2278

I know what you are talking about. I live in N FL for 23 yrs, but now I live in N IA, and it is by choice.

When I visit my parents, I laugh at the folks down there with fleece jackets zipped up to their chins and I am in shorts and sweating.

That being said, layers works the best. The first time we went to AK it was mid Sept, the last SB cruise of the season. It was chilly and drissly and the first time I have ever seen it rain upside down. Been through hurricanes, seen it rain sideways but never upside down.

As you move south it begins to warm, but still could have some rain.

My suggestion is some insulated underwear for under your jeans or pants.

Fleece jacket

Sweat shirt

Lined rain coat (acts as a windbreaker too)

light gloves

hat - baseball to keep rain hood out of eyes

hat- knit one for around the glaciers.

Glacier viewing will be the coldest, the water is cold and the ice, well ice makes everything cold.

Do not worry about being cold, with layers, you can experiment and find what works best for you. The sights of AK are worth the effort. It is an amazing place and lots to see. The people are friendly and willing to share their way of life.

Do not worry about the temperature.

It is cool around the glaciers, with the wind coming off the ice.

We have been on a inside passage twice, a little drizzle in the different ports, otherwise it will be like a nice spring day.

We came back from Anchorage on the 5th of March, the whole week was at least 40 F higher than North Iowa, to our standards, that is shorts and flip-flop weather, well except this year, maybe 10 above would have applied.

We battled the idea of living in AK after a trip there in the 90's. We had spent 3 days in Anchorage with a trip to Girdwood and towards Whittier. Then we did a SB 7 day to Vancouver.

In 2009 we went back with a NB and a land cruise stopping in Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks. The further north we went the more we learned about the good stuff and the not so good.

Having lived in North Iowa for the past 14 years, the -20 F at times is a struggle. These folks are dealing with some far worse weather than we get here.

We just came back from a visit to Anchorage. The weather was 40 F warmer for the Iditarod compared to what was going on at home.

You see so many homes with outhouses, well they need them because even the nicest of homes have there sewer lines freeze. The more north the worse it gets.

The folks up there are a hardy bunch and work through it. I do not think I could embrace the lifestyle and the thought of having to fend off the bears just to go to the bathroom would be a challenge!

Try A1.

We were there a couple of weeks ago and needed transportation to Whittier for a tour in Prince William Sound. Finding a vehicle with the Fur Rondy and the Iditarod that weekend was a challenge.

The maintenance guy at our hotel suggested A1. They came and picked us up. When we were finished, they had us give the keys to the front desk and they picked it up the next day.

You can never do too much research. This board has the answers, just have to keep up with it.

We have done 2 Alaskan cruises, the first was a Southbound, the last a Northbound with a land tour after the cruise.

I liked the Northbound for a couple of reasons. Coming from the east or Midwest, the chance to catch up with time zones was easier. Especially the further you go north on land during the summer(July) the longer it stays light. I felt I was able to take in sights and activities with the gradual transition.

Secondly, the ports come first, with Glacier Bay and College Fjord separated, for me the glaciers are the draw for the cruise portion.

Based on what we experienced the first time, Alaskan ports for getting on or off a cruise is not a problem, but Vancouver is very slow to get off, but not an issue getting on, that is as far as immigration and customs is concerned.

Our land tour took us up to Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks. We did not go to Kenai, however we are going there on 3/3 after the Iditarod start.

The first trip we went in mid September, last Southbound of the year, it was on the Dawn Princess. This last trip was on the Diamond. We went during the peak season, I think the cruise started on July 18 (2009). The amount of daylight was still a lot, really noticeable once we began the land tour.

Weather, cruise it is going to be rainy (misty) in the ports, cool but nothing more than a fleece pullover with a good wick dry rain coat will handle. You will need a had and gloves in the glaciers.

Talkeetna was in the 50's, Denali was in the 70's, Fairbanks was in the 80's.

So anyway, some say land 1st others not so much, it is really up to you. One thing for certain, the excursions while in port as well as the addition of a land tour, there will be many questions. Cruise Critic folks will make sure you have no surprises if you visit from time to time.

On the Lido Deck where the Pizza and Hamburger Stands are ( good quick lunch and tasty) they are open in the morning - one is a made to order omlette station, the other is a belguim waffle station - good start to the morning with out having to deal with the buffet!

We saw him in July on the Diamond. He and another comedian swapped back and forth between the Diamond and the Sapphire in Skagway and Juneau.

He put on a pretty good show!