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An Alaska Cruise is the trip of a lifetime; In fact, it’s like two trips! I discovered that the only way I could make sure I had everything I needed for the variety of things we had planned was to create two small capsule wardrobes: one for the shipboard activities and one for the onshore adventures.

Read my tips on what to pack for Alaska Cruise in August and find out how to be glamorous aboard, an outdoors-woman ashore, and comfortable the whole time (in just one suitcase)!

 


What to Pack for Alaska Cruise in August

Written by: Wendy Craig


 

 

Packing for a cruise can be confusing and tricky. Perhaps when you learned there would be formal nights onboard, you had nightmarish flashbacks to ill-fitting prom tuxes and figure skater-style sequin dresses.

Don’t worry–being ultra-casual won’t be a hindrance on your cruise, and you can fit in with the formal dining nights with ease. While people certainly rock formal wear, my goal is to pack carryon only for the flights to and from the cruise terminals and to make sure my clothes are versatile as possible.

 

Creating an interchangeable capsule wardrobe is the key to simplified packing, which can easily fit into a carryon suitcase with the help of packing cubes to compress your clothing!   

 

Start by reading these general tips for packing for a cruise:

 

 

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The key to planning what to pack for Alaska Cruise was bringing tops and bottoms that could (almost) all be worn together. (The yoga pants get a pass because, hey, they are yoga pants; perfect for lounging about, hitting the climbing wall, and sleeping in!)

 

In two parts: 15 total clothes pieces, 4 shoes, 1 rain coat, 1 hat, 5 accessories

 

 

Part 1

 

 

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CASUAL CAPSULE WARDROBE

 

4 TOPS:Wicking T-shirt, 2 T-Shirts, and 1 Yoga Tank
3 BOTTOMS: 2 Jeans and 1 Yoga Pants
2 LAYERS: Fleece Jacket and Sweater (similar)
2 OUTERWEAR: Raincoat and Wool Hat
2 SHOES: Hiking Boots and Slip-On Sneakers

 

Here are our readers recommendations for the best shoes to wear on your Alaska cruise!

 

 

Part 2

 

 

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FORMAL CAPSULE WARDROBE 

 

3 TOPS: Peplum Blouse (similar), Cream SleevelessBlack Nude Lace
1 SKIRT: Maxi Skirt
1 FORMAL: Maxi Dress
2 SHOES: Heels and Flats
2 EARRINGS
1 SWEATER: Cardigan
1 PURSE: Wristlet
2 SCARVES: Scarf and Wrap

 

When planning what to pack for Alaska Cruise in August, the easiest way to use your Capsule Wardrobe is to write out both your itinerary and each corresponding outfit by day. For Example:

 

Day 2: At Sea

  • Morning:
    Yoga, Climbing Wall, Breakfast (Yoga Pants, Tank, Fleece, Black Sneakers)
  • Afternoon:
    Enrichment Lecture, Reading, Lunch (Change into Black Jeans)
  • Evening:
    Formal Dinner, Dancing, Music in the Lounge (Gown, Heels, Earrings, Pashmina & Clutch)

 

Day 3 Ketchikan: Flight Plane Excursion

  • Morning:
    Breakfast, Ashore to explore town (Black Jeans, T Shirt, Grey Sweater, Hiking Boots)
  • Afternoon:
    Flight Plane over Misty Fjords (Add Raincoat, Grey Scarf and Wool Hat)
  • Evening:
    Dinner in Specialty Restaurant (Skirt, Peplum Top, Cardigan, Clutch, Black flats, Earrings)

 

 

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My formal clothing was worn each evening as per the cruise dress code. I probably could have worn the same top for the semi-formal dinners, but it was more fun to have options. Each night after dinner, my husband and I would race back to the cabin to change into jeans and a sweater before checking out the evening activities.

I wore the same gown with a different scarf and earrings for our two formal nights. Although some people did not go all out, there were enough of us who did, making it very festive and totally glamorous; definitely worth the effort.

That being said, my casual wardrobe made up the majority of what I wore for this trip. I must say that I was pretty glad that I brought my little bottle of Febreze; especially after our 9 mile hike to the Mendenhall Glacier and our horseback riding excursion!

 

 

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Follow the rules of The Capsule Wardrobe. Stick with one color palette and make sure that you have a plan to wear the majority of your items at least twice. This will ensure that you have the perfect packing list for your Alaska Cruise Adventure.

What are your suggestions on what to pack for Alaska cruise in august? Comment below!


 

For more cruise packing tips, please read:

 

Suggested Travel Resources:

 


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Author Bio: Wendy Craig is a transplanted New Yorker living in the Pacific Northwest. Her wanderlust comes from a lifetime of Nomadic travel (Having lived in 14 different places across the US and Australia before graduating from High School) She has a passion for discovering the authentic and looks at each trip as an opportunity to see the world with new eyes. From researching to writing checklists, planning to packing, Wendy is in Love with every step of the Travel process.