Alaskan Cruise Packing List

Click this Link for a Printable Packing List

Compared to the Caribbean cruises we’ve been on, the dress code on our Alaskan cruise seemed much more informal.  There were a lot of people wearing jeans, less jackets for men and dresses for the ladies.  In fact, we tended to wear the same clothes from our port adventures in the dining areas. 

Before we left for our trip, we visited Sierra.  It's part of the TJX family of brands (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods) and offers the exact type of clothing we were looking for.  Brands such as Columbia, Merrill, Spyder, and The American Outdoorsman fit the bill.  I purchased half a dozen plain, colored t-shirts.  They weren't the sporty dry-fast shirts you might be used to, though.  These were much softer and thin. 

As a reference, we traveled the first week of June.

Staying Dry is Key

Water conducts heat away from the body 25X faster than air so being dry is essential.  You should expect rain, drizzle, mist, (snow!) during your Alaskan cruise.  Here’s a list of what we brought to keep us dry.  Bear in mind, water resistant isn’t the same as waterproof!

• Waterproof shoes or boots – Since we didn’t do any “off-roading” these stayed clean and were appropriate for our evening wear.
• Rain Jacket – Essential and make sure it is large enough that it will fit after you’ve added a couple of layers underneath.  Mine had a hood which I’d recommend. 
• Quick Dry pants – These pants were thin, so they weren’t the warmest.  Had it been any colder, I would have wished for some long underwear to put on first.  Choose neutral colors so you can re-wear these throughout the trip.  I had four pairs of pants.  Jeans would be fine UNTIL they get wet, so save the jeans to wear on board.

·         Optional would be an entire rainproof suit.  Thankfully, this wasn’t necessary on our trip.

Layers is a Close Second

Every day I’d put on a T-shirt, sweatshirt, and then either the rain jacket or coat (or both).  This was sufficient to keep me warm and dry.  Having a backpack to remove (or carry) extra layers as needed is a good idea.  Plus, it’s handy to carry any purchases you might make while exploring the shore.  Depending on the styles of T-shirts and long-sleeved shirts, you can probably wear these in the dining room.  My shirts had no design and coordinated with my pants, and this is exactly what I did each night.  Also, because I wasn’t a sweaty mess, I could re-wear some of the outer layers multiple times. 

•   T-Shirts (white, colored, or designs) - 7

•  Long-Sleeved shirts - 3

• Sweatshirts - 2

• Coat (I used this mostly when on the deck of the ship while we were moving) -1

• Stocking cap/hat

• Gloves – 1  

Other Clothes You Need 

Don’t forget that you’ll be on the ship a good part of the time where it is warm and dry.  Plan to re-wear or pack more clothes for your time onboard.  There were people wearing shorts, but it was far less common than being in the Caribbean.

· Warm socks – 7-9 pairs

·  Underwear / bras – 9 / …and I don’t know about bras, ladies.  

·  Sleeping Clothes (PJs, sweats, shorts, gown)

·  Comfortable shoes

·  Bathing suit – I don’t like cruise ship pools in the first place and certainly wasn’t getting in when the air temp was 55 degrees!

·  Outfit to wear home.  Pack this separately in a smaller, zippered case.

·  **Some ships do have formal dress requirements in certain dining rooms or on certain nights which mandate that men have slacks and a collared shirt (or jacket) and ladies have a dress, gown, or pants suit.  Double-check your itinerary and plan accordingly if you want to attend these engagements.**

Just for Alaskan Cruises 

Here are some items that make sense for Alaska. 

•  Binoculars or spotting scope

• Waterproof dry bag

Some Other Things You Should Bring

A lot of this stuff isn’t cruise-specific but are things we try to bring on all our trips. They are items you might need and while it’s possible to buy while traveling, will likely cost double what you’d pay at home.

