This guide has two sections:
- 9 CRUCIAL TIPS
- MAY OUTFIT AND PACKING GUIDE
If you are only interested in the outfit and packing tips for May, please skip the section with the nine tips and scroll all the way down.
However, we also highly recommend reading our ‘non-outfits’ tips, because they will make your cruise 10x better!
Guidebook Tip | Highly Recommended
- Fodor's Travel Guides (Author)
Whether you have already picked out your cruise for May or haven’t booked so yet, this book is a must-buy! It provides awesome tips, the differences between the ships, highlights in each port, and so much more.
If you are planning a cruise for another month, read our Alaska Cruise Outfit Guide for May, June, July, August, and September.
💡 Good to know: The following nine tips apply to every cruise month in Alaska, not only May. However, the outfit tips in the second section are tailored specifically for July!
9 CRUCIAL ALASKA CRUISE TIPS
1. Have the Essentials in Your Carry-On Bag
It’s crucial to strategically pack a carry-on bag with essential items you’ll need immediately on board. Since checked bags are typically delivered to your cabin later in the afternoon or even post-dinner, having a carry-on filled with necessities is a wise move.
Ensure all crucial items such as medications, travel documents, passports, and cruise tickets are safely stored in this bag. If you have specific dietary needs, consider packing some snacks as well.
While most cruise lines plan formal events from the second night onward, it wouldn’t hurt to include a versatile outfit in your carry-on that could transition from day to night.
An extra-special tip for Alaskan cruises: since daylight hours are significantly extended during the summer, consider packing a sleep mask in your carry-on. It will help you adjust to the ‘midnight sun’ phenomenon and ensure a good night’s sleep.
Properly organizing your carry-on bag ensures you start your journey without any hiccups, keeping the focus on the awe-inspiring landscapes and unique experiences that await you in Alaska.
2. Book Cruise Line AND Independent Excursions
Many of the excursions offered by the cruise line are great, and we recommend booking one of these.
However, you should also book at least one independent one as you will save money and tour with a smaller group. 💡 The ship will discourage you from doing this, as excursions are a big moneymaker for the cruise line. Often, their primary argument is that the ship will wait for their own tours if they return late, but not for independent ones.
However, this is not a valid reason if you a) don’t book a long tour (more than 4 hours) and b) use a provider like GetYourGuide, where you usually have 24-hour penalty-free cancellation.
Must-Do in Juneau: Whale Watching
This tour is fantastic! And there is one big advantage: You get off your ship and you are right there where the tour starts. The duration is only 3.5 hours, so it’s safe to book it.
Again, the advantages of booking an independent tour, for example via GetYourGuide:
Smaller Groups:
- Joining a third-party tour often means being in a smaller group, unlike the large numbers that fill cruise line tours.
- You could find yourself in a group of less than 20 people or even just your own private group.
- This smaller setting makes it easier to ask questions and customize your day with activities that suit you, like special stops for pictures or activities for kids.
- You can change the pace to suit your group, making the experience more tailored to what you want to see and do.
Significantly Cheaper/Better Value:
- Booking directly with tour providers will save you money or offer more value than the same tours offered by cruise lines.
- While small-group or private tours might initially seem more expensive than cruise ship excursions, they provide greater value by allowing customization and more direct sightseeing time, with less waiting for others.
- Cost-sharing with a group can make these private tours more affordable per person, enhancing the overall experience without breaking the bank.
Booking an excursion independently while on an Alaska cruise offers personalized experiences, more adventurous activities, unique explorations, and better value for your money.
3. Bring Binoculars(!)

When you’re on an Alaska cruise, having binoculars is like holding a magic key that unlocks distant wonders. With them, you can zoom in on the breathtaking details of glaciers, spotting the brilliant blues and intricate patterns that are invisible to the naked eye.
- 【HIGH-POWERED LARGE EYEPIECE BINOCULARS】 This binoculars for adults has 12x magnification, 25mm objective lens...
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Wildlife, from majestic eagles soaring in the sky to playful seals lounging on ice floes, comes into clear view, making every sighting more thrilling. Imagine catching the subtle movements of a bear along the shoreline or a whale’s splash in the distance; binoculars bring these moments close, as if nature’s spectacle is unfolding just for you.
So, packing binoculars turns your cruise into an unforgettable adventure, where every glance through the lenses reveals the awe-inspiring beauty and mystery of Alaska’s wild landscapes and creatures.
4. Bring a Seasickness Remedy
- SAFE AND EFFECTIVE - 100% Natural Herb, without side effects and causing drowsiness
This advice may seem odd advice, especially for first-timers who’ve never experienced seasickness before, but it’s always better to be prepared than be caught off guard.
