Last Minute Questions About Alaska

[cmyers]

Leaving for Alaska on the Zaandam Sept 11th.

1. If you book a shore excursion through Hal and it is cancled do you get a full refund back or do they just credit your shipboard acct? We really want to do Mt. Roberts Tramway but understand it is closed alot due to fog and weather - Is this true?

2. What is a ULU knive?

3. Trying to decided what clothes to bring -Do most people dress up for dinner every night? Is a nice nylon jogging suit appropriate or a nice blouse with slacks?

4. Is formal night really formal? What nights are they? On carnival not to many people wore tux's or ladies in long dresses. Is a nice pants suit ok?

5. Do you need waterproof boots? Are tennis shoes ok if you have 2 pairs?

6. How cold is it in Alaska in Sept? We have our earmuffs, gloves, jackets ,umbrellas, are we overpacking?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

[Bill S]

cmyers: OK here goes my 2 cents worth

1. If a HAL-booke excursion cancels, you will receive a credit on your shipboard account, if my recollection is correct-I could be wrong on this.

2. A ULU knife has a wide, curved blade with a handle on directly on top of the blade. I have found it very useful for slicing and dicing veggies and fruits. The one we bought has a very sharp edge. It helps if you get one with a dished-out cutting board with it.

3. I will pass on this one, as I am usually wrong on womens' wear according to my much-better half.

4. Formal nights are indeed, dressier evenings. On a 7-day cruise there are typically two formal nights. The first is usually the 2nd night and the last is usually the 2nd from last night. The last night is casual. With respect to the pants suit issue, refer back to # 3 above!

5. We have never taken boots on an Alaska cruise. I think 2 pair of tennis shoes will work. It can get quite moist up there any time of year.

6. I don't know how cool it will be in September, but guessing in the 50s and 60s as highs. Layering is the way to go--maybe a turtleneck, sweatshirt and hooded windbreaker combo should do on even the coolest days. Definitely bring gloves and earmuffs-they don't weigh very much and don't take up much room and they will be well worth it, if needed. Umbrellas are a good idea as well. We are strict practitioners of the art of ovepacking, so IMHO, no you are not overpacking with respect to these articles.

Hope this helps!

[Mary Ellen]

Since Bill covered the rest, I'll try on these two as we've been on 4 HAL Alaskan cruises.

3. Trying to decided what clothes to bring -Do most people dress up for dinner every night? Is a nice nylon jogging suit appropriate or a nice blouse with slacks?

4. Is formal night really formal? What nights are they? On carnival not to many people wore tux's or ladies in long dresses. Is a nice pants suit ok?
I've never noticed a jogging suit at dinner. Possibly on the 1st night when some are still in their 'travelling' clothes, but I wouldn't recommend one on other nights. On casual nights (port days), you'll be fine in a nice blouse with slacks.

Formal night isn't in your face FORMAL as I've seen in the QM2 ads, but very dressy. We've usually seen about 50/50 tuxes/dark suits on men on Alaska cruises. DH has rented a tux through CruiseLineFormalWear the last two times. He loves it, as it is less to pack (delivered to cabin) - and he likes to think he looks like James Bond :D . For myself, I do wear pants. They are black, soft crepe and pack wonderfully - NO wrinkles. I have dressy tops/dusters to go with them. Some wear the long dresses, sequins, prom/mother-of-the-bride dresses, New Years Eve party wear.... to dressy suits. There is quite a range.

Have a GREAT time!

[Esme]

Instead of ear muffs, take a knitted woolen hat (toque) as the ear muffs won't keep your head warm and that's the part of my body that I find gets the coldest. This way you can pull the hat down over your ears. Gloves are a must.

I personally don't think a nylon jogging suit it appropriate for dinner in the dining room. A nice pair of slacks and blouse would be much better. I often wore a pair of slacks, short-sleeve scooped neckline cotton shirt with a blouse over top (leave it open) - sometimes it is cold in the dining room and I find my arms get cold.

I've never taken boots to Alaska, but have a good pair of jogging shoes - Nikes or Addidas or New Balance - for walking around the towns.

Very good idea to take an collapsible umbrella - it rains a lot! :)

This year Alaska has seen one of it's best years for weather - lovely, clear warm to hot days, but who knows what September will be like. Best to be prepared. Check out the weather forecast for Alaska a few days before you go.

