Weather in Alaska

[mya603]

I just booked a cruise tour for May 29 through Jun 8 of 2015. On the Sun. I was wondering if anyone had any idea of what the weather is usually like? Especially when on deck on the cruise. Will I need a heavy jacket, light jacket, headgear, gloves? I've never been to Alaska before and this will be my maiden cruise also. Any info will help. Thanks so much!

[roger001]

I just booked a cruise tour for May 29 through Jun 8 of 2015. On the Sun. I was wondering if anyone had any idea of what the weather is usually like? Especially when on deck on the cruise. Will I need a heavy jacket, light jacket, headgear, gloves? I've never been to Alaska before and this will be my maiden cruise also. Any info will help. Thanks so much!

 

The Alaskan weather is totally unpredictable. Our first Alaskan cruise was the same week you are cruising. The entire trip was sunny and temps during the day were in the high 70s, low 80s. Even the locals said it was the best weather they had seen in five years. The next trip, same week, was more Alaskan. The weather was cool and frequently drizzly or even some rain. The temps were high 40s, low 50s mostly. There is no way to tell. You should expect it to be normally on the cooler side. Alaska seems to require more clothes packed because you just don't know what you will be wearing. By the way, an excellent choice for a first cruise. And we really like the Sun also.

[sdmike]

The weather can be all over the map. The key is to take layers, instead of a bulky jacket. We went at the end of July and our weather ranged from 80 and sunny to 38 and sleeting. :)

 

Take t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, a fleece sweatshirt and a hooded rain jacket at least. If cold, you can layer those into a warm, dry coat. You'll also want a knit cap and gloves in case you need them, and two pair of walking shoes (sneakers) because AK is pretty rainy sometimes and your feet will get wet.

 

There's a review with pictures of our AK trip in my signature area

[debnjoe1438]

I just booked a cruise tour for May 29 through Jun 8 of 2015. On the Sun. I was wondering if anyone had any idea of what the weather is usually like? Especially when on deck on the cruise. Will I need a heavy jacket, light jacket, headgear, gloves? I've never been to Alaska before and this will be my maiden cruise also. Any info will help. Thanks so much!

 

 

Not to change the subject, however I have to ask. Which trip did you book and what does your itinerary look like? I want to book the 12 day Denali Fairbanks southbound however on the booking engine the itinerary is a little messed up for the land portion. Reads like the north bound land portion

 

 

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[LAWTONCRUISE]

One of our Alaska cruises was in May. We wore a sweatshirt under a medium weight jacket and gloves. Up around the glaciers it can be really cold, even in summer. Can be cool and damp that time of year too. The next time we went in August, just needed a light to medium jacket (temp was in the 60s for most of the ports).

[GrabMyWrist]

Agree with other posters. Our May cruise had all kinds of weather. At the very least, take a warm jacket, warm socks, warm shoes and some gloves. You'll thank yourself...

[mya603]

Not to change the subject, however I have to ask. Which trip did you book and what does your itinerary look like? I want to book the 12 day Denali Fairbanks southbound however on the booking engine the itinerary is a little messed up for the land portion. Reads like the north bound land portion

 

 

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I booked the denali 11 day land first cruise southbound trip. Here's the itinerary: Fri 29-May Sat 30-May HOTEL TO BE ASSIGNED

Sat 30-May Mon 01-Jun HOTEL TO BE ASSIGNED

Mon 01-Jun 9:00 pm SHIP DEPARTS SEWARD, ALASKA, US

Tue 02-Jun CRUISE HUBBARD GLACIER

Wed 03-Jun 9:00 am Wed 03-Jun 5:00 pm ICY STRAIT POINT, ALASKA, US

Thu 04-Jun 7:00 am Thu 04-Jun 1:15 pm JUNEAU, ALASKA, US

Thu 04-Jun CRUISE SAWYER GLACIER

Fri 05-Jun 7:00 am Fri 05-Jun 5:00 pm SKAGWAY, ALASKA, US

Sat 06-Jun 1:00 pm Sat 06-Jun 8:00 pm KETCHIKAN, ALASKA, US

Sun 07-Jun CRUISE INSIDE PASSAGE

Mon 08-Jun 8:00 am SHIP ARRIVES AT VANCOUVER, CANADA It all looks good to me!

[debnjoe1438]

I booked the denali 11 day land first cruise southbound trip. Here's the itinerary: Fri 29-May Sat 30-May HOTEL TO BE ASSIGNED

 

Sat 30-May Mon 01-Jun HOTEL TO BE ASSIGNED

 

Mon 01-Jun 9:00 pm SHIP DEPARTS SEWARD, ALASKA, US

 

Tue 02-Jun CRUISE HUBBARD GLACIER

 

Wed 03-Jun 9:00 am Wed 03-Jun 5:00 pm ICY STRAIT POINT, ALASKA, US

 

Thu 04-Jun 7:00 am Thu 04-Jun 1:15 pm JUNEAU, ALASKA, US

 

Thu 04-Jun CRUISE SAWYER GLACIER

 

Fri 05-Jun 7:00 am Fri 05-Jun 5:00 pm SKAGWAY, ALASKA, US

 

Sat 06-Jun 1:00 pm Sat 06-Jun 8:00 pm KETCHIKAN, ALASKA, US

 

Sun 07-Jun CRUISE INSIDE PASSAGE

 

Mon 08-Jun 8:00 am SHIP ARRIVES AT VANCOUVER, CANADA It all looks good to me!

