I am going on a alaska cruise the first week of sept. what tyype of clothes should i pack?

Question

I am going on a alaska cruise the first week of sept. what tyype of clothes should i pack?

Answer 1

I just did an Alaskan cruise last year from Aug 30-Sept 7 on Holland America.  My husband and I are from Seattle so for us the weather was a bit cooler than at home, but not cold for us.  Depending on where you're coming from you may find the weather to be cool or freezing.

We wore jeans/khakis and button down shirts or polos during the day (I layered a tank top under my button down shirts), both aboard and on our shore excursions.  

In the Pacific Northwest everyone layers because the weather can change throughout the day.  When we went ashore we each took a Helly Hansen or Gortec jacket and sometimes a light sweatshirt or sweater depending on the weather.  Because most of our shore excursions were in town and didn't require any hiking we got away with wearing our tennis shoes.

In the evenings we dressed up.  Two nights were formal nights.  I wore cute cocktail dresses and my husband wore a suit.  The other nights I wore a skirt and blouse and he wore slacks and a shirt and tie.  Because we could access everywhere we needed to go from the inside of the ship we didn't need jackets during the evenings.  The only time I got cold was when we'd walk across the Lido deck on our way to the nightclub.

We both brought swimwear, however, neither of us ever used the pool or hot tub.  My husband would use the gym in the morning while I slept in.

Since you're going during the the end of the cruise season you can expect many stores to have sales going on.  In every port we were able to find things on sale.  Some places had things discounted 50-75% off!  Our cruise ship even had some t shirts marked down.

Regardless of what cruise line you're on go to the shopping/port seminars and sign up for the shopping programs.  The night before each port you will have coupons dropped off at your room.  Many of the jewelry stores give away free charms or other little things.  I went from shop to shop collecting free stuff to give as little gifts to friends and family.  Diamonds International gives away a free charm at each port and the charm bracelet is only $5.  They also have locations in the Carribean where you can collect charms as well.  

The port shopping ambassador and I got to know each other on our cruise.  She helped us purchase a pair of sapphire earrings.  I found a pair in Juneau that I loved but it was a Sunday and I needed to call the bank to make a transfer.  She arranged with Diamonds International to take the earrings with her and drop them off for us at the store in Ketchikan.  Once we arrived in Ketchikan we went to the store, paid for them and got the pair I had picked out in Juneau.

Answer 2

We would advise you to pack light winter clothes. On deck in Glacier bay it may be a bit chili.  We were there in Middle of August a few years ago and it was kinda cool.  

If your going to be on a land tour bring a heaver jacket.

Enjoy your cruise.

Answer 3

Fleece

sweatshirts

a GOOD warm coat and hat

gloves

GOOD boots with good tread

flannel shirts

Answer 4

Nicer clothes for dining.

A warm coat for sightseeing and being on deck.

They keep the inside of the boat warm enough for casual September clothing.

Have fun!!!

Answer 5

I use to work on cruise liner that cruised in Alaskan waters.

My last cruise was in August and from memory the weather was lovely. Well certainly not sunbathing weather but warm enough during the day to go outside without a jacket.

However, warm clothing is certainly a must. We use to cruise from Vancouver up and back. Lower down Vancouver and Juneua were often still warm but as we got up towards the northern part, the weather would change, often quite dramatically. So yes to a warm jacket or water-proof windbreaker.

Shops in ports of call in Alaska are quite expensive (as really cater to the cruise tourist trade) so it is better to take a jacket with you (even if you don’t use it) because it will be expensive to buy one in these ports

I feel the cold a LOT, so I also had thermal long-johns and a thermal vest as underwear on occasions.

You should take a formal outfit, if using the late (second) dinner sitting, as it is expected. Plus you then may want to go to a floor show, dancing or to the cocktail bar afterwards.

Casual clothes for roaming around the ship during the day or during day trips in port.

A pair of comfortable, flat, plimsolls (tennis shoes) with a good grip because the deck can get slippy.

Sometimes when going into port the ship can’t dock, so you have to travel on a tender boat and getting into one of those wearing non-grip shoes is a nightmare, especially if the sea is a bit choppy.

If you are interested in the Alaskan wildlife, a powerful pair of binoculars or camera with long lens is an absolute MUST. I remember cruising up Tracy Arm Fjord and wishing I had binoculars to more clearly see a bear on the nearby shore.

My biggest suggestion is to buy some sea sickness wrist bands. Lots of people get seasick and it can ruin a cruise. Taking sea sickness tablets makes you drowsy and you can’t drink alcohol whilst taking them.

You buy these bands and wear one round each wrist and they really work very well, I used them a lot.

Very unlikely to get seasick  in the sheltered waters of a place like Tracy Arm Fjord but on the open sea between ports you may experience it.

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