Clothing Suggestions for Alaska

[carolynsanta]

Hello,
My family and I are heading to Alaska in June. I was looking for some suggestions on what to wear during the cruise and on the excursions- how many layers do we need, type of shoes etc. We live in Florida so we are used to very warm weather year round. This cruise is going to end up costing a fortune in clothing alone! Lol. Help!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello,
My family and I are heading to Alaska in June. I was looking for some suggestions on what to wear during the cruise and on the excursions- how many layers do we need, type of shoes etc. We live in Florida so we are used to very warm weather year round. This cruise is going to end up costing a fortune in clothing alone! Lol. Help!

Alaska weather can be quite variable, from hour to hour.

Layers are the best way to go. Tshirt, fleece/hoodie type shirt, windbreaker/jacket.

And be sure to have some sort of rain gear you can pull out, if necessary.

Unless you're planning some heavy duty hiking, regular walking shoes are fine. I'd suggest having two pair, in case of rain, so you can switch them out for dry ones.

 

[carolynsanta]

Perfect. Thanks!

 

[lorimay]

We are Floridans too! I went to Burlington and found some pretty inexpensive water resistant jackets for our Alaska Cruise in 2013. Then we just wore a couple layers under. We sailed in early September and the coldest day was Tracy Arm Day. We spent the majority of the day on our balcony and just went back inside when it got too cold for us. It rained some on port days.
I bought water repellent spay for our shoes, it worked well. I brought a couple sweater dresses for the evenings, but mostly worn jeans or slacks with long sleeve tops.

Enjoy, its a wonderful cruise!

 

[dcassetta]

In addition to rain gear, I would also recommend hats and gloves. Being able to keep your extremities warm can really add to the rest of you feeling OK.

 

[GPaLarry]

Beware of the smoking section forward, port side, deck 9 during your glacier day. Hope your stateroom is far from that area. When you are dead calm in the water, the smoke and ash, yes, ash come down on 8000 and 7000 back about five verandahs. This was the only bummer of our trip. We had sun, clouds, rain, cold and hot...typical Alaska. Watch for seals on the icebergs and other critters on land...take binoculars and camera(s). If you have time to visit Victoria there are lots of kid things to do. When we were in the Empress Hotel, the Queen even waved to us. She was ceramic, about a foot high and battery-powered, but she waved, none the less.

 

[carolynsanta]

Thanks Lorimay! That really helps. Was wondering what to wear for evening attire. Lol.

GPaLarry- thanks for the warning. We booked an ocean view (my first one) but was hoping for a balcony upgrade. I would have never thought about the smoking issue. We are staying an extra 2 nights in Vancouver to explore the city. I’ve only been to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side so excited to see more of Canada!

 

[woody64]

Agree with layering. Last August we had spectacular weather everyday except Ketchikan where it was rainy and windy. Most days we were in long pants, tshirt, quarter zip or sweatshirt that was easy to take off and store or tie around us.

On glacier day, it gets cold while moving and a stocking hat would have been nice. We enjoyed being on Deck 10 far forward. You can stand along the rail until you're cold and then go behind the glass to warm up. They also were serving hot chocolate up there!

Have a great trip, you'll love it!

 

[mmmears]

Layers, layers, and layers. Definitely a rain shell, 1/4 zip fleece really helps, etc. This also lets you add/subtract whatever layer you don't need, so it's much better than buying a heavy coat. We took hiking shoes because of our plans at one of the ports, plus hats and gloves. Some days were cold (esp. when the ship was moving) and others weren't. As for formal night, people mostly wore short dresses (not the long ballgowns, at least on our cruise).

Have a great cruise! We loved Alaska!

 

[ajo]

I second the suggestion of stocking caps and gloves for the Tracey Arm day. We stayed outside on the secret deck (now gone) for hours that day and the hats and gloves made a big difference.

 

[Geomom]

I'd say to prepare for rain. We had packable rain shells and waterproof hiking shoes--very happy to have both. Layers are always key in Alaska...and being from Florida you will likely want 1 layer to be very warm for when you're outside on colder days. Inside areas were heated and I felt fine in t-shirt/jeans.

 

[Yokelridesagain]

Really it depends on what excursions you have planned. If you plan on doing something like dogsledding on a glacier, you are going to want heavy coats, hats and gloves.

Otherwise, you are going to a climate similar to Seattle, but somewhat cooler. You certainly don't need a parka to walk around Skagway, Ketchikan, or Juneau--long sleeved shirts and waterproof windbreakers is more the mark.

 

[carolynsanta]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Still looking at excursions but I believe we will probably do a floatplane to see glaciers, hummer ride & emerald lake and whale watching.

 

[AzzieMom]

I’ve been watching a bunch of videos and see a lot of people in shorts and tank tops so I think throwing in a few “summer” outfits would be appropriate too.

 

[kuhltiffany]

Alaska is a much more relaxed cruise. Most don't dress up for dinner, you'll see a lot more jeans and casual wear. Have an awesome time, we went August 2016 and it was amazing!

 

[Minnie & Daisy]

If you need to buy any clothing while in port cities and have the time, check out the Alaska Shirt Company stores. You will find everything you need there at reasonable prices.

 

[Minnie & Daisy]

It is summertime in Alaska, too, in June. Expect the days to be anywhere from the 60's to the 80's. The only really cooler day is the glacier viewing day. That is the day that you most likely will want to dress warmer, if you plan on spending a considerable amount of time outside. Alaskan port cities do get enough rain, too, especially Ketchikan. Rain ponchos are a must. You will be amazed at the beauty and splendour of Alaska's Inside Passage!

 

[Minnie & Daisy]

As far as shoes go, you can leave your flip flops and sandals at home this trip. Unless you want to wear dress sandals to dinner, that is. Dress for comfort and warmth. But be aware that it can also get into the 80's, too, at times during the summer months.

 

[mmmears]

It is summertime in Alaska, too, in June. Expect the days to be anywhere from the 60's to the 80's. The only really cooler day is the glacier viewing day. That is the day that you most likely will want to dress warmer, if you plan on spending a considerable amount of time outside. Alaskan port cities do get enough rain, too, especially Ketchikan. Rain ponchos are a must. You will be amazed at the beauty and splendour of Alaska's Inside Passage!

Actually, Alaska in the summer is just so unpredictable. Glacier day was our warm day - looking at pics I'm in a light cotton sweater. For us, other days were much colder. The speed of the ship mattered a lot, so the slow cruise through Tracy Arm made is less windy and thus warmer for us. The day we spent up on Mendenhall Glacier was probably the coldest - I was in a fleece, a coat and a shell that day. But I agree that it's good to bring lots of options since you never really know, and that Inside Passage cruise was truly magnificent.

 

[carolynsanta]

Ok, thanks everyone!!! Less dressy at dinner (than our Caribbean cruises) & bring lots of layers.