Seasickness, or motion sickness, is caused by the constant motion of the ship, which can disrupt your inner ear’s sense of balance. Even if you’ve never felt ill on smaller boats or car trips, a cruise ship’s unique movement might affect you differently. Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to nausea, dizziness, and in rare cases, vomiting.
Weather patterns in Alaska can be unpredictable, sometimes causing rougher seas, and you never know how your body might react. Moreover, it’s not just about being on the ship. Excursions, like smaller boat trips to see glaciers or wildlife, can also be a trigger.
If the captain announces that we’re heading into bad weather I immediately take my seasickness medicine and then I’m fine.
By packing seasickness medication, you’re safeguarding your enjoyment of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. These remedies come in various forms, from over-the-counter pills like Dramamine to prescription patches, natural remedies like ginger tablets, or even acupressure wristbands.
It’s advisable to consult with your healthcare provider on what might work best for you.
5. Research Your Ship Ahead of the Cruise and on Embarkation Day
For us, it usually takes a couple of days until we learn the ins and outs of a new ship. Many passengers I talk to are overwhelmed at first and it takes a while to figure everything out.
I always suggest studying the ship you’re on prior to the cruise and compiling a list on your phone with details. For example which restaurants are specialty and complimentary, and checking if you need to book dining and show appointments.
The more research you can do ahead of the cruise, the less time you will waste within the first days of the cruise.
Embarkation Day: As soon as you board the ship, especially if you embark early, remember your cabin might not be ready yet, so it’s a great time to roam the ship and familiarize yourself!
If you embark on your Alaska cruise around noon, your cabin might not be ready until 2-3 PM, so brace yourself for this.
Occasionally, you might be able to head straight to your cabin upon embarkation, but this isn’t standard. Considering the previous guests would have vacated the cabins only around 8 am, the crew doesn’t have
6. Bring a Water Bottle
- Double-walled vacuum insulation keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12 hours, perfect for any...
Bringing a reusable water bottle on your Alaska cruise is an excellent idea for several reasons. First, staying hydrated is crucial, especially when partaking in various activities and excursions in different climates. Having a water bottle on hand will ensure you always have easy access to water.
Second, it’s an eco-friendly option that cuts down on the use of disposable plastic bottles, aligning with the sustainable practices that protect the pristine Alaskan environment. Lastly, many modern cruise ships have water refilling stations, so you can conveniently refill your bottle, ensuring a supply of fresh, cold water throughout your journey.
Some say that they only needed a water bottle on the excursion but not on the ship. We don’t agree! Except when heading for dinner or lunch, we always carry one with us.
7. No Need to Pack a Hair Dryer and Towels
Bringing a hair dryer on your Alaska cruise isn’t necessary due to the amenities provided on most modern cruise ships. Cruise ship cabins typically come equipped with a hair dryer for passengers’ use, saving you the hassle of packing one.
Packing your own towels is also not required and here’s why: Cruise lines provide ample towels for their passengers. In your cabin, you’ll find towels for showering, and additional ones are supplied for use at the pool or when going ashore for the beach or water-based excursions.
Thus, bringing your own hair dryer or towels would merely consume precious luggage space and add unnecessary weight to your baggage.
8. Essential Tips for Embarkation Day
Embarkation day on a cruise is the first day of your voyage when everyone boards the ship. It’s a day full of anticipation and excitement, as you check in, explore the ship’s amenities, and settle into your cabin, ready to start your cruising adventure.
Embarkation Day Tip 1: Allocate Enough Time
Consider reaching the port a day earlier if possible. Traveling to the port on embarkation day can be done, but it tends to be stressful.
I have personally traveled to ports and boarded a ship on the same day, a scenario I wouldn’t recommend, but under certain circumstances, it can be fine.
However, if you do have a choice, I suggest arriving at the port the night before you embark on your Alaska cruise. The last thing you’d want is to kick-start your journey with stress.
Living within a few hours of the port might eliminate the need for this, but do ensure you have sufficient time to make the journey.
Embarkation Day Tip 2: Expect a Waiting Line
It’s undoubtedly important to arm yourself with patience for an Alaska cruise.
Embarkation can resemble the process at an airport, so expect to wait in line for check-in or security.
Tip: Maintain no expectations, stay prepared, and relax. It’s vacation time.
Embarkation Day Tip 3: Prepare to Undergo Security Checks
The first time we went on an Alaska cruise, we were surprised that the ship security is almost the same as in an airport. Be prepared that your luggage and your body will be scanned.
