Alaska Cruise Outfits - What to Wear on an Alaskan Cruise (2024)

FAQs

Alaska Cruise Outfits - What to Wear on an Alaskan Cruise? ›

pack & wear lots of layers. prepare for every day to be wet and cool to cold (Alaska gets about 250 days of rain each year) pack some waterproof shoes/boots and clothing. take a warm hat and sun hat (baseball hat or hiking hat)

Women can wear a smart dress, skirt, pants, or jeans with a casual top, and men can dress in pants or jeans with a short-sleeve sport shirt. As for shoewear, the only rule is that flip flops are never allowed during evenings on the ship.

Yes, Alaska cruises are the most casual of any destination. People tour outdoors in the cold all day and either don't have time to change or simply want to stay comfy and cozy in their jeans for dinner. Some people will naturally still get dressed up, but you won't be out of place.

Bring a swimsuit to take advantage of the ship's pools and spas and something comfortable to lounge around in on the ship. If you don't want to let your workout routine slip too much while you're on board, pack some gym clothes and shoes. Most cruise lines offer exercise classes as well as gyms.

Yes, you will be visiting some places where the weather might be chillier than back home, but you will not encounter truly Arctic conditions. Away from the viewing sites of magnificent glaciers and icefields that brought you to Alaska, you might even encounter weather suitable for shorts and T-shirts.

Alaska Cruise Temperature by Month

Temperatures can reach anywhere from the low 30s to upper 80s depending on your month of travel as well as the port of call. We always recommend that you dress in layers to prepare for whatever weather comes your way.

For more formal settings, men should bring a dinner jacket, slacks, or a dark suit and a nice pair of shoes, while women may want to bring an evening gown, co*cktail dress, or elegant pant suit. When packing, bring wrinkle-free items or try rolling your clothes.

At no point is swimwear allowed in any formal dining venue for any meal, including breakfast and lunch. Shorts, flip flops, and tank tops are not allowed for Evening Wear or Gala Night in the Main Dining Rooms, Specialty Restaurants, or MSC Yacht Club. T-shirts are not allowed to be worn for Gala Night.

There is no such thing as being overdressed on Evening Chic nights. All cruises that are seven nights or longer will feature two Evening Chic nights. Shorter cruises feature one Evening Chic night. On all other nights of the cruise, guests are asked to wear smart casual attire.

Usually a long skirt and a pair of dress pants, and 2 or 3 dressy tops (which are incredibly small when rolled) will do me for a week or 10-day cruise. For your 4-nighter, 1 or 2 evening outfits will be fine.

What kind of shoes to wear on an Alaskan cruise? ›

Since rain is so common, the best way to defend your feet is with a comfortable and durable pair of rain boots. They will not only provide protection from the rain but wind and mud as well. A slip-on shoe should not be missed when packing for an Alaskan cruise. These will be great for the days of travel on the cruise.

Don't buy the classic, hard leather boots—too heavy for most day hikers, and hard to break in. Your best bet: lightweight boots with ankle support. Trail running shoes are fine if you're used to them on uneven terrain. Alaska trails often feature wet or muddy stretches.

Yes, rain in some parts of Alaska can be frequent. Still, it's best to leave the umbrella at home. You'll be all set with a hood on your all-weather jacket or a weatherproof hat that can pull double duty by protecting you from the rain and sun.

At dinner, particularly in the main and specialty restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and theater, most cruise lines prefer a dressier look for men, requesting passengers refrain from wearing shorts, sleeveless T-shirts, flip-flops, and baseball caps.

Formal wear: Anticipate two formal nights per week. Ladies wear a co*cktail dress or gown and gentlemen don a suit and tie or tuxedo. Smart-casual wear for dinner: Slacks and collared shirts or sweaters for men. Skirt or trousers, sweater or blouse for women.

Fleece will keep you warm and help keep your skin from getting wet. Layering of your outerwear is your best bet to keep warm and dry. You should also have a hat, gloves and waterproof shoes on this cruise.

Your best bet is to dress in layers and bring a backpack—you'll stay warm and dry when it's chilly or wet, and you can peel off layers and stow them as the weather changes. Rain or shine, many day tours—flightseeing, cruises, bus tours—offer access to shelter.

Wearing base and mid layers, like synthetic t-shirts and long-sleeve shirts, light jackets, and windproof/waterproof jackets is always a good idea. One minute you might be comfortable in shorts, and then the next minute you'll want to change in to waterproof pants. When in doubt, always pack that extra layer!

For the most part, jeans and hiking pants (polyester/wool blends) are good for an Alaskan vacation. With jeans, you just want to keep in mind that when cotton gets wet it is no longer warm.