lifetime.