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Alaska Cruise Packing Guide: What We Wore and Loved

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Packing for an Alaska cruise is a little different than packing for a warm-weather trip. You’ll need layers for changing weather, comfortable shoes for excursions, and outfits that work for both adventure-filled days and relaxing evenings on the ship.

We went in May, so we packed with cooler temperatures in mind — but much of this advice will work for summer and early fall cruises too. Don’t miss my complete Alaska Cruise Guide for everything you need to know.

Layering is Key

The weather in Alaska can change dramatically from morning to afternoon, and even hour to hour. We had warm sun one minute and misty rain the next, so having the right layers made all the difference.

I usually wore:

  • Base layer: camisole + t-shirt or long-sleeved shirt
  • Middle layer: flannel or sweater
  • Outer layer: jacket appropriate for the weather (see below)

Packing cubes were a lifesaver for keeping everything organized in our small stateroom. We like this set.

Outerwear We Loved

One of the best things I packed was a 3-in-1 ski jacket. I could wear the full set together (as I did on the bow in Glacier Bay) or wear just the inner layer or outer shell depending on the day. Here’s a 3-in-1 ski jacket for women that would be convenient.

I also loved my jean jacket for casual days and a lightweight packable rain jacket — perfect for rainy Ketchikan.

Beanies were a must for me. I brought two: one with a ponytail opening (link) and one for wearing my hair down (link). Think ahead about what headwear works with your hairstyle.

Bottoms & Everyday Wear

Fleece-lined leggings were my go-to. I brought jeans but only wore them embarkation day. For most of the trip, it was leggings or hiking pants.

Bring enough socks and underwear for extra changes — we often showered and changed for dinner after excursions.

Pajamas you feel comfortable in are worth mentioning. You will see the occasional PJ-wearer around the ship in the evening, but we didn’t join them. Instead of wearing pajamas around the ship for a late-night soft serve run, we wore tracksuits or lounge wear.

Footwear

I mostly wore sneakers or hiking boots. For excursions that required heavy-duty boots, the excursion company provided them — check ahead to see if yours will too.

If I were packing again, I’d bring short deck boots or Hunter boots for extra rainy days and wet docks.

For the spa or pool, flip flops/slides were perfect. If you plan to dress up for dinner, I’d recommend flats instead of heels — they’re easier for walking around the ship after dinner.

Special Notes for Excursions

If you’re doing activities like canoeing or kayaking, waterproof leggings or quick-dry pants are a game-changer.

For gloves, I brought small fleece gloves, but in hindsight, I would have brought convertible gloves (fingerless with a mitten flap) so I could use my camera without freezing my fingers. Gloves are probably only needed early or late in the cruise season.

Dinner & Evening Wear

Some cruise lines have dress codes, but many Alaska cruises are casual. On NCL, there was no dress code — we saw everything from jeans and t-shirts to nice dresses, but nothing black tie. Sometimes we enjoy dressing up for dinner when we’re on vacation since we don’t do it much at home, so chose to pack nicer outfits for the evenings.

My favorite dresses on this trip were long-sleeved rouched maxi dress that I wore to a nice dinner and a short chambray dress that I wore over leggings on a more casual evening.

Tracksuits & Lounge Wear

Both of us brought tracksuits, and they turned out to be the MVPs of casual wear. They were perfect for coffee runs, relaxing in the lounge, or walking to and from the thermal spa.

In the spa, we wore swimsuits (sometimes with rashguards) under ship-provided robes, with flip flops or slides.

Men’s Packing Tips

My husband’s go-to footwear choices were his New Balance sneakers and his Merrell hiking boots, with wool socks layered over athletic socks for warmth.

Layering is also key for men’s clothing in Alaska. His layering looked like:

Accessories: a couple of beanies, a scarf, and lightweight knit gloves.

For dinner, he wore sweaters or henleys with dark jeans. During the day, he preferred his Eddie Bauer hiking pants or jeans. And yes — he ended up loving the tracksuit I talked him into bringing.

A Few Things I’d Change Next Time

  • Bring fewer sweatshirts to save room for buying one in port — there are great designs in Juneau and Skagway.
  • Consider flats instead of heels for evenings.
  • Pack waterproof boots (if going during a rainy part of the year).

Laundry on Board

Some ships offer laundry — sometimes for free, sometimes for a fee, and occasionally requiring you to bring your own detergent. If you’re flying to your departure port, packing light and doing laundry mid-cruise can help you stick to one checked bag. Laundry detergent sheets are perfect for this.

Coming Soon: Printable Alaska Cruise Packing List

I’m working on a printable packing checklist that you can use to plan your trip — and check off as you go. Stay tuned!

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