Questions for early Alaskan cruisers!

[Prose]

Hey, everyone! OP here -- now that we're back from our AMAZING cruise adventure, I wanted to poke my head in and say thanks to all for the gret info, and offer to answer any questions...

 

[Scoobydoo76]

Hey, everyone! OP here -- now that we're back from our AMAZING cruise adventure, I wanted to poke my head in and say thanks to all for the gret info, and offer to answer any questions...

We are cruising on the July 5 sailing. I have been checking the weather for our ports of call to know how to dress, but cannot check for Tracy Arm day of sailing. Obviously it is always cooler by water. Can you please tell me how you found the weather while sailing to the glacier on Tracy Arm day? Is it still as cool as the first few sailings? Is it sweatshirt weather or something more or less?

Thanks!!!!

 

[lenzs4]

We are cruising on the July 5 sailing. I have been checking the weather for our ports of call to know how to dress, but cannot check for Tracy Arm day of sailing. Obviously it is always cooler by water. Can you please tell me how you found the weather while sailing to the glacier on Tracy Arm day? Is it still as cool as the first few sailings? Is it sweatshirt weather or something more or less?

Thanks!!!!

We cruised June 7 - 14 and the first night and the next day were cold and windy but by Tracy Arm day it was calmer and not nearly as cold. For us AZ natives, we still needed pants and long sleeves with a light jacket but not sweatshirts or multiple layers. It remained that great weather the rest of the trip. I think it was in the high 60 or low 70 the entire time but never actually checked the temperature...

 

[Scoobydoo76]

We cruised June 7 - 14 and the first night and the next day were cold and windy but by Tracy Arm day it was calmer and not nearly as cold. For us AZ natives, we still needed pants and long sleeves with a light jacket but not sweatshirts or multiple layers. It remained that great weather the rest of the trip. I think it was in the high 60 or low 70 the entire time but never actually checked the temperature...

Great to know. Thanks!

 

[willful]

We are cruising on the July 5 sailing. I have been checking the weather for our ports of call to know how to dress, but cannot check for Tracy Arm day of sailing. Obviously it is always cooler by water. Can you please tell me how you found the weather while sailing to the glacier on Tracy Arm day? Is it still as cool as the first few sailings? Is it sweatshirt weather or something more or less?

Thanks!!!!

I was on June 7 -14 cruise and I agree that Tracy Arm day was very nice! Surprisingly nice considering the day before how cold and windy it was!!! I wore a hoodie (underarmour shirt underneath) and pants...and surprisingly flip flops. LOL But not multiple layers. I was fine. It all depends on your tolerance I guess. I did see some people huddled in blankets and layers. We're from Maryland and used to cold weather at times...for the whole trip the weather reminded us of fall or spring weather. It was nice break from our HOT summer weather that has seemed to come early this year. LOL

Have fun on your cruise!!!!!!

 

[willful]

Hey, everyone! OP here -- now that we're back from our AMAZING cruise adventure, I wanted to poke my head in and say thanks to all for the gret info, and offer to answer any questions...

I agree!!! Much thanks for the early cruisers for their invaluable information!!!!

 

[Prose]

Temperature on Tracy Arm day also depends on where you are....we were all the way forward on deck 10, in front of the plexiglass, where all the serious shutterbugs were hanging out waiting for "the shot," and it was FREEZING up there! But go 20 feet to the left or right or step behind the plexi and it was nice.

They had cocoa, coffee and cookies set up right behind the enclosure, and kids were playing soccer on the sports deck without coats.

 

[TinknCyn]

Could you add the questions -

1. What did you pack that you didn't need
2. What did you NOT pack that you wished you had packed

Note: this is based on my Reconnasance April Pacific Coast Cruise! I booked this at the last minute - 2 weeks ahead, and told Hubby I need to go for "research" for out June trip! He actually bought it!

I'm pretty good at not packing what I don't need: mainly extra dressy tops & too many shoes! but at least the tops take up very little room!

I wish I HAD packed:
Robe-definitely worth the room if you have a balcony (It's cold out there! Esp. when the ship is moving!) and for early trips up to the coffee station. NOTE: the spa let me keep mine from my treatment for the rest of the week!!! so maybe I'll do that again!
Slippers (same reasons)
More socks
Umbrella (but didn't need it, and bought an awesome full size one on the ship, which I'll be taking back on board on the 21st of June. Lots of intermittent rain in Alaska.
Binoculars. Other Alaska cruises I've been on provided them in the cabins, but Disney didn't. I did put it on the comment form though.
A comfy pair of slips on shoes that go with anything (I usually bring these, but was trying to cut down on the shoes--didn't work!)

The castaway club gift was a bag, with 2 aluminum drink containers, which sucked for anything cold or hot! Too conductive: SO I'll be bringing older Disney travel cups and travel coffee cups for soda and coffee for the shows, etc. The cups provided at the drink station are way too small! I'm done with the drink before I even get back to my cabin!

ps: Steph, I take it you are from San Diego? We live on Mt. Helix. Which Alaska cruise are you taking?