Upon arriving at the port, you’ll have to pass through security. Cruise lines scan for any potentially dangerous items or prohibited articles.
The policy regarding carrying alcohol onboard is diverse and complicated. While some cruise lines permit a certain quantity of alcohol, others forbid it entirely.
Embarkation Day Tip 4: Choose The Main Restaurant
Very few people are aware of this great tip:
Upon embarkation, most people head for the buffet or the pool, both of which can get quite crowded.
On many cruises, the main dining room also opens for lunch, allowing you to start your cruise in a more relaxed manner.
9. Be Early for Dinner and Lunch
This is one of your favorite tips and tricks.
On our Alaska cruises, we are typically the first to arrive for lunch and dinner. This resulted in our having the pick of the seats and often being early enough to be stationed by a window.
For panoramic views while dining, it’s really worth considering an early mealtime. That means we can enjoy excellent views and attentive service while avoiding crowded dining areas.
We found the buffet to be an excellent choice for breakfast, while we opted for seated restaurants for lunch and dinner. The buffet on our Alaska cruises was never packed during breakfast, and they offered a good variety of food.
The buffet became crowded during lunch and dinner, and it was far more peaceful to sit at our dedicated table and have the meal served to us. If you do choose the buffet, it’s a good idea to secure an unoccupied table first, before proceeding to collect your food. It makes for a smoother experience than juggling full plates while seeking a table.
MAY OUTFIT AND PACKING GUIDE
On an Alaska cruise, layered outfits are required, in particular in May. You wear warm waterproof outer layers, middle layers like a sweater or a hoodie, additional light layers like long-sleeved or short-sleeved shirts, and long underwear.
Additionally, pack jeans, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and an umbrella.
Essential Packing Tips

Before we provide detailed packing tips for May, let’s give you an overview of what you should bring on your Alaska cruise in general.
The key is to wear layers and waterproof or water-resistant clothing items. Outfits like fleece jackets, sweaters, hoodies, and thermal layers keep you warm on colder days. On warmer days, t-shirts and pants or jeans are appropriate.
Layers
You’ve probably heard the saying, “if you don’t like the weather here, just wait five minutes.” Well, they were talking about Alaska!
Alaska’s weather can change quickly, so be prepared. As the temperature fluctuates, layering lets you adjust your comfort.
Most first-time passengers make the mistake of not packing enough layers, especially for May. Even later in July and August, layering is crucial as it can get chilly.
Wear lightweight, long underwear or leggings. Depending on the temps, insulate with a fleece or sweater, then cover with a rain jacket. This combination will keep you warm and dry.
Women’s Outer Layer/Jacket Tips
Good to know: Every port sells fleece-lined, waterproof jackets in case you didn’t bring warm enough outer layers. These also make great souvenirs as they are usually reasonably priced.
Every time we went on a cruise, we were glad to have layers of clothing, as we could easily remove or add layers as needed when temps changed.
Women’s Outer Layer Lightweight Alternative Tips
- MATERIAL: 100% Polyester Waterproof Material With Striped Cotton Lined, Breathable, Soft Touch, Windproof, Easy To...
- Vanquish the elements donning Columbia Arcadia II Jacket! This jacket is your ultimate weather warrior, featuring...
- Size Recommend: This raincoat has a casual fit and big enough, if you're not layering, we recommend choosing one...
If you pack warm enough middle layers (fleece jackets and hoodies) and base layers (t-shirts, long sleeves), you may use a more lightweight outer layer, like a raincoat, instead of a warm jacket (see above).
Women’s Middle Layer Tips
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- CLASSIC FIT: Close-but-comfortable fit with easy movement
Fleece layers are essential. We always bring a fleece zip-up jacket and a zip-up hoodie.
Layering Example 1
- Fleece-Lined Hooded Rain Jacket (Amazon Link)
- Light Sweatshirt
- T-shirt
This is our favorite layering method for any Alaska cruise. The fleece-lined rain jacket keeps you warm and dry. The two base layers provide additional warmth and are often sufficient when the outer layer is removed.
For late May, this layering method without a heavy coat can be sufficient. However, it depends on your personal ‘thermostat’ and the weather conditions. Always check the forecast.
Layering Example 3: May/June and September
- Winter jacket/coat (Amazon Link/Budget Tip) or medium coat
- Light Sweatshirt
- T-shirt
If you get cold easily, the jacket should be a warm winter coat. Otherwise, you may also bring a medium puffer jacket or even go with our layering example one or two.
💡 Sometimes, we brought a warm winter jacket in June or even later. However, most times, and for most people, our layering methods #1 and #2 keep you warm enough in the summer months.
