Poncho or rain jacket for Alaska?! What to wear when it’s raining ⛰ Alaska cruise outfits packing list tips

Hi there!

Lots of people in Alaska cruise facebook groups say that a rain jacket is better than a poncho. So much so that some seem to even think a poncho should not even be considered.

I have taken both a poncho and rain jacket to Alaska, and I’ve made use of both of them. I was happy to have them both at different times.

But does that mean that YOU need both? No.

As always… it depends on what types of activities you’ll be doing, along with your comfort and preference!

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You absolutely should take at least some sort of rain gear, even if it’s the cheapest kind.

It can make such a difference to your experience getting soaking wet vs not!

Even if you are going during a time of year that there’s less chance for rain, it makes it so worth it if it rains even ONE day! Rain gear makes you a lot less miserable in the rain, and it will not stop you from wanting to do things!

For rain jackets, one of the best brands for outdoor clothing is Columbia.*

If you just want a cheap back-up then you can get a pack of disposable ponchos.*

If you want to have the option to use the poncho again, you can get a higher-quality poncho.* (Review from cruise ship passenger: “Absolutely loved having these for our Alaska excursions from the cruise ship! Nice, lightweight, easily packable. These ponchos came in handy when the drizzle and rain started up – easy to put on over our backpacks. Kept us nice and dry! Also, highly breathable vs the disposable plastic ones. Ours held up to the windy conditions too!” Read the full review.)

*I’m an Amazon Associate and that will take you to Amazon where you can read the reviews. You can search for more Columbia rain jackets for women or cheaper rain jackets for women (or Columbia rain jackets for men).

More options of clothes to pack as your rain gear include a packable rain jacket which will be more travel friendly than a regular rain coat, or you might also consider a rain suit that comes with a jacket and pants.

Or instead of rain pants, you might just want a longer rain jacket.

I also wore rain pants during my cruise when I went hiking in the rain in Tongass National Forest. I was happy to be wearing them.

I wore the rain pants over the normal pants I was wearing, which I think were my hiking capris.

If you’re just walking around town or going on easy excursions, you probably can do without rain pants.

Poncho vs rain jacket

I’m not sure why there’s a dislike for ponchos. Maybe it has something to do with it making you look like a tourist. 🤪 But hey, you are one. 😆

Of course there are actual good reasons why a rain jacket is better than a poncho.

Rain jackets are more durable so they will last longer. (When I buy cheap disposable ponchos, I expect them to use them just a few times. There are $3 ponchos in the camping section of Walmart. I’ve bought these types of ponchos at the Walmart in Anchorage too.)

A rain jacket also won’t blow around so much in the wind compared to the cheap plastic of a disposable poncho. (I remember being out on the open deck in the rain as the cruise ship was sailing away from Ketchikan and my poncho was flying all over the place as I was trying to get pictures/video!)

The wind factor can make a difference during an Alaska cruise especially on sea days. If you’re outside on the open deck of a cruise ship that’s moving (like on a glacier sea day where you don’t want to miss out on the views!), then it will also be particularly windy.

But high quality rain jackets can be expensive. And they can be on the bulkier than lightweight ponchos, which can make a difference when you’re trying to pack things into your suitcase!

So a poncho can be a cheap alternative to a rain jacket, and it won’t take up as much space in your luggage.

I also liked wearing a poncho when I went hiking in the rain in Alaska (over my rain jacket actually) as a way to keep my backpack from getting soaked.

If you want to have a backpack when you are off the ship doing things in port, this may also be something to consider.

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I had one glacier sea day where it was pretty heavy rain. I was wearing rain gear, but even then, it definitely made me not want to be outside for very long.

If you’re not wearing any rain gear, you may miss out on a lot more views (and pictures!) because you won’t want to be outside!

The same goes for walking in the rain in cruise ports. I’ve also had several port days in the rain. I was definitely so glad I to be wearing the rain gear that I did. My only mistake was that I didn’t have waterproof shoes. And that part was miserable. I can’t imagine how I would have felt if I didn’t have rain gear to wear!

Make sure you have waterproof shoes for Alaska!

I was also happy to have a waterproof phone pouch for my phone when taking pictures in the rain! This was the same phone case I had when I went snorkeling in Alaska!

I’ve been on 6 Alaska cruises, and ironically, the only cruise that I didn’t use my rain gear a single day during my cruise was the one that was in October.

That’s the month with the highest chance of terrible weather!

So you really just never know what your weather will be like. And the weather forecast can change.

So if you’re seeing sunny weather predicted 10 days out, if you check again 3 days before your cruise, the forecast might show rain!

My other cruises were in May and September.

I would be taking rain gear no matter what month the cruise is – April, May, June, July, August, September, or October!

If you want to embrace the rain, there are rainforest tours in Ketchikan!

HAPPY SEEING ALASKA IN THE RAIN!