Alaska Cruise Packing List for Kids: What Families Really Need to Bring
Items to bring to Alaska to enhance your kids’ overall experience
Getting ready for upcoming Alaskan cruise with your kids this summer? We will be cruising to Alaska for the fourth time this summer. There’s so much to look forward to and so much to pack! After you’ve finished packing the basics for your kids, check out my list below of items that will enhance your upcoming Alaskan Cruise.
Binoculars
Let your child feel like a mini naturalist by giving them their own pair of binoculars to carry around their neck. There’s so much to see on an Alaskan cruise—from bald eagles to glaciers calving into the sea, to seals lounging on icebergs and the occasional humpback whale breaching in the distance.
Having their own binoculars not only helps kids stay engaged, it makes them feel like part of the adventure. You might be surprised how excited they get spotting wildlife on their own—and how proud they are when they’re the first to see a whale or call out a distant bear onshore.
Choose kid-sized, lightweight binoculars with a neck strap and a wide field of view. Bonus if they come in a fun color or with a carrying case—your child will want to take them everywhere on the ship.
Journal
Depending on your child’s age and interests, they can write about their day or draw what they saw in a journal. It’s a great way to look back at the trip through their eyes. I take pictures of some of their drawings to add to our photo album. I plan on having my son write down the wildlife he sees in order to practice his writing skills. My three-year-old daughter will also have a journal. It will mostly be her beautiful scribbles but a fun dinner activity. When she’s done, we’ll make a note at the bottom of what she drew.
Books about Alaska
Grab some books on Alaska to read to the kids before you leave. It gives them an understanding and builds excitement. Pack their favorite ones to bring with you. It’s fun to reread after seeing many of the places in the book. Below are a few of our favorites.
Activities for the Table
Dinners can be long on a cruise so make sure to bring different activities for them to play with between courses. Grab some new items from the toy section of a Dollar Store. Their tin puzzles, small figurines, and cars keep my kids distracted and happy. I hide the new items and bring something new every day or two to keep them entertained and happy.
This is our current favorite is Water Wow!
What else?
Other favorite must-haves for cruises includes: cold and warm weather clothes, sunscreen, hats, playing cards, crayons, and bathing suits. Yes! Even when going to Alaska, pack your bathing suit! We’ve also gone to the AAA to get a map of Alaska to bring with us. It’s fun to chart our course and see all the little inlets and islands we are passing.
Packing can be frustrating as you are worried about forgetting something important. Make a list and keep adding to it as you remember things that you want to bring. We use packing cubes to help keep things organized and fit everything. I take the packing cube out and plop it in a draw, it’s all organized and makes unpacking easy.
FreshCruiser Tip: Don’t be afraid to get your kids involved in the packing process. Allow a little space for a few clothes or small toys they want to bring.
Note: All the products were selected by FreshCruiser. There are no affiliate links at this time. Updated with fresh tips and insights for 2025.