· OTC meds – Tylenol, Advil, Sudafed, anti-diarrhea meds

· Sunscreen (we used a stick just for our face)

· Bug Spray (we didn’t use any in Alaska)

· Nail clippers

· USB charging port and cords 

Seattle, Washington 

Use this link to research what excursions and tours you can book in Seattle 

Located in the northwest corner of the continental United States, Seattle is Washington's largest city and not surprisingly one of the most popular embarkation ports for Alaskan cruises.  Divided between Pier 66 (Bell Street Terminal) and Pier 91 (Smith Cove Terminal) at least six major cruise lines operate round-trip itineraries to Alaska from Seattle.  Since you leave from and return to the same US city, you won't need a passport despite the requisite law mandating a short stop in a foreign country (generally Vancouver, Canada).  

We always encourage our clients to arrive a day or two at the port city before your sail date, so let's talk about some fun things to do while visiting before boarding your ship.  I will mention "walking distance" below.  For me, walking distance is 1-3 miles (one way).  Seattle is built on the side of a hill so depending on where you stay and where you want to walk, there is a good chance at some point, you'll be headed up hill.  If you have mobility issues or aren't comfortable walking, consider downtown hotel locations or plan to use rideshare or taxi services to navigate the city.

There are lots of options for hotels but let's first take a look at a map (expertly colored by me).  The yellow area is "downtown".  The further you go from the harbor and ports, the more suburban.  The hotels on the edges will be less expensive but you need to account for the distance walking or cost for transportation when you explore.  Hotels closer to the harbor will have a steeper price but you'll be within walking distance of a lot.  Also, most of these hotels, unless you're within a few miles of SEA-TAC (Seattle Tacoma International Airport) will not offer airport shuttles.  

The area in green is located near the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, and Chihuly Garden and Glass.  Fun fact - if you've ever get a chance to visit the Indianapolis Children's Museum, there is a 43 foot glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly.  Anyway, back to the green.  There are lots of hotels here that offer a good location and price.  Brands such as Four Seasons by Sheraton, Hyatt Place, Hampton Inn, and Homewood Suites are found here.  

The area in orange (and actually, below that area) is where you'll find the SEA-TAC and its airport hotels.  Most of these offer a free airport shuttle but again, you're on the outskirts of town.  There's no walking to the city so rideshare and taxi as well as the Sound Transit, Seattle's light rail.  You can take this from the airport to a number of stations including the Westlake station, from here, there is a Monorail that runs between here and the Museum of Pop Culture / Seattle Children's Museum.  

When we help with your pre-cruise hotel stay, I'll make sure you know the easiest, most cost-effective route from the airport to the hotel.  We'll also plan from the hotel the cruise port and cruise port back to the airport (or post-cruise hotel).  A lot of the hotels offer a shuttle service that will take you to the port on the morning of your cruise.  You sign up once you check in to the hotel and the cost is about $15-20/per person plus optional gratuity.

Pike Place Market is one of Seattle’s most iconic destinations, blending history, flavor, and local charm into an unforgettable experience. Opened in 1907, the market stretches across bustling, multi-level corridors filled with vibrant produce stands, artisan crafts, fresh flowers, and the famous fishmongers who put on a show with every flying salmon. 

Visitors can sip small-batch coffee, sample handmade pastries, explore quirky specialty shops, and meet the farmers and makers who give the market its heartbeat. Overlooking Elliott Bay, Pike Place offers a perfect mix of sensory excitement and Pacific Northwest character—making it a must-visit stop for anyone wanting to experience the true spirit of Seattle. 

The availability of fresh fruit, flowers, and fish is unmatched and while you can't take advantage of some offerings available, some of the best fruits I've ever had were eaten while taking in the market.

We happened upon Ludi's (not at the Market) for breakfast and then ended up at O-Mart for lunch on the same day.  Both are Filipino restaurants and both were excellent.  For breakfast, we ordered a plate of ube pancakes to share because they looked so cool and I got a variety platter that had several different types of sausage.  It was all terrific!  At O-Mart we had a 

Not pictured was the salmon cheek soup, a very popular dish at O-Mart.  It was interesting, but to me, the whole fish and platter pictured above were superior to the soup.  

