A small ship sailing in Alaska is a very different sort of experience than you might normally choose, but it’s amazing and you’ll definitely see a different side of the 49th state. But what do you pack for cruise in Alaska that’s an expedition sailing? It’s not what you would bring on a big cruise ship, but don’t worry, it’s not that complicated. You may find that you’ll need to do some shopping though. We’ve got all the answers and if you follow our advice you’ll be well setup for a great trip!
Do you have an Inside Passage or Aleutian small ship Alaska cruise booked or are you planning one already? The three main operators in Alaska to take guests to the more remote areas and offer a bespoke sort of cruise are the Boat Company, UnCruise Adventures, and NatGeo / Lindblad Expeditions. While each of these does their own itinerary and offers different sorts of activities, what to pack for an Alaska expedition cruise remains the same. If you have any questions about our suggestions or the different small ships we’ve done, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan an awesome Alaska trip!
What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise – Small Ship Expedition
The biggest difference between what you’ll need to pack for an Alaska cruise on a mega ship vs a small ship isn’t what you should bring, but what you should leave at home. Overpacking is everyone’s biggest downfall when it comes to getting ready for a small ship expedition cruise in Alaska. Or should I say packing the wrong things. You do not need to bring anything formal of any sort, so let’s put that out of our minds to start with. Packing for an Alaska cruise that’s all about the adventures and exploring off the beaten path will require warmth, the ability to stay dry, and clothing that is multi-purpose.
Daily Wear – Clothing to Pack for an Alaska Cruise
Whether you’re sailing from Sitka to Juneau with the Boat Company or you’re doing a family expedition cruise with UnCruise, daily wear onboard is very relaxed. It’s close quarters and even a full sailing on the largest of their boats means that you’ll be seeing the same people and getting to know them over the course of your adventure. By the end of day one nobody is looking to impress anyone, so keep in mind as you pack for your Alaska cruise that you’re all doing an expedition together, not visiting the royal court.
Here’s how to pack for any of the small ship cruises you might choose in Alaska:
- Warm pants – need to be comfortable and flexible, best if they hide dirt
- Flannel shirts – these are key to being warm but adaptable
- Sweaters – 1 or 2 are good to have for mornings onboard and relaxing in the evening
- Under / t-shirts – you want to have something fun on when you take off your top layer
- Long-johns / thermals – yes, even for summer sailings you need to be ready with 1 or 2 sets
- Socks – merino wool socks are best for staying warm and dry
- Underwear – don’t forget underwear, and always pack a few extra pairs
If you feel like you really can’t pack for an Alaska cruise without something fancy, keep it lowkey and nice looking. There are zero dress code requirements for dining and events on any of the expedition small ships that do Alaska cruises. If you feel the need to be fancy, that’s on you and you may be the only one.
Layering for Alaska in the Summer
Even though you may not be trudging through the snows of Fairbanks or Palmer when you visit, you should still pack for an Alaska cruise knowing the the weather can be iffy and still very cold in the summer. “I’m doing a small ship expedition in August. I’ll be fine.” Okay, you do you, but the rest of us are going to be ready to dress in layers for when the odd storm rolls in off the Pacific Ocean or for our early morning venture to the face of a tidewater glacier. Yes, getting up close and personal with a glacier means that you’re entering a microclimate of thriving wind and refridgerations.
Being able to dress in layers is very important no matter which cruise operator you’re exploring Southeast Alaska with. Besides how cold it gets at the front of a tidewater glacier, it can also be pretty chilling in the forest. The Tongass National Forest covers nearly all of SE AK and within those mossy woods it can be much cooler than out on the shoreline. There’s a reason the bears come out of the woods on cold days, because they want to warm up in the sunshine too. Dressing in layers allows you to be warm enough, but also adaptable based on your activity level and the changing weather.
Should I Bring a Swimsuit to Alaska?
You’re going to laugh, but yes, you need a swimsuit when you pack for an Alaska cruise even if you’re on a small ship expedition without a hot tub. One of the most popular stories for visitors to return home with is their polar plunge adventure. While it’s not required, nearly every itinerary that sails through Southeast Alaska has the chance for guests to do a polar plunge into the icy waters of Alaska. We’ve jumped into half-frozen Baranof Lake with the Boat Company and plunged off a zodiac in Glacier Bay National Park with icebergs floating all around with UnCruise. NatGeo sometimes allows guests to do a polar plunge near Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm. You don’t have to do it, but pack a swimsuit so that you can if you feel inspired.
