What I Really Pack for an Alaska Cruise (And Why You Can Leave Half the Internet's Packing List at Home)ššļøš³ļø
- Janette Jahoda
- Jun 28
- 5 min read
Copilot said:
An Alaska Destination Expert's Real-Life Packing List for Summer Alaska Cruises
By Janette Jahoda, Alaska Destination Expert & Frequent Alaska Cruiser
Every year I see the same thing happen.
Someone joins an Alaska cruise Facebook group and asks:
"What should I pack for Alaska?"
Within minutes, the internet has convinced them they need:
Snow boots
Thermal underwear
Rain pants
Hand warmers
Trekking poles
Bear spray
An emergency survival kit
And possibly a sherpa
Then they arrive at the cruise terminal with enough luggage to summit Mount Everest. Let's take a deep breath!
If you're sailing Alaska on a comfortable cruise ship, sleeping in a balcony cabin, and taking normal sightseeing excursions, you probably need far less than the internet thinks you do.
The Biggest Alaska Packing Myth
The biggest misconception is that Alaska in the summer is freezing.
It usually isn't.
Most Alaska cruise ports in July are somewhere between 50Ā° and 75Ā°F.
Think:
Cool mornings
Comfortable afternoons
Light rain or mist
Occasional sunshine warm enough for short sleeves
You're visiting the coastal rainforest areas of Southeast Alaska, not the frozen interior wilderness.
And I should probably mention...
I live in Sun City, Arizona, where summer occasionally feels like we're living on the surface of the sun. š„
So my definition of "comfortable" may be slightly different than yours.
I also tend to run warm. Whether that's Arizona conditioning or my own personal supply of natural thermal padding, I'll let you decide. š
What I Actually Wear on Alaska Excursions
Many people ask what I personally wear.
Here's my standard Alaska outfit:
Short-sleeve T-shirt
Stretchy jeans, yoga pants, or quick-dry pants
Lightweight fleece or zip-up athletic jacket
Waterproof rain jacket with a hood
Comfortable walking shoes with good grip
Lightweight gloves and scarf tucked in my backpack
That's it.
No Arctic survival suit.
No mountaineering gear.
No dogsled.
My Alaska Layering Formula
My formula is simple:
T-Shirt + Lightweight Fleece + Waterproof Rain Jacket
That combination handles about 95% of what Alaska throws at you.
When I get warm, the fleece comes off.
If it rains, the rain jacket goes on.
Simple.
My Favorite Alaska Cruise Gear
Rain Jacket
My most important item is a lightweight waterproof rain jacket.
I personally buy mine one size largerĀ than normal so I can comfortably layer underneath.
What I look for:
ā Waterproof
ā Hood with adjustment pulls
ā Covers my backside when sitting on wet benches
ā Interior and exterior zippered pockets
ā Lightweight
A current example similar to mine:
Lightweight Fleece or Athletic Jacket
Under my rain jacket, I wear either:
A lightweight fleece
A softshell jacket
A zip-up athletic jacket
I actually prefer no hoodĀ on my middle layer.
If I need a hood, my rain jacket is already on.
I don't enjoy wrestling with multiple hoods competing for neck real estate.
Walking Shoes
I love Skechers Slip-Ins.
Why?
Easy on and off
Comfortable all day
Great traction on wet docks and sidewalks
No bending over to tie shoes
I usually bring two pairs.
One practical pair.
One slightly cuter backup pair.
If one gets wet, I have options.
Comfort wins every time.
Lightweight Gloves
I use lightweight ski glove liners.
Not giant ski gloves.
Just glove liners.
They're:
Warm enough
Dry quickly
Pack tiny
Perfect for glacier viewing
Lightweight Backpack
My backpack usually contains:
Gloves
Scarf
Water bottle
Wallet
Extra glasses
Snack bars
Wet wipes
Extra layers
And all the clothing I removed because apparently 60Ā°F still feels amazing after surviving another Arizona summer.
Things Most Alaska Cruisers Never Use
Giant Winter Coats
Most people never wear them.
They take up half a suitcase and usually stay there.
Snow Boots
Unless your specific excursion requires them, leave them home.
Five Pairs of Dress Shoes
You'll wear one.
Maybe two.
Seven Fancy Dinner Outfits
Nobody is keeping score.
Most people are too busy looking at glaciers and wildlife to remember what anyone wore to dinner.
Nobody remembers the sweater.
Everybody remembers the whale.
Thermal Underwear For Everyday Use
For most July Alaska cruises, these spend seven days sightseeing from inside the suitcase.
I once had a lovely lady wear thermal underwear under her jeans because Facebook convinced her Alaska was basically the Arctic. By lunchtime in Juneau, we were less concerned about hypothermia and more concerned about spontaneous combustion. A quick de-layering mission in the ladies' room fixed everything.
Moral of the story:Ā Layers are your friend. Thermal underwear in July usually is not. š
Survival Gear
You're visiting Alaska.
You're not filming:
"Naked and Afraid: Senior Glacier Edition."
Pack For The Alaska You're Actually Visiting
Let's be honest about what most Alaska cruisers are actually doing.
You're probably going to be:
Riding the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad while someone else does all the work climbing the mountain.
Going whale watching from a comfortable boat with a warm cabin and a restroom nearby.
Taking a flightseeing tour over glaciers while sitting in a heated airplane.
Visiting adorable sled dogs and maybe trying a dog mushing experience without having to train a single husky.
Enjoying a scenic motorcoach tour with plenty of photo stops and gift shops.
Shopping in town for an Ulu Knife, you definitely didn't know you needed.
You are not crossing the Yukon on foot. You are not backpacking across Denali.
You are not scaling a glacier with an ice axe. Seriously could you even? If so you're most likely on an Expedition Trip...i'll save that for another blog about Alaska!
Most Alaska excursions include trains, buses, boats, airplanes, comfortable seats, gift shops, snacks, and readily available restrooms.
My kind of adventure, no getting dirty or sweating...
If your ideal day includes breathtaking scenery, wildlife sightings, a comfortable ride, a nice lunch, and a cozy bed waiting for you back onboard...
Congratulations.
You're packing for the exact Alaska experience most of us actually want.Ā ššš¦ šļøāš
Take Care,
Janette
About Janette
Hi, I'm Janette!
I'm an Alaska Destination Expert, Luxury Travel Specialist, and Arizona traveler who happily escapes the summer heat by cruising Alaska whenever possible.
If you're considering an Alaska cruise and would like help choosing the right cruise line, cabin, excursions, hotels, or flights, I'd love to help.
š 623-748-4527š§ Janette.Jahoda@GlobalTravelCollection.com
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