The BEST Alaska Cruise Packing List & Alaska Outfits Ideas!

Creating the perfect Alaska Cruise Packing List can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s your first trip. When I booked my 7-day cruise with Holland America, I spent weeks researching what to pack and looking for the best Alaska outfit ideas. Between the unpredictable weather, formal nights, and all the excursions, I had no idea what I would actually wear. After nearly two months of planning (and overpacking), I finally figured out what worked — and what I didn’t need — so you can skip the stress and pack with confidence.

Here is an Amazon list of Alaska Cruise Outfit Suggestions.

The Weather in Alaska During the Summer

Most people cruise Alaska between June and early August, when the weather is at its best and wildlife is most active. I was shocked by how warm it actually was!

Our trip (July 29 – August 6) had perfect weather except for a single rainy, foggy day in Juneau. In Ketchikan, it was warm enough for shorts and a T-shirt. Expect temperatures between 60–75°F, with cooler mornings and evenings.

Travel Tip: Don’t just pack for the cold. Bring a mix of warm-weather and cool-weather clothes so you’re ready for anything.

Do I Need to Pack for Cold Weather?

Even though some days are warm, you still have to pack for cold weather as well. Especially if you will be visiting Hubbard Glacier or going on a glacier excursion. When you visit Hubbard Glacier, you will have hours to take photos and enjoy the scenery. However, those who did not bring warmer clothes rushed back inside and did not get to fully enjoy all the amazing glacier views. I definitely recommend packing a lightweight puffer jacket or parka that compresses easily.

How Often Does It Rain in Alaska During the Summer?

Since you are visiting multiple cities on an Alaskan cruise you should absolutely prepare for rain. It is almost inevitable that you will have one rainy day in Alaska so it’s best to be prepared. However, what I found was that even on a rainy day, it still wasn’t too cold. A light rain jacket was perfectly fine with a light long-sleeve shirt underneath. I did not need to be as bundled up as I thought.

Shoes: Pack Smart, Not Excessively

This was my biggest packing mistake — I brought far too many pairs of shoes. Alaska cruise days involve a lot of walking. Ships are long, ports can mean several miles on foot, and excursions aren’t the place for impractical shoes.

Here’s what I learned:

• Sneakers were my MVPs. I wore them 90% of the time — around the ship, in port, and on excursions.
• Fancy rain boots and Sorel snow/water shoes? Totally unnecessary. Excursions that required them provided boot covers or appropriate footwear.
• No hiking boots needed. They just took up space.

What You Really Need: One pair of comfortable sneakers, one pair of dress shoes for gala nights, and one pair of flip-flops or slip-ons for casual wear around the ship.

My #1 Alaska Cruise Outfit Tip

If I could give you just one piece of advice, it would be this: pack for comfort.

I spent 80% of my cruise wearing a version of the same outfit, which was workout leggings, a workout tank top, a light athletic jacket, and sneakers. It was the perfect all-day outfit that was cozy in the morning for grabbing coffee, cute for exploring ports, and comfortable enough for the airplane.

When you’re building your Alaska Cruise Packing List, lean into athleisure. You’ll thank yourself later.

Loungewear Chic

Cruises are relaxing, and you’ll spend plenty of time lounging, grabbing coffee, or enjoying the view from your balcony. Instead of frumpy pajamas, I packed a cute matching loungewear set that I could wear in the cabin, around the ship, and even to breakfast.

I also love athletic tank tops with built-in bra cups; they’re comfortable but modest enough for walking around without worrying about being overexposed on a chilly deck.

How to Dress in Layers

Everyone says to dress in layers, but you do not have to overdo it. You do not need a jacket and a puffer vest. I brought a puffer vest, and it was totally unnecessary. Here is a list of how to dress in layers.

