Alaska Weather From Recent Cruisers

[gambit57]

Just back. I swear, the weather felt like it was like 65-75 with wind chill in Ketchikan, Junea felt a few degrees warmer. I'm wondering if it hit 80 in Skagway. I was HOT there walking around town. Course, it was PACKED in Skagway so some of it might have been body heat, but the sun was beating down that day.

 

Being near glaciers certainly made the weather feel 20 degrees cooler or more though.

[Kathy0418]

Sailed on the Spirit 5/16-5/23. I thought the ship was warmer than when we are in the Caribbean as I always need a sweater when I am at a show, etc. In the common areas, casino, etc. I usually wore short sleeves or even sleeveless. I carried a light sweater. I am from Texas and originally from Miami so I am not a cold weather person. Mostly I wore jeans and in the evenings in the dining room slacks and a nice top or a dress on formal nights with a wrap. Out on deck when we were at port a very light windbreaker would do, but if the wind was moving you could wear a coat with a liner, gloves, knit hat and not feel silly. Waterproof is best. Hope that helps.

[kathy-ann]

Anyone back from 2007 cruises to Alaska that can share the recent weather conditions with us. We're going June 3rd and are beginning to pack. We're planning on layers but would appreciate any advice.

 

Did anyone do a flightseeing trip with a glacier landing that can tell us what they wore and were they warm enough. This is the hardest to decide on.

 

Thanks much!

 

We left Fairbanks in the early hours of last Sunday and the day before a temperature gauge on display in the town read 89 degrees!!

 

We had wonderful weather (see my post "We're back").

 

We did the flightseeing trip - it was obviously warm enough in the plane but we were well wrapped up for when we landed. Layers is definitely the answer - so easy to take something off and you can always leave it in the plane (that is if your flight allows you some time to walk around on land as ours did).

[cruzingduo]

Kathy-ann,

 

We have a question about the flightseeing trip. We aren't sure what to do about a coat/jacket that I have. We don't know whether to bring it or not.

It's waterproof and the inside is like a fleece. I am also bringing a fleece vest, a fleece jacket a sweatshirt and a waterproof windbreaker (Columbia brand). Do you think I can leave the jacket home? I was only bringing it for the flightseeing trip and the whale watching boat trips. I think the windbreaker with the other items layered underneath may be enough.

 

What's your opinion?

 

Thanks, we leave Sunday June 3rd!

[Great Sky Girl]

We were in Alaska 5/16 - 5-26 on Diamond Princess cruise tour. Great weather - no rain, overcast in Glacier Bay and Juneau and Ketchikan for the most part. Comfortable in light jacket, but when we were out front on deck in Glacier Bay, I nearly froze even though I had on the cuddle duds, turtle neck, sweater, jeans and 3 in 1 jacket, gloves hat and scarf! We couldn't hear the naturalist on the speaker, so went back to the cabin, turned up the TV and spent the day on the balcony with our jackets on and were very comfortable. Also very cold in Denali, but beautiful weather. The ship temp was comfortable for long sleeve tee shirt, but always carried my jacket as I would often want to walk outside and didn't want to go back to the cabin. The ports were all mild temps with just a light jacket or sweater. I wore a short sleeve top only once for a show on ship. Most ladies wore pants (dockers, etc) and nice top for dinners. Jeans on board the rest of the day.

Hope this helps.

 

Happy Sailing!!:)

[kathy-ann]

Kathy-ann,

 

We have a question about the flightseeing trip. We aren't sure what to do about a coat/jacket that I have. We don't know whether to bring it or not.

It's waterproof and the inside is like a fleece. I am also bringing a fleece vest, a fleece jacket a sweatshirt and a waterproof windbreaker (Columbia brand). Do you think I can leave the jacket home? I was only bringing it for the flightseeing trip and the whale watching boat trips. I think the windbreaker with the other items layered underneath may be enough.

 

What's your opinion?

 

Thanks, we leave Sunday June 3rd!

You seem to be bringing plenty of warm things that you can layer so you could leave it at home. However, the weather is so unpredictable and the whale watching might be quite cold. If there's room, why not bring it just in case!

[Kathy0418]

We cruised May 16. My husband and I had bought 3 in one jackets. The lining zips out and can also be worn as a separate jacket. It was the only coat we used and was fine for whale watching. In fact, my son and I sat up front while we were moving and it was cold but the only place I felt it was on my face and hands. Should have brought my knit gloves, but I had left them in the cabin!

 

My kids, ages 21 and 18, brought their winter coats that are heavily lined and waterproof but the lining doesn't zip out so they also brought fleece hoodies and windbreakers. I don't think my son ever wore his heavy jacket and my daughter didn't even wear hers while whale watching only when we drove to Emerald Lake in Skagway because she could keep it in the car when she got warm. We stopped to play in the snow and it was real windy near Emerald Lake.

 

Since you have a waterproof windbreaker and plenty of layers, I don't think you'll need the jacket. My opinion. for what it's worth.

[HALNEWBY]

Did the Oosterdam from seattle....no rain, clear skies, sunny...weather was awesome in the 50's...Put a couple of palm trees out there and it could have been the carribean 5/19-5/26