Help, recent Alaska cruisers! How warm do I need to dress onboard in the evenings?

[LoveTheSkinsAndYankees]

Hi.

 

Sorry if this question has been asked a million times, but we're finally starting to pack for our June 8 Inside Passage cruise on Solstice and I'm completely stressed out about what to wear for dinner, shows, clubs in the evenings. Do they keep it warm enough onboard that I can just pack all my super travel-friendly summer maxi dresses with maybe a wrap or cardigan over top, or is it too chilly for that, even indoors?

 

I think I have the daytime attire covered, basically with jeans, layered shirts, sneakers and raincoat. But any advice on what to pack for the evenings is GREATLY appreciated!

 

Cheers,

Lisa

[pattyj 1204]

Your dresses should be ok with a wrap or some kind of a sweater/shawl. You have a great plan for the day, Have a great time Alaska is a beautiful place full of adventure. It does get chilly on deck especially viewing the glaciers.

[cruisestitch]

Not in Alaska, but recently on Eclipse we were sailing where the outside air temperature was below freezing. As you walked from one end of the ship to the other, the temperature varied markedly. If you were near one of the exterior doors on deck five, it could be downright cold inside, due to people going in and out of those doors. One end of Cafe al Bacio was warm, the other end was chilly. Same with Sushi on Five. Up at the Sky Lounge, the door to the outside never quite shut firmly and there was a definite breeze whipping through the entryway and the seating there, but further in, the temperature was fine. The ship tries to keep the temperature the same throughout, of course, but nobody knows what you'll encounter in the public areas.

[fleckle]

Hi.

 

Sorry if this question has been asked a million times, but we're finally starting to pack for our June 8 Inside Passage cruise on Solstice and I'm completely stressed out about what to wear for dinner, shows, clubs in the evenings. Do they keep it warm enough onboard that I can just pack all my super travel-friendly summer maxi dresses with maybe a wrap or cardigan over top, or is it too chilly for that, even indoors?

 

I think I have the daytime attire covered, basically with jeans, layered shirts, sneakers and raincoat. But any advice on what to pack for the evenings is GREATLY appreciated!

 

Sorry, but not knowing you, none of us can really answer your question about whether or not the internal venues on the ship will be too chilly for you.

The temperature in dining rooms and theaters typically will be fine for some passengers, too warm for some, and too cold for others.

 

If you are someone who usually tends to feel too warm or too cold in public places such as restaurants or theaters, that would probably be a good indicator for you.

Then again, the temperature inside the ship may vary when doors are open, as previously noted, or when someone has changed the thermostat setting for that area.

 

As for the outdoor temperature, on the same date, at the same location in Alaska it may be snowing one year and hot the next.

Out on deck, it is also not unusual to see someone bundled up from head to toe standing next to someone wearing shorts and t-shirt.

 

Please believe me when I say that there is no reason for you to be stressed out about what to wear. It should not be a problem at all if you just follow the standard packing advice to bring layers that can be added or removed, as needed.

 

Your maxi dresses, with or without a wrap or cardigan, should be just fine for evenings.

If you feel chilly, you can always add another layer.

 

Besides, they always have very reasonably priced pashmina type shawls for sale on the ships.

 

Since there are no formal nights on Celebrity cruises, evening dress tends to scan the entire range from extremely casual through formal, although Alaska cruises tend to skew more toward casual than formal.

 

Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and happy.

(I guess I need to insert the words "within the cruise line's guidelines" here to avoid inadvertently starting yet another dress code debate. :eek:)

 

Do bring along sunblock, and some type of head covering, and gloves (which you may or may not need).

An umbrella will be provided in your cabin.

 

If you are sensitive to loud sounds, you may also want to pack earplugs, which you probably won't need, but we find it good to bring them along for cruise ships and hotels, just in case.

 

Have a wonderful cruise.

We love Alaska cruises, and always look forward to going on another one.

Edited May 31, 2018 by fleckle

[waterbug123]

I'm doing an Alaska cruise next week and have done one prior, as well as a New England/Canada cruise during a period of very cold weather in that area. I'm packing for onboard evenings on the upcoming cruise the same as I did previously which is....

 

 

I tend to be fairly cold natured, but never have an issue with being chilly inside in the evenings, whether due to a cold climate (Alaska) or air conditioning in the Caribbean. Yes, they keep it warm. Yes, if you near a door that is constantly being opening to the outside it will be chilly in that spot. The restaurants, theater and casino have no doors that open to the outside so I found them perfectly comfortable to be in. My planned evening outfits include a lightweight, sleeveless formal-ish jumpsuit; a sleeveless, lightweight, above the knee dress; dressy jeans and/or cropped summer weight pants with sleeveless tops.... not much different than I'd plan for evenings on a Caribbean cruise. Daytime attire is obviously different, LOL....jeans, tees, fleece vest, all-weather jacket rather than shorts and tank tops. (Although I'll take at least one pair of shorts just in case. I know my boys were fine in shorts several days in port the last time.)

[happymom52003]

I was on the Solstice in Alaska last summer, and I wore sleeveless or short sleeves every night, and carried a cardigan with me just in case. I usually freeze in the public areas on cruise ships....but on this particular cruise, I never once needed the cardigan inside.

[dkjretired]

On an Alaska cruise, the interior of the ship is about the only place you're going to get consistent temps every day. You have done the right thing to pack in layers but for the ship i would just wear what you would normally wear on a cruise.