• 4 Tank Tops or Short-Sleeve Shirts: Your first layer should be a tank top or short-sleeve shirt. I really like athletic tank tops with built-in bra’s for comfort, but any tank top or short-sleeve shirt is ideal. You want your bottom layer to be a cool warm warm-weather top that could be worn alone.
• 2-3 Long Sleeve Shirts: Next, you will want to bring a few long sleeve shirts you can throw over your tank top or short sleeve shirt. This is good to have for early morning on the cruise ship, chillier weather, rainy days, and excursions. The idea is that if you get warm, you can take the long-sleeve shirt off and tie it around your waist.
• 4 Leggings/Jeans/Khakis: You want 4-5 comfortable pairs of pants. On a cruise, you will likely have no problem wearing the same pair for a few days, so unless you need to wear a new pair every day, having 4-5 is plenty. I personally prefer leggings, while my in-laws like light khakis.
• Cardigan/Light Jacket/Duster: It can get chilly around the cruise ship, so you will want some type of light jacket you can throw on going to grab a coffee in the morning, while you’re eating in the dining room, or watching a show. I typically bring a dressy light cardigan for the evening that can be worn with a nicer outfit and a casual light jacket or duster I can throw on to walk around the cruise ship when I’m in my lounge wear or just grabbing a coffee.
• Heavier Water-Resistant or Waterproof Jacket: It can be chilly and rainy in Alaska, especially early mornings and on excursions like whale watching or visiting the glaciers. My go-to type of jacket for Alaska is a water-resistant puffer jacket with a hood. This is because puffer jackets can compress down to save on storage space, and they are also very warm and cozy. Since I live in a warm climate 90% of the year, I bought a nice Lululemon jacket in excellent condition used for $60.

Formal Gala Nights

Every 7-day cruise will have two formal nights, so I recommend bringing at least 2 dressier outfits. These do not need to be full-on gowns. Think of how you would dress if you were going to a fine dining restaurant. It could be a nice dress, slacks with a blouse, or even a jumpsuit.

What I also realized was that if you plan on eating at some of the specialty restaurants, you may want to be more dressed up. I personally enjoy dressing nicely when I go to a nice restaurant and prefer to dress up in the evening. One way to save on space is to pack a nice pair of dress pants and a few different blouses.

Fun & Fashionable Alaska Outfits

If you have extra room in your suitcase and want to pack some fun & fashionable Alaska outfits, these are some other items you can bring. I will usually bring 1-2 clothing items that are totally not necessary, but make for cute outfits to walk around the different ports.

• An easy, stylish poncho
• Flannels
• Puffer Vest

Packing Tips for Photography

Alaska is absolutely breathtaking and you may want to capture every moment. I highly recommend the Nikon Coolpix P950 as a travel camera since you will not need to switch lenses and it can zoom as far as 2000mm. This camera takes fantastic landscape and wildlife photography.

If you’re a seasoned photographer, definitely bring a tripod, remote clicker, and an easy waterproof bag you can slide over the camera if needed. Also, remember to bring plenty of batteries and several SD cards. I also recommend a polarizing filter since most of the photos will have water reflections.

Other Items

There are also a few items I want to highlight which I always end up buying if I wasn’t savvy enough to pack it myself. First, bring a bag of medication on your cruise. Our carry-on was like a mini pharmacy and we used almost everything we brought. Bring daily vitamins, fiber, a decongestant, Tums, Dramamine, anxiety pills if you need them, anti-nausea, allergy medication, cough drops, Dayquil, Nightquil, and petiolate powder packets.

Two other items I always bring with me are a reusable water bottle and a thermos to keep my coffee warm or to fill with hot water.

Here is my complete Essential Cruise Packing List with Printable Checklist

Alaska Cruise Outfits List

Below is a list of clothes to pack for your Alaska Cruise based on what I learned from my previous trip. I should add it’s also easiest to keep your colors neutral so everything goes together. You can never go wrong with black, white, and grey.

Alaska Cruise Packing List (non-clothes)

Things I Packed and Didn’t Need

Here is a list of items I packed and could have left behind. I wore a few things because I had them, but in reality, I would have rather had more athleisure-type outfits. I’ve honestly never found jeans very comfortable and would have preferred to have more comfortable leggings instead. Bringing a puffer vest was completely not unnecessary. I also brought a zip-up Lululemon jacket and never wore it because my poncho was so comfortable and kept me warm. Finally, I brought way too many shoes, and after a while the hiking boots, rainboots, and even my flip-flops weren’t very comfortable so I just wore my sneakers 90% of the time.

Pack for Weight Fluctuations

Finally, it’s time to get real. My favorite part of taking a cruise is all the amazing food. Take into consideration that you may gain a few extra pounds. By the end of our cruise, my leggings were also the only thing that still tucked me in and made me look skinny. My formal dress was also very snug. I gained over 5lbs on my Alaskan Cruise thanks to how delicious the food on Holland America is! Do not bring clothes that will be unflattering or that you may not fit into should you enjoy some indulging.

Packing for an Alaska cruise takes a little strategy, but once you’ve done it right, you’ll be comfortable from glacier deck views to formal dinners. If you found this Alaska Cruise Packing List helpful or have questions about Alaska outfit ideas, leave a comment — I’d love to hear from you!

If you found this list helpful or have any other questions about cruising to Alaska, don’t hesitate to comment below!

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