Around here there’s never much time to unpack before we’re planning the next adventure. After checking out Arizona’s first Buc-ee’s, we found ourselves packing four suitcases and heading north for a bucket-list trip to Alaska.
John has had an Alaska cruise on his bucket list for years. We’ve heard so many people rave about cruising Alaska—about the incredible scenery, the wildlife, and how breathtaking it is regardless of the weather.
But I’m not exactly a fan of cold, rainy weather.
So we decided if we were finally going to do this, we’d book our trip during what is generally considered Alaska’s best weather month—July.
Of course, booking an Alaska cruise in July means reserving early and giving up most of the last-minute bargains.
So that’s exactly what we did.
As it turns out, packing for an Alaska land and sea vacation is quite different from packing for a typical vacation—or even a regular cruise.
Preparing for Alaska’s Weather
For weeks before we left, I kept checking the forecast, hoping to see beautiful sunshine.
Instead…
Rain.
Lots and lots of rain.
And temperatures that looked downright chilly.
Leaving Phoenix in July for cooler weather might sound wonderful, but it definitely requires a different packing strategy.
Here’s what made the cut:
- Water-resistant shoes with good traction. We fully intend to get outside, even if it’s raining, and slippery trails didn’t sound very appealing.
- Umbrellas. John packed one “just in case.” Once the forecast showed rain nearly every day, I convinced him we needed a second one.
- Disposable rain ponchos. We always keep a few on hand, and this trip might finally justify carrying them around.
- Lightweight rain jackets with hoods. Even with a hat, being able to pull up a hood sounded much more comfortable than walking around with soaked hair.
- Layers. I packed exercise leggings and lightweight tops to wear underneath sweaters and pants so I could easily adjust as temperatures changed throughout the day.
Arrival Day
You’d think flying from one western state to another wouldn’t be a big deal.
Not so.
The nonstop flight from Phoenix to Anchorage is about six hours, and the flight we originally booked didn’t arrive until midnight.
The problem?
Our tour bus left at 6:00 the next morning.
That sounded more exhausting than exciting.
We changed our flights to arrive the day before, but unfortunately our tour hotel, Hotel Captain Cook, was already full.
Instead, I booked a hotel near the airport. We finally checked into our room around 2:00 a.m., but having a few extra hours to sleep before the adventure officially began was well worth it.
Living Out of Suitcases
One of my favorite things about cruising is unpacking once, settling into our cabin, and not thinking about luggage again until it’s time to go home.
A land and sea tour doesn’t work quite that way.
Before we even step onto the ship, we’ll stay in four different hotels.
Thanks to all those extra layers and jackets, we ended up bringing four suitcases.
To make things even more interesting, two of our hotels had second-floor rooms with no elevators.
Thankfully, hotel staff happily helped carry our luggage upstairs. We were more than happy to tip them for saving our backs.
Don’t Forget the Cash
We’re traveling with Princess, which has an outstanding reputation for Alaska cruises, and we prepaid our onboard gratuities.
The key words there are onboard gratuities.
Those don’t cover shuttle drivers, hotel housekeeping, luggage assistance, or local tour guides.
Since we rarely carry cash anymore, we made a special trip to the bank for plenty of ones, fives, and twenties.
I still don’t know who invented tipping…
…but I’m fairly certain they deserve some kind of punishment.
Wrap Up
This is the first post in our Alaska series. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing our train ride, Denali, the cruise, favorite excursions, and whether a Princess Land & Sea vacation lived up to all the hype.
By the time you’re reading this, we’ll hopefully be soaking in Alaska’s incredible scenery—whether it’s under blue skies or a steady drizzle.
Either way, I’m determined to embrace every moment.
I can’t wait to share our adventures, the places we visit, what surprised us, and whether all this planning paid off.
Rain or shine, Alaska is calling, and we’re ready.
Blessings for a wonderful week ahead.