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Packing for an Alaska cruise and land tour can be a challenge. We took a Holland America line 7-day cruise and then 4 nights on land tour including Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks.
I purchased the unlimited laundry package and used it several times so I would have clean clothes for the land portion of our trip and not have to pack as much
I made my list, revised it several times, and purchased great items on Amazon. I suggest making a list on your phone’s notepad and adding to it as you think of things before your trip.
Here are some items I packed and purchased before my trip that really came in handy.
What to Pack for Alaska Cruise and Land Tour
- Raincoat or waterproof jacket – parts of Alaska are a temperate rainforest so expect some rainy weather on your trip. A compact waterproof jacket with a hood is great to have.
2. Waterproof pants – For our glacier day and hikes in possibly wet weather I wanted to have waterproof pants and these were perfect. They were super comfortable and not baggy and noisy like others I tried on and returned.
3. Hiking boots – On the hikes around Denali National Park the trails had some mud and we did climb on uneven surfaces so having a sturdy hiking shoe or boot is important.
4. Black sports pants with side pockets – I lived in these pants most of the trip. You can dress them up with a nice top for dinner, and they are super comfy on the plane ride.
5. Jeans or pants
6. Nice tops – 2 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve
7. Sweatshirt
8. Hat – I purchased a few baseball hats on the trip but wore this cute bucket hat in hot pink for fun to keep the sun off my face.
9. Sunscreen – Especially if you plan to hike on a glacier in the snow and sun, you will get sunburned and it is summer – the sun shines all day in Alaska so be prepared.
10. Chapstick – Don’t leave home without it.
11. Swimsuit – Most ships have a pool or hot tub
12. Uggs – Walking around the ship on at-sea days to look at glaciers is more fun in your cozy Uggs to keep your toes warm.
13. Skechers black shoes – These slip-on comfortable shoes pass as dress shoes if you want to wear a dress or slacks one evening. I used them a few times instead of my sneakers.
14. HOKA Sneakers – a bit pricey but really the best walking shoe available and so very comfortable.
15. Shorts (1 pair) – These have pockets which is helpful for keeping hands free when traveling and also lightweight so they dry quickly if they get wet (lots of rain in Alaska)
16. T-shirts (3)
17. Sunglasses
18. Air tags – a great invention in case your bag gets lost (and some do). You will know where your bag is by using an app on your phone. I even put one in my purse during the trip, just in case.
19. Chargers
20. Battery Charger for phone – we took so many photos on our phones and the battery depletes quickly when you travel so having a battery charger is important.
21. Orange top. On Holland America Lines they have an orange party and you will want to wear an orange top to join in the festivities celebrating the Dutch culture.
22. Sleep mask – Summer in Alaska means long days, in some areas it doesn’t even get dark. These are really helpful to sleep through the night.
23. Packing Cubes – I started using these just last year and love how easy it is to organize the stuff in your suitcase. Makes finding items much quicker too.
24. Pajamas or lounge wear – You will spend some time in the balcony room on your cruise as the views are spectacular and they provide room service. Relax and enjoy!
25. Wipes – trust me. These are good to have.
26. Gloves / hat – Viewing glaciers, especially on rainy days can get chilly so take these along just in case.
27. Down coat – I like a nice short down jacket that rolls up neatly in a small bag and fits into the backpack. It can get cold outside and this coat will keep you warm. You can add as many layers as you need under the coat. I wore it with a t-shirt in June and was warm on a glacier tour.
27. Backpack – I purchased this one before our trip and it was perfect for the plane and day trips. It has lots of separate pockets and plenty of space, even a built-in charger.
28. Carryon bag – This bag has plenty of space to bring coats and extra clothes in case your luggage gets lost. It also loops nicely on a small carry-on wheeled suitcase which is great when walking around the airport.
29. Carryon suitcase – These are easy to push around the airport when you travel and not too hard to place in the overhead compartment on the plane. You will probably need another larger suitcase but this one you will use again.
