kaphinga

Thank you all again for your responses.

NorthernAurora: Thanks for easing my worries about the formality in the dining room. I plan to wear nice jeans with a couple of different tops, except on formal nights.

And I hear what you are saying about waterproof vs. water resistant rain gear. I recall being in New Orleans for Mardi Gras a couple of years ago. Quite unexpectedly, it was 37 degrees, absolutely pouring rain and windy all day. My "water resistant" jacket soaked through by midday, and I have never been so miserable. Never again will I leave home without a waterproof, breathable jacket.

KruzPrincess: I am slowly but surely whittling down the list. I'll do the minimum with dressy clothes; the warm clothes are my weakness.

SherryF: You are much more warm-natured than I. I never wear shorts out of the house except to walk the dogs or ride my bicycle in 90+ degree weather. And I don't own any capri's, unless you count my khaki travel pants that convert into capris. Usually, by 60 degrees, I am transitioning into long sleeves and turtlenecks.

Georgie73: Good luck packing tonight! And have a great trip! I am in agreement with you about your suggestions. I leaning toward 1 rain jacket, 1 vest and the Revelcloud for the casual portion of the trip. I still haven't quite worked out what to wear for evening dinners on the ship.

Thank you all so much for your responses. What I am hearing basically is that, in addition to turtlenecks and long underwear and such, I need:

• ONE protection layer (rain shell)
  
• ONE casual warmth layer (fleece or primaloft, vest or jacket -- pick just one)
  
• ONE dressier warmth layer on the ship (light sweater)
  

I knew that my jacket/sweater list was out of control, but I couldn't figure out how to whittle it down. The irony of all of this is that I am accustomed to packing carry-on only for trips to Europe. The combination of chilly/rainy weather and the various dress requirements for the cruise (casual, smart casual, and formal), though, is a challenge.

I am getting ready for a Princess Land/Cruise to Alaska from September 13-25. This is my first cruise and my first trip to Alaska. Thanks to what I have read on this board, I am feeling good about most of my packing list -- formal wear, pants, shoes, etc. --- but my jacket/sweater list is totally out of control.

My basic packing list (except for jackets) is:

• 3 pants (1 dark wash denim, 1 black (dress denim or nylon/travel), 1 khaki -- and maybe a pair of exercise/yoga pants)
   
  
• 6-7 shirts: turtlenecks mostly, with maybe a crewneck or two thrown in
   
  
• silk and merino long underwear
   
  
• 2-3 shoes (1 light Goretex hiker, 1 Naot Matai, and possibly 1 Merrell Jungle moc)
   
  
• 1 formal black pantsuit with 2 drop-dead gorgeous scarves. (Appropriate for opera. I assume it will be appropriate for formal nights as well.)
   
  
• Assorted scarves (1 large cashmere, which I always take on any trip, 1 cheap pashmina, and an assortment of *very* nice silk scarves.)
   
  
• Hat, gloves, etc.
  

First, a little background:

• The temperature forecast is a pretty consistent 40-60 degrees. The rain forecast is all over the place.
   
  
• Generally speaking, I am a jeans and turtleneck type of person. I almost never wear dresses or high heels. Dressing up for me means adding nice scarves, jewelry and jackets to jeans and a turtleneck.
   
  
• I am traveling with my very southern and lady-like, 80 year old mother (and her friends). She understands that I don't wear glittery, slinky clothes (actually, she doesn't wear them either), but at the same time she doesn't want me to look like I just stepped off a hiking trail.
   
  
• Most of the excursions will be toward the less active end of the scale. I may take a couple of more active excursions on my own, but overall I want to spend time with my mom. On the other hand, I take my photography pretty seriously and so I have a tendency to climb around things or stretch out on the ground or do whatever it takes to get an angle of view that I like.
  

So, here is the jacket/sweater list:

• Waterproof, breathable shell (Marmot Precip or North Face Venture. I have both, and will take one.)
   
  
• Primaloft zip hoodie (REI Revelcloud -- warm, windproof, water resistant, 11 ounces, packs into its own pocket) I wear this jacket a lot when I walk my dogs.
   
  
• Primaloft print jacket. It's more tailored/dressy than the REI version, but it is considerably more difficult to layer and lacks a hood. Otherwise, it shares the same characteristics as the REI version. This definitely belongs in the "keep mom happy" category. At the same time, I think it would be nice on days when we have a lot of bus time, especially on the bus/train rides to Denali.
   
  
• Light Fleece zip up (Polartec 200, unlined) -- I could see stuffing this into my day bag or wearing it to relax in the cabin.
   
  
• Heavier, wind-resistant fleece. This jacket is is much more structured than the light fleece. This, paired with the Primaloft hoodie, seems ideal for glacier days and such.
   
  
• Fleece vest (Polartec 200). I tend to wear fleece vests (layered with Primaloft) more than jackets at home. But is this warm enough for Alaska?
   
  
• Primaloft vest. Weighs almost nothing and packs into its own pocket. My version is somewhat dressier that the fleece vest.
   
  
• Light waterfall cardigan. Dresses up nicely with a scarf for evenings.
   
  
• Classic navy blue cable knit sweater. Dresses up nicely with a scarf for evenings. A bit on the heavy side compared to the other jackets.
   
  
• Big furry vest. It looks like a vest version of my raccoon coat, but it's fake. I *love* this thing, even though it is bulky. I wore it on the plane to Venice a while back, and it was warm and comfy and drew lots of nice compliments from total strangers. It's a great statement piece that looks terrific with jeans. It makes me feel good, and I kind of hate to leave it at home.
  

All of this adds up to 10 sweaters and jackets, which seems excessive for a 13 day trip. On the other hand, I can see wearing everything on the list multiple times. Also, the combined weight of the jackets, excluding the big furry vest that I wear on the plane, is less than 7 pounds. Right now, my checked bag, including the 9 jackets and the weight of the suitcase, weighs 25 pounds. I am very careful about making detailed packing lists, and I weigh each item on kitchen scales. The weight will probably go up a little, but not much. (I have given up on carry-on only for this trip.)

So, am I crazy to take 10 jackets and sweaters? If so, what would you eliminate? Do you have any other advice or suggestions?

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.