Alaska Cruise: Packing Mistakes I'm Not Making Again (Carry-On Only), by JacqueJ Travels on YouTube. 19 min 41 s.
- Video length
- 19 min 41 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Pack a base layer, a mid layer and a shell for each day. Merino wool long sleeves go underneath, a fleece or wool hoodie sits in the middle, and a rain shell goes on top.
Choose a waterproof shell and waterproof shoes rather than water resistant ones. Alaska rain and wet decks soak through light coatings quickly.
Skip the heavy parka. Combine thin layers so you can strip down when a Seattle stopover hits 70 to 75 degrees.
Stick to neutral colors for bottoms and tops so every piece matches every other piece. This cuts the number of outfits you need.
Plan to wash clothes midweek in the cabin sink with travel detergent. Hang items to dry overnight and rewear them later in the trip.
Limit yourself to three pairs of shoes: waterproof walking shoes, regular sneakers and one pair for evenings. Wear the bulkiest pair on travel day.
Pack the non-clothing items: lanyard, water bottle, binoculars, sunglasses, hand warmers, motion sickness tablets, earbuds and a power bank.
Leave the standard power strip at home. Cruise lines confiscate strips with surge protection, so bring a cruise-safe model with USB ports only.
Wear your bulkiest jacket, shoes and layers on embarkation day. Pack the backpack as a backup kit with a change of clothes and essentials in case your carry-on is delayed.
Roll or fold clothes into packing cubes and fill the carry-on last. In the final week, check your documents, confirm luggage sizes and print your cruise tags.
Tips and common mistakes
Wear your heaviest shoes and jacket on the flight so they never count against your bag weight.
Check your airline and cruise line size limits before you buy a carry-on, since 22 by 14 by 9 inches is the common maximum.
Pack a small folding bag for souvenirs so you do not have to check a bag on the way home.
Keep medication, documents and one change of clothes in your personal item, not the overhead bag.
Questions
How many outfits do I need for a 7-day Alaska cruise?
About four to five tops and two to three bottoms in neutral colors, plus one dressier outfit. The three-layer system and midweek sink laundry let you rewear pieces.
Can I bring a power strip on a cruise?
Only a cruise-safe model without surge protection. Standard household power strips are commonly confiscated at embarkation, so check your line's rules first.
What shoes should I bring on an Alaska cruise?
One waterproof pair for wet ports and excursions, one regular sneaker for sea days, and one nicer pair for dinner. Wear the bulkiest pair while traveling.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
