Alaska in May, getting the most out of packing the least

[adSimba]

Experienced Alaska cruisers, what is your packing goal, so you do not bring too much stuff to need to worry about and not use.

I keep reading people saying that they wish they did not bring so much stuff, but that doesn't really help if I bring stuff I don't need but leave stuff I do.

What does your packing list look like for each member of the family?

 

[Aby]

My husband and I have travelled carry on only for our past two DCL Alaska cruises (sorry, can't help with kids), it can be difficult to not take too much, but remember that you can always do laundry on the ship! I usually bring a few pairs of black pants, which can be worn at least twice barring any food accidents, along with a selection of t-shirts for day to day wear. I usually bring one (or two if they are small/light) dress shirts for Palo, semi-formal, and formal nights, along with a light cardigan for in the MDR because i find it gets chilly. For on deck or off the ship, I bring a light fleece jacket and an outer water proof layer. One pair of sneakers and one pair of dress sandals for dinner, hat and mitts for really chilly days. Layers are key!

Things we never used? On our first cruise I brought multiple sweaters & long johns, they all sat in a drawer and took up space. Don't bring things you *might* wear - make a plan for what you theoretically wear each day based on your plans. Take just enough to get you through, or plan to do laundry so you can take less.

Hope this helps!

Aby

 

[amberwc]

For our family of 4, I brought enough day time clothes for 6 days. We were in Vancouver for the day before the cruise. I did laundry about day 3 I figured before everyone ran out of stuff.
The evening clothes were tougher... Our son can't seem to eat without getting something on him, and my mom (also on the cruise) loves to spoil our daughter with dresses. So the kids had a different outfit almost every night. We had 4 suitcases, it was manageable.
I can't think of anything that I brought that we didn't use. I packed for layers and it worked well.
The one surprise was how useful that popup hamper and the little over-the-door organizer was (we hung it on a hanger) but we always knew where everyone's KTTW was.

 

[cloudnut220]

We did Alaska in 2015 right after Memorial Day. I wish we had packed more layers. We all ended buying up DCL soft shell jackets and several of us also had to buy hats and gloves. The soft shells did make for a cute photo, but it was $$$. A warmer/rain resistant jacket would have saved us money.

 

[saxmangeoff]

One thing to consider is where you're from and what your comfort level with cold is. I was good for our previous trip with a light jacket or windbreaker. We did wear full rain gear in Juneau. It enabled us to go out and explore at Mendenhall Glacier while most people huddled in the visitor's center.

However, my son and daughter-in-law, who live in Las Vegas, were cold all the time, and wore heavy jackets.

 

[IWannaBeAMousketeer]

We went in July last year, but had one of the colder weeks of the season. I wished I would have had more warm clothes. I ended up buying a hoodie in port (but I love to put it on now & remember my trip). If it weren't for the Seattle/Vancouver leg of our trip, we would not have needed any shorts or short sleeved shirts. Definltely bring gloves (even the knit stretchy gloves are fine), fleece, rain jacket (which doubles as a wind breaker), warm hat. We brought long underwear and wore them twice (we wanted to spend a lot of time outside at the glacier & we took a helicopter trip which landed on a glacier). We brought too many nicer dinner clothes. We rarely bothered to change into them & most people were dressed like us (jeans, long sleeve shirt - not button down). One or two nice things would have been plenty.

 

[coloradocutie]

We really focused on layering. Fleeces were our best friend! We each had 1-2 but wore them daily and alternated them. They can be worn in lieu of a sweater if cold, but also can be layered under a wind breaker. Much warmer and compressible than a sweatshirt. (Old Navy has great ones for children and adults at a great price). That was key for us. But LOL, we do live in Colorado so we wear them everywhere and all of the time! Even for "dress up" occasions ... and throw in some birks and all is good
I would also bring some type of closed toe waterproof shoe/hiking boot/boot for if it is moist out.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

I used the space saving bags for the jackets and bulkier items. That helped compact things down. I did wear jacket and gloves in 2014 so I was glad I packed it. I also did laundry.

 

[coloradocutie]

Yes! ditto on packing cubes. Amazing how much stuff you can pack into them. EBags is our cube of choice.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't worry about packing "too much".

Layers. Waterproof layers and WARM layers. Good gloves. A good warm hat. Good socks. And, since it's summer, clothes for warmth, too! Layers and a variety of items so you can add or subtract as you need to.

 

[adSimba]

One thing to consider is where you're from and what your comfort level with cold is. I was good for our previous trip with a light jacket or windbreaker. We did wear full rain gear in Juneau. It enabled us to go out and explore at Mendenhall Glacier while most people huddled in the visitor's center.

However, my son and daughter-in-law, who live in Las Vegas, were cold all the time, and wore heavy jackets.

Lol, I guess that's the cost of living where you can wear sandals in December, where are you from?

 

[saxmangeoff]

Lol, I guess that's the cost of living where you can wear sandals in December, where are you from?

Northern Idaho. My profile picture is me in Tracy Arm in a sweatshirt. I admit it got a bit chilly up by the glacier, but I was fine for most of the day.

Oh and people wear sandals in December here, too. Just with socks.

 

[adSimba]

Northern Idaho. My profile picture is me in Tracy Arm in a sweatshirt. I admit it got a bit chilly up by the glacier, but I was fine for most of the day.

Oh and people wear sandals in December here, too. Just with socks.

I'm currently living in southern Idaho! and people do go out with socks and sandals but I don't see how their feet don't get all wet

I don't usually wear a coat if I'm not going to be out long and it's sunny and over 35 outside. Are you saying I don't need too many layers?

 

[kuhltiffany]

The great thing about Alaska is that dinner in the MDR is a lot more relaxed, so you don't need fancy clothes. The day at the glacier is really chilly, we wore long sleeved t-shirts, a fleece, down vest and windbreaker, plus hats and gloves. It was nice to have various layers to take/wear, the temperature goes up and down a lot, especially with different elevations on some excursions…

 

[saxmangeoff]

I'm currently living in southern Idaho! and people do go out with socks and sandals but I don't see how their feet don't get all wet

I don't usually wear a coat if I'm not going to be out long and it's sunny and over 35 outside. Are you saying I don't need too many layers?

You'll be ok. Remember, a lot of people think 60 is insanely cold. It can be wet, which makes the cold colder, but you're looking at a rainy 50-something as your potential worst case scenario. If you're from Phoenix or Las Vegas or El Paso, you say "bundle up". If you're from Idaho, you say, "Oh. Spring!"