Yes, a nice pant suit is fine for formal nights - people don't dress up as much as they do in the Caribbean, but you will find some in tuxes and formal gowns - we do.

[dakrewser]

1. If you book a shore excursion through Hal and it is cancled do you get a full refund back or do they just credit your shipboard acct? We really want to do Mt. Roberts Tramway but understand it is closed alot due to fog and weather - Is this true?You get a "full refund" as a credit to your account. But I wouldn't book the tramway thru the ship. Its a short (maybe 20 feet, maybe 50 yards depending on the ship's berth) walk from the gangway and has a fully functional ticket booth.

3. Trying to decided what clothes to bring -Do most people dress up for dinner every night? Is a nice nylon jogging suit appropriate or a nice blouse with slacks?
See HAL's "know before you go" booklet for the dress code. A jogging suit, as I envision it, wouldn't be appropriate for the dining room.

4. Is formal night really formal? What nights are they? On carnival not to many people wore tux's or ladies in long dresses. Is a nice pants suit ok? Think of your company's holiday party. A nice pants suit should be fine. A man should have a suit and tie.

5. Do you need waterproof boots? Are tennis shoes ok if you have 2 pairs?You won't need boots on the ship, otherwise judge by the activities you hope to participate in. Trekking on glaciers, through the woods, etc. you'll find boots are quite useful.

6. How cold is it in Alaska in Sept? We have our earmuffs, gloves, jackets ,umbrellas, are we overpacking?Probably (except for the umbrellas). It's not going to be appreciably colder than Seattle and probably warmer than San Francisco. But if you head up into the mountains it will be colder.

Bon voyage!

[localady]

1. If you book Mt. Roberts Tram yourself on the day you get to Juneau, you will not be out the money if the weather doesn't hold. The ship will not cancel the tram if it is mearly raining or foggy, and thus you would have to take it or forfeit the money. If you purchase it on your own, you can determine if the weather that day is good for sightseeing at the top of the tram!:)

6. I would also bring some warm weather clothes. This has been an usual year for Alaska and in July when we were on the Ryndam it was 85F+ in Skagway and Sitka and 100F in Vancouver. :eek: A couple of light shirts and a pair of shorts might be a good idea, just in case!:rolleyes:

Finally, have a fantastic cruise! Look forward to your review when you return!:cool:

[Krazy Kruizers]

If you do decide to buy an ULU and you are flying home - it must be packed into checked luggage. Do Not take it in your carry-on or it will be confiscated at the airport.

The latest we have been in Aklaska in September is the second week - we had all kinds of weather. A couple of days we wore bermudas, some days cloudy - slacks and a jacket, and a couple of rainy days - wore water-proof, lined jackets with hoods. Dress in layers. Have yet to ever wear a hat or gloves in Alaska. Definitely take an umbrella.

Jogging outfit in dining room - NO.

On formal nights husband wears tuxedo and I dress up in long gown, etc. But that is just us. We like to dress up.

Every time we have been to Juneau, Mt Roberts tramway has been in operation - even on cloudy, misty days.

[anniecat]

HI... I just got back from the Amsterdam to Alaska. We had great weather, so I did not need more than a light rainjacket, a scarf for glacier bay outside and a light sweater. It did not rain on us...but still I'd go with light rain coat and maybe a sweater under if cool (you can always BUY a sweatshirt if it's really cold). I brought a pair of rainwalking shoes...didn't need them and wouldn't if it rained as the places we went were either indoors, paved streets, paved ramps to boats etc. But if you're unlucky enough to have pouring rain every port...take two pairs athletic shoes (those old comfy ones that have been wet before) and keep one pair for 'nice".
Plan on Dressing up for dinner...most men wore jacket/tie or tux to formal and just a shirt/jacket to non-formal and most women were glittery/satiny/beaded on formal night..and nice restaurant dress/slacks etc for non-formal in the dining room. It's an elegant ship...take advantage of it as our lives are so sweatpants usually.
We weren't sure about excursions so we signed up on the ship (Be sure to do so the first or second day) for a whale watch trip. Most ports have vendors at the portside to sign you up for their trips...just remember HAL won't wait for you if you're late.
MOST IMPORTANT....have fun, do what you want!
annie cat....I had so much fun that I'm going cruising in Feb also :)

[cmyers]

Thanks everyone for all your great replys. I think i need to re-think my wardrobe and pack another suitcase.