Tracy Arm - how cold?

[anricat]

Okay, lets say it's a scale of 1-10 with 1 being a warm day and 10 being the coldest you've ever felt in your life, how cold were you out and about on deck on Tracy Arm day.

I'm trying to buy anything I might need/want right now while things are on clearance (and before there isn't a lick of winter gear left mid-summer). It's already few and far between here in Austin, TX (where I just put away my laundry from last week and it was all short-sleeved shirts).

So me, I'm always cold. Like pretty much always. DH? Always hot. DD waffles somewhere in between. I was born and raised in Boulder, CO and I've been in some pretty freaky cold weather and DH used to live in upstate NY (nuff said) so we know cold.

What did you wear? What was the weather like that day?

I don't really have a super warm winter coat. I've got some thermal stuff and some rain stuff. I'm wondering if I'll be okay in a bunch of layers with hats and mittens and a neck gator?

 

[KristiMc]

On our cruise, June 8, 2015, I would give it a 5. It was the coldest day of the cruise but it was maybe in the low 50's/high 40's. Not bad at all. I would bring layers over a heavy coat.

 

[dclpluto]

Remember you are in southern Alaska in the summer time. I was on DCL first Alaska cruise and that left earlier than they do now. The cruise started may 3 and it wasn't that bad.

 

[Weedy]

Really depends on the day. It was a beautiful sunny day when we were there. Jackets and jeans. The ship moves very slow through Tracy Arm so there isn't much wind.
And we're from Florida so we don't do cold.

 

[coloradocutie]

We found it was a cold wet. Colorado can be cold but will not feel so bad if the sun is out because of the dryness. We had a wet misty day and we layered- we wore a long sleeve, then a fleece, topped with a water repellant soft shell/rain coat- I found it colder than a spring ski day due to the moisture in the air. Plus hat and gloves. But because of the wet component, plan on bringing some water resistant hiking boots- or rain boots. So to answer your question, you will likely be fine with the layers that you mentioned plus a fleece to go under your rain coat.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[diznymom]

We are from Waco, TX.

It is cold on deck on Tracy Arm day. I brought a lined jacket that is a little heavier than a wind breaker, but not as heavy as my winter jacket. (I wish I had water-proofed it.)
When I would get cold, I would wrap up in one of the available blankets or go inside for a bit.
I would be more concerned about the weather during port days. Expect cool days and some rain. You will most likely need some sort of light jacket.

 

[Aby]

We've been on 2 DCL cruises to Alaska in August. The first in 2011, I spent most of Tracy Arm day out on the secret deck on deck 7. I had normal casual pants and t-shirt, plus a zip fleece, a light waterproof shell, with gloves and a hat. I did not really find it cold at all until we got really close to the glacier, and it still wasn't that bad - I'd give it a 4. That cruise we had gorgeous sunny weather that day, so I only think I started to get cold because I had been out there for hours! On our second cruise in 2013 it was a cloudy, and a bit windy day, so I found it much colder when I wandered up on deck as we got close to the glacier. I'd give that day a 5, but I wasn't parked outside all day like the first cruise.

Aby

 

[sharksfinatic17]

We started our cruise June 22, and on Tracy Arm day I wore several layers up top, a scarf, and a hat. It was pretty windy and cold. I would say a 5.

 

[jtba]

we went on july 5, 2015, and our tracy arm day was on the 8th. it was cold, yes (like you i'm always cold), but not freezing. i wore a cotton turtleneck, fleece zip-up jacket, jeans, knit beanie, and gloves (see picture in my trip report), and i was on deck 4 for a bit before returning and spending the bulk of the time on our verandah. the kids had cotton long sleeves and fleece jackets but they stayed in the room and played games for the most part. DH isn't afraid of the cold; he probably had on a fleece jacket with some long-sleeve shirt underneath. i don't think he even wore his hat, and definitely no gloves.

i give it a 5.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

In 2011, it was cold. I was with teens from the teen club the majority of the day and one boy was wearing shorts and sandals

 

[Pens Fan]

I know it's a cliche, but honestly the only answer for Alaska is layers. While the majority of our cruise (late July) was pretty hot - as in I wish I had packed more than one pair of shorts! - Tracy Arm day was really cold. I had on jeans, a t-shirt, a sweat shirt, a fleece jacket, a fleece head band to cover my ears and gloves. I still got cold when we were on the upper decks. We spent most of the day on our verandah as it helped protect us from the wind. It was really , really windy that day with a little bit of drizzle as well. We are from PA, so are definitely used to cold, wet weather, but still found it a pretty cold day - maybe a 6 on your cold scale, but definitely still manageable. You just don't know what you're going to encounter.

