Table Of Content
When people say to dress in layers for Alaska, it starts with thermal undergarments. If you plan on visiting the glaciers, you can expect if to be cold and chilly. Nothing's worse than unpacking your suitcase in your stateroom and feeling like you've packed horribly for the upcoming week. With unpredictable weather these days, it's even more important to plan ahead and be purposeful with the outfits you choose to bring on your Alaskan cruise.
Checklist: Clothing to Pack for an Alaska Cruise
Temperatures will continue to drop, with highs only reaching the mid 50s and lows going down to the mid 30s. Therefore, if you booked a September cruise to Alaska, make sure to bring heavier layers of clothes, such as thick wool sweaters, socks, hats, a warmer jacket, and a sturdy pair of gloves. July enjoys the warmest average temperatures of the summer (they can go from low 50s to high 60 degrees), which is why it’s one of the best times to cruise to Alaska. Be sure to pack a mix of short and long-sleeved T-shirts and waterproof pants that can convert into shorts, in case you get extra sunny and warm days during your cruise.
Alaska cruise packing list
As a result, you won’t have to be concerned about the rainy season. T-shirts, blouses, button-downs, long sleeves, and short sleeves are all great options to pack. I would recommend packing a variety of Alaska cruise clothing so that you can mix and match to create different outfits. These fabrics will help you stay cool and comfortable in Alaska’s warmer weather.
Four Ways To Relax This Coming Summer
CARLY The Best Clothes for Alaska (and More!) I Packed - Carly Riordan
CARLY The Best Clothes for Alaska (and More!) I Packed.
Posted: Tue, 26 May 2015 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Due to strong winds and ease of use in crowded areas, we don’t recommend packing an umbrella. Therefore, it’s important to pack a waterproof jacket with a hood. A pair of waterproof footwear is a must in order to fully experience the best excursions that an Alaskan cruise has to offer. Keep these locations in mind when planning, check the long-range weather forecasts, and make sure to pack appropriate clothing and gear for the activities you’ll be doing. For casual evenings, you can’t go wrong with comfortable clothing such as leggings, sweaters, and long-sleeved shirts. Layers are also important, as temperatures can vary throughout the ship and on shore excursions.
Stick to casual activewear meant for moving about in the great outdoors. Pack thermal layers that can keep you comfortable in temperatures ranging from 30- to 80-degrees Fahrenheit. Outfitters often provide the special gear for Alaska shore excursions, so no need to load your bags with crampons and waders. The Alaskan cruise season typically runs from May to September, with July and August being the peak months for Alaska cruises.
When is the best time of year to visit Alaska?
It takes time for your ship to dock, get cleared by local authorities, and prepare for disembarkation. If all goes to plan, you could start disembarking by 7AM, but unexpected delays could cause a later disembarkation time. Due to the popularity of excursions on an Alaska cruise, they can fill up quickly, so it’s important to book excursions well ahead of time. If you have not yet booked excursions for your 2024 Alaska cruise, book them as soon as possible.
Wildlife Binoculars with Phone Adapter
Some I fold on the bed, or lay on the bed, and the shoes I line up in a row. Hanging clothes I put on velvet hangers in the spare room wardrobe. Here are a few final tips to help you prepare for your Alaska cruise in May. Magnetic hooks can be useful for hanging up wet clothing or keeping important documents easily accessible in your cabin.
Royal Caribbean Blog is your ultimate source for Royal Caribbean coverage.
If your flight doesn’t arrive until 11PM the night before your cruise, it probably isn’t worth it to travel to the city center. Instead, consider a hotel near the airport so you can simply land and head straight to bed. For those arriving earlier in the day, though, it’s worth it to find a hotel downtown for easy access to tourist sites.
Comfortable pants
Having active and passive options means every sea day can be perfect, regardless of the weather. Whether challenging terrain, Kayaking or just strolling through downtown, dress right for the Alaskan wild. One of the best things I brought on my Alaska cruise was a cross body style waist pouch. It was great to not bring a purse with me, so I could be hands free on my excursions. You can also reduce the amount of clothes you bring to Alaska by relying on laundry services. It's really easy to find yourself overpacking for an Alaska cruise because of the wide temperature swings involved in a typical sailing.
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]
From icy glaciers to fancy evenings on the ship, your bag must have a bit of everything. Jeans are very popular in Alaska, so on colder days, you definitely won’t stand out wearing them. Just keep in mind that when the weather is wet and you have plans to be outside, jeans are not what you want to be wearing.
A warm sweater is an easy and versatile item of clothing you should always try to carry around during your cruise, especially when walking around town or enjoying time on the ship’s deck. Wear one underneath your jacket if you’re feeling chilly or just as easily shrug it off when the sun comes out and you start feeling warm. No matter how you decide to explore, here are some essentials to pack. It is your place to rest and reflect from an incredible day and charge up for the next day and a place to store your gear.
Some lines take the always-casual approach to eveningwear in Alaska. If you do a water activity such as kayaking, the operator will loan you waterproof gear. If you get cold easily, you’ll probably want to pack a puffer jacket or lightweight coat for an Alaskan cruise. This is especially true if you’re cruising during the beginning, end or shoulder season.
What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents. Packing for any cruise requires a little consideration about what to wear each night onboard the ship for dinners and shows. As much as you can hope for incredible weather during an Alaskan cruise, you should be prepared to experience rain throughout your vacation. Alaskan weather consists of gloomy clouds, foggy skies and chilly rain, even in the summer.
For an Alaska cruise, you’ll need to pack clothes for your days and evenings on the cruise ship (including formal night), as well as activities on land. Leggings or dark jeans can easily be layered with a jean jacket to provide extra warmth. A jean jacket is a great piece to bring and can be worn while exploring ports for warmth or as a casual jacket onboard the ship. I prefer to wear a jean jacket on travel days since the airplane is normally cold. “It’s always important to stay hydrated when embarking on an excursion,” agrees Chun from Holland America Line.
When making your own Alaska cruise packing list, you may want skip dressy evening wear and stick to casual and smart casual outfits. For excursions in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and other Alaska port days, it’s a good idea to plan on wearing layers of clothing, with a warm jacket and/or rain-gear as the top layer. Katherine Alex Beaven is a full-time travel writer who went on her first cruise in middle school.
If there are formal nights during your cruise then do pack cocktail dresses (or a suit/jacket and tie for men) to comply with the dress code in the main dining rooms. On shore excursions make sure you have well worn in walking shoes or hiking boots. I hope you’ve found our Alaskan cruise packing list useful in determining both what to bring, and what to wear on an Alaska cruise.
