What should you wear in Alaska during summer on a cruise vacation?
I have spent many summer seasons in Alaska working on board and travelling as a passenger on cruise ships.
And, I have seen all the weather Alaska offers over the years: rain, sun, wind, fog, and even a little snow.
So, here I am going to share my tips on what to wear in Alaska in summer on a cruise vacation.
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Deciding What to Wear in Alaska in the Summer
Deciding what to wear can be tricky due to the ever-changing weather, temperature fluctuations, and what to wear on board the cruise ship.
Summer in Alaska is different from summer in most of the USA and Europe, so don’t expect hot temperatures and constant sunny weather.
Your usual summer wardrobe may not be appropriate for a cruise to Alaska.
Whether you are cruising with Princess Cruises, Holland America, Royal Caribbean or another cruise line, let’s have a look at what to think about when deciding what to pack.
Alaska Temperatures in the Summer
First, let’s start with the temperatures to expect in Alaska in the summer months.
The temperature can range from 8 °C to 20 °C (47 to 68*F). Sometimes it can get a little warmer, but not very often.
Weather in Alaska can be absolutely beautiful with warm sunshine, or it can be grey and rainy.
I do not want to put you off booking an Alaskan cruise, but unfortunately, we cannot predict the exact weather for the week of your cruise.
So, it is always a good idea to be prepared with the right clothing.
You can be anywhere in the world, and you may get rain; in Alaska, there is just more chance.
One of the cruise ports on an Alaskan cruise – Ketchikan has the most rainfall in North America!
Also, when you go scenic cruising around a fjord to see a glacier, it is always cold, much colder than you think it will be.
The Alaska season has got a little longer now, and the weather conditions in April and early September can be colder, compared to the summer months in June/July/August.
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What to Wear in Alaska in Summer
A cruise to Alaska is all about the shore excursions, as there are so many to go on and enjoy what Alaska has to offer.
When it comes to what to wear, think about what excursions you will be going on, as that will help you in deciding on what to bring.
I have found a warm jacket, zip-up fleece, tee, vest, pants/jeans, socks, waterproof hiking boots, scarf, gloves, and a warm hat, which have not let me down during the Alaska season.
For long days on shore excursions, wearing layers is best, as the early mornings are usually quite cold.
As the day goes on it can get a little warmer, and if you are lucky, you may have sunny days and mild temperatures.
My favourite brand is The North Face, as they have loads of great clothing for Alaska, and they last for years, so they are worth the money.
I bought a zip-up fleece jacket in Skagway about 15 years ago, and I still have it now, and it looks like new.
Also, their gloves that you can use on the phone screen are excellent, especially when it is freezing, and you are by a glacier.
Alaska Summer Shore Excursions
Here is more information about the Alaskan cruise ports that most cruise lines go to and what to see and do, including shore excursions from whale watching to helicopter tours.
Ketchikan
What You Must See in Ketchikan Alaska
Ketchikan Alaska Cruise Excursions – The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
Skagway
How to Make the Most of Your Day in Skagway Alaska
Things to Do in Skagway Alaska
Alternative Tours in Skagway Alaska
Juneau
Must Do Tours in Juneau Alaska – Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Watching
Tour of a Lifetime Landing on a Glacier by Helicopter in Juneau Alaska
Why To Go on a Whale Watching Tour in Juneau Alaska
Victoria
What to do in the Cruise Port of Victoria BC Canada
Glacier Bay & Tracy Arm
How To Get Up Close To The Sawyer Glacier in Alaska
Alaska Scenic Cruising in Glacier Bay
How to See a Glacier in Alaska
What to Wear on the Cruise Ship
What you wear on your days in port is fine in the daytime on board the cruise ship, but in the evenings and on the formal nights, you will need to dress up a little.
Daytime Dress Code for Onboard Cruise Activities
Most cruise lines have a casual dress code for daytime activities.
Comfortable and casual clothing is suitable for dining and exploring the ship in the daytime.
This can be jeans/pants, sweaters, tees, sneakers, or whatever you feel comfortable in.
My daytime ship attire in Alaska was mainly jeans and sweaters or a tee if it was a warm day and either a pair of ballet pumps or sneakers.
Cruise Ship Evening Dress Code
Depending on the cruise line you are sailing with will determine the dress code for the evening.
For most cruise lines, if you would like to eat in the main dining room, the dress code is smart casual.
