Shopping my closet for an Alaskan cruise - J's Everyday Fashion

I’m so excited to share that we are headed to Alaska for our honeymoon in a couple months! We’re embarking on an 8-day Alaskan cruise with Carnival and my head is already spinning with ideas on what to pack. All of our vacations together so far have been to tropical destinations (Hawaii, Cabo, Key West, Roatan, Caribbean cruise) and we live in Florida, so we are looking forward to experiencing a different climate. I’m a bit lost on what to pack though! My usual suitcase full of swim suits and beach dresses is not going to cut it for this trip. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far on what to bring on an Alaskan cruise.

First let’s start with the most economical option - shopping my closet. I may not pack all of these outfits in their entirety (if only I had that much room in my suitcase!) but this is serving as my inspiration board, and I plan to pack some of the sweaters, jeans, jackets, and shoes that I already own.

My Florida closet is missing some of the essentials I’ll need for this trip up north though. During the day we plan to be really active - hiking, fishing, etc. – so I’ll need practical shoes. And night temperatures can dip pretty low, which means bundling up. Here are three items I’m planning to buy for this trip.

1. Rainboots.
I want a pair of boots that will keep my feet warm and dry. A short height will keep them lightweight enough to walk long distances in, and laces will keep them from sliding around. Something like option #1 below is my first choice.

One / Two / Three
Four / Five / Six
Seven / Eight / Nine

2. A rain jacket.
Although Alaska doesn’t get a ton of rain during the month we’re traveling, I want to be prepared just in case. I’m looking for a lightweight jacket for a little warmth, and a shield against the weather (the yellow one already in my closet is not water resistant and won’t provide any warmth in Alaska). I want something in a fun color that I will also wear after our trip.

One / Two / Three
Four / Five / Six
Seven / Eight / Nine

3. A warmer jacket.
I have one short wool coat already, but the rest of my coats are too long and formal to wear with hiking boots. I’m on the hunt for something that will give me more warmth than a raincoat or a sweater, and that I love enough to wear after our trip.

One / Two / Three
Four / Five / Six
Seven / Eight / Nine

I’m shopping out of season for this trip (right now stores are stocked with summer clothes), so I’m curious to see what I wind up with. It could mean scoring some amazing deals, but it also could be difficult to find things in my size. For dinner on the ship I’m planning to stick with what’s already in my closet – mostly nice dresses with a long wool coat, and possibly tights depending on the temperature.

Have you ever been on a cruise to Alaska? What do you recommend packing?