As long as you have a "warmth" layer (I love fleece) and a waterproof jacket, you can layer as many shirts underneath as you need. I wouldn't worry about buying too much just for this cruise.

 

[cruisingfromTX]

Also from Austin, TX...when we cruised back in 2005 we went in May, it was chilly but we just worse Jeans, long sleeved shirts, a fleece jacket with a thinner rain/wind coat over top when we were at Tracy Arm/ glacier watching. There were actually people in the pools on most days. SO it was chilly but not so bad that you felt like oyu needed to huddle inside.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I was very cold, 5-6 range, I guess. I think it feels really cold because of standing/sitting around on the deck vs. if you were out walking at a port stop. There were kids playing basketball that didn't have as much on as the rest of us. I had a couple jackets, a hat, gloves and a scarf. I had to keep taking my gloves off for taking pictures and getting the hot drinks. My hands get really cold quickly.

 

[Pens Fan]

I was very cold, 5-6 range, I guess. I think it feels really cold because of standing/sitting around on the deck vs. if you were out walking at a port stop. There were kids playing basketball that didn't have as much on as the rest of us. I had a couple jackets, a hat, gloves and a scarf. I had to keep taking my gloves off for taking pictures and getting the hot drinks. My hands get really cold quickly.

Here's a tip for the future: fingerless gloves - I love them. They obviously aren't as warm as the regular kind, but if you're taking a lot of pictures like we do it beats constantly taking them on and off.

I lost one of mine that I had worn for years, but found a nice pair of Cabelas fingerless fishing gloves that I used on our last cruise (Iceland / Norway). They worked out great - even out on a glacier in Iceland.

 

[anricat]

Thanks everyone! So my current plan is: long sleeve shirt, sweater, fleece-lined running jacket, waterproof rain jacket. For DD I have a nice coat for her - one of those thin things that's sort of puffy and slick. DH can fend for himself So it sounds like I'm on the right track.

I feel like I'm going to need 8 suitcases for all these layers. It's definitely more complicated than throwing some swim suits in a bag and calling it a day.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

I was very cold, 5-6 range, I guess. I think it feels really cold because of standing/sitting around on the deck vs. if you were out walking at a port stop. There were kids playing basketball that didn't have as much on as the rest of us. I had a couple jackets, a hat, gloves and a scarf. I had to keep taking my gloves off for taking pictures and getting the hot drinks. My hands get really cold quickly.

Same here. We live in Florida, but I grew up in Ohio and lived in Syracuse for a year, so was it 20 below with a 35 mph wind? No. But I would rate it 6-7 on the feeling of being cold. We went in mid-late June and it was overcast that day. Just sitting/standing outside for hours on end next to massive chunks of ice will leave you quite cold. And there really wasn't enough room in the luggage to bring heavy coats along with formal wear and everything else we needed. Oddly, Skagway day was clear and sunny and felt almost too warm by the afternoon. But in Juneau it rained the entire day with wind and was quite cold as well. In Alaska in the summer, you have to be prepared for everything.

 

[Pens Fan]

Thanks everyone! So my current plan is: long sleeve shirt, sweater, fleece-lined running jacket, waterproof rain jacket. For DD I have a nice coat for her - one of those thin things that's sort of puffy and slick. DH can fend for himself So it sounds like I'm on the right track.

I feel like I'm going to need 8 suitcases for all these layers. It's definitely more complicated than throwing some swim suits in a bag and calling it a day.

Compression sacks are your friend! We have several Eagle Creek ones, but there are many other brands to choose from as well. They are great for anything that you aren't worried about wrinkling - sweat shirts, coats, jeans, socks, etc. Packing for a cold climate can be a pain, but these definitely help.

 

[ahain]

Our Tracy Arm day was June 10, 2015. It was cold and rainy - I'd give it a 6 or 7 on the cold-o-meter, mostly because it was raining and windy, which made it feel worse. We were wearing layers...under armour/cuddle duds, etc
.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We were on the Alaskan cruise three years ago. This was coldest day by far. And we are from Chicago. I had fleece jacket and a blanket. Even bought some gloves thst day. Very bitter and damp.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

How about a *1*

Some feel the cold so dress up....