If you’ve never been on an Alaskan cruise, you’re missing out.

Seriously, put it on your list of future vacations and then be sure to make it happen.  Just scroll up and look at the picture again!

I’ve gone twice now, and I would certainly go again!  We went on Princess, but there are other cruises that go up the Alaskan coast as well.

But whichever cruise line you take, you’re going to need to make sure you pack everything you need.  I made a list for this last trip, and I wanted to share it with you for if (and when) you decide to go on an Alaskan cruise.

 

Toiletries

  • Sunscreen
  • Deodorant
  • Razor
  • Shaving cream
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothbrush
  • Insect Repellent (if you plan to go on excursions)
  • Other personal care items
  • Optional: Hair gel (if you want to get fancy for formal nights)
  • Optional: Lotion
  • Optional: Body Wash
  • Optional: Shampoo & Conditioner

Our stateroom had body wash and 2-in-1 shampoo, as well as lotion.  If you want to pack light, use the ones on the ship.  But if you have a particular brand you want to use, bring your own.

 

Clothes

For Alaska, it’s best to come prepared with layers.  You may get lucky and have sunny, clear weather, or you may get unlucky and have gray, rainy weather.  And even with sunny conditions, if you are going on an excursion that involves dog-sledding or hiking on a glacier, you’ll still want the warm clothing!

  • Waterproof pants
  • Beanie
  • Warm gloves (preferably waterproof)
  • Long underwear
  • Regular underwear
  • Socks (normal and wool)
  • Dining attire: (some combination of the following)
    • Suit or dress(es) (if you plan to participate in formal dining)
    • Dress shoes and socks
    • Dress shirts
    • Slacks
    • Belt
    • Tie(s)
    • Undershirts/slips
  • Workout clothes
  • Bathing suit
    • Sandals
  • T-Shirts
  • Long sleeve shirts
  • Pants
  • Hiking boots
  • Tennis shoes
  • Warm jacket
  • Light jacket

Depending on the length of your cruise, you can adjust how much of each item you bring.  And whenever possible, plan to reuse clothing to save packing space (e.g., for a six night cruise, don’t bring six dress shirts, just bring three).

 

Accessories and Travel Items

  • Itinerary, travel documents, and excursion documents
  • Passport (most Alaskan cruises leave from or stop in Canada)
  • Cell phone chargers
  • Sunglasses
  • Binoculars
  • Umbrella (we didn’t use ours, but we were prepared)
  • Camera / GoPro
    • Memory cards
    • Adapters
    • Chargers
  • Daypack / backpack
  • Kindle / Book(s) to read / Journal + pen
  • Vitamins or prescription medication
  • Optional: Laptop (mainly to dump pictures onto — cruise ship internet is slow and expensive)
  • Optional: Items for plane
    • Earbud headphones
    • Gum
    • Water bottle (empty; fill up at airport)

Anything else that makes your life easier when traveling can be added to the list (neck pillows, for example).

 

That’s It!

Really, this list could work for any cruise — just adjust the clothing types from cold weather to tropical weather (so hawaiian shirts instead of long underwear, you get the idea).

This list worked for me, so hopefully it will be helpful for you as well.

Click here for a printable version of this list with checkboxes.

Did I forget something?  Leave a comment below!