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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Alaska Cruise
Anyone go on an Alaska cruise? We are deciding between Norwegian and Royal Carrib. -- we have crused with Royal before but were told we may have better luck finding younger people and families on Norwegian.
What was the weather like? We are thinking about July/August. One of my main hesitations is the weather -- I like going to "hot/tropical" destinations when we vacation...
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Posted 4/26/10 1:02 PM  |
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SusiBee
. . . . .
Member since 3/09 8268 total posts
Name:
S
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Re: Alaska Cruise
We did Royal C. in July 2006, which is the better month for Alaska. My advice is to fly to Vancouver the day before - the flight is long and exhausting.
There are all ages on board.
Weather was nice, warm and Sunny leaving Vancouver (70's), getting colder the further north you go. For the day at the glacier, pack a fleece, hat, scarf and mittens cause it gets cold (about 35) and you want to be on deck early to see everything !
Otherwise the temps are fine while cruising. A light jacket or sweater for evenings. It does rain in Juneau, so either pack an umbrella or a rain jacket.
Oh, and "I wear my sunglasses at night" is appropriate to sing. It's daylight for about 22 hours up north.
Skagway was really nice, I do recommend the railway tour just for the scenery. We missed Ketchikan, there was a change of itinerary so we went to Victoria BC instead. Very disappointed.
I'd love to do an Alaska cruise again, but next time do a oneway cruise instead of round trip.
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| Posted 4/26/10 3:02 PM |
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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: Alaska Cruise
Posted by SusiBee
We did Royal C. in July 2006, which is the better month for Alaska. My advice is to fly to Vancouver the day before - the flight is long and exhausting.
There are all ages on board.
Weather was nice, warm and Sunny leaving Vancouver (70's), getting colder the further north you go. For the day at the glacier, pack a fleece, hat, scarf and mittens cause it gets cold (about 35) and you want to be on deck early to see everything !
Otherwise the temps are fine while cruising. A light jacket or sweater for evenings. It does rain in Juneau, so either pack an umbrella or a rain jacket.
Oh, and "I wear my sunglasses at night" is appropriate to sing. It's daylight for about 22 hours up north.
Skagway was really nice, I do recommend the railway tour just for the scenery. We missed Ketchikan, there was a change of itinerary so we went to Victoria BC instead. Very disappointed.
I'd love to do an Alaska cruise again, but next time do a oneway cruise instead of round trip.
Thanks! What was the weather like during the trip in general - 70s and lower?
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| Posted 4/27/10 2:26 PM |
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SusiBee
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Member since 3/09 8268 total posts
Name:
S
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Re: Alaska Cruise
70 and lower. We were fortunate with sunny weather with the exception of Juneau.
The pool is inside in the solarium, so do pack your bathing suit.
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| Posted 4/27/10 4:29 PM |
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jlk51496
Mom of 3 - YIKES! =)
Member since 10/09 6758 total posts
Name:
Katie
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Re: Alaska Cruise
don't know about alaska..but i have been on NCL and RC and RC is sooooo much better in all aspects! not a fan of NCL esp when been on other lines!
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| Posted 4/27/10 11:14 PM |
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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: Alaska Cruise
Posted by SusiBee
70 and lower. We were fortunate with sunny weather with the exception of Juneau.
The pool is inside in the solarium, so do pack your bathing suit.
Burrrrr! That may be too cold for me
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| Posted 4/29/10 2:26 PM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: Alaska Cruise
We went in June. We were FREEZING when we were near the glaciers. I seriously had 3 sweatshirts on, 2 pairs of pants and 3 blankets they had out on the deck. 
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| Posted 4/29/10 3:27 PM |
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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: Alaska Cruise
Posted by Blazesyth
We went in June. We were FREEZING when we were near the glaciers. I seriously had 3 sweatshirts on, 2 pairs of pants and 3 blankets they had out on the deck.
Eeeek! This may not be the summer trip destination I thought it would be...brrrrrr!