Cyn

 

[DenverVal]

Thank you for that! Just tossed my mug in the bag for hot chocolate. I'm on the 6/21 cruise too, and getting ready to head north!

 

[Prose]

Packed but didn't need -
short-sleeved shirts (although DH wore his all the time)
small first aid kit - neosporin, bandaids, etc. Glad to not need it, but glad I took it just in case
Bonine! We never had a problem, even when we were rocking and rolling the first night.

Wish I'd packed -
I agree with the robe - especially after the Rainforest room, would have loved to have just gone back to the room in bathing suit and robe
sweatpants and sweatshirt to hang out on the verandah in
Coke Zero - what can I say, yes, I have a small addiction.

I'll add one - things I am SO glad we packed -
small power strip for various chargers
extra camera batteries
10' charger cable for my ipod
down vest
fleece jackets
over the door shoe holder for small items and toiletries - how do people manage without them?
my Sleephones - headphones in a stretchy headband. You just slip them over your head and can fall asleep to music without disturbing anyone and without the pain of sleeping in earbuds.

 

[SanDiegoSteph]

ps: Steph, I take it you are from San Diego? We live on Mt. Helix. Which Alaska cruise are you taking?

Cyn

Hey Neighbor - we live in Bay Park near Sea World! We're on the August 2 Alaska cruise - a family celebration for me having taken the Bar exam the week before...it can NOT come too soon!!

 

[TinknCyn]

I have been reading reports, and I haven't seen any one mention the Outlook bar, the new one on the Wonder with the glass walls? Would that be a good place for adults on Tracy Arm day?

How about the fitness center? Did anyone view Tracy Arm while working out?

We loved the views from the Outlook Cafe on the Pacific Coast cruise! It was our favorite indoor spot to relax and enjoy the great ocean and deck views. It got pretty busy, and often there were no seats between 11am and 3 pm, unless you hung around or got lucky. The turnover seemed to be 45min-1 hr, but we loved it so much, I'd get there about 10am on a sea day, and hold a spot for my mom, and it became our regular hangout! (I'd let others sit in Mom's chair if she was gone for a while) Seating areas are shared and very comfy, plus there is coffee and bar service & wine (all $) and complimentary pastries like in the Cove Cafe.

Best part, besides the great views was that it is Adults only!!! No obnoxious kiddies running around, whining, etc.

Cyn

 

[mom3bellasorella]

Steph...we are also on Aug 2nd celebrating my sis taking Bar at end of July! Good luck!

 

[orum]

Coke Zero - what can I say, yes, I have a small addiction.

This one I totally get. I guess I will have to suffer with Diet Coke for a week.

Dan

 

[Meskamooska]

Hi All!

Any tips from previous cruisers for the best photo spots for Tracy Arm or other great views?

Also, any great spots to shoot in the ports? Out of the way or unusual are great. And did anyone visit any of the cemeteries?

Thanks to everyone who has already generously shared their cruise tips and thanks in advance to all who have yet to had the chance to do so.

Take care all, help lots of people anpd have a "Wonder"ful day!

Tisza

 

[DenverVal]

Everybody left the decks after we turned around from the glacier, figuring that they'd seen it all and we'd be going back the way we came, I guess. I had all of deck 4 to myself. However, they took us into an additional inlet that had perennial waterfalls which were much bigger that the smaller (but incredibly high) ones that we'd seen earlier. These were gorgeous! I am glad I brought binoculars, otherwise I'd never have noticed all the seals/sea lions sunning themselves on the icebergs. Port side, deck 9, all the way forward was a nice place to take photographs, but it was in the shade and more than a little nippy. Wearing a sweatshirt with a rain jacket over (to cut the wind) and something over the ears was perfect. Knit gloves were nice too.

 

[ariel39]

We went on RCL last year and we put a luggage tag on cases of water and they brought it on for us. Does DCL allow this?

 

[n8tivecaligirl]

We thought we had a great choice for a spot at the back of the ship at the buffet, not crowded and we still would see everything they saw in the front right? wrong... we missed a lot of the wild life, whales seals etc... Just an FYI. After we turned around there was quite a few people who left in the front (It's jacket, hat and glove weather up there because of the wind) so we took pictures from there after it thinned out. But we still missed the wild life )c:

 

[wdhinn89]

We thought we had a great choice for a spot at the back of the ship at the buffet, not crowded and we still would see everything they saw in the front right? wrong... we missed a lot of the wild life, whales seals etc... Just an FYI. After we turned around there was quite a few people who left in the front (It's jacket, hat and glove weather up there because of the wind) so we took pictures from there after it thinned out. But we still missed the wild life )c:

Why did you miss alot of the wild life? Did the ship scare them away or was it something else?

 

[n8tivecaligirl]

The ship did not scare them away, it's just our location kept us from being able to see them, or being around people that point things out or hearing the naturalist or seeing the funnel vision. So if you don't care for seeing wildlife and just the scenery BB is a great location because it is not crowded BUT if you wish to possibly catch a glimpse of whales then choose another location.

ALSO outlook cafe IMO is not a very good location either because you don't see wildlife either it is just an OK location for viewing the scenery(not great but OK).