Everyone hopes for lovely weather – blue skies, smooth waves, perfect temperatures – for their cruise vacation. But when you’re setting sail for someplace you’ve never been, should the cruise line offer pre-cruise weather tips to help you pack appropriately?
Carnival Cruise Line will not be doing so, despite the frustration of a guest who reached out to John Heald, the cruise line’s brand ambassador, about their upcoming Alaskan cruise.
“I spoke with a good friend yesterday who just returned from an Alaskan cruise on the Spirit and he told me they had rain and sleet and freezing temperatures. There was no prior information from Carnival about the weather,” the guest explained.
“They did not proper warm clothes so they had to spend money to by fleeces from the ship shops. Temps were in the 50s.”
According to the website Climates to Travel, the average temperature in Alaska in June is 50.5, with lows in the upper 40s and highs in the upper 50s.
“We are going to be in Alaska on Luminosa [in July],” the guest continued. “Will Carnival send us the projected weather? … We have limited packing space. It would be nice to be informed so we could pack properly.”
Carnival Luminosa is offering 7-night Alaska sailings roundtrip from Seattle, including stops to Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Victoria, as well as scenic cruising in the iconic Tracy Arm Fjord.
Carnival Cruise Line does not, however, provide pre-cruise weather reports for guests except in very special circumstances.
“I wish you a brilliant time in Alaska. I know temperatures vary and while we do not send out pre-cruise weather updates (unless it is storm-related), you can of course ask Uncle Google for a forecast,” Heald responded.
Heald is correct that a very simple Google search – or even searching on one’s favorite weather website or app – will reveal projected information about temperatures, precipitation, and other weather information.
In July, for example, Alaska’s average temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit, with lows recorded in the upper 40s and highs in the low 60s.
The original poster notes that they are from Tennessee, where temperatures and weather patterns are significantly different than in the Last Frontier.
In Tennessee (depending on where in the state), the July average temperature is 80, with lows at about 70 and highs in the low 90s.
This would certainly be different than cruise ports more than 2,500 miles away in Alaska.
Many commenters noted that looking up temperatures is not difficult, though if the guest isn’t as comfortable with technology they may feel intimidated by so many different websites and apps offering the information.
Cruise Lines and Weather Reports
Heald did note that Carnival would reach out to guests in the event of a major storm. As hurricane season is now underway, that information can be crucial – albeit not for Alaska.
Itineraries in the Caribbean, as well as the Mexican Riviera, can be impacted by tropical storms and hurricanes. In fact, Carnival Panorama has already had one such change due to Hurricane Barbara last week. The season is just barely two weeks old, however, and the peak of hurricane season isn’t until September and October.
As for Alaska, I know very well how dramatic the temperature changes can be! When I sailed to the Last Frontier at the end of April several years ago, average temperatures were just 30 degrees – and it certainly felt like it!
Even more chilling, I was coming from Florida where, at the same time, our average temperature was closer to 70 – more than double what we experienced for an Alaskan spring.
Read Also: What to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise – Full List
Whether from Tennessee or Florida, dressing in layers is key for Alaskan cruises. Bringing along a lightweight jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt, as well as long pants or sweats, can help ensure one is comfortable no matter what the conditions.
A few extra outer layers – in my case, a soft scarf and a pair of gloves – are also helpful and don’t take up much room in the luggage, but can make all the difference in staying warm and enjoying all that Alaska has to offer.
