Does anyone mind if I just get SO EXCITED about the cruise coming up in July? It's my second one, but first to Alaska.

I will be happy to learn of anyone's all time favorite tips about an Alaskan cruise.

Four more months!!

Hi Popcorn Pam! I will be cruising Alaska in July as well...which trip are you going on? This is my 4th cruise, but same as you, first to Alaska.

Popcorn & travelbliss - I am also going to Alaska in July. We are going on Royal Caribbean. It will be my first cruise!!

Favorite tips for a cruise to Alaska:

Bring clothing you can layer. You'll want to be outdoors with binoculars the day you spend cruising near the glacier, but it can be cold. Bring gloves and a hat, too. You may want to stand there for hours.

Also, when you get off the ship in a port, the weather can go from cool to warm, and layered clothing is the way to go there, too. Bring a rain coat or rain repellent jacket.

Be prepared to be able to read a newspaper out on deck at 11pm! The sky never really gets dark that time of year.

Sandy

Good tip about layering. Thanks! We are sailing on Carnival out of Anchorage on July 9. I am anxious to see the sun all evening. That will be a highlight for me!

Well I am going Alaska in May - 1st cruise and 1st time in AK. I will let you know what my experience was when I return. I am going on the Coral Princess. It will be interesting to compare the differnces between the cruiselines as well!

quote:

We are sailing on Carnival out of Anchorage on July 9. I am anxious to see the sun all evening. That will be a highlight for me!

The sun goes down, but the sky never gets dark. It's sort of dusk until the sun comes up again. We had to pin the drapes of our Anchorage hotel room closed the night before the cruise, to try to get some sleep in a darkened room.

You'll have a great time.

Sandy

We were in Alaska last July for 14 days and had a great time. Take as many side trips as you can afford. You never know when you'll be back. Oh yea, plenty of digitl pics too.

Tekdiva - my Alaskan cruise was in May - prepare for a range of weather - it was hot in Vancouver when we left (shorts weather) but there were places with snow, and there was ice in Glacier Bay. Layers of clothes, hat, gloves and a good raincoat that can be worn over a heavy sweater are essential. But again the evenings are long. I have a great sunset picture taken at midnight

I was on an Alskan trip during July 20 odd years ago and much of the trip was frigid. I wonder if global warming has made it warmer during the summer?

Thanks Jill. I will be doing the opposite going from cold to warm. But so far most of the clothes I have packed are wintery... sweaters, pants... only a few sleeveless tops to wear under cardigans. I will be sure pack my other winter gear as well. I guess I won't get much use from my swimsuits huh?

Jackie

By all means take the swimsuit; it's a real kick soaking in a hot tub, sipping a coffee royale while cruising amongst glaciers.

How cold are we talking? We're going in mid-August, Inside Passage, including a visit to Carcross. I was planning on layering, as we did last summer in Norway. (A windbreaker is one of those layers.) I'm also from the Northeast and don't bother with a winter coat unless the wind chills get below 40F/4,4C. Think I'll be OK?

Don't bother with the winter coat; it will just take up a lot of room and you will never use it. A warm sweater and windbreaker should be fine. Daytime temps in Juneau and Ketchikan should be mid-60's, and maybe even 70's. Skagway and Sitka are a little cooler. Glacier Bay can be icy but you're on the ship and can always retreat inside periodically.

Thanks, Rick. Holland America has a section on its Web site about packing for Alaska (accessible via the dress code link on this page), yet this talk about winter clothing got me wondering. We had temps of 55F in Boston today and some people had just light jackets.

Lisa

I do not think you will need a jacket either.... with that being said, we have taken 2 Alaskan Cruises. On one I bought two jackets, and the other I purchased one. Not to use there but to bring home. They were very good deal on them there.
We are going again in 2009....another jacket?

Our cruise was in early May, the temperatures were in the 35 to 45 degree range. At our first stop in Ketchikan the first store from the dock made a killing selling hats, gloves, and warm sweaters. But in June, July and August you should expect summer weather.

Well thanks guys. Now I am WAY more excited about this trip and won't be fit to live with for the next few months.

So.......I'll pack good clothes to layer, a swimsuit to loll about in the hot tub, and what else? Oh yeah, my camera to take some of the best pictures in the world, right?!

July is an excellent time to see Alaska! You have got enough good tips already. In Juneau, try a place called 'Crab Shack", a very famous sit out place for alaskan king crabs. It is very famous in town.

Majestic Gems-

Is the Crab Shack coming back this year? When they first opened 2 years ago they only had a temporary street vendor permit, and weren't sure if it would be renewed. I heard they were looking for a permanent home this year instead of the mobile "shack" that takes up 1/2 of the dock level parking down there! That's great news if they're coming back. Too bad it's such a long walk from half of the ship docks, but at least it's a convenient walk from your store, eh? ;-)

-Case