Seattle has an underground city because the original streets of downtown were raised after a devastating fire in 1889. When the Great Seattle Fire destroyed much of the business district, city leaders decided to rebuild using brick and stone instead of wood—and to solve a persistent flooding and sanitation problem, they elevated the street level by 10 to 30 feet. As new, higher streets and sidewalks were constructed, the old first floors of buildings became basements, creating a network of passageways that still exists beneath Pioneer Square. Today, these tunnels form Seattle’s famous “underground city,” a fascinating reminder of how the city rebuilt, adapted, and quite literally rose above disaster.  

We have taken two underground tours in Seattle.  Bill Speidel's World Famous Underground Tour and Beneath the Streets both offer these tours.  The experiences were uniquely different and worth the price of admission.  If I had to rate them, the tour was better with Bill Speidel's but the tour guide was superior on the BTS experience.  Either way you go, I don't think you'll be disappointed and you'll come away with a unique and unusual perspective of the area below Pioneer Square.

Don't forget to like us on Facebook.  Follow us here for more info about all of the destinations we can help you plan and book.  And in case you didn't know this, our help is always free. ~Joe

 Alaskan Cruise on Princess Cruise Line

The Alaskan cruise season runs from early May to early October and most all cruise lines have some sort of itinerary available.  We chose Princess for a couple of reasons.  First, we'd never sailed with them and if you know anything about our agency, we value first-hand experience with the products we sell in order to guide our clients.  Princess also had an interesting itinerary that fit our schedule.  If you don't choose an itinerary that is round-trip between Seattle, you'll most likely fly into or out of Canada at one end of your trip.  This means you'll be required to have a valid passport.

Royal Princess docked in Skagway, AK

Our trip was early June on the Royal Princess for a 7-Day Inside Passage with Glacier Bay.  Before we stepped foot on the ship, we spent a little time in Seattle, WA.  I strongly encourage cruise clients (regardless of where you're cruising from or to) to arrive at the port at least one day early.  I have another blog on the reasons so I won't go over them again.  Please check this link out for more info.  I also prepared a short blog about Seattle, WA as well.    

Weather and Packing

With a great amount of our leisure time spent in tropical climates, one of the most challenging aspects of our trip was packing.  We just didn't know what to bring.  Most of the port cities we visited are part of the largest temperate rainforest in North America.  We were expecting daily rain and clouds, so having clothes that would dry fast was important.  

Before we left for our trip, we visited Sierra.  It's part of the TJX family of brands (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods) and offers the exact type of clothing we were looking for.  Brands such as Columbia, Merrill, Spyder, and The American Outdoorsman fit the bill.  I purchased half a dozen plain, colored t-shirts.  They weren't the sporty dry-fast shirts you might be used to, though.  These were much softer and thin.  I got three or four pair of pants and a hooded, rainproof jacket.  

Something that surprised me as compared to Caribbean cruising was the ability to reuse outfits over the course of the trip.  Since the temps were mild, our clothes weren't disgusting at the end of the day after exploring each port.  I'd layer a t-shirt, long sleeve, and possibly a sweatshirt with a pair of quick-dry pants and waterproof shoes.  We'd carry a backpack with stocking caps, gloves, and rain coats just in case.  Here is a complete list of my clothes as well as other odds and ends I took. Coming Soon!

If you purchase quick-drying clothes, even if you're unfortunate enough to be soaked, you'll still get a couple of days from each outfit if needed.  While there was a formal night on our cruise, in general, we didn't see people getting as dressed up for dinner.  Often, we'd wear the same outfit we'd worn during our port adventures to dinner that night.  I highly value comfort over being fancy!

What I Enjoyed the Most on the Ship

Balcony Room

I truly think you'd regret being on a ship without a balcony.  The ability to step outside my cabin to the brisk, salty-fresh air as the ship glides by snow-capped mountains and dense forests is not to be underrated.  Technically, we had a mini suite, not a traditional balcony room.  The MS offered us a bit more cabin space and a seating area.  Check out a video of our room on YouTube.

Music and Comedy

A couple of the activities I like when I cruise is live music and comedy.  Both were a hit on this ship.  The Trawlermen is a UK-based folk band who did some amazing covers of more contemporary rock songs.  Our comedian was solid, offering both family and adult-themed shows.  It was a bit disappointing they didn't move him to a larger venue for his adult-themed show since it filled rather quickly.

