I’m going on a cruise next week! An Alaskan Cruise to be more specific. Truth be told, I have no clue what to pack for an Alaskan cruise in June. Not. A. Clue. If I’m being honest, I don’t understand the concept of an Alaskan cruise. Cruises are supposed to be warm and tropical on the open ocean. Alaska just isn’t that. I hear good things about Alaskan cruises all the time and I don’t doubt I’ll have a great time. So in order to get me ready and excited, I’ve started planning what I’m going to pack.
From the research I’ve done, packing for Alaska is only slightly different from packing for a Caribbean cruise (can you hear the sarcasm?) So here’s my run down of what I’ve learned and please head over to resident expert on all things travel, Linda on the Run. Also note, while I’m going on this Alaskan Cruise in June, this list can be applied to pretty much any month that Alaskan cruises run (typically late April-September).
What to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise – The Breakdown
Layers
All the experts say no matter what time of year you go on an Alaskan cruise to always pack layers. Layering is something I loved to do when I lived in Virginia. It was a great way to stay warm and still look super chic in the fall and winter. Now that I live in Florida again I have less and less reason to layer. And frankly, layering can be super uncomfortable if you haven’t adjusted correctly. But I’m willing to dive back into it for this trip! I’m hopeful that most of the cruise doesn’t require too many layers, but just to be safe…I’ll be sure to pack a sweater and windbreaker.
Jeans and Pants
If layers are suggested for an Alaskan cruise you bet jeans are! If you’ve read some of my other post you’ll know I’m really not a huge fan of jeans anymore. Thank heavens I’ve invested in comfortable pants within the past year. I just can’t force myself to wear jeans for more than a few hours at a time anymore. I’ll be bringing a pair of comfortable joggers and some pants with some give to it for this trip. The saga of, “how dirty can I get my white pants” will continue on this cruise! Which means I probably shouldn’t wear them on the first day…
Tops
Without a doubt if you have pants, you’re gonna need some tops. Whether that be a sweater, a casual t-shirt, a nice blouse, or a tank top, you’re gonna need something to cover up the ta-ta’s when you’re not in the hot tub. I decided to bring a variety of tops, including some nicer blouses that can be worn for dinner in the dining room.
Swimsuits
Honestly…I’m not too sure about this one. I personally can’t imagine lounging on the pool deck in a bikini when it’s only 70 degrees out. But maybe I’m wrong and the pools will be heated and the hot tub will be empty and it’ll be great! I’ll be sure to update y’all on that once I get back but for now I’m playing it safe and packing some high waisted or one pieces for the cruise. Because for some reason I’m convinced if it is 70 degrees out those options will keep me warmer.
Formal Wear
My favorite thing ever to pack for a cruise! I love formal nights, and love it even more when there’s two! Regardless of how many “official” formal nights a cruise has, I always dress up for dinner. A cocktail dress here, a gown there, a slightly more casual dress everywhere. There’s just something I love about getting all dolled up in more than just work clothes that I can’t get over. So excuse me while I walk down the steps in my ballgown with a mile long trail (ok, I don’t have one of those but, a girl can dream).
The Other Essentials
Like every good Voyager, I like to be prepared. Depending on the excursions you choose you may need much more casual, warm options. Likewise, if you are an avid exerciser, you’ll want to pack workout gear. And even though you may not be a world class photographer, if you don’t have some sort of image capturing device (camera, phone, go-pro, etc.) did you even go to Alaska?
Because all of what I listed above applies to me personally I will be bringing some leggings for excursions, some running gear to workout in, and of course, my camera to capture all the moments. But don’t just listen to me, there are qualified people out there who can tell you exactly what you need to pack for an Alaskan cruise. I’ve created my complete checklist that I’ll just using to pack below, feel free to use it for your next great adventure as well!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you I may make a commission if you click through and purchase.
