Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for a sailing up north

Packing for an Alaska cruise does not have to be a stressful experience.Yes, you will be visiting some places where the weather might be chillier than back home, but you will not encounter truly Arctic conditions. Away from the viewing sites of magnificent glaciers and icefields that brought you to Alaska, you might even encounter weather suitable for shorts and T-shirts.That said, if you're used to cruising around tropical islands, you'll find an Alaska cruise packing list is different from your Caribbean one. Spend some time learning about what you should pack for an Alaska cruise so you're prepared for the changeable weather and terrain of the 49th State.What to pack for an Alaska cruiseJohn Hopkins Inlet in Glacier Bay National Park. ANDREW PEACOCK/GETTY IMAGESAlaska weather can be unpredictable and varies by elevation. In temperate Southeast Alaska, which is the main cruising area, summertime temperatures can be in the 30s (Fahrenheit) when you are close to glaciers, such as when cruising Glacier Bay National Park, Yakutat Bay (home to the gigantic Hubbard Glacier) and College Fjord, but rise into the 60s or above in the fishing town of Ketchikan, the gold rush town of Skagway...