September in Alaska Q? (Zaandam)

[IndieTraveler]

If anyone's been to Alaska recently (or in the past during Sept) is Sept pretty rainy? Is it very cold on deck (as in you have to wear a jacket day or night or just at night)? I'm trying to see what I need to buy and what I should/shouldn't pack. This is our first cruise and first time to Alaska (and the Seattle/NW area). I have a mid-hip jacket with a hood--is a longer coat or raincoat needed or will this do?

I'd like to be able to use the pool (under the cover) and the hot tubs (I don't mind cold if there's a pool around)....I think I read on some thread that the pool and hot tubs are open for limited hours-- is that correct? Is it not open early or late (8am to say 10pm)?

I have seen that 'coverups' are to be worn to the pool. I always wear a shirt and capris to the beach or pool until I get to the water-- will this or a robe do or is a 'coverup' something specific? When I've gone to department stores and said 'coverup' they point out a wrap that goes around waist/hips--certainly HAL is meaning more than that, right?

For dancing&music--I've read there is a piano bar but are there other places on the ship with music? Is there an area with night time dancing? Does the ship offer any lessons (like tango or salsa, etc) If so, what's the music like (variety, country, new stuff, oldies, etc?) Is there music in the dining rooms?

thanks!

[Joy2theWorld]

I'm curious about the coverup issue... you mean HAL requires coverups or because of weather they are recommended? I would have a coverup, but you peaked my curiosity.

[IndieTraveler]

I believe I read they were required, I guess I've never seen it put that way so I wondered if they meant a robe or just street clothing or something else...I can see that people walking around in a swimsuit wouldn't be the most elegant...since I'm new at this I don't want to do something out of place or be unfashionable :)

[RuthC]

Weather in Alaska is a crap shoot. Every day; every week; every year. The year I cruised in September they said it was the best weather all season. It was sunny and in the 80's. This year in July my cruise was cool/cold and damp.
I would take the jacket, and buy some of those throw-away plastic raincoats that you can get in dollar stores.

The shirt/capri's over your bathing suit sounds fine. A sun-dress or a long-ish T-shirt would do. Please don't wear the robe left in your cabin! :eek:
On my recent Alaska cruise the pools/hot tubs closed fairly early---I think about 8:00, or so. They were open later on my Caribbean cruise last March, so it does vary.

There is a Piano Lounge; on the Zaandam it's not a Piano Bar. There is a dance floor there. There is also music and dancing at night in the Ocean Bar, a different style of music in the Crow's Nest, and music in the Explorer's Lounge. The Crow's Nest turns into the disco late at night.
The four different venues tend to play different styles of music, so you can find what suits your mood at the time.

[Himself]

Ruth C:

You are correct when you describe the Alaskan weather as a "crap-shoot." I was on the ZAANDAM from June 30th-July 7th and the weather was wonderful. It was sunny and pleasant even in Ketchikan. We were outside passage and the water was as calm as it was on the inside. It was mostly cloudy in Sitka on the fourth but that was the exception. I heard the week before I was there it was cold and rainy and obviously it was that way after I left Alaska. You described it well.

[Tinknock50]

Weather in Alaska is a crap shoot. Every day; every week; every year. The year I cruised in September they said it was the best weather all season. It was sunny and in the 80's. This year in July my cruise was cool/cold and damp.
I would take the jacket, and buy some of those throw-away plastic raincoats that you can get in dollar stores.

The shirt/capri's over your bathing suit sounds fine. A sun-dress or a long-ish T-shirt would do. Please don't wear the robe left in your cabin! :eek:
On my recent Alaska cruise the pools/hot tubs closed fairly early---I think about 8:00, or so. They were open later on my Caribbean cruise last March, so it does vary.

There is a Piano Lounge; on the Zaandam it's not a Piano Bar. There is a dance floor there. There is also music and dancing at night in the Ocean Bar, a different style of music in the Crow's Nest, and music in the Explorer's Lounge. The Crow's Nest turns into the disco late at night.
The four different venues tend to play different styles of music, so you can find what suits your mood at the time.

Ruth,
I have see this before about the robe from the cabin. Why is it a bad thing to have by the pool? I have always been curious about that.

[RuthC]

Ruth,
I have see this before about the robe from the cabin. Why is it a bad thing to have by the pool? I have always been curious about that.
Because a robe is something meant to be worn in private. When you go out in public you should be dressed.

[dakrewser]

We had lovely weather last September (well, except for sailaway from San Francisco). Our on-line diary (http://vquill.com/alaska05/) has more info & pictures.

[Juanita462]

We have been to Alaska twice in Sept. and it was cool both times - rained in Juneau - we take a small umbrella. It was cold in Glacier Bay and we used our hats and gloves and summer jackets. It was sunny but cold at Tracy arm too. We always take binoculars and were able to see the mountain goats on the mountain side - also saw a great brown bear at Glacier Bay.

Interesting bout the cover-up around the pool. I have two that are white terrycloth and shorter than the robe in the cabin. What is the difference in wearing them or the robe? I would much rather see a robe than a see through cover-up that covers very little.

[DFD1]

So far as the robe in the cabin goes.....its use sometimes tends to get out of hand....We've seen them in the lido dining room, in some of the lounges and almost everywhere except the dining room at dinner!!

I can't speak for RuthC, but I would hope the robes are used primarily in the staterooms.....and not at dinner! They are, after all, bath robes. JMO