Planning an Alaskan cruise? We have a few packing tips for you!
This past May/June, we headed west to Seattle to board an NCL ship to Alaska. This was our first cruise (EVER) so we weren’t really sure what all to expect. We read blogs, watched videos, joined a Facebook group and talked to friends who had gone. All of that helped prepare us for the adventure ahead, but there were still a few things we learned along the way. Today we thought we’d share some of those tips with you. Keep in mind all of this applies to Norwegian Cruise Line and may differ slightly on other cruise lines.
Don’t forget your documents. As of September 2022, you are no longer required to be vaccinated. However, all unvaccinated passengers must present a negative COVID test to board NCL ships. Make sure to have your vaccine card or test results ready to present on embarkation day. Also make sure to have your passport and ArriveCAN information ready (if your cruise is going to Canada). We definitely recommend filling this out ahead of time to save yourself some hassle. For the most up-to-date information on requirements, check out NCL’s website.
Take cash for tipping. Though you won’t need cash, credit cards, or even your ID for most things on the ship (your room keycard stores all of your information and is used for all onboard purchases), it is a good idea to take cash with you. We had read that some ports have stores that only accept cash, but we never experienced this. (Every place we visited accepted credit cards or payment methods like Apple Pay.) However, we did use cash to tip some of the staff. Though tipping is not required (and is actually included for services that all guests use), if someone goes above and beyond, it is nice to show your gratitude. Plus some services are not granted automatic tips at all. Butlers, concierge (in the Haven Suite), beverage service and youth directors, for example, do not receive automatic gratuity.
Take a lanyard or small purse to hold your keycard. We both carried small wallets with straps when we ventured out around the ship. You want to make sure you have your keycard with you at all times because, as previously stated, this is how you pay for everything. For ease, and to make sure you don’t lose your card, we would recommend carrying a lanyard with a card holder attached (they do sell these on the ship) or a small wallet or purse.
Pack Layers. If you read any blog, watch any vlog or do any amount of research on what to take on an Alaskan cruise, the one thing they will all say is to pack layers. And honestly, they are so right. No matter what month you decide to go (our cruise was May 28-June 4), you will likely experience a wide range of temperatures. Coming as a bit of a surprise, it wasn’t that cold on our trip. We’d heard that it could be really cold in Alaska, even in the summer. But it never really was, with a few exceptions. We did get lucky as far as the weather was concerned, but would definitely recommend layers. If you go June-August you probably won’t need long johns (unless you are planning to go dogsledding or hiking on a glacier), but having hats or ear warmers, camisoles, sweatshirts and light jackets can be very helpful.
Take a rain jacket. Just a note, July and August are the rainy season in Alaska. If you plan a visit these two months, chances are high that you will also encounter a bit of rain. We didn’t get much rain on our trip (only in Canada and Seattle), but it is always a possibility.
If you’re a hot natured person, pack shorts. Along the same lines as the previous tips, you might want to consider packing shorts. The cruise ship itself can get quite warm, especially for hot natured people. Many people, Courtney included, wore shorts around the boat. There were even some fellow cruisers who wore shorts off the ship.
Take at least one nice outfit. Though some cruise ships no longer have an official formal night/Captain’s dinner (not sure if Norwegian ever did?), it can still be fun to get dressed up. You don’t have to dress formally (unless you just want to), but we would recommend taking at least one dress or nice outfit. You’ll notice a lot of guests dress a little nicer when dining at some of the restaurants, although it is not required. A few of the specialty dining restaurants did have a dress code but, as far as we could tell, it was mainly no tank tops or swimwear.
Choose your footwear wisely. Even though it did not rain on us in Alaska, having a good pair of water resistant shoes can be helpful. Not every cruise is a lucky as ours was and most people we’ve talked to who have gone before and since have had a bout of bad weather. If you are booking excursions, make sure you check the requirements ahead of time. Some of them require closed-toed shoes to participate. Having a pair of sandals or casual shoes can be good for walking around the ship itself.
Bring a swimsuit. Bringing a swimsuit to Alaska may seem like an odd thing to do. And, yes, it can get chilly on the upper decks of the ship. But not only did our ship have a pool and waterslide, it also had several large hot tubs. It was great to sit and relax with a margarita after a day of exploring. Plus, the views were stunning. If you are staying in the Haven, they have an indoor pool and wading pool you can enjoy. The spa on our ship also had a sauna and thermal lounge you could buy a pass for. A swimsuit can be good for multiple things!
Take binoculars. If you really want to get a good look at the wildlife, glaciers and far off mountains, make sure to pack a pair of binoculars. We had one pair between our group and it worked out great.
Invest in magnetic hooks. We bought a set of magnetic hooks on Amazon and they were super useful in the bathroom. You can use them to hang wet swimsuits, toiletry bags and other lightweight items. Some rooms even have magnetic walls, so using these hooks to hang items can help free up space in your stateroom.
Bring motion sickness medicine. If you get even remotely seasick, make sure to bring Dramamine (or something similar), sea bands or both. Some of the waters on the way to and from Alaska can be a bit rough, especially if there is a storm. Rocking is worse in some areas of the ship than others, so it is good to be prepared.
Hopefully you found some of these tips helpful. Alaska is a beautiful place so get ready to explore!
Stay tuned for upcoming blogs about our cruise excursions, food and what we thought of the Haven suite.
Our McTravels 