Ultimate Alaska Cruise Packing List for Families

Alaska holds a special place in our family’s travel story, which is why I wanted to share our ultimate Alaska cruise packing list. Kevin and I took our very first cruise together aboard the Celebrity Century to Alaska for our honeymoon—and we loved it so much that we returned to Alaska not long afterward. Years later, our daughters experienced their very first cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas to Alaska, making it a destination that spans generations of our family’s travel memories

After multiple Alaska sailings we’ve learned one thing above all else: Finding the right Alaska Cruise packing list is essential, as preparing for the Pacific Northwest is completely different from packing for a Caribbean cruise.

The weather can change quickly — sunshine, rain, cool temperatures, and breathtaking glacier views can all happen in the same day. The good news? With the right preparation you’ll be ready for whatever Alaska throws your way.

Whether you’re planning your first Alaska cruise or returning to explore the Last Frontier again — print this out and use it as your checklist while you pack.

⚠️ A Note Before You Pack

We’ve cruised Alaska in both May and June, so this list reflects our experience during the cooler parts of the season. We’re heading back this August 2026 and will update this list with late-summer weather insights after that trip. Stay tuned! 🚢🏔️

📄 Travel Documents

– ☐ Passport or government-issued ID
– ☐ Cruise documents and boarding passes
– ☐ Travel insurance information
– ☐ Credit cards
– ☐ Cash (small bills for tips and port shopping)
– ☐ Emergency contact information

💡 Our Tip: Make digital copies of all documents and email them to yourself. If anything gets lost you have backup access from any device.

👕 Clothing — The Layering System is Everything

Alaska weather is unpredictable. The layering system is your best friend.

Base Layers:
– ☐ T-shirts (3–5)
– ☐ Long-sleeve shirts (2–3)
– ☐ Moisture-wicking tops (2–3)
– ☐ Jeans or casual pants (2–3)
– ☐ Leggings (optional but highly recommended)

Mid Layers:
– ☐ Fleece jacket
– ☐ Sweater or hoodie
– ☐ Insulated vest (optional)

Outer Layers — Non-Negotiable:
– ☐ Waterproof rain jacket with hood
– ☐ Lightweight waterproof pants
– ☐ Packable windbreaker (optional)

Evening Wear:
– ☐ Casual dinner outfits
– ☐ Dress shirt or blouse
– ☐ Dress pants, skirt, or dress
– ☐ Formal night outfit (if applicable)

Sleepwear and Loungewear:
– ☐ Pajamas
– ☐ Comfortable lounge clothes

Undergarments:
– ☐ Underwear
– ☐ Bras
– ☐ Socks — bring more than you think you need

💡 Our Tip: Pack one extra pair of socks per day. Wet feet in Alaska are miserable. Wool socks are worth every penny.

👟 Footwear

– ☐ Waterproof walking shoes or hiking shoes — your most important footwear decision
– ☐ Rain boots for the kids
– ☐ Comfortable sneakers
– ☐ Sandals or flip-flops (for the ship)
– ☐ Dress shoes (optional)

💡 Our Tip: We cannot stress this enough — waterproof shoes are essential in Alaska. Even on dry days port towns often have wet or muddy paths. Don’t bring your favourite white sneakers to Ketchikan.

🧥 Cold Weather Accessories

– ☐ Warm hat or toque
– ☐ Lightweight gloves
– ☐ Scarf or neck gaiter
– ☐ Hand warmers (optional but wonderful at glacier viewings)

🎒 Excursion Essentials

– ☐ Daypack or backpack
– ☐ Reusable water bottle
– ☐ Binoculars — absolutely worth packing for wildlife and glacier viewing
– ☐ Sunglasses
– ☐ Camera
– ☐ Extra memory card
– ☐ Waterproof phone pouch
– ☐ Small dry bag (optional)

💡 Our Tip: Binoculars genuinely transform your Alaska experience. Spotting whales, eagles, and bears from the ship deck is one of the highlights of any Alaska cruise — you’ll use them every single day.

🧴 Toiletries

– ☐ Toothbrush and toothpaste
– ☐ Shampoo and conditioner
– ☐ Hairbrush or comb
– ☐ Deodorant
– ☐ Razor
– ☐ Moisturizer — Alaska air is dry
– ☐ Lip balm — essential
– ☐ Sunscreen — yes, even in Alaska
– ☐ Makeup if needed

💊 Health and Wellness

– ☐ Prescription medications
– ☐ Motion sickness medication— Alaska waters can be rougher than Caribbean, especially through the Gulf of Alaska
– ☐ Pain reliever
– ☐ Allergy medication
– ☐ Bandages and blister pads
– ☐ Small first-aid kit

💡 Our Tip: Don’t skip the motion sickness medication even if you’ve never experienced seasickness before. The open ocean sections of Alaska itineraries can be significantly rougher than calm Caribbean waters. We always pack Sea-Bands and Gravol.

📱 Electronics

– ☐ Cell phone and charger
– ☐ Camera and charger
– ☐ Portable power bank — essential for long excursion days
– ☐ Cruise-approved power strip (no surge protection)
– ☐ Tablet or Kindle
– ☐ Headphones

💡 Our Tip: A portable power bank is one of the most underrated items on this list. Excursion days are long and you’ll be taking hundreds of photos — the last thing you want is a dead phone when a humpback whale surfaces beside your whale watching boat.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Cruise Extras

These are the items most packing lists skip — but experienced family cruisers know they make a huge difference:

– ☐ Travel games and card games
– ☐ Coloring books and crayons for younger kids
– ☐ Small backpack for each child
– ☐ Magnetic hooks — these are a game changer for cabin organization
– ☐ Lanyards for sea pass cards— the whole family needs these
– ☐ Night light — interior cabins on cruise ships are pitch black. A small night light is essential especially for kids

💡 Our Tip: Magnetic hooks are genuinely one of our top cruise hacks. Cruise ship cabin walls are metal — a few magnetic hooks instantly doubles your storage for jackets, bags, and lanyards. Grab a pack before you sail.

Want to make cruise day even smoother? Check out our Cruise Essentials We Never Sail Without post for a few extra items that have earned a permanent spot in our packing routine — the kind of things you don’t think to pack until you wish you had.

*We’ll be updating this list after our August 2026 Alaska sailing with late-season weather insights and any new must-have items we discover. Check back after our trip!*