What to pack for an Alaska Cruise

In Alaska, May, June, July, August and September are summer months, but the weather can change in an instant. Alaska.org has information on the temperatures you can expect in the southeast and Inside Passage region, which you can see below:

• May – highs of 12.7°C, lows of 3.3°C
• June – highs of 15.5°C, lows of 7.2°C
• July – highs of 17.7°C, lows of 8.8°C
• August – highs of 16.6°C, lows of 8.3°C
• September – highs of 12.7°C, lows of 6.1°C

What should I pack?

You might be worried that Alaska will be very cold, but it’s usually much the same as a spring day in the UK. It can also be easy to over pack for your Alaska cruise, but Experience Ketchikan have shared some guidelines for you to follow.

Rene from Experience Ketchikan, says, “Begin with a lightweight t-shirt (your comfort layer), add a hoodie (hooded sweatshirt), cardigan sweater or fleece sweater (your warmth layer), add to that an all-weather coat (your protection layer), and a scarf if it is warranted. If you get hot, simply shed enough clothes to make yourself comfortable.”

You should also bring an all-weather jacket, long trousers and closed-toe shoes for warmth as well as a good pair of walking or hiking shoes.

Binoculars will also come in handy when it comes to the Alaska cruise as you can use them to spot whales and other wildlife.

Rene also recommends packing some polarized sunglasses, “You will spend a lot of time looking at or around the water. Polarized sunglasses cut the glare on the water and allow you to see colours much clearer. Believe me when I tell you, spending the extra money on a good pair of polarized sunglasses will reward you with better views and less stressed eyes!”

Lisa Goodmurphy from Gone with the Family, adds, “The most important thing to remember when packing for a cruise to Alaska is that the weather can be variable. A weatherproof jacket/coat, comfortable weatherproof shoes for walking, gloves/mittens, and a hat are essential. It's also advisable to dress in layers as the weather may change over the course of a day.

“This is especially true for anyone scheduled on a land tour after disembarking from the cruise. The weather on our late June/early July trip to Alaska varied from cool and wet to warm and sunny t-shirt weather. Be prepared for anything!" 

When you stop in port, there are lots of opportunities for excursions and these can require additional clothing. On some trips, like whale watching, the companies often provide warm, waterproof clothing, whereas for hikes and glacier walks, you will need your own boots. Check the details of your excursion to see what they provide and ensure you are prepared.

Documents for two countries

Passports and travel documents are crucial for any holiday you’re going on, but all cruise passengers must complete the online Visa Waiver form (ESTA) to enter the US. This is in addition to the eTA you need to enter Canada.

The Visa Waiver form costs $41 USD per application and the eTA costs $7 CAD. For the Visa Waiver form you must complete the application at least 72 hours before flying.

The question of dress

Another common question that we often hear is “What should I wear?”

Some cruise-goers leap at the chance to dress to impress and don a tuxedo or evening gown. The atmosphere on the cruise, however, is very relaxed and cruisers will not be out of place if they dress casually.

The cruise will usually have one or two more formal evenings on board. While you can dress in your finery if you wish, smart clothes similar to what you would normally wear out for a nice evening meal are more than acceptable.

Awesome attractions

The wildlife

The Alaskan cruise is full of spectacular sights, but the part that many people enjoy the most is the abundance of wildlife you can see.

Julia Berolzheimer, who runs juliaberolzheimer.com, has visited Alaska before and she loved seeing all the different wildlife during her trip.

She says, “I’ve never seen so many bald eagles and we saw tons of moose. The Glacier Cruise was perfect for seeing an abundance of wildlife.”

Julia’s shorter excursion is just a taste of what you can see as you journey through the Inside Passage.

The Sawyer Glacier