Curious about Alaska

I have never considered an Alaska cruise before. I am from Wisconsin and if I am going to cruise, I want to be WARM!! But looking at pictures of the Alaska cruises, it looks so beautiful. I am sort of reconsidering. I am wondering, those of you who have done it, what is the temperature like? Is it freezing? What is there too do if it is too cold to be outside?

Thanks

As a fellow WI resident that suffered through this winter, I am heading back for my 2nd Alaska cruise this May. We sailed in Alaska in 2005 in May as well. We had a day that folks were on deck in tank tops. A day in Glacier Bay that we were all in winter coats. For the most part, sweatshirts were the norm. You likely won't be lounging around in a bathing suit, but the views are so amazing that we just take it all in and enjoy! If you dress in layers, you will likely be just fine! Though I don't know you personally, you won't regret Alaska!!!!!

We cruised last year in the middle of June. We had an aft balancy and when you were outside you definantly needed a jacket but I was never freezing. In port I didn't need a jacket as it was warm. These are some pictures as to why you should see Alaska. Go.

My wife and I grew up in North Dakota and we resisted Alaska because we had seen all the ice and snow we needed--well it's a different kind of ice and snow and it is gorgeous beyond belief. We are going back on our sixth cruise in mid June.

We obviously recommend it.

It really depends on the time of year and when you go. Generally, there isn't much chance of bitterly cold days, but early and late summer can be quite cool, mid-summer it can be rainy, but warmer. You also get some very long days, sunset can be at 10 or 11PM.

A quick story on what you might see. We were in Skagway a few years ago and at sea level in town we were comfortable in pants and a short sleeve shirt at the top of the White Pass it was snowing!!

I know exactly how you feel. In Canada the summers are just too short to want to travel to someplace cold. I want to be done with the coats, too.

BUT... We are going on our third Alaska cruise this summer. We love it and the short time you are outside in a jacket is certainly worth it for the beautiful views. And a cruise ship is great no matter where you are:D.

In the summer in Alaska, it is like spring or fall for the most part. Dress in layers as you may get 4 seasons in one day. We have travelled in July and jeans And hoodies and a light jacket were fine. For the day in glacier bay, I take some tiny gloves from the dollar store and maybe a headband to keep your ears warm. Out of Vancouver or Seattle, you will probably get great summer weather.

This site gives you historical daily temps/precip for dozens of Alaska communities including most of the ports you’d be visiting. Pick a town, month and year to get an idea of what the temps might be like. Certainly no way to predict the future and the weather can vary quite a bit from year to year. Average highs are in the 60s in June for Juneau although they also had many days in the 70s and a couple days in the 80s.

http://www.arh.noaa.gov/climate.php?stnid=PAJN&mon=6&yr=2013&obs=true&precip=true

I have never considered an Alaska cruise before. I am from Wisconsin and if I am going to cruise, I want to be WARM!! But looking at pictures of the Alaska cruises, it looks so beautiful. I am sort of reconsidering. I am wondering, those of you who have done it, what is the temperature like? Is it freezing? What is there too do if it is too cold to be outside?

 

Thanks

For those normal cruise ports (Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka) in Southwest Alaska that have cruise passengers from May through September, the weather IMHO is about the same as northern Michigan. With highs in the sixties and lows in the high 40's during the summer months. Of course there are always extremes when the weather is concerned.

Now if you are in Glacier Bay, surrounded by ice, it will be a little colder or if you are walking on a glacier, it will also be colder.

In my Alaska cruising experience in May and September, I can remember only one night when the temperature was below freezing.

Baby whales, eaglets, bears, otters, and moose have no trouble putting on a good show for cruisers during the tourist season.

When you have taken a deep breath of the clean Alaska air, you will vow to return.

I have never considered an Alaska cruise before. I am from Wisconsin and if I am going to cruise, I want to be WARM!! But looking at pictures of the Alaska cruises, it looks so beautiful. I am sort of reconsidering. I am wondering, those of you who have done it, what is the temperature like? Is it freezing? What is there too do if it is too cold to be outside?

 

Thanks

Expect any kind of weather in Alaska. Best chances for good weather are in June and July. Some ports are rainier than others due to micro-climates. The first time I cruised Alaska was a week over Memorial Day at the end of May and the weather was gorgeous blue skies and low 70's. The second time I went was in early September and it was cooler and rainy.