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| Posted 4/30/10 10:58 AM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: Alaska Cruise
Posted by hidingout
Eeeek! This may not be the summer trip destination I thought it would be...brrrrrr!
Definitely not a warm place. I agree with Susi, I don't think it gets over 70 degrees there. If you look online you can look at average temps over the years.
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| Posted 4/30/10 1:37 PM |
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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: Alaska Cruise
Was it comfortable or too cold? I can imagine it being pretty weird coming from the NE where it is in the 90s and encountering cold weather in the middle of the "summer"! If it is cold outside, what can you do while you are on the cruise? Where you inside most of the time?
I'm deciding between RC Radiance/Rhapsody and the Norwegian Pearl.
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| Posted 4/30/10 1:52 PM |
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SusiBee
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Member since 3/09 8268 total posts
Name:
S
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Re: Alaska Cruise
When you are at the Hubbard Glacier, it is cold.
You're in front of a mountain of solid ice that is 40 miles wide, 76 miles long and 90 feet high, with mini icebergs floating in the water around you. If luck has it, there will be harbor seals on the icebergs.
It is the absolute coolest thing you will ever see and hear.
That's the only place it is really cold.
It was about the upper 50's and wet in Juneu, 60's in Skagway and 70's in Victoria.
We did visit the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. It was soooo cool, I got to put my hand in the glacial water and took home some rocks from the tidal pool.
While you are at sea, there is stuff to do on the boat. RC swimming pools are indoors. There are places to sit and read, play bingo, etc. We had a balcony room so I would sit there with coffee and read my book or just watch the scenery go by. We walked around the boat every day. I had two spa appointments. Can't say that I was ever 'bored'. There are daily activities organinzed by the cruise director.
As far as cruise lines, I've only sailed RC and can't say anything negative about them. We sailed Serenade of the Seas in Alaska, Oasis of the Seas on our recent Caribbean cruise, will be on Adventure of the Seas next year for Southern Caribbean.
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| Posted 4/30/10 2:36 PM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: Alaska Cruise
Posted by hidingout
Was it comfortable or too cold? I can imagine it being pretty weird coming from the NE where it is in the 90s and encountering cold weather in the middle of the "summer"! If it is cold outside, what can you do while you are on the cruise? Where you inside most of the time?
I'm deciding between RC Radiance/Rhapsody and the Norwegian Pearl.
I thought it was comfortable during the day. 60s and 70s. Pants and sweatshirt weather. It's important to layer there as temperature and weather changes rapidly. (Note that there is also a lot of rain.)
The weather factor wasn't odd - I mean in June there can be 60-70 degree days here. More 'odd' was the daylight situation. It's weird going to dinner, and going to sleep when it's still light out.
Alaskan cruises tend to be more laid back. There is a lot of looking at scenery since it is so vibrant. There isn't that caribbean pool activity atmosphere out on the decks; at least when we went. The average age skews higher, and since it's not warm people tend to stay indoors.
I hope my answers to your questions don't sway you from doing it. Yes, it's not your typical Caribbean cruise. I've been on 6 cruises now (Number 7 coming in the fall) and the Alaska cruise was the best. It's an amazing place.
I expect Alaska to stay on the top of my list, only being taken down by the Galapagos which we are planning for 2012.
Also, if you are leaving from Vancouver - make the extra time to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge; I think you can take a bus there from the city. It's spectacular and not something you see all the time.
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| Posted 4/30/10 2:45 PM |
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MissEsq
LIF Adult
Member since 10/09 920 total posts
Name:
Missy
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Re: Alaska Cruise
Thank you so much S and B for all of your posts and help!! I was definitely getting a little nervous after hearing how cold it is but was reminded that it is an incredible destination - which is why we chose it in the first place. I woudl love any other tips/suggestions you have for excursions, packing, etc. Feel free to post or FM. Thanks again!!!
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| Posted 4/30/10 3:43 PM |
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