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These will keep you warm and ready for anything.
What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise in August
- Warm Yet Lightweight: Outdoor Ventures Lightweight Puffer Jacket, $45 (was $56)
- My Best Packing Hack Ever: Alming Space-Saving Compression Bags, $13
- A Whale-Watching Must-Have: Amazon Basics Compact Binoculars, $13 (was $15)
- $6 and Screen-Friendly: Achiou Touchscreen Gloves, $6 (was $10)
- Lay on the Layers: Fruit of the Loom Micro Waffle Premium Thermal Set, $19 (was $22)
Summer is the busiest time of year for Alaska cruises, and for anyone considering one, “book it” is my best advice. The 49th State is full of experiences like no other. Where else will you get the chance to dogsled across glaciers, see salmon leap up ladders, sidle up to a bar where Wyatt Earp once drank, and (if you’re lucky) catch the Northern Lights all in one day?
But this magical state is also wild and unpredictable, with weather, temperatures, and terrain that can make packing a challenge. So if an Alaskan cruise is in your future, let me show you how it’s done.
I’ve spent more than 40 days there on cruises in the past several years, so I know a thing or two about what to bring for an awesome trip. My Alaskan cruise packing list is below, with things like rechargeable hand warmers, touchscreen gloves, the base layers I wear every day, my favorite lightweight puffer jacket, rain ponchos for finicky weather, and a barely-$1 hack I swear by for fitting it all that bulky gear into one suitcase.
One Travel Writer’s Packing List for Alaska Cruises in August
- Outdoor Ventures Lightweight Puffer Jacket, $45 (was $56)
- Fruit of the Loom Micro Waffle Premium Thermal Set, $19 (was $22)
- Achiou Touchscreen Winter Gloves, $6 (was $10)
- Mindful Design Disposable Rain Poncho, $7 (was $10)
- Auiiah Rechargeable Hand Warmers, $26 (was $40)
- Landneoo 3-Pack 14-Grid Pill Organizer Boxes, $7 (was $9)
- Amazon Basics Compact Binoculars, $13 (was $15)
- Alming Space-Saving Compression Bags, $13
- Lauqz Ear-Warmer Headband, $12 (was $13)
- Pander Belt Bag, $14 (was $15)
Related: These $3 Compression Packing Cubes Allow Overpackers to Fit 2 Weeks of Clothes Into Their Carry-Ons
Outdoor Ventures Lightweight Puffer Jacket
Alaska requires outerwear that can stand up to cold, wind, rain, sleet, mud, and more, and this puffer jacket has saved my back on trips to Alaska, Norway, and Iceland, too. It has that cozy, cushioned feel you want from a puffer, that’s warm without marshmallowy bulk, soft without feeling flimsy, and wind-resistant without being stiff.
Best of all, it evenly traps warmth without icky, sweaty hotspots, and it’s so lightweight, I often forget I was wearing it until a sharp gust would remind me just how wisely I’d chosen.
Fruit of the Loom Micro Waffle Premium Thermal Set
These cozy base layers earned their keep all in one bitterly cold port day in Skagway, but I’ve worn them in every port on every Alaskan cruise I’ve taken. They’re soft and warm, layer without bulk, and keep their trim shape without getting loose and baggy as the day wears on. That’s why every day in Alaska begins with me tugging these on to stay toasty-warm even in subzero temps.
Achiou Touchscreen Gloves
Alaskan cruises are full of photogenic, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments, but you don’t want to be pulling off gloves just to use your phone. These touchscreen gloves are so affordable, low-profile, and reliably warm, I keep a pair in the chest pocket of every jacket I own so I’m never caught without them. They keep warmth in and dry skin out, without leaving you disconnected from devices.
Mindful Design Disposable Rain Poncho
If an Alaskan cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you, you won’t want to chance inclement weather ruining your limited time in ports—or worse, preempting nonrefundable excursions. A disposable rain poncho can make your day or break it in the event of unexpected rain.
This one has a drawstring hood you can cinch tight, cuffed sleeves to keep cold wind out, and a roomy design you can slip on easily over a backpack or hiking pack. They take up next to no room in suitcases and purses, too, so you can always have one handy.
Auiiah 2-Pack Rechargeable Hand Warmers
This set of hand warmers has saved my skin on adventures from Alaska to the Azores and ports in between. For adventures to Tlingit territory, you’ll be glad you have these USB-charging hand warmers to tuck into gloves, pockets, hats, and jackets.
Each is palm-sized, with four warmth settings (level 2 is usually plenty for me), and can last up to 15 hours on a single charge. They can also double as flashlights in a pinch and make great gifts for fellow travelers.
Landneoo 3-Pack 14-Grid Pill Organizer Boxes
A common port of call on Alaskan cruises is Ketchikan, often jokingly referred to as “catch a cold.” To stay ready for anything, I bring my “portable pharmacy” with me on every cruise. It can hold cold medicine, antihistamines, decongestants, Dramamine, and more, to keep me happy and healthy, not sidelined by illness.
Amazon Basics Compact Binoculars
Shore excursions are half the fun of cruising, but there’s nothing like waking up early on port days to catch the sights on the way in, dodging remote islands and icebergs on the way through icy fjords. Binoculars will really come in handy here, as you may spot bears catching salmon on a beach or bald eagles nesting in coastal trees.
You’ll appreciate them on glacier days, too. Cruise ships are too large to get too close, so short of a private boat tour or helicopter ride, binoculars will be your best bet for seeing these centuries-old, stories-high walls of ice up close.
Alming 12-Pack Space-Saving Compression Bags
If you’ve ever packed for winter trips, you know the very real struggle of traveling with bulky clothing. These space-saving compression bags are my No. 1 hack for packing light for cold-weather destinations. No vacuum is required—just put clothes in the bag, seal it like a zip-top sack, then roll it tightly the way you would a sleeping bag. Rolling forces all the air out, leaving you with a flat, plastic parcel that takes up no more space than a T-shirt, even if it contains a puffer jacket.
Lauzq Ear-Warming Headband
To keep your ears frost-free with minimal damage to your hairdo, this ear-warming headband will come in clutch. It fully covers the ears, fits nicely under helmets if your day includes things like zip-lining or kayaking, and packs flat in luggage, taking up no more room than a pair of underwear.
Double-layered construction keeps it flush on the head without bunching, it’s machine washable with no special care, and even with my sensitive complexion, mine’s never left me with itchy, upset skin.
Pander Belt Bag
In port, you’ll want a bag to carry with you, and this simple, stylish $15 belt bag is my top choice for travel. It’s water-resistant, which is crucial for Alaska, and its one-liter capacity and body-hugging design make it perfect for outdoor adventuring.
User-friendly features include a two-way zipper, mesh slip pockets inside, a zippered pocket on the back, and an adjustable strap. Pro tip: Match it to your puffer jacket for a put-together look no matter what’s on the itinerary.
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Read the original article on Real Simple