Best advice is to plan to dress in layers and pack a rain poncho. Alaska is worth visiting no matter what the weather is though (in the summertime).

Hi neighbor, UP here...you made it through this winter's record cold. Alaska is amazing. The glaciers and mountains are amazing. When you think you have gotten all the "wows" out of your system another amazing sight appears. We are going back in August this year we were there in '96 on a DIY land tour.

We have had two Alaska cruises. Both were in mid August. Each cruise was on a different cruise line with a slightly different itinerary.

Our first was a Princess cruise round trip from Seattle with three ports of call. The second was even better than the first. We did the southbound route on Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas from Seward to Vancouver. This was the best cruise we have had so far. The cruise included four ports of call and a viewing of Hubbard glacier where we saw multiple calving!!!!

The weather was fantastic. It was mild with temps in the low 70's except in the glacier area where it was cold enough for jackets, caps, and gloves. But that was only for a few hours.

I hope you take an Alaska cruise. It is a truly magnificent experience!

I have never considered an Alaska cruise before. I am from Wisconsin and if I am going to cruise, I want to be WARM!! But looking at pictures of the Alaska cruises, it looks so beautiful. I am sort of reconsidering. I am wondering, those of you who have done it, what is the temperature like? Is it freezing? What is there too do if it is too cold to be outside?

 

Thanks

I grew up in Juneau, Alaska but was moved to Dane County in Wisconsin about halfway through my childhood. Spent the rest of my childhood doing the summers in SE Alaska and the school year in WI.

I remember Wisconsin summers being warm to hot. There weren't a lot of cool days that I recall.

Much of SE Alaska is Temperate rainforest. So most days, expect to be cool and rainy.

However, 70F in Wisconsin does not feel the same as 70F in SE Alaska. I don't think it is in my mind. but when you hit 75F in SE Alaska, it is hot. I'm talking shorts & T-shirt hot. When temps got that high, we'd go swimming in 45 to 50F ocean water and think it was refreshing. The last time when I took my kids to Juneau in 2011, we went from 95ish in the Chicagoland area to 75F in Juneau and my kids were complaining about the heat.

That being said, 75 is a bit of a rarity. I tell people to expect 60s and rain. If you get warm and/or sunny weather, then it is a bonus.

As a whole, SE Alaska feels cool and wet compared to a WI summer. It isn't too cold to be outside though and it is not freezing. Dress in layers and you'll be fine.

For what it is worth, our temperatures the past few winters were far warmer than Wisconsin and the upper midwest :) Plan to layer your clothing and you'll be fine.

For what it is worth, our temperatures the past few winters were far warmer than Wisconsin and the upper midwest :) Plan to layer your clothing and you'll be fine.

In Jan 2013, I had to escort my dad to have surgery at ANMC. I met him up in Anchorage. It was about -20F or so in Chicago when I left. I stepped off the plane in Anchorage and walk outside and it was 40F :)

The heat in Anchorage about killed me!

I have never considered an Alaska cruise before. I am from Wisconsin and if I am going to cruise, I want to be WARM!! But looking at pictures of the Alaska cruises, it looks so beautiful. I am sort of reconsidering. I am wondering, those of you who have done it, what is the temperature like? Is it freezing? What is there too do if it is too cold to be outside?

 

Thanks

We went last year and the temps inland were in the 90s! Even on the cruise, the temps were still in the mid to upper 70s to low 80s. Of course last year was very unusual for Alaska, but even the regular temps aren't as cold as you may think. IIRC the average temps for June & July were in the upper 60's to low 70's. I'd much prefer those to the 90s we have here in GA at that time of year.

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.

I can only speak from my many times vising in the various weeks of May and the first two weeks of September, but I feel pretty safe saying you really don't need to worry about the cold. I have worn t-shirts and shorts or long pants without a jacket, as well as been bundled up in layers, but never have had an issue with being cold (and I am a SoCal native, so not all that used to cold shall we say). The ships are always warm inside. The temps in the ports vary, but taking a light jacket and layering almost always keeps away the cold, and it often isn't all that cold.

Hi

Having been to Alaska a few times. I was in a few ports where the temps were in 70's in 2011 and 40's in 2012. Many times this year Alaska was warmer than Boston.

Mary