Creating an Easy 5-4-3-2-1 Capsule Wardrobe For An Alaska Cruise
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Having heard of the 5-4-3-2-1 method of packing for travel, I thought I’d give it a try to create a new capsule wardrobe for an Alaska cruise we had scheduled. Here’s how it went.
We were packing for our third cruise to Alaska when I read an article in the New York Times about the 5-4-3-2-1 minimalist packing method for a week-long trip. It simplifies the process by limiting you to five sets of socks and underwear, four tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes, and one hat, or some similar combination based on your needs.
That combination is a bit too minimalist for my needs for a week-long trip, and I have no plans to wash clothes in my bathroom sink, so I adjusted it. I eliminated the underwear and socks from the equation because they’re a given, as well as pajamas.
Keeping in mind that people dress much more casually for Alaska cruises, here’s what I came up with to be prepared for either warm or cool weather in Alaska in the early summer:
- 5 short-sleeved shirts
- 4 pairs of long pants, 4 long-sleeved shirts
- 3 pairs of shoes
- 2 dresses, 2 flannel shirts for layering
- 1 swimsuit and cover-up, 1 rain or fleece jacket, 1 jean jacket, 1 cropped cardigan
Could I pack all of this in a carry-on bag? Maybe. After all, I’d be wearing a travel outfit pulled from this capsule wardrobe on the way to and from the port, and most of the tops fold up very small.
Trip Parameters
- Length of Trip: 8 Days
- Type of Cruise: Alaska (Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Victoria BC)
- Season: First week of July
- Temperatures Expected: Low to mid-60s, partly cloudy skies, and a chance of showers
Color Palette
To make this capsule wardrobe for an Alaska cruise even easier, I decided to forgo the color palette and simply pack solids that easily mix and match with each other. The pants are all neutrals (I consider jeans neutral), and the tops will work well with all the pants.
For the shoes, I chose a navy slipper that would work with both dresses, a midnight-blue slip-on that would work with all of the pants, and a black sneaker.
Where These Clothes Are From
Breaking from my usual tradition of creating a capsule wardrobe from my imagination and trying to stick with one or two stores as the sources, this time I’ve recreated my actual wardrobe. Because of this, they’re from stores such as Banana Republic Factory, Lands End, Amazon, Gap Factory, Old Navy, Allbirds, and Converse. A few of the tops I packed are no longer available in those colors, so I chose a close approximation of color. Otherwise, this is exactly how I packed.
Store inventories are fluid, so you may click on an item to shop it and find it’s no longer available. In any case, you can see the look I was going for.
Five of These
After checking the weather, I decided to pack for mild or cool temperatures and a small chance of rain. With that in mind, I packed five short-sleeve tees to wear either onboard by themselves, or on land layered with a fleece shirt or a jacket.
Short-Sleeve Tees
Long-Sleeved Tees
For cooler weather or to be more comfortable onboard with the ship’s air-conditioning, I packed four cotton long-sleeved tees.
Three of These
Shoes
I took a black pair of Allbirds skippers, a midnight-blue pair of Allbirds loungers for comfort, and a navy pair of Allbirds Breezers for wearing with dresses and my swimsuit. Can you tell I love the brand, and believe Allbirds are the best travel shoes?
Scarves
For cooler-weather itineraries, I always take along a few of these fun chiffon scarves. They take up no room at all in your suitcase, add a pop of color, keep your neck warm, and can help take an outfit from daytime to nighttime.
Two of These
Dresses
I’ve fallen in love with Karina Dresses! They’re incredibly comfortable, have the perfect thickness (not too transparent), and travel well since they don’t wrinkle. I packed two dresses to wear for dinners in specialty restaurants. I also added a cropped navy cardigan that goes well with either of these dresses and keeps me comfortable in the restaurant’s air-conditioning.
Flannel Shirts
Everyone wears flannel on Alaska cruises, so I brought a couple of plaid flannel shirts to layer with tees. These aren’t my exact shirts, but are close.
One of Each of These
To round out the wardrobe, I packed one swimsuit and cover-up (for wearing onboard), one fleece jacket and a rain jacket, one jean jacket, and a cropped cardigan to wear with the dresses.
Since we’ve been to Alaska twice before, we booked no excursions and planned to go ashore only if it wasn’t threatening rain, so the rain jacket wouldn’t be needed. Instead, I packed a fleece jacket. This is also why I didn’t pack hiking shoes.
The Jewelry I Packed
I’m a huge fan of Anne Vaughan Designs jewelry, and I love to use it to dress up an outfit. I brought five sets I knew would coordinate with most of these outfits and add a pop of interest and color to a simple ensemble.
Outfits From This Capsule Wardrobe
Dozens of outfits could be made from this capsule wardrobe. Here are just a few:
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How Did This All Pack Up?
I did my best but couldn’t pack everything in a carry-on roller bag. Instead, I used a medium check-in bag and it all fit perfectly without overstuffing it. If I’d left the dresses at home, as well as the fleece jacket, rain jacket, flannel shirts, the navy Allbirds Breezers, and some of the tees, I could have managed with a carry-on.
Here’s how it packed up:
The tech bag holds things like charging cables and such, and the miscellaneous bag holds things like a corkscrew, laundry detergent, clips for gapping drapes,
Extra Items To Pack
As I mentioned before, you also need underwear, socks, and pajamas. You’ll need a purse, so I just took a very small purse on a long strap to carry while onboard.
For Alaska, you may also want to pack a pair of compact binoculars to watch out for sea life, and if your forecast is rainy and you’re planning to explore, a compact travel umbrella.
What Goes In My Tote Bag
Although I’ll check my medium suitcase with the airline and give it to the porters at the pier, I always keep my CPAP machine and a tote bag with me. I’ll never hand a bag with these items over to a porter and will simply carry them with me onboard the ship. I have a list of recommended items to go in a bag you’ll carry onto the ship with you, but here’s what I packed in my tote:
- Driver’s license and passport
- Cash and credit cards
- Jewelry
- Car keys
- Cruise notebook with all important paperwork for the trip
- Cell phone
- Extra glasses
- Medications
- Kindle
- A small purse that I’ll carry onboard
What I Could Have Left At Home
Now that I’m back home from this trip, I’m reflecting on what I packed and what I could have realistically left at home.
I wish I’d left behind my swimsuit and coverup, as I never went to the pool. I also never wore the fleece jacket—or the rain jacket that I tossed in my bag at the last moment—and I could have been fine with only one dress. The black shoes could have stayed home too, since my midnight-blue Allbirds Loungers work with both black and navy.
Otherwise, I wore all the other clothing I’d packed at least once, since some days I wore two outfits.
Cruise Capsule Wardrobe Checklist
Would you like a FREE Cruise Capsule Wardrobe checklist to help you pack for your next cruise?
Final Thoughts On A New Capsule Wardrobe For An Alaska Cruise
Cruising to Alaska is a wonderful experience, and having packed the right clothes makes it even better. Next time, I’ll pack a little lighter and might make it with a carry-on for a 7-night cruise. Fingers crossed!
Creating these cruise capsule wardrobes is fun for me, so I hope you enjoy them and find them helpful when planning your next voyage.
Happy cruising!
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