Food and Drinks

The food on the ship was decent but I do concur that the pizza on board was a step above what you'd expect for cruise pizza, heck even most restaurant pizza, too.  Like with most cruises, I don't elect to pay extra for specialty dining so we stuck with the included provisions as well as our two free "casual meals" that came with our beverage and wi-fi package (Princess Plus).  

Seafood pizza at Alfredo's

The pizza at Prego Pizzeria was fantastic with three choices of topping that rotated daily.  Alfredo's Pizzeria was how we spent one of our casual meal credits.  They had many basic varieties (very similar to Prego) with the option to pay extra to upgrade.  I was disappointed there was an upcharge to get more pizza topping choices since this was already an "upgraded" meal.  The Trident Grill, located next to Prego, offered grilled hamburgers that were top-notch.  I'd have happily had burgers and pizza the entire trip.

Excursions

Each port of call has something to offer.  We b

Not a photo from my trip....

ooked a whale watching excursion with Harv & Marv's before we arrived in Juneau.  It included round-trip transportation from the port to Auke Bay, the boat journey to search for whales, and a brief stop to get a photo with Mendenhall Glacier in the background.  We saw whales but none breached like in the photo below.  We also saw orcas (killer whales), seals, and sea lions.  

Gateway to the Yukon

I'd have to say that my favorite experience of the trip was the White Pass and Yukon Route train excursion in Skagway.  This 2.5-3 hour round-trip trip was a highlight of my trip and helped satisfy a need to see some areas away from the ports.  If possible, arrive early at the loading point for the trip and ask, encourage (,...beg!) to be on the last car.  It offers a premium vantage point to take photos and videos of the experience.  Here is link to YouTube to see a clip of our train experience.

With our time before or after our excursions and while in Ketchikan where we had nothing planned, we just walked the streets, visiting shops and taking in the sites.  There is plenty of cruise port shopping for those who need an ulu knife, sweatshirt with your choice of a bear, salmon, or whale, or birch syrup.  They have plenty of  other cool stuff, too. 

What I'd Do Differently

Land Cruise Tour Combo

I did love the 7-day cruise but would have really enjoyed some time before the trip having more experiences on land.  With the exception of a quick blur of fur running into the weeds, I never saw a bear, sigh.  While I don't fancy myself as an intrepid hiker, I'd have loved to have a bit more wilderness exploring.  When considering any sort of land cruise combo, you have to keep in mind that you not only are you adding cost to your vacation, but most every land cruise tour originates or terminates with a Canadian port.  This means you'd have to have a current passport in order for us to book this sort of trip for you. 

"No Kings...Crab"

One restaurant I saw repeatedly while researching Alaskan cruises (and saw both locations in Juneau) is Tracy's Crab Shack.  The location closest to the port is reportedly very busy when the ships come in but a short walk toward Juneau (10-12 minutes) finds you their less busy 2nd location with the same quality everyone raves about.  I do kick myself for not splurging and getting a mess of crab legs...  

Double-Check Those Next Day Flight Options

The last thing I would consider, and this will definitely depend on your home airport, would be staying one post-cruise night to take advantage of an early morning, non-stop flight home.  The trip back to Indy was tumultuous at best and involved flight delays at SEA-TAC because some yahoo mentioned the "B-word" while on his plane, mid-air text and emails between with our airline to switch to a later flight in Chicago, and a sprint through the airport by some of the party (...thanks Ted, Andy, Brendan, and Emma) to check-in at our connecting gate while the rest of the party ambled along.  

Most all AK cruises have a brief stop in Vancouver, Canada

Honestly, this is from the Canadian Pavilion from Epcot ;)

The front of the train from the back of the train.

White Pass and Yukon Rail with the Royal Princess in the background

Blue sky and snow-capped mountains

Don't forget to like us on Facebook.  Follow us here for more info about all of the destinations we can help you plan and book.  And in case you didn't know this, our help is always free. ~Joe

 

 Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages wins on so many levels. Joe and I first went on a Virgin Voyage in March of 2024 on the Scarlet Lady and immediately loved the vibe. There is something so different about ADULT ONLY atmospheres. The comedy is better, the food is better and the atmosphere is less chaotic. One item of note, unlike other cruise lines, you must have a valid passport for a Virgin Voyage.

