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An Alaska Cruise is the trip of a lifetime; In fact, it’s like two trips! I discovered that the only way I could make sure I had everything I needed for the variety of things we had planned was to create two small capsule wardrobes: one for the shipboard activities and one for the onshore adventures.
Read my tips on what to pack for Alaska Cruise in August and find out how to be glamorous aboard, an outdoors-woman ashore, and comfortable the whole time (in just one suitcase)!
What to Pack for Alaska Cruise in August
Written by: Wendy Craig
Packing for a cruise can be confusing and tricky. Perhaps when you learned there would be formal nights onboard, you had nightmarish flashbacks to ill-fitting prom tuxes and figure skater-style sequin dresses.
Don’t worry–being ultra-casual won’t be a hindrance on your cruise, and you can fit in with the formal dining nights with ease. While people certainly rock formal wear, my goal is to pack carryon only for the flights to and from the cruise terminals and to make sure my clothes are versatile as possible.
Creating an interchangeable capsule wardrobe is the key to simplified packing, which can easily fit into a carryon suitcase with the help of packing cubes to compress your clothing!
Start by reading these general tips for packing for a cruise:
- 10-Step Guide to Packing for Any Trip
- What to Pack for a Cruise Vacation
- What’s in My Carry-on Bag for a 2-week Cruise
- What to Pack on a Cruise: 7 Things to Bring and What to Leave Behind
- Understanding the Cruise Dress Code
- 10 Unexpected Things You’ll Experience on a Cruise
The key to planning what to pack for Alaska Cruise was bringing tops and bottoms that could (almost) all be worn together. (The yoga pants get a pass because, hey, they are yoga pants; perfect for lounging about, hitting the climbing wall, and sleeping in!)
In two parts: 15 total clothes pieces, 4 shoes, 1 rain coat, 1 hat, 5 accessories
Part 1
CASUAL CAPSULE WARDROBE
4 TOPS: 1 Wicking T-shirt, 2 T-Shirts, and 1 Yoga Tank
3 BOTTOMS: 2 Jeans and 1 Yoga Pants
2 LAYERS: Fleece Jacket and Sweater (similar)
2 OUTERWEAR: Raincoat and Wool Hat
2 SHOES: Hiking Boots and Slip-On Sneakers
Here are our readers recommendations for the best shoes to wear on your Alaska cruise!
Part 2
FORMAL CAPSULE WARDROBE
3 TOPS: Peplum Blouse (similar), Cream Sleeveless, Black Nude Lace
1 SKIRT: Maxi Skirt
1 FORMAL: Maxi Dress
2 SHOES: Heels and Flats
2 EARRINGS
1 SWEATER: Cardigan
1 PURSE: Wristlet
2 SCARVES: Scarf and Wrap
When planning what to pack for Alaska Cruise in August, the easiest way to use your Capsule Wardrobe is to write out both your itinerary and each corresponding outfit by day. For Example:
Day 2: At Sea
- Morning:
Yoga, Climbing Wall, Breakfast (Yoga Pants, Tank, Fleece, Black Sneakers) - Afternoon:
Enrichment Lecture, Reading, Lunch (Change into Black Jeans) - Evening:
Formal Dinner, Dancing, Music in the Lounge (Gown, Heels, Earrings, Pashmina & Clutch)
Day 3 Ketchikan: Flight Plane Excursion
- Morning:
Breakfast, Ashore to explore town (Black Jeans, T Shirt, Grey Sweater, Hiking Boots) - Afternoon:
Flight Plane over Misty Fjords (Add Raincoat, Grey Scarf and Wool Hat) - Evening:
Dinner in Specialty Restaurant (Skirt, Peplum Top, Cardigan, Clutch, Black flats, Earrings)
My formal clothing was worn each evening as per the cruise dress code. I probably could have worn the same top for the semi-formal dinners, but it was more fun to have options. Each night after dinner, my husband and I would race back to the cabin to change into jeans and a sweater before checking out the evening activities.
I wore the same gown with a different scarf and earrings for our two formal nights. Although some people did not go all out, there were enough of us who did, making it very festive and totally glamorous; definitely worth the effort.
