Rain jackets and waterproof boots are useful on Alaskan excursions. Above: Rain in Ketchikan.
Our family visited Seattle, Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Sitka and Ketchikan (one of the rainiest places in the United States) during our 7-day "Alaskan Explorer" cruise aboard the MS Eurodam.
It was a difficult trip to pack for.
We traveled during the first two weeks of August and daytime temperatures ranged from 55- to 80-degrees Fahrenheit (with a 45-degree windchill in Glacier Bay).
Here are links to average monthly weather statistics for each port of call:
We can't tell you how to pack for your Alaskan cruise, but this was our packing list:
Things We Were Happy We Packed
Passports - The security officers at the Port of Seattle ask for passports in hand during the embarkation and disembarkation process. Holland America's "Know Before You Go" PDF explains the cruise line's identification policies in detail.
Luggage tag holders - Most cruise lines require that you print your luggage tags at home, then fold and staple them on your baggage. It’s a terrible system because the paper rips easily.
Waterproof jackets - Many parts of Alaska are considered temperate coastal rain forests. We purchased Gore-Tex jackets (from Marmot and REI) and were happy to wear them on deck and in Ketchikan's misty rain.
Waterproof boots - We also purchased Gore-Tex boots (from The North Face and Keen Kids). These were especially handy on our Sitka wildlife tour and on Nugget Falls Trail in Juneau.
Layered clothing - The Alaskan sun is hot and the shade is cool. We layered with tee-shirts, long sleeves and zip-up fleeces during our time outside.
This photo of the Margerie Glacier and Mt. Fairweather was taken on a smartphone, aimed through binoculars.
Binoculars - Good binoculars are a must for viewing whales and wildlife. We purchased a pair of Vortex Diamondback 8 x 28 Roof Prism Binoculars and enjoyed them thoroughly, but in hindsight, we wish we had purchased a pair of waterproof Nikon Trailblazer 10x25 binoculars. (We think that the Nikon binoculars have better optics for nearly half the price!)
Camera gear - We packed a Canon DSLR with a 28mm lens for landscapes and a 100mm lens for wildlife. Occasionally, we used our phones to take videos, panoramic shots and candid photos.
Motion sickness medicine - Parts of the Eurodam bob up-and-down on rough seas (like the Mainstage). Also, we took a whale-watching tour on choppy water.
Jeans and leggings - Each of us brought two pairs of pants: This was the right amount for a 7-day cruise.
Winter socks - Hiking boots feel more comfortable in thick socks.
Formal wear - There are two "Gala Nights" aboard the Eurodam. Ladies can get by with a single dress. Men may want to bring two shirt-and-tie combinations.
Flip-flops - Open-toed shoes are convenient on the Lido Deck.
Small bills - We tipped the baggage handlers at the Port of Seattle and our tour guides.
Bathing suits - Each of us packed two swimsuits, but one is probably enough.
Comfortable shoes - We enjoyed walking laps around the ship's Promenade.
Ziploc bags - We packed sandwiches from the Lido Market on our shore excursions.
Phone chargers - Taking photos and videos runs down a smartphone's battery.
Sunglasses - Glare is especially strong on overcast Alaskan days.
Light gloves - The air temperature feels cooler in Glacier Bay National Park, especially when you're holding binoculars for several hours.
Earbuds - We were happy to watch in-flight movies during our flight to Seattle.
Things We Wish We Had
Grooming scissors - The Eurodam requires all children age 13 or younger to wear a plastic wristband: It has sharp edges that need to be rounded off.
Neosporin - Our daughter's emergency wristband scratched her in the pool.
A bigger memory card - We quickly filled the space on our 32GB memory card. Bring at least a 128GB card if you plan to shoot video in 4K.
Telephoto lens - 100mm feels like a wide-angle lens when photographing wildlife. We envied the photographers who packed 400mm lenses.
Pool cover up - It's a public walk from the pool area to the decks below.
Things We Wish We Brought Less Of
Shorts - We never wore shorts outside of our stateroom.
Sunscreen - We know, we know: Always bring sunscreen. We didn't use any in Alaska, but it's good to have some sunscreen just in case.
Bug spray - June and July is mosquito season. We encountered no bugs in August.