 

I recently returned with our youngest daughter on the Valiant Lady and a girl's trip was perfect as well. The ships in the Virgin fleet are the same as far as the basics but the shows and decor can vary. I loved feeling immediately at home with the layout..ie, I knew how to immediately get to fantastic made to order pizza at embarkation then grab my first ice cream of the day. Followed by the sailaway party and of course the first night's PJ Party.

YES, I took a bite before we even got the photo, taste testing is required.

    A couple of difference I love with Virgin Voyages are the drink packages and lack of clothing expectations. First, unlike other cruise lines that offer "be wasted all week" drink packages that would leave me sick and require all adults in the same room to have the same outrageously expensive drink package, Virgin does drinks BETTER. First, their regular, free, drip coffee is good. Not so bad you feel the need to go buy coffee on board. Second, they include soda, tea,  juices and water. We had fresh carafes of water in our room which were refilled often.  Finally, you can purchase drinks for reasonable amounts ($6-$15) and you can prepay with a bar tab for the entire room to share, this comes with a bonus if booked in advance. For instance, prepay $200 and get $25 bonus added. This can be used to buy drinks for anyone (in your party or not).  You can get gourmet coffees, (really good, alternate milks, made correctly and only $4-6) pressed juices, smoothies, non-alcoholic and alcoholic cocktails, beer, and wine. 

    Next up, dress code for dining onboard. In my real life, I am a teacher. I do not dress up for life and really loath packing to be "fancy". On Virgin Voyages you can wear whatever you like, every night to every venue. Sure, this is likely true of most cruise lines but on Virgin they mean it, at any dinner you will see cocktail gowns and suits next to shorts and a t-shirt with no one paying a bit of attention. They have a red night that you can be dressy red, funny red, matching red or not red at all. One night they have an event to "be fancy" but again that is up to interpretation and all are welcome.

Lots of amazing onboard activities if you like to stay busy. We joined in on Country Line Dancing, Latin Dance Party, Summer camp crafts, sunrise yoga, comedians and shows. There were trivia shows all over the ship, extensive board games collections, an open and free arcade, casino, multiple locations to lay out and soak in the sun, pools, spas, and don't forget BINGO with the Drag Queen!

When booking Virgin all of this plus gratuities are included! 

The food is amazing because there is no need to cater to children and all ages. There is also NO BUFFET which makes me ridiculously happy. You go to multiple kiosks and order exactly what you want and it is served up fresh and untouched by other cruisegoers. The pizza parlor on board is great and we returned several times. The ice cream shop has consistent flavors then some changing daily, stop by as often as you'd like. The social club has wings, popcorn, hot pretzels, candy and treats. 

There are five "sit down" restaurants on board for dinner with several serving breakfast and brunch. You make reservations prior to your trip but they were all 9pm because we booked the trip so late. After boarding the ship on our first day ( and after stopping to eat) we went to the Razzle Dazzle restaurant to meet with concierge.  They fit us in to earlier time slots that are held back to meet the needs of those with less tech savviness or those of us that were late to booking. We got everything moved to workable times with no issues at all. Unlike all other cruise lines, none of the restaurants (often called specialty dining) are an upcharge.

When you are ready to book your ADULT only cruise to the Caribbean, Europe and Greece let us know and we will take care of all the details!  

 Dillontravels@gmail.com

 

The "Magic" of staying at a Disney resort

The Grand Floridian, a deluxe resort located on the Monorail system

            

When working with clients, we are sometimes asked what advantage there is to staying at a Walt Disney World resort.  Many times, people feel that they can skip the resort and save money on their trip.  While there might be a savings, we believe the pros of being on property far outweigh modest, monetary savings.  Not sure if you'll save, request a free quote.