30. Crossbody bag – My best pre-cruise purchase was this bag. It is light and easy to carry. I like that it is large enough for my binoculars, phone and wallet.
31. Binoculars – A must-have for the cruise in Alaska as you will likely see wildlife right from your own verandah! This is the one we had; the power was good and focusing is easy.
32. Reusable cup – Nice to have so you can refill your cup with water or coffee from the buffet.
33. Small bills (1s 5s, and 10s) for tipping – You’ll be glad to have small bills for bus drivers, coffee shops, and tour guides as well as giving cash tips to waitstaff and stewards on the ship for service going above the 18% included.
34. Seasick bands – I always bring these and if the sea gets rough, I wear them. They work for me and I have been known to have a bit of motion sickness.
35. Bug spray or wipes – They say the Alaska state bird is mosquitos so, just to be safe, these wipes work great.
36. Magnetic hooks, cruise luggage tags and lanyards – The ship emails you luggage tags to print on paper so the plastic covers are good to use. The magnetic hooks stick to the wall in the stateroom and can be used for hanging hats or items like the lanyard that holds your room key.
37. Over-the-Door Organizer – Keep track of smaller items when they are easy to see with this hanging on one of the closet doors.
38. Underwear – Even with laundry, you will need at least 6 undies, 4 socks, and 2 bras.
39. Toiletry Bag – medications, toothbrush, toothpaste, tweezers, nail clippers, razor, deodorant, Advil, aspirin, Dramamine, bandaids, Benadryl, Tums, hair brush, make-up, jewelry, scrunchie, corkscrew and whatever else you may want.
40. Flip flops – If you plan to use the pool, these are good to have. We had some warm days in the summer. The Thermal suite will provide you with robes and sandals if you do not plan to use the pool.
41. Rechargeable Fan – Nothing worse than being so hot that you cannot sleep. I have a small purse-size fan for traveling on a hot bus I love too.
41. Paper copy of Itinerary: Hotel and Flight Info – I know, I’m showing my age but I always feel safer having a printout of important information. What if I lost my phone?
What you will NOT need on an Alaska cruise:
Business casual or fancy dresses, unless you like dressing up. Men must wear long pants for the dining rooms.
Umbrellas – it is usually too windy for them in Alaska.
Hard Liquor (1 bottle of wine allowed)
CBD and Marijuana
Clothing Iron (Use the laundry service)
hair dryer (provided in the room)
Bear repellent (cruise lines prohibit it)
Have an amazing time – Alaska is Awesome!!
18 Comments
Great tips! 👌👍🏄♂️
Thanks for reading. Packing takes time so it’s nice to know what helped others before you go!
🤝🌷
Super helpful packing list. The lanyard is a great tip.
Right? I lost my key in the first hour!! Used a lanyard after that. 🤣
I’m going on an Alaska cruise shortly and this list is so handy! Thank you for sharing.
Excellent. You will love it. Hope this list helps!!
Great post and guide on packing for an Alaskan Cruise. This is much needed for those going in their cruise for sure!
Thanks. It’s a lot to think about and helpful to know what is really needed on this awesome trip!
Very informative, we just planned our alaskas cruise and these will be very helpful. Thank you for sharing!
Great. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful trip!!
I have heard the Alaska cruise is one of the best! Your tips for what to pack are incredibly helpful!
Thanks so much. Yes Alaska is a great cruise to take – amazing wilderness!!
Thank you for this comprehensive packing list! I’m planning my first trip to Alaska and found your tips on layering clothing and packing waterproof gear incredibly useful. The reminder to bring binoculars for wildlife spotting was also a great touch. Your insights have made me feel much more prepared for my adventure.
So happy to hear this. I hope you have a great visit and some good weather too!!
Congratulation for for your Alaska Cruise. It is my dream travel destination. I liked all your pictures. Thank you for providing good information and pictures.
Thanks for reading. Alaska is beautiful!!