Wearing dresses in Alaska & jeans questions

[EmmaJean]

I'm sailing the Golden Princess to Alaska in one week and I'm trying to figure out what to bring.

 

Jeans-they are discouraged in the dining rooms-is that at dinnertime only or for all meals? Is it better not to wear them anywhere on the ship and just save them for shore excursions? (We are going to the Mendenall glacier and riding the train in Skagway.)

 

Dresses on non-formal nights- I want to bring a dress or skirt to wear each night for dinner but I'm wondering am I going to freeze? Do people wear skirts/dress around on the ship in Alaska? Are slacks more common? Would it be better for me to wear pant suits with long-john typed bottoms underneath?

 

Formal night dresses-I've seen pictures of people in the sleeveless dresses-don't they get cold?

 

Do people generally wear their cold-weather jackets to dinner and then remove them at the dining room? Or is is warm on the inside of the ship so we could dress fairly normal?

 

Please help this Arizona girl on her first cruise. Thanks.

[gg3]

Absolutely bring jeans. They are great for the ship and the ports.......just not acceptable in the formal dining room at any time. But you can wear them everywhere else on the ship. During the day on the ship you will see most ladies in pants, jeans, jogging suits, sweats, etc. It is chilly on deck and really cold on glacier days. I have never been too warm. I usually wear the above or corduroy pants combined with tees and flannel shirts. Then I wear the cords to dinner on non formal nights combined with a tee and sweater and a pair of casual shoes. Few women wear dresses around the ship, except for dining. Why in the world would you want to when pants are so comfy. Alaska cruises are VERY casual, other than dinner. You won't need to wear a heavy coat in the dining area. Long sleeves or a light jacket or blazer is good. Some folks do wear sleeveless, but it is a bit cool in there. No, you will not need a heavy coat, ever. On glacier day, we always wear insulated joggers, tees, flannel shirts, a fleece jacket, hat, gloves and a rain jacket with hood if needed. Hope this helps, gg

[Toyz711]

the ships are climate controlled, so is your room. i don't know about your ship, but i was running around our ship in light slacks and blouses.

for on the open deck you will need a jacket, but for inside the ship..maybe light wrap if you are under the air conditioning.

many people wear dresses and skirts...if that's what you want to wear..do it. i am a pants girl, myself. haven't worn a dress in years.

the interior of the ship will be like any restaurant or large buildings. some areas will be cooler with the air conditioning, others warmer. none will be freezing.

[EmmaJean]

Absolutely bring jeans. They are great for the ship and the ports.......just not acceptable in the formal dining room at any time. But you can wear them everywhere else on the ship. During the day on the ship you will see most ladies in pants, jeans, jogging suits, sweats, etc. It is chilly on deck and really cold on glacier days. I have never been too warm. I usually wear the above or corduroy pants combined with tees and flannel shirts. Then I wear the cords to dinner on non formal nights combined with a tee and sweater and a pair of casual shoes. Few women wear dresses around the ship, except for dining. Why in the world would you want to when pants are so comfy. Alaska cruises are VERY casual, other than dinner. You won't need to wear a heavy coat in the dining area. Long sleeves or a light jacket or blazer is good. Some folks do wear sleeveless, but it is a bit cool in there. No, you will not need a heavy coat, ever. On glacier day, we always wear insulated joggers, tees, flannel shirts, a fleece jacket, hat, gloves and a rain jacket with hood if needed. Hope this helps, gg

 

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions so far. I'd love to hear more still.

 

The formal dining room is were I hope to eat most meals-sounds like more fun to be served than to walk myself through the buffet. So, I'll definitely bring jeans, but maybe only a couple pair.

 

I think my "heavy coat" is a fleece jacket-and I think that is good advice to bring the gloves and warm hat. I hope I can find ours, because they don't sell them around here.

 

To minimize on packing, I'll probably not bring a dress/skirt for every night then. Slacks seem much more versatile.

 

Do you think there will be a Western Night? My mother said she heard that there was one. I haven't seen it on these boards.

 

My goal is to find layers...layers...layers....

[Toyz711]

you may want to go to your roll call for your ship

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=302

find the date you are going and ask them.

 

but, no, the ship really is climate controlled...just like in arizona.

they try to keep the interior of the ship a even temp. i found the casinos usually are the warmest places..with the heat from all the machines.

my cruise, last sept, our ship was a pleasant high 60s to low 70s around the ship. outside the temps (at night) were a cool low 40s to high 30s.

[sea_u_onboard]

To minimize on packing, I'll probably not bring a dress/skirt for every night then.

Just pack 2 shirts and 4 shirts / mix and match. No one will notice.

[NancyIL]

Just pack 2 shirts and 4 shirts / mix and match. No one will notice.