Also, Alaska has quite a few hot springs that you may get the chance to visit, depending on which cruise expedition you’re on. Some boats will stop at Tenakee Springs and so many stop at Baranof Warm Springs (so pretty!). You don’t want to watch everyone else enjoy a dip into nature’s hot tub and you have to sit on the sidelines. Oh yea, and some small ships that sail the Inside Passage do also have actual hot tubs on them.
Note: if you haven’t booked your trip yet and are interested in UnCruise, mention our code (online or via phone) TWODADS500 to receive $500 discount towards your passage.
Footwear for a Small Ship Alaska Cruise
Keep it simple when you’re packing footwear for an Alaska cruise, whether it’s for the big boat or a small ship. This is one of the most active sorts of cruise travel you can plan, and if you’re on an expedition cruise, you’ll not need any nice shoes to go with nice outfits. You want practical and comfortable footwear that works for your activities and time onboard, as well as to be able to do a wet landing when required
Ideally, you can just get away with bringing a good pair of walking shoes that you can wear before you set sail on your small ship expedition and that are suitable for being onboard and then a pair of waterproof boots. We like our XtraTuf boots, but also have done an Alaska cruise with just waterproof hiking boots. Ultimately it comes down to being realistic as to whether or not you’ll be touching non-concrete land during your trip.
Here are our preferred boots for any trip to Alaska in the summer:
- Xtratuf Legacy Boot men’s / women’s – ideal for summer bushwacking, wet landings, fishing…
- Thinsulate Snow Boots men’s – There isn’t a women’s version, but the sizes go quite small. And yes, I hike in these in the summer
Note: UnCruise Adventures does provide rubber boots for guests, but if you would like to bring your own it is encouraged.
What is a Wet Landing?
When you’re doing an Alaska cruise that includes daily expeditions from the ship using skiffs or zodiacs, you’ll often beach the boat to access land. Given that the boats cannot just go 100% up out of the water, when you get out of the skiff you may have to step in a bit of water. Not always, but often your feet will get wet. It’s best to be prepared.
Outerwear – Alaska Cruise Preparedness
The weather in Southeast Alaska is wet. True, you may be lucky and have a week of sunshine and bluebird, but it’s likely that you’ll have a few days of rain and arctic terns. Also, there are times that you’ll be kayaking or fishing and may get a little wet just due to the nature of the activity. For all of these moments you’ll want to be sure that you pack a waterproof outer layer for your Alaska cruise.
We like the approach of bringing warm jackets, such as puffy jackets, and then thin rain gear to wear on top. This allows us to be flexible as the weather shifts, and also not be locked into wearing heavy waterproof/winter jackets. And yes, waterproof pants are just as important as a good rain jacket. It may sound weird, but we actually like to pack our snow bibs (overalls) when we’re doing an expedition cruise in Alaska because they’re warm AND waterproof.
Here are our easy outerwear picks that are perfect for going over your clothes and that are compact for packing:
- Waterproof Lightweight Rain Shell OR the windbreaker version (lighter)
- iCreek Lightweight Rain Pants – these run a little big, but they’re fine for wearing over regular clothes
Raingear is not fashionable, but it’s pretty wonderful to have on hand. Remember that it does run a little big, and that’s so that you can easily throw it over your other warm stuff without being uncomfortable. You’ll be really glad you have it for your Alaska cruise.
Accessories to Pack for an Alaska Cruise
Summer in Southeast Alaska or out in the Aleutians means brisk breezes a lot of the time, so there are a few other things you should pack for an Alaska cruise. From the big boats you’ll have options for excursions that involve small boats on the water or hiking or flying. One of our favorite cruise port activities is in Juneau and it’s a seaplane flight paired with packrafting on a glacier lake and hiking on a glacier, and that’s a chilly day, even in the sunshine. So whether it’s something like that or just enjoying the expedition boat skiff rides, there are some helpful accessories to bring. And fishing too… we’ll cover that below.
Clothing Accessories to Pack for Alaska
You’ll want at least a pair of thin gloves even in the summer months. You may also want winter gloves for activities near tidewater glaciers or early morning kayaking. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and you will likely use gloves. And the same goes for a stocking cap / toque. You’ll likely be wearing it more often than you think.
Scarves or neck warmers are a good idea too. We have a lot of buffs (thin neck sleeves) that we tend to wear for the added warmth, and on boat trips from the ship or fishing time, it’s really nice to be comfortable and not all puffy from wearing a scarf. Scarves are nice to add some color and be a little fancy, but they’re not necessary.
Fishing Gear: Do I Need to Bring My Own?