For men, nice pants, shirt/polo shirt, sweater/jacket, and for women, nice pants/skirt, blouse/nice top, or a dress.
My go-to outfits were a nice dress or black/white pants with a nice top, with either a pair of ballet pumps or heels.
I have written an article all about what to wear on smart casual evenings on a cruise ship. Read more here.
Cruise Formal Night Attire
Each cruise line has its formal night guidelines, which normally sound like this:
Ladies: Evening gown, cocktail dress, or elegant pantsuit
Gents: Tuxedo, dark suit or dinner jacket and trousers
Cruise lines vary in their formal night requirements, but the general rule of thumb is to dress to impress.
Read more in the Ultimate Cruise Formal Night Guide and all my go-to formal night outfits.
What to Wear in the Alaskan Cruise Ports
Let’s get back to what to wear in Alaska in summer.
The best thing to remember is to layer; this way, you will always be ok on your day in port.
Outfits I always go to in Alaska are a lightweight quilted jacket, zip-up fleece or sweater, tee, vest, socks, walking boots or sneakers, a scarf, gloves, and a warm hat.
Of course, if the temperatures are warm, I would not wear all of these layers, but if the day starts cold or may get colder later in the day, I would put the extra items in my backpack.
I leave at home my summer dresses and sandals as Alaska is not the place to wear these.
Also, if you are planning on going on shore excursions, you need to be wearing comfortable, casual outdoor clothing that protects you from the elements.
Alaska Summer Clothing Essentials
Outerwear: A waterproof jacket or coat is a must-have to protect you from rain showers and cold weather.
Tops: Pack a variety of long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, t-shirts, and vests for layering.
Bottoms: Bring comfortable pants, jeans, and leggings that you can easily mix and match.
Footwear: Opt for waterproof and sturdy shoes for onshore excursions.
Accessories: Don’t forget to pack a backpack, hat, gloves, scarves, umbrella, and sunglasses.
Alaska Packing Tips
- Bring a backpack to put an umbrella, water bottle, wallet, and other personal items in. Use it to put jackets, hats, and scarves inside when it warms up or to store for cooler parts of the day.
- Binoculars are great for wildlife spotting on scenic cruising days and wildlife shore excursions,
- Tissues or a soft cloth to wipe your camera/phone down when it rains.
- Hand Sanitizer is a must anywhere, but you need it in nature.
- Pack a portable phone charger as you will find that your battery will go down after using your camera, apps, and 4G/WIFI on your phone.
- Choose breathable and moisture-wicking fabrics like wool, fleece, and synthetic materials that dry quickly. These fabrics will keep you comfortable in varying weather conditions.
- Insect repellent is handy to bring, especially on warm days.
Alaska Packing List for Port Days
Here is a packing guide for the port days on your Alaskan cruise:
- Lightweight Jacket (Waterproof jacket/warm jacket/rain jacket)
- 2 Pairs of casual trousers – (pair of jeans/casual pants/rain pants)
- 5/7 Casual tops/shirts (Long sleeve/short sleeve t-shirts/shirts}
- 3/4 Vest Tops/thermal layer (for layering)
- 3/4 Light Weight Sweaters/Cardigans/Fleece Jacket
- Pair of shorts (if you have warm weather!)
- Warm Hat, scarf & gloves
- 1 Pair of Shoes (Waterproof shoes/waterproof hiking boots)
- Backpack
- Sunglasses
- Umbrella
- Portable phone charger
- Camera/zoom lens/ memory cards
- Smartphone
- Water bottle
- Bug spray
If you need a more comprehensive Alaska packing guide please read How to Pack a Capsule Wardrobe for a 7-day Cruise to Alaska or download the printable full Alaska Cruise Packing Checklist below.
Cruise Ship Essentials
Here are some cruising products from Amazon you may find useful on your next cruise to Alaska. To see more, have a look at my Amazon shop page and click here.
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Which is Best: Oceanview vs Balcony Cruise Cabin
How Many Formal Nights are there on a 7-day Cruise?
How to Use Your Apple iWatch on a Cruise Ship
5 Products You Need in Your Cruise Travel First Aid Kit
Cruise Ship Size Comparison – Pros and Cons of Large vs Small
Travel Toiletries Packing List
I hope you enjoyed reading ‘What to Wear in Alaska in Summer on a Cruise Vacation’. Please share on Facebook and X so your friends and family can read it too or pin it for later on Pinterest.
Happy Cruising!