That being said, my casual wardrobe made up the majority of what I wore for this trip. I must say that I was pretty glad that I brought my little bottle of Febreze; especially after our 9 mile hike to the Mendenhall Glacier and our horseback riding excursion!
Follow the rules of The Capsule Wardrobe. Stick with one color palette and make sure that you have a plan to wear the majority of your items at least twice. This will ensure that you have the perfect packing list for your Alaska Cruise Adventure.
What are your suggestions on what to pack for Alaska cruise in august? Comment below!
For more cruise packing tips, please read:
- What to Pack for a Mediterranean Cruise
- What to Wear on a Cruise to the South Pacific
- Caribbean Cruise Wear Essentials
- What to Pack for a Transatlantic Cruise
Suggested Travel Resources:
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Author Bio: Wendy Craig is a transplanted New Yorker living in the Pacific Northwest. Her wanderlust comes from a lifetime of Nomadic travel (Having lived in 14 different places across the US and Australia before graduating from High School) She has a passion for discovering the authentic and looks at each trip as an opportunity to see the world with new eyes. From researching to writing checklists, planning to packing, Wendy is in Love with every step of the Travel process.
I will be following these recommendations closely, I’m excited to have an Alaskan cruise on my itinerary for May 2024!
As many have stated above, layers, layers, layers! We did a 10 rail tour of Alaska in June, and wore everything from shorts and tank tops to hats/scarfs, mittens and long underwear. The weather is SO variable, depending on where you are in Alaska. Everything was super casual, even at dinner so that made it much easier. I did “dress” for dinner one night on our anniversary, which just consisted of wearing my clean jeans and a nicer top with a cardigan. ENJOY! Alaska is beautiful!
This information helped me decide what I would bring on our Alaska cruise. I dressed more casual on this trip than a Caribbean cruise.
Great ideas. Just returned from a JulyAlaskan Expedition cruise with Lindblad. 2 weeks and carryon only . My list was a little different as we spent lots of time hiking and on the zodiacs, and never “dressed” for dinner. Lots of layers and wool socks( my Bogg boots were my best friends).
Wish I would have had this before my Italy and Great Britain trips. Will definitely help me on my next excursion to Alaska. Found the tips and suggestions very helpful. Will definitely follow from now on for future trips. Especially now that I’m traveling solo. Will save the need for all that heavy luggage.
Thank you Wendy, Alex and bloggers for tips on packing for an Alaska cruise. Splitting the packing cubes in two – dress up and excursion was genius. Just got back from our cruise and all the rest in our group were so jealous that I could pack carry-on for the trip. Layering was definitely the key. We went from 80’F to 49’F over the week. For dress up nights everyone was pretty casual on our cruise so one of your flexible bottoms and a nice top would be perfect. Pack good waterproof shoes for excursions. Thanks again.
I just got back from a cruise to Alaska and had a great time! I looked here for ideas of what to pack before I went. Thinking of packing two capsule wardrobes was so helpful! I felt I had exactly what I needed and didn’t overpack like I usually do. It was so nice to be able to easily get through the airport and onto the ship with just carryon!
I’m leaving for Alaska in a month! This will be so helpful!!!
I should have rread this before article before I went on my cruise! Of course, both my Husband and I overpacked and also had lost luggage on our return trip. If we would gave each only taken a carry-on, we would have been able to enjoy our travels so much more. I will be back to research Travel Fashion Girl the next time we travel!
My husband and I are leaving for an Alaskan cruise that departs from Vancouver the beginning of September for a week. We will also have 3 days in Vancouver first. I’m a mess regarding packing for this trip. These wardrobe tips are helping me to begin organizing my thoughts for what to pack. Please let me know if you have any further suggestions. Thank you!
Thank you! An avid cruiser, part of the whole experience for me is to have as many different outfits as possible. I use your same strategy but on a much larger scale! Everything is a mix and match color palette and all goes together. I have found that I wear more casual pieces, shorts and t-shirts, than I do dressy pieces, as I also run back and change after dinner! Since we don’t go out much (ie, ever) i love the dressing up process on a cruise, probably the main reason that we like to cruise. I also do a rough plan for each day and each adventure. Thank you! (We also live in the PNW)
So glad you found this guide helpful Daryl, happy travels!
