Alaska weather can be a variety of conditions from sunny and 70+ to low 50's, with or without wind and yes, sometimes rain! So for this cruise layer clothing will be best. Some medium / light weight, and then something over that if it gets colder. Plastic rain gear is always a good idea. We might get a few days where sunshine and temperatures work out to sit in a deck chair, but that would be a bonus!
The cruise will have at least one formal night. These are completely optional, however, if you eat in the dining room, men will need coat and tie, stylish pantsuit for the gals or nice dresses. If you choose not to do formal night, you can eat at the Lido deck in casual clothes.
Your stateroom will have a safe in it for jewerly if you bring it. These lock using any type of card having a magnetic strip on the back. You can use your credit card too but it is not recommended.
Your stateroom will have 1 electrical outlet and one in the bathroom. If you have camera equipment or things needing electricity, bring a multi outlet extension cord so you won't have to plug and unplug things.
Because we stop in British Columbia before arriving in Seattle on the homeward leg of the trip (Jones Act), you MUST HAVE A VALID PASSPORT to get back into the USA.
The ship has a couple of "stores" on board in case you forget your toothpaste or aspirin, and of course you can shop in the ports of call as well. Your stateroom will have all the shampoo and soap and perhaps a complimentary conditioner, hair dryer and all the towels you can possibly use.
You will do 90% of your spending with your credit card. When you board the ship they will swipe your card and everything you purchase will be added to your account. The Purser's desk is also the bank, and can cash travellers checks and make change from larger denominations. You can check the status of your account on your TV set in your stateroom whenever you want.
Here's a list of other things you might want to bring, or it might spark an idea for you about something else. If you see anything missing here, drop me an email and I'll add your suggestion to the list.
- Suction hooks to hang wet suits, snorkels, jackets at entry, etc.
- small collapsable cloth storage bins for storing all little stuff, like extra batteries for our cameras, recharger cords, sunglasses etc. They fit nicely in the drawer or on shelves. Pack flat and don't weight anything in your suitcase.
- a small collapsible clothes hamper to corral our dirty clothes and a small hanging organizer to hang in the bathroom for our toiletries. Both found at our local dollar store
- a night light for the middle of the night trips to the loo.
- I take a Swiss Army Knife with screwdrivers and corkscrew and scissors but pack it in checked luggage.
- If you are a wine drinker you need to have a corkscrew
- something simple, but handy, zip lock bags
- I bring small magnets! The walls of staterooms are metal and it is great to hang a map or outline of the cruise as well as those invitations to various cocktail parties!
- Blue painter's tape. It works to reinforce the laundry bag. We also use it to tape the invites you receive, is easily removed and leaves no marks on the walls.
- Instead of bringing a flashlight or nightlight, we always go to Dollar Tree and pick up some glow sticks..they last about 2 nights so we bring a couple of them, just hang one over the phone and one on the bathroom door and it gives enough light at night...and you don't have to bother with taking them home....you can buy them in the stick form, bracelet form, and necklace form...they are also good to wear at night on the ship
- I always take what is called a 'job envelope'. It's similar to a file folder except that it is closed on 3 sides rather than just 1. I use it to save the ship newsletters port information, receipts etc. If you can't find the job envelopes without buying an entire box, then a 9x12 envelope will also work even though it's not as easily used.
- small clothespins - to hang something to dry on line in shower
- highlighter - to help organize daily schedule
- insect repellent
- battery alarm clock - no clocks in rooms
- poncho or umbrella
- wine bottle stopper
- Stainless steel travel coffee mug (that holds two cups of coffee). One of us fills up before the other gets out of bed in the morning, and brings it back to the room for nice hot, fresh coffee. Good to carry around the ship, too.
- Power Strip to charge phones, cameras, games, computers, Kindle etc. all at the same time at night
- Post its for notes
- Caribiners to attach things like camera or hat to day bag
- Paring Knife in case we bring food back to cabin
- Duct tape
- a neck lanyard for my cabin card....you can punch a hole in the card with a paper punch
