5 Things I Don't Regret Buying for Our Alaskan Cruise

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When we traveled to Alaska for our Disney Cruise, I had NO idea what to pack. Even though there are a lot of great blogs that can help you decide what to bring, there is one factor that you can’t control, and that is the weather. I was hearing so many conflicting reports about what to wear for our June departure regarding how many layers to have and how cold it was supposed to be based on past years. As a chronic overpacker, I think I did pretty good overall and will share what I wore soon! 

However, there are a few items that I bought and would highly recommend for any Alaskan cruise, no matter the month or weather of your sailing. I purchased the following items without any regrets, so hopefully you will find them helpful as well. They will be linked through Amazon, but you can find these items at a lot of outdoor themed retail stores if you want to avoid last-minute delivery stress. 

1. Waterproof Shoes

   
   

While the temperature of Alaska is pretty hard to predict, rain on the other hand, is pretty consistent at showing up. My go-to waterproof shoes are Vessis. I have been buying these shoes for the Disney parks for years, and they continue to be my go-to shoes for rainy days and beyond. They are a little pricey, so I will link some similar options below. I wore these on our travel days and days at sea.

1. Vessi Shoes 

2. Skechers Waterproof Shoes (budget-friendly) 

3. Waterproof Hiking Boots 

Hiking isn’t something I do on a regular basis, so I wanted to bring some waterproof hiking boots for our port and excursion days. The ones I listed above were fantastic. They worked great in the weather and were comfortable. And, if I am ever feeling adventurous enough, I now have a great pair of boots to do some hiking….or at least dress the part. 

2. (nice) Binoculars

I might have purchased a few accessories for this trip, and while this one isn’t glamorous, it is very helpful to those who care about seeing wildlife from the ship. This was supposed to be our once-in-a-lifetime trip, and I didn’t want to miss seeing any whales, seals, or other wildlife that might join us along the way. We had a pair of cheapies from my kids' brief stint in birdwatching, but I didn’t want to take any chances of seeing a big, blurry blob in the water instead of a humpback. 

1. Vortex Binoculars

2. Celestron 7133 DX Binoculars

3. Tinllaans 15x55 HD (budget-friendly) 

My goal was to spend around $50, but after reading A LOT of reviews, it didn’t seem like that was a possibility. I ended up ordering this pair as a Christmas present for my husband. They were phenomenal and easy to use. We easily spotted whales, seals, and eagles on all of our excursions and from the ship on glacier day. The only thing that hurt about this purchase was that I don’t know when we would need to use them again, but if you are into nature walks and hiking, these could come in handy for your family. 

If you are curious about Glacier Day, you can check out our vlog to see why binoculars are so important!

3. Passport Holder

We are a family of 4, and all of us are neurodivergent. Having items organized and easily accessible is key when traveling, especially traveling through customs and leaving the ship. I didn’t want to carry my wallet and all the passports in different places, as I would surely forget one or the other in a small Alaskan town, where I would never return. 😅

1. TOPBAG Family Passport Holder (budget-friendly)

2. Finite Family Passport Holder 

3. Nautical Disney Inspired Family Passport Holder

So, I was thrilled when I came across this all-in-one organizer that not only fit my passport and I.D., but all of our documentations! It fit perfectly in my backpack on travel days and mini backpack for port days. It was so nice to be able to just pull one thing out instead of sifting through my bags. It has a lot of compartments, which came in handy for paper tickets and receipts for various items along our stops. We love cruising and I can’t believe it took me this long to fund such a helpful item. Can’t wait to use it on future vacations! 

4. Vacuum Seal Packing Bags

As someone who loves layers, jackets, and coats, packing for this trip was equal parts exciting and equal parts stressful. I am a cold weather girlie, so having the opportunity to go on a cold weather vacation and wear sweatshirts and fleece-lined pants was a dream. But sadly, things like luggage and weight limits exist, which put a damper on my outfit planning. I ditched some of the extra outfits like Formal Night and Freezing the Night Away to make room for our bulkier items. 

1. Vacuum Seal Bags with USB Pump

2. Hefty Shrink Bag

3. Vacuum Bag with Hand Pump (what we used)

Typically, I use a mix of 2 gallon zip lock bags and packing cubes, but that wasn’t going to cut it for this trip. I remembered Molly from Mammoth Club suggesting vacuum seal bags for her big trips and gave it a try. These were a lifesaver, and I was able to pack things like our heavier jackets with ease. Just make sure you’re ordering the right size. I may or may not have some giant bags the size of my body for anyone needing these packing bags for a big move. 

5. Lightweight All-Weather Pants

Of all of the clothing items I packed, my all-weather lightweight pants were the most functional and most comfortable. I cannot stress enough how much I hate to wear jeans, or really anything with a button. Even leggings at this point in my life start to feel uncomfortable towards mid-day. So, I was on the hunt for something that I could wear all day on our excursions and would hold up in the rainy weather. 

1. AKHG Access Point Pull-On Slim Leg Pants

2. Libin Cargo Lightweight Quick Dry Hiking Pants

3. REI Co-op Trailmade Rain Pants

My biggest regret was not buying these Old Navy Cargo Tech pants in every single color. They were comfortable, cute, and held up really well on all our outdoor adventures. Unfortunately, they are mostly sold out at this point, but I will link some similar options. Even if it happens to be warm, pants are still going to be ideal for you, as Alaska is home to 40-something different types of mosquitoes. If it happens to be cold, I would just layer these with fleece leggings. But, go with a lightweight, water-resistant option, and you’ll be set for multiple days on your cruise! 

I will never forget our Disney Alaskan Cruise. It was truly the most beautiful place I have ever seen, and we were able to create so many family memories. Hopefully these items will help you enjoy your cruise even more! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments. I am always happy to answer anything that I can! And remember, theme park fashion doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to make you smile. 

-Ashlie