Most Alaska cruises, small ship or large, don’t offer fishing as a general inclusion. You can usually book it when you come into port or as something extra before or after your sailing, but if you’re doing an expedition cruise with the Boat Company fishing is a daily offering onboard. You’ll have the options for saltwater fishing from a skiff or the big boat, for fly fishing sometimes, and even putting out pots for crab or shrimp. With that, you need to be ready for splashing and general water things, including when you’re pulling pots.
If you are interested in fly fishing, it’s good to bring your own hip waders to ensure you have the right fit and can have the best experience. They do have some hip waders onboard that may be available to guests for fly fishing, but because the supply is limited and very specific to body type, bringing your own is best. There is fly gear (rods, reels and flies) but also guests are encouraged to bring their own fly fishing equipment if they are avid fly fishermen and are already very knowledgeable or are picky about their gear.
Camera Gear for an Alaska Expedition Cruise
Of course you’re bringing a camera with you! When you pack for an Alaska cruise or small ship expedition, you want to be sure that you have not just your camera, but also backup batteries, the appropriate functioning charger, and any alternate lenses you may want to use. Some people get very into their photography and bring a whole studio, but that’s not always needed. You’ll have lots of opportunities for Alaska wildlife photography, beautiful landscapes and even some underwater action, so bring the gear you know you’ll need. If you’re new to photography by want to be sure to capture your trip well, check out my travel photography gear list here.
While you don’t necessarily need to bring a tripod with you, it can be very helpful for keeping a big camera steady. You will no doubt see lots of whales in the waters of Southeast Alaska, and then there are sea lions, sea otters and seals as well, so when you have a calm period and the chance for well zoomed in photography, you’ll want that to be as steady and easy as possible.
Do I Need a Big Camera for an Alaska Cruise?
Not everyone needs to pack a big camera with a massive telephoto lens or all of their camera gear when they do an Alaska cruise. It boils down to a few questions you can ask yourself:
- Are you a professional photographer who will regret NOT bringing a big lens or all of your gear?
- Do you want to focus on photography during your cruise?
- Can you get satisfactory shots with less gear or a smaller lens?
- Will you be able to step away from looking through the camera for a bit to enjoy everything with just your own eyes?
You know you and what’s right for you to pack. Bring the camera gear that will make your Alaska cruise or small ship expedition sailing the best it can be. There’s no pressure from other guests to have the biggest and best camera and the goal of the crew is to help everyone have a memorable trip, not to outshine your camera selection.
Should I Bring a GoPro on an Alaska Expedition Cruise?
I am always torn about using my GoPro because I often forget to download the footage and photos, but I’ve gotten better at it. If that’s you, don’t weigh yourself with gear you’re not going to use. Having said that, there are definitely moments when you’re on an expedition cruise that it’s nice to be able to use a GoPro or underwater camera. When you’re kayaking in the coves and exploring the intertidal zone, you can capture some beautiful underwater scenes. When you’re out at the glacier and you’re going through the ice, it’s awesome to get a unique point of view. Fishing can get you into moments that may be really cool with an up close shot.
If you are bringing a GoPro with you, be sure that you have it set up properly and that you have plenty of backup batteries. Pack the following GoPro accessories for your Alaska cruise:
- extra batteries
- charger
- silicone case mod with lanyard or strap
- windscreen mod
- extendable selfie stick pole
Remember, if you’re not going to use it, don’t bring it. Ship cabins get cluttered, so try to minimize that by not packing things you won’t use on your Alaska cruise.
Know Before you Go on an Alaska Small Ship Cruise
Besides packing for an Alaska cruise or small ship expedition, we have a few more tips to help you have the best experience. As you’re planning your trip, remember that not all trips are created equal. Be sure to research what all is included in your ship sailing passage fare and what you’ll be responsible for. Sometimes there is special gear provided so you don’t need to worry about packing it. Sometimes you’ll have access to gear lockers (NatGeo has camera gear lockers) and sometimes you’ll have to store all of your stuff in you own cabin.
Be adventurous when you’re heading to Alaska, no matter the travel style or what you normally do on a trip. Break your own boundaries and allow yourself to have an unforgettable, unique experience. You may be outside of your comfort zone every now and then, and if it’s too much, always let your crew know, because that’s what they’re there for.
Be ready for all kinds of weather and give yourself realistic expectations. It’s easy to plan for sunshine, and I hope that’s what you get, but it’s good to mentally be prepared to appreciate the misty rain and low hanging clouds. It’s an incredible experience in all sorts of weather!
Are you getting excited for your Alaska cruise now? I hope so. If you’re on a small ship enjoying an expedition or if you’re on a big boat just stopping in ports, Southeast Alaska is amazing and I know you’ll love it. If you have any questions about planning an Alaska cruise or other types of travel in the state, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you have an amazing Alaska trip!