Disney World has over 25 different resort options spanning from budget-friendly value resorts, mid-level moderate resorts, extravagant deluxe resorts and even a campground.  Prices range from $130-$6000 per night and depend on the resort category, room category, and travel dates.  Generally, you can expect to spend $200-400 per night.   

 Time - You will spend time traveling to and from the off-property resorts.  Something to remember is that Walt Disney World is HUGE!  It covers over 20,000 acres and is the size of Manhattan.  Time is valuable, especially if you have a short trip.  It will be less convenient to go back and take naps mid-day if you aren't close to your WDW resort.

The Skyliner Gondola

      Transportation - You have free transportation once you arrive at your Disney resort.  So, there is no need for a rental car.  The resort shuttles run every 5-25 minutes which varies depending on the time of day.  Some off-property resorts offer shuttles but they may only come two times a day or every hour.  And this is all if the hotel even offers theme park transfers.   

     If you decide to drive or rent a car to give you more flexibility, keep in mind that theme park parking is $30/day for non-resort guests (free if you're staying on property).  

    

     Money and Promotions - Staying on property with a package, which includes a resort stay and ticket plus the option to add a dining plan, makes you eligible for Disney promotions.  If these come out, even after booking, we will apply them to save you money.  Also, a package requires a $200 deposit and final payment 30 days before travel.  You can cancel anytime before final payment is due.  If you book a ticket-only reservation (and stay off-property), the full amount of tickets is due at the time of purchase and these are non-refundable.

     Early Park Entry - Resort guests are eligible for entry to select parks 30 minutes before anyone else.  Rope drop is only possible if you are coming from a Disney resort.

     Lightning Lane Advance Purchase - If you decide to purchase LL passes, you can do so 7 days prior to travel if you're a resort guest.  For others, it's 3 days prior.  This could be the difference between getting or not getting a pass for a particular ride.  Not sure what a Lighting Lane pass is, read more here.

The Beast at Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom

      Dining Plan - You must stay on Disney property to purchase a Dining Plan.  If  you purchase the Disney Dining Plan, we will make those reservations for you as part of our free services.  Depending on your needs, the DDP or the simpler Quick Service dining plan, is designed for convenience and can be a way to save.  Check out this blog to find out if you'd benefit from a dining plan.

 Character Dining - Whether staying on property or not, you can still make reservations for a character meal.  WDW resort guests can do this 60 days before travel, others wait until 30 days before travel.  This might make difference of getting the meal you want to experience.

The "Magic" - As corny as it sounds, there is something to be said about being immersed in Disney.  If you stay on property, from the moment you arrive, you are enveloped.  Your off-property resort won't have Mickey-shaped waffles, Disney art, or  themed-pools.  No Disney gift shop, no cast members, and no whimsical Disney background music.  That special "something" disappears at the end of a long day visiting the parks when you pile into your car and head for your off-property hotel.  

Perhaps, one of the saddest signs of all times!

The "What if...." - I wrote this blog just one day after Hurricane Milton struck central-Florida.  Amanda, one of our agents, was visiting and offered a unique insight to being "stuck at Disney" during a storm.  Somethings we learned are that WDW has constructed buildings to withstand Category 5 storms, the resorts have generators, and maybe most importantly, Disney has a plan.  

Activity board at Contemporary Resort

After the theme parks and common areas closed, guests were sequestered to their respective resorts to ride out the storm.  It appeared that sufficient notice was provided about what would be closed and when.  The resorts that had interior access to a central lobby (mostly, your deluxe resorts) could access the amenities such as the store, arcade (which was free!), and restaurants.  Disney had a variety of activities to pass the time and once the storm has passed and it was safe, Disney start to shift back to business as normal.  

The theme parks were scheduled to reopen about 30 hours after they closed.  I added a couple of her photos below.

   

Extra towels and shampoo, furniture moved inside, and sandbags at the doors

One of the Monorails parked inside the Contemporary Resort

  

Carts and signs tied down for the hurricane

Lamps covered to prevent damage from debris

Don't forget to like us on Facebook.  Follow us here for more tips and tricks, not only for Walt Disney World resorts but all of the destinations we can help you plan and book.  And in case you didn't know this, our help is always free. ~Joe