nappy77

I will be crusing on the Island Princess from Whittier to Vancouver in July. What should I bring to wear?? Is formal wear a must?

BudgetQueen

If you wish to go to the dining room on formal night, you will need proper attire. But it is a wide acceptable range, jacket and tie the norm and dressy outfits for ladies.

Overall you will need- lightweight lined jacket, rain gear, layers including a sweatshirt, knit hat and gloves, 2 pair of walking shoes.

panhandle

Some of this depends on where you come from. I and my wife took all kinds of layers for our cruise. We ended up carrying them around with us all day as it was too hot to wear them. We have similar weather to them in the Pacific Northwest as it turns out. So if you are from Arizona...or if you are from SF. depends on your climate. Light jacket, no gloves, and a short sleeve shirt for me next time. we are from Oregon and rain doesnt bother us so we didnt go water proof. =)

Giovanna

We returned from an inside passage cruise (round trip from San Francisco--across the bay from where we live) on 6/17 and I agree with the previous poster (although you will be further north than we were). We took fleece lined jackets and ended up carrying them and not needing them on our Whale Watch in Juneau (or anywhere else). The short coat I brought stayed in the closet and my rain coat was used only in Sitka, where we had light showers. I wore a lightweight sweatsuit on a couple of at sea days and was comfortable. Also wore jeans with long sleeved tops, both aboard and on shore tours. I took a couple of Pashminas. Lent one of them to our traveling companion (she's always cold), but never needed one myself.

My husband wore a suit on the first formal night and slacks and a blazer on the last (with dress shirt and tie). I wore long dresses on both occasions. There were a number of gentlemen in tuxes and women in formals, but there were lots of men also wearing suits and women in much less formal attire.

I personally enjoy dressing up when cruising and wouldn't miss the two formal nights because formal attire is required.

Enjoy your cruise. Alaska is a very beautiful, unique place. We brought home great memories.

travelinwifey

We did the Diamond Alaska last may and it was definitely the most casual of our 4 Princess cruises. A fair amount of people wore jeans in the dining room and there were several people that wore a dinner jacket and unmatching pants on formal night. I cannot predict how it will be in every cruise but this was the case with ours. If you do not want to eat in the dining room there is always the buffet Have a great journey

daniel2229

My wife an I were dressed too warmly for our Alaska cruise aboard the Sun Princess. We watched the weather reports for two weeks prior to the trip for Juneau and Skagway. They indicated low 50's and rainy, so we got water proof jackets and gloves. The only days we needed them were in Glacier Bay and College Fiord. I zipped up, hooded up, and wore my gloves! Lots of people wore heavier coats than me, but I was comfortable as the sun was out both days.

I wore Levis in Ketchikan and sweltered in the 75 degree heat. It was in the mid 70's in Juneau and Skagway as well, so I wore the same pair of shorts both days. I had only brought one pair! It is cool on deck at sea and at night. So a light jacket is a must.

BTW, it only rained two hours at sea! The remainder of the time was beautiful sunny skies. We saw the Fairweather mountains and were told that this was very unusal weather for July.

A dark suit or "Sunday Best" was all that you really needed on formal nights. Only about 25% wore really formal wear.

missabe454

i will be cruising on celebrity mercury on aug26-sept2 what will the weather be we are from n florida mary

BudgetQueen

The problems with these poster's claiming they didn't need the warm attire is NO WAY can you predict Alaska weather. As you read, it is often a very WIDE range temps on a trip. NO you don't need much in ports and many can get by with shorts and t shirts but if you plan on any extended viewing of your glaciers during sailing days, you will be using those hats and gloves.

It continues to be- bottom line, you are better off being well prepared in your attire. I have gone to Alaska 19 times and no way are any of the trips repeats. You need it all in case. And definately end of August, iffy time when more chances of rain.

Theresa

I also say prepare for both warm and cold weather in Alaska. My July 2002 cruise had very cold, wet and windy temps. The ship sold out of all of their jackets and I could not stay warm enough when I was outside (long sleave shirt, sweatshirt and light weight winter jacket in which I was glad to have brought).

On other trips in May and June - I wore shorts. Weather can change in Alaska and you have to be prepared for warm and colder temps. I live in the midwest and we have extreme temps - so I am as used to 0 degree temps (and colder) as I am with 100 plus degree temps.

I still pack for both environments - that first cruise to Alaska taught me a lot!

garbo38

alaska can be a tough guess when it comes to weather. the answer to the question is to pack with sufficient layers to allow for comfort in cool and rainy, or hot and humid. we have traveled in alaska in september when the temps were in the 80's. hot! we had ear muffs, gloves, sweaters and scarves to lug around....:}} many layers of very light weight stuff is the answer. then whatever the weather, you'll be ready. have fun.