 

 

No bottoms? I think they'll notice! ;)

[gg3]

Sounds like you are getting it all worked out Emma Jean. I agree with you re: the meals in the dining room. We tried freestyle cruising the last trip to Alaska, and really missed the formal dining. And re: your heavy jacket.....you sound like a Southern. We are from E. Texas and my heaviest jacket is a lightweight fleece, which is what I take to Alaska in the summer. Like you, we can't find warm hats here, so I go online to either Coldwater Creek's outlet, or to Land's End, or Eddie Bauer. At this time of year, those hats and gloves are usually on sale, so you might check that out if you can not find yours. In my cruises to Alaska on Princess and HAL, I have not had a theme night, so sorry I do not know about a Western Night. Just get ready for a wonderful, awesome adventure and don't wait til the last minute to pack. :D gg

[prakmel]

No bottoms? I think they'll notice! ;)

 

My very thoughts.

 

But maybe - just maybe - that is the idea :-)

[EmmaJean]

Absolutely bring jeans. They are great for the ship and the ports.......just not acceptable in the formal dining room at any time. But you can wear them everywhere else on the ship. During the day on the ship you will see most ladies in pants, jeans, jogging suits, sweats, etc. It is chilly on deck and really cold on glacier days. I have never been too warm. I usually wear the above or corduroy pants combined with tees and flannel shirts. Then I wear the cords to dinner on non formal nights combined with a tee and sweater and a pair of casual shoes. Few women wear dresses around the ship, except for dining. Why in the world would you want to when pants are so comfy. Alaska cruises are VERY casual, other than dinner. You won't need to wear a heavy coat in the dining area. Long sleeves or a light jacket or blazer is good. Some folks do wear sleeveless, but it is a bit cool in there. No, you will not need a heavy coat, ever. On glacier day, we always wear insulated joggers, tees, flannel shirts, a fleece jacket, hat, gloves and a rain jacket with hood if needed. Hope this helps, gg

 

"Glacier Day" ? would cruising Tracy Arm Fjord be considered "glacier Day" to pack the gloves and hats for...we aren't going to Glacier Bay

[sea_u_onboard]

No bottoms? I think they'll notice! ;)

Thanks for pointing that out Nancy. I guess I should have read it better before I posted.

 

2 skirts and 4 shirts.

[NancyIL]

Thanks for pointing that out Nancy. I guess I should have read it better before I posted.

 

2 skirts and 4 shirts.

 

I figured you intended to type "skirts" - but I had to have a little fun with it! ;)

 

"Glacier Day" ? would cruising Tracy Arm Fjord be considered "glacier Day" to pack the gloves and hats for...we aren't going to Glacier Bay

EmmaJean - Yes, Tracy Arm Fjord is your glacier day. I haven't been to Alaska yet (only 9 days to go!), but I intend to be warmly dressed (including hat and gloves) whenever I spend much time out on deck viewing scenery.

[sea_u_onboard]

I figured you intended to type "skirts" - but I had to have a little fun with it! ;)

I knew that. We need to cruise together some day - I like your style :)

[GATOR MOM]

I was on the Golden May 5th...I found her to be the MOST casual cruise I have been on. Jeans are a must. No...you will not be cold in the dining room...I wore the same things I wear on a Caribbean cruise in the dining room...and I felt over dressed. A suit for men is fine...very few tuxs. And...I didn't see a lot of folks staying dressed after dinner...back to jeans. In fact...I even saw jeans in the dining room.

 

As for Tracy Arm....a sweater was fine on our balcony.Michael, the naturalist was great as he described our trip into the arm. We went in really far...saw the glacier...weather was great. But...another Princess ship was there a few hours ahead of us...she didn't get into the Arm as far as we did...it was bad weather.

 

You will feel cold on deck...it is windy & chilly. Find a spot that blocks the wind & you will be fine.

 

Also...anytime dining...make a reservation...it gets crowded & long waits. Call EARLY each day...make a reservation...eat on the second level of the dining room...better service.

 

Have a great cruise...we loved Alaska...except Rainbird tours in ketchikan...thay cxled our Saxman tour:( & the operator stunk of liquor @ 8 AM:eek:

[Quilting_Cruiser]

I'm surprised by the reports that your Alaska cruises were more casual than cruises to other destinations. When we cruised Alaska our experience was that it was just as formal on formal nights as any other cruise we've taken. We'll definitely dress formally (DH in a tux, me in a formal) :). For dinner on non-formal nights, like Cheryl, I'll bring mix-and-match outfits to save room in the luggage. DH will bring a couple pair of Dockers and a few shirts for wearing in the dining room.

 

I will definitely bring jeans and also wind pants--I have a couple of pair that are lined with lightweight fleece, so they're warm and very comfortable. We didn't take heavy coats last time and didn't need them--just dressed in layers so we could add or take away as needed. But, we're used to a cool, rainy climate in the winter (Oregon). We also had very nice weather when we cruised Alaska the last time--rained just a little in Juneau and other than that it was nice and dry. :) But, of course there's no way to predict what it'll be like this year at any given time.

 

Cheers!

Jayne

[GATOR MOM]

On my cruise I saw very few tuxs...it was a very casual cruise !!!