Preparing for Our Honeymoon Cruise to Alaska

I’m thrilled to announce that in a couple of months, we’re off to Alaska for our honeymoon! We’ll be setting sail on an 8-day Alaskan cruise with Dinogo, and my mind is racing with packing ideas. All our previous vacations have taken us to warm locales (Hawaii, Cabo, Key West, Roatan, and a Caribbean cruise), and living in Florida, we’re eager to experience a new climate. However, I’m a bit unsure about what to pack! My typical suitcase filled with swimsuits and summer dresses won’t work for this adventure. Here’s a list of what I’ve thought of so far for an Alaskan cruise.

Let’s begin with the most budget-friendly choice – raiding my closet. While I may not be able to fit all these outfits into my suitcase (if only I had that kind of space!), this serves as my inspiration board. I plan to pack some sweaters, jeans, jackets, and shoes that I already own.

However, my Florida closet lacks some of the key items I’ll need for this trip to the north. During the day, we plan to stay quite active – hiking, fishing, and more – so I’ll require comfortable footwear. Plus, the nighttime temperatures can drop significantly, necessitating warm layers. Here are three essential items I plan to purchase for this journey.

1. Rain boots.
I need a pair of boots that will keep my feet cozy and dry. A shorter design will make them light enough for long walks, and laces will ensure they stay snug on my feet. My top pick is something like option #1 below.

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

2. A waterproof jacket.

Even though Alaska doesn’t experience much rain during our visit, I want to be prepared just in case. I’m searching for a lightweight jacket that provides a bit of warmth while also serving as protection against the elements (the yellow one I already own is super light—great for Florida, but it won't keep me warm in Alaska). I’d like it to be in a fun color that I can wear even after our trip.

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

3. A warmer jacket.

I already own one short wool coat, but the rest of my jackets are too long and formal to pair with hiking boots. I’m looking for something that provides more warmth than a raincoat or sweater, and that I’ll be excited to wear even after our trip is over.

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

I’m shopping off-season for this trip (currently, stores are filled with summer apparel), so I’m intrigued to see what I end up finding. It might lead to some fantastic bargains, but it could also make it challenging to locate items in my size. For dinners on the ship, I plan to rely on what I already have in my wardrobe—mainly nice dresses paired with a long wool coat, and maybe tights depending on the weather.

This article was created for Away We Go with Dinogo, your go-to source for getting into the travel spirit.