Men’s Outer Layer/Jacket
On cooler days, we were thankful for our warm base layers and/or warm waterproof/water-resistant jackets, and on warmer days, we were able to shed layers and feel comfortable. We also found that comfortable and sturdy walking shoes were a must for the many excursions we participated in, from hiking to sightseeing.
Glacier Viewing
Keep in mind that it gets particularly cold when the ship gets close to a glacier. The viewing experience from the deck is just amazing, but the winds off the ice make the outside temp wintry cold. An insulated jacket, hat, gloves, and scarf are a good idea for this experience.
Rain Gear
Regardless of the month, it’s essential that you pack rain gear for your Alaska cruise. One of the mistakes many passengers make is not being prepared for rain during the cruise season. You will likely encounter rain in at least one of your ports or on a cruising day.
While you might experience heat waves during May, and no to little rain, you may also get rain on most days..
It’s better to bring a jacket which is waterproof and not only water-resistant. However, a very good water-resistant jacket can do its job as well. Additionally, pack water-resistant or waterproof boots and a compact travel umbrella.
Water-Resistant Pants?
Most of the time, you are fine with a good waterproof jacket. Up until last year, we have never felt the need for any special type of waterproof pants or shoes. If it was mild or moderate rain, I typically still wore my jeans, unless I felt I’m going to get drenched.
That’s why we didn’t add special pants to the packing lists in this article.
However, we bought these, and now we love them on every cruise:
- Waterproof windproof womens insulated pants are designed for waterproof fabric,allows for easy stain...
They are super awesome and keep you warm and dry all the time. So, instead of a second pair of standard pants, we pack a pair of these water-resistant ones for cooler days with heavier rain.
Comfortable and Sturdy Shoes
- Skechers Breathe Easy Technology
- Premium Waterproof Technology: Keep your feet dry in wet and muddy trails with Cottimo VAPO-Tech. A layer of...
- Lightweight Build: Weighing approximately 9.7oz, these lightweight hiking shoes for women deliver flexible and...
Many Alaska cruise excursions involve uneven terrain, so comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots are important. However, we never needed hiking shoes.
Sneakers/trainers, sandals, boat shoes, and other casual footwear are appropriate for onboard activities.
💡 Tip: The best thing you can do is bring comfortable, waterproof sneakers that are sturdy enough (see our tips above from Amazon). You can use these onboard and during excursions, saving you packing space!
Dress for Dinner
Most cruise lines do not require dinner attire and you can wear jeans and a t-shirt. However, some cruise lines have formal nights in the main dining room, so, pack cocktail dresses or slacks and a jacket.
That said, guests on Alaskan cruises typically don’t care too much about what they wear to dinner. Thus, we usually pack a nice outfit for dinner and shows. If you’re not a formal night person, don’t sweat it. Just head to the buffet or another restaurant on board.
For dinner, ladies can bring nice blouses and skirts or pants, dresses, or jumpsuits. Jumpsuits are warm, comfortable, and easy to style for dinner.
Swimsuit and Cover-up
Alaska’s waters are cold and not known for their beach breaks, but some cruise ships have heated pools and hot tubs. For swimming, pack your favorite swimsuit, flip flops, of course, and cover-up. You can check out big fluffy pool towels in the same area as the pool.
Good to know: Towels are being provided!
Accessories
Bring a hat, gloves, and scarf along with warm layered clothing. Even on cloudy days, sunglasses and sunscreen are necessary. And don’t forget the umbrella – rain can pop up anytime.
Packing Tips for May
May is the beginning of Alaska’s cruising season, and the weather can be quite chilly. Daytime temperatures are typically in the 50s Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), but they can drop into the 40s Fahrenheit (4-9 degrees Celsius) on cloudy days.
Good to know: The chance of rain on an Alaska cruise is minimal and at its lowest during this month. The upcoming summer months always have more rainfall than May.
Nights are even cooler, with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s Fahrenheit (1-3 degrees Celsius). You should be prepared for rain and fog, so bring a waterproof jacket, warm layers, and waterproof shoes for excursions.
Outfit and packing tips for May:
- Waterproof insulated outer layer like a medium puffer coat, or winter ski jacket if you get cold easily
- Middle layer like a sweater, hoodie, fleece/waterproof jacket/vest
- Light layers like long-sleeved or short-sleeved shirts, long underwear or leggings
- Waterproof shoes or hiking boots for excursions
- Hat, scarf, gloves
- Slacks or jeans
- Swimsuit (for pool and hot tub)
- Hiking or mud boots
- Binoculars (for nature watching)
- Umbrella