[BratDet]

I did a 10 day Alaska....was used to much warmer cruises. I wore my denim jacket every night over my summer dresses....only cruise I had to do something like that for..out of 15 For Alaska, our weather was warmer than most Alaska cruises....but it still was cooler...than I expected on the ship.

Bernadette

[lovecruzin]

Just off Solstice, i am usually cold but never needed more than a wrap or light cardigan. Some spots in the theatre and various bars were cooler.

[phoenix_dream]

Have done 5 or 6 Alaska cruises, including on Solstice a couple years ago. Ship temperatures vary by cruise and by location. Meaning, for example, on our last cruise we found Blu to be quite warm, while there were areas while walking around the ship where I was shivering walking past as they were near the doors to the outside decks. The mid-ship area was also often very cold, for what reason I never determined. I made a mental note to myself to ditch the dresses I usually bring on other cruises. That said, a longer dress with some kind of cover-up handy would likely be fine in most cases. Just make sure to bring that cover-up just in case.

[sunpsyche]

You will be fine with a wrap or cardigan. We were on the Millie last month. I found a light wrap was just right except when near outside doors, as mentioned by another poster. Don’t overpack those cute dresses though; Alaskan cruises are more casual and mix and match works well. Have a wonderful time!

[cakana]

I just returned yesterday from the Solstice cruise to Alaska (fabulous cruise!!!) and had wondered the same thing. It turned out that I never needed anything different than I'd wear here in California for day or evening while I was on the ship. If you head out to the deck for any length of time, you'd probably want your jacket or sweater. I didn't see gloves on your list for excursions but you'll definitely want some. It was colder than I'd expected, especially in the places it was windy. We had an amazing time and if I could've stowed away somewhere, I would have.

[traveling1969]

We had a couple days when it was really chilly on board but it seemed to be related to the location of the gangway. When it was on deck 3 or 4, the ship interior would chill down and it took a while after all-aboard for things to warm up.

 

Harry

[LoveTheSkinsAndYankees]

Wow, thank you all so much for all the answers, advice, tips, etc! We're leaving tomorrow to spend a few days in Seattle before boarding the Solstice on Friday!!!

 

Just for fun I'll elaborate a little bit on why I've been stressing about the packing situation way more than I normally would have if we were just going on the cruise... This was my Christmas gift to my husband. We've done many Caribbean cruises over the years, but he mentioned that he'd like to see more of the U.S., so I knew he'd be thrilled with Alaska. WELL, he came up with the brilliant idea that if we're already out west, let's extend the trip by renting an SUV and touring the northwest. Sooo, instead of flying home when we get back to Seattle, we're flying to Denver, picking up an SUV and touring that area for a few days, driving through the Rockies, up to Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, Devil's Tower, Cody, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, then flying home from Salt Lake City. The extended weather forecast is all over the map, from rainy to sunny, from the low 40s to low 90s, so at this point I'm just pretty much packing everything I own. LOL! Turns out my plan to bring maxi dresses for each night of the cruise is the EASIEST part of my packing now that you all have assured me I'm not going to freeze in the MDR and the theaters! LOL!!!

[GACrusin]

I so appreciate the question and answers on this! We'll be on the Solstice the end of June, and being from the south, my summer wardrobe is a lot of linen and silk. I've wondered if that would be appropriate while on the ship on sea days and in the evening. Sounds like that will work with a light sweater or wrap? I've already thought through my layers while in port.

[cakana]

Lisa - yes, you will be fine. Consider the temps like you might find at any other restaurant or theater. I was never cold onboard on sea days.

[GottaKnowWhen]

Hi.

 

 

 

Sorry if this question has been asked a million times, but we're finally starting to pack for our June 8 Inside Passage cruise on Solstice and I'm completely stressed out about what to wear for dinner, shows, clubs in the evenings. Do they keep it warm enough onboard that I can just pack all my super travel-friendly summer maxi dresses with maybe a wrap or cardigan over top, or is it too chilly for that, even indoors?

 

 

 

I think I have the daytime attire covered, basically with jeans, layered shirts, sneakers and raincoat. But any advice on what to pack for the evenings is GREATLY appreciated!

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

Lisa

 

 

 

I have been on several Celebrity ships. Every one is too cool/cold in the dining areas for my taste. Whether in Antarctica, Alaska, or Caribbean. I wear a sport jacket every night, with good shirt and tie on “”chic” nights and am comfortable and presentable. My wife uses a variety of scarves and wraps with her nice clothes. Be flexible, be prepared, and don’t fret too much!

[waterbug123]

being from the south, my summer wardrobe is a lot of linen and silk. I've wondered if that would be appropriate while on the ship on sea days and in the evening. Sounds like that will work with a light sweater or wrap? I've already thought through my layers while in port.

 

Yes. For my upcoming Alaska cruise, I'm packing for evenings onboard the same as I did on our last Alaska cruise and our Canada/NE cruise, which means packing pretty much the same as I do for Caribbean cruises....nice jeans with dressy halter tops, white pants, cropped pants, maybe a summery maxi dress. Take a lightweight sweater, shrug or wrap if you think think you might need it. For sea days, I'll pretty much be in either a pair of shorts or jeans or a pair of loose fitting yoga pants, and a tee. I have a somewhat heavy zip up knit jacket I can throw on to walk outside on the deck if need be, as it can/does feel chilly outside when the ship is moving, especially when the temps are 60-ish to start, as opposed to 80-ish in the Carib.