Has anyone here taken an Alaskan Cruise?

[RUDisney]

This is amazing to me that this topic was posted this morning. My DH and I were discussing the possibility of doing an Alaskan cruise this summer, too. I was going to post the same basic question.

I have a specific question. How do you pack for this? I've been on a Caribbean cruise and that is bathing suits and shorts for day and slacks for the evenings. How warm does it get in Alaska? Can you swim on board ship or are you relegated to the hot tubs only?

I'm not afraid of the cold, just want to be prepared for it. We've been talking about going to Puerto Rico in February, so I've kept my summer things handy. I'd have to do the same with my warmer clothes if I'd need them for the cruise.

Which month is the best month to go?

 

[tigercat]

When we went in May we ended up just using the hot tubs at night. We needed sweaters and light jackets and when we were in Glacier Bay you needed a hat and mittens as well. We had 3 cabins in total because besides my parents we were also traveling with another couple that were friends with my parents. We ended up getting mini suites for less money than a normal veranda room. I just kept an eye out for bargains after we had booked (I also go to another cruise site) and ended up moving up from a balcony (the other 2 couples were already in a mini suite, I got them a discount) to a mini suite and got money back as well. Everything though was done through our TA. I booked our own air from Toronto and also booked our excursion in Skagway. It was a great excursion. They took us up to the Yukon and back. When my parents were in their room for a while I sat outside on our veranda and watched the scenery. It was wonderful.
tigercat

 

[binny]

as for packing if you go in the summer it is much the same as it is in say, the NW. The two years that I lived in Skagway we were actually warmer than my parents were in Spokane, Washington!

Layers are the way to go though because the evenings and mornings can be cool. I always tell people if you want the best time of the year IMHO choose late August/early September you can see the colours which are stunning!! and no bugs!!! the added bonus is there arent the crowds but make sure you don go later than about the 2nd week of September because many things will be closed down.

If you want a good indicator of when things will close down try the major sight seeing things, ie in Whitehorse the Gaslight Follies, if you go up to Dawson City try Diamond Tooth Gerties. You know when these things close down most everything else for tourists will be gone too.


also if you want to " rough it" and are not so concerned about the luxury but really want to see SE Alaska try the Ferry system. You can buy a pass much like the Euro pass where you buy for say, 21 days and you can hop on and off whenever you please. This is a lot cheaper and you get to explore areas that you really like. If you like Ketchikan you can spend as long as you want there, if you dont like Juneau so much, youre on the next Ferry out! You can also rent a camper and get on and off the ferry as well. Here is the website... http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/

Anyway, just M2CW.

Tigercat what year did you go?

 

[binny]

as for packing if you go in the summer it is much the same as it is in say, the NW. The two years that I lived in Skagway we were actually warmer than my parents were in Spokane, Washington!

Layers are the way to go though because the evenings and mornings can be cool. I always tell people if you want the best time of the year IMHO choose late August/early September you can see the colours which are stunning!! and no bugs!!! the added bonus is there arent the crowds but make sure you don go later than about the 2nd week of September because many things will be closed down.

If you want a good indicator of when things will close down try the major sight seeing things, ie in Whitehorse the Gaslight Follies, if you go up to Dawson City try Diamond Tooth Gerties. You know when these things close down most everything else for tourists will be gone too.


also if you want to " rough it" and are not so concerned about the luxury but really want to see SE Alaska try the Ferry system. You can buy a pass much like the Euro pass where you buy for say, 21 days and you can hop on and off whenever you please. This is a lot cheaper and you get to explore areas that you really like. If you like Ketchikan you can spend as long as you want there, if you dont like Juneau so much, youre on the next Ferry out! You can also rent a camper and get on and off the ferry as well. Here is the website... http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/

Anyway, just M2CW.

Tigercat what year did you go?

 

[tigercat]

binny we went the end of May in 2001. Although I spent a lot of time dealing with my parents I still enjoyed the trip. My dh really enjoyed it because he didn't have the responsiblities of looking after them. My Mum would have been lost all the time if she had of gone anywhere without me and my df had just had a brain tumour removed and was not doing very well. I had visions of asking the Pursers desk to get on the speaker and tell M.....H... please stand still we are looking for you, and having the crew all looking for the lady standing still.....The Skagway trip was the one time that we left my parents by themselves and went on the trip. They just ordered room service while the 4 of us were gone.
My dh would love to travel back there but by car/truck to see everything.
tigercat