 

 

Cool That's great. I am conserved with the land portion of the 12 day Denali Fairbanks as for the Southbound trip it's backwards. Unfortunately it is irritating me

 

 

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[mya603]

Well, hope you get it straighten to your satisfaction and hope you enjoy your trip!

[mya603]

Okay. LIght jacket and layers. I can do that. I have actually found a nice jacket with inside pockets that I'm thinking of getting. And I already have a knit cap and gloves. Thanks for all your help.

[Lucinarei]

I've never been to Alaska before and this will be my maiden cruise also.

 

My first cruise was an Alaskan cruise- and it got me hooked! Enjoy your cruise! And bring lots of layers! :D

[Fishbait17]

Okay. LIght jacket and layers. I can do that. I have actually found a nice jacket with inside pockets that I'm thinking of getting. And I already have a knit cap and gloves. Thanks for all your help.

 

Make sure the jacket is waterproof. We've never been to Alaska (four times) without at least a few days of rain.

 

Robin

[klingoncruiser]

This will be our 21'st year of the addiction called Alaska. :D It will just what everyone has said, all over the place. Foggy, sunny, drizzle, rain, cold, warm.... dress in layers and be prepared to shuck something along the way.

 

NEVER sweat the weather, just armor up and keep going. If you are waiting on weather, find another place to visit. It can interfere with some tours though. Planes won't fly in heavy fog. Fog is often the biggest pain with the weather at times. It it is pouring rain... have a ball, whales don't care, eagles don't care. Come back to the room and try to use up all the hot water afterwards. :eek:

 

Bring it on! I am ready!

[FireEater]

The following picture were taken just today or yesterday from Alaska

 

Goes to show you how much snow is still on the ground.

[FireEater]

Here is another picture

[more cruises]

Usually the first port of call sells decent jackets for $20 if you didn't pack a coat.

 

Don't forget your binoculars

[Sun lover 123]

We're sailing to Alaska from Vancouver on May 16....will we need boots or will shoes be OK?

[more cruises]

We're sailing to Alaska from Vancouver on May 16....will we need boots or will shoes be OK?

 

I guess it depends on what you will be doing for excursions. I've never taken anything other than tennis shoes and been fine. Even hiked up to the lake in Skagway and out around Mendenhall in Juneau.

[jertom]

Okay. LIght jacket and layers. I can do that. I have actually found a nice jacket with inside pockets that I'm thinking of getting. And I already have a knit cap and gloves. Thanks for all your help.

 

Start your check list now and make sure the cap and gloves are on it ! :)

[sdmike]

Make sure your jacket is waterproof

 

The ship gift shop sells fleece jackets for a good price (under $20 if I recall) if you need an extra layer.

 

Here's a pic showing basically what we wore in Victoria

 

 

Here's a picture from Juneau a couple of days earlier (my son and I). I had on a long sleeve t-shirt, a fleece sweatshirt and a gore-tex rain jacket...and I was cold!

 

 

Here's the same son on the deck of a fishing boat in Ketchikan the day before. Yes, it's raining and cold. :)

 

 

 

My kids and their catch. Stopped raining, but probably 45 degrees. In August

 

 

But it was light jacket weather in Skagway...

 

Edited May 3, 2014 by sdmike

[triptolemus]

As always, Mike's post above tells the story... perfect example of cruise weather in Alaska...

 

Great shots, Mike.

[Linda the Book Lover]

The DH and I went to Alaska the same time you are planning. We packed layers and our heavy ski type jackets. I brought ski pants (for warmth and keeping dry). The weather was in the 70's and 80's! It did rain briefly in Ketchikan but it was a light rain. We finally got to wear our jackets when we sat on the balcony during Glacier Bay and in Victoria at night. I think the other poster advice of layers in the best way and you will be ready no matter what you wear.

[sdmike]

As always, Mike's post above tells the story... perfect example of cruise weather in Alaska...

 

Great shots, Mike.

 

 

Thanks! I guess the message in Alaska is "expect anything". :)

[Linda the Book Lover]

Thanks! I guess the message in Alaska is "expect anything". :)

 

Exactly we didn't expect to see Humpbacks but we saw a family! It was a warm perfect day in the 70's.

[sdmike]

Exactly we didn't expect to see Humpbacks but we saw a family! It was a warm perfect day in the 70's.

 

That's awesome! Was it on an excursion in Juneau? We didn't see any whales, although we spent a lot of time looking from our balcony. Still have my eagle experience tho.

Edited May 3, 2014 by sdmike