All this information is wonderful! Thank You so much
That is so amazing to hear, so glad it helped. Have an amazing time on your travels Laura! 🥰
Thank you so much for the helpful packing tips! Like another reader, I am traveling to Norway in July for a Norwegian Fjords cruise. The idea of two wardrobes – one for day and one for night – makes so much sense on a cruise! I have an LBD and a couple of other dresses for evening as our cruise doesn’t really have formal dining. My plan of hiking shoes and pants/skorts for day seems to be doable. So glad to see a visual of this capsule wardrobe!
Thank you so much for your feedback Gina, we are so happy to hear that you have found this helpful. Have the most incredible time on your travels ❤
We are cruising for a week to Seattle on July 21 (after spending a preceding 3 weeks in Anaheim/Palm Springs/PCH/Yosemite/PAC NW starting July 3!). Since we are flying from Florida for a month, my goal is to pack carry on only for both a long California vacation + Alaskan cruise. I also want both of my kids and husband to do the same, although I’m less optimistic there. This article was helpful, particularly (a) writing out all the outfits to go with the cruise itinerary, and (b) the small febreze bottle suggestion! Thank you TFG for all your packing lists and articles – been enjoying them since 2013!
Hi Sandy, so pleased we have been able to help you with your packing!! Have an incredible time on your trip, sounds so exciting!! ?
Great ideas. What changes if any would you make for an early May cruise to Alaska? Thanks
Hi Amy, so pleased you enjoyed the article. Thanks for your question! We’ll share your question here so the author of the article can reply 🙂
Thanks for this list! I’m going on a cruise to Alaska in a month and this list will be very helpful. Thanks!
In 15 days cruise to Alaska 10 days. Thanks I thought this wardrobe out , I am packing just like you shared . woohoo excited for adventure.❤
Grateful for this list! I’m cruising the Norwegian Fjords in September and this is easily adaptable to my trip. I’m still stressing a bit about it since the weather can be very changeable plus we’re on a small ship where the dressing for dinner each night is required. Eeek! I have found a great LBD plus a couple of wrap dresses & a shift dress that don’t wrinkle. I think I’ll just recycle those for the entire trip (4 dresses total). LOL
Yes, recycle those dresses and add a colorful pashmina and costume jewelry to change the look. You can even add a light cover up 🙂
Great ideas… thanks so much for the tips. My husband and I will be cruising to Alaska for 7 days this July in between other travels to the Pacific northwest (we’ll be gone a month). Your suggestions are very doable. Since we’ve retired, I’ve been working on developing a travel wardrobe made up of three colors – navy, gray, and purple/raspberry, so your examples were pretty right-on. Was there anything you wished you had that you didn’t bring?
That sounds like a great plan Janis! The article was written by a guest author, I haven’t been on this cruise unfortunately. I hope you have a great time 🙂
Hello,
I am about to go on an Alaskan Cruise in the end of June. Any suggestions?
Help…I’m planning on a cruise to Alaska, leaving on May 29th. Will be on the Carnival Legend. Will be doing some sightseeing off ship and want to be dressed nice, not formal for dinner.
What do I need to pack for this type of vacation?
Thanks for the tips. It was helpful for our Alaska cruise.
That’s awesome Muriel! Glad to help! Anything we should change?
We are going to Anchorage, Seward and Denali for 2 weeks! I leave in 6 days! Any ideas for layering? I like what you have shown on this website. We are not doing the cruise. Five days is going to be fishing. I won’t be fishing but I will be on the fishing boat. And how cold will it be near the glaciers? I want to be comfortable and not cold or wet. Should I wear elastic pants? lol
This sounds like a great trip 🙂 Take a look at this post for layering ideas http://bit.ly/2a93zi4
Thank you so much for these graphics and tips. I am packing for cruise/ two weeks in Northern Isles including Iceland. After much perusing of web, I landed on your page. Very helpful!
You are so welcome 🙂 Glad you’ve found the page useful!
please make a list for visiting Dubai in early April.
Hi there! I’ll add it to the list 🙂