Alaskan Cruise in May
 

Any suggestions?
I don't really want much more that a 5 day cruise. I wonder what the weather is like onboard during the trip. Can you go outside and relax by the pool on this type of cruise?
Any comments or suggestions would be welcome. :)

The one-way (Vancouver/Seward or vv.) or round-trip cruises ex-SEA or -YVR are 7 days, so do you have a particular one in mind?

May is definitely on the early side, and I would not count on outdoor swimming comfort. Some ships (e.g. larger Celebrity boats) have covered pools or "thallasotherapy" pools, so no problem with those.

Weather can be nice, not nice, or in between. But "nice" usually refers to the absence of rain, not balmy temperatures. It is, after all, Alaska.

Check out the message boards at www.cruisecritic.com - look for Alaska under "ports of call" - tons of info there.

I went on a cruise two years ago in August. I can say that it was very nice. I wasn't the one that picked out the ship so I wasn't too impressed with the accommodations. The Norwegian Wind is the ship that was picked. I would suggest not choosing Norwegian, it's "freestyle" product is just OK. The ship was not up to par, it seemed cheap. The scenery was absolutely amazing. May should be a good month, you should be able to get some tanning action going and go to the pool. If your budget is flexible, there are several luxury lines that will have you sailing in complete comfort. Silversea Cruises are among my favorite for overall service and cabin space. Hope that helps and have a great trip.

Thank you for the information. Anyone else have any experience with this that they'd like to share?

We sailed on Labor Day weekend a few years ago and actually caught 70 degrees in Ketchikan and Juneau, 60 degrees in Sitka and Valdez, and 65 degrees in Anchorage. The temps were colder, of course, during glacier viewing.

May can be risky
 

Expect rather chilly temperatures and a fair amount of rain in May. Mid to late summer and even early autumn are better bets for dry weather. Also, the Inside Passage gets pretty choppy in the spring, so bring Dramamine.

That's funny, I've heard and experienced the exact opposite as far as precipitation is concerned. Of course, it varies by the part of the state you're visiting but in most areas early summer is known for being drier and sunnier than August or September. Of course there's also the advantage of more daylight in the spring. Keep in mind though--even when its sunny, temperatures in May will probably top out in the mid-50's. According to Weather.com the average May high is 56 in Juneau. I seriously doubt you'll be using the outdoor pool.

We were in Alaska for several weeks last July and really enjoyed it. The scenery is absolutely stunning, so be sure to invest in a balcony cabin. You might consider doing a cruise/land tour if you want to see the state but don't want too much time on a ship. Alaska's interior is very different from the coastal areas. I believe Princess offers a number of land/sea packages. For more info that's specific to cruises, cruisecritic.com is a great source. For lots of good info about the state in general, visit the Fodor's message board and do a search on Alaska.

Sounds like I have some investigating to do. I'm sure it's beautiful there, but I wonder how much fun a cold, rainy cruise could be.
Keep the info coming if you don't mind.
Thanks!

Alaska weather
 

You might want to look at www.weatherbase.com. According to that, Anchorage has the lowest rainfall averages of the year in April and May.

I'll agree the scenery is spectacular, but May will certainly be chilly...even August was cool, especially while on the ship.
We went with Holland America, which I would not recommend. Smaller ships that some others, and we found the service to be very lacking.
We did the helicopter ride with a landing & walk on a glacier, which we both agree was a highlight of the trip.
The towns (on the inside passage) are mostly tourist traps near the ports, so don't expect too much there.

Again, how long do you have all together? If only a week, then a round-trip cruise ex-SEA or YVR is about all you'll manage if you want any cruise experience at all.

If you have more than a week, and just want to limit your time on the water, then a one-way cruise, probably northbound, from Vancouver to Seward (120 mi from Anchorage) is probably your best bet, followed by at least a week car-touring in southcentral AK. In late May, some things won't likely be open yet - the interior of Denali Park may or may not, for instance. OTOH the roads will be empty of too many tourists, the rivers will be high, snow and glacier viewing great, and with long daylight hours you can see a lot in a short time.

But on the water, it's breezy (as the ship moves, duh), the ocean temp. is cold, there are glaciers and snowfields cooling the air as it comes down to the water. In short, it's no Antigua. But there are also whales, eagles, critters on the shore, plenty to see.

I took the inside passage Vancouver-Seward last July..
 

Although it was the "high point" of summer - the average daily temperature in port was 61F, and the only real "swimming" was done in the jacuzzis, which are open a very limited time (Carnival Spirit - I think they were open from 10am - 8pm.) The water slide wasn't ever opened, because the average temperature on deck was 50 F wind chill.

This was the trip of a lifetime, however. There is no comparison to the wildlife viewing (eagles, dolphins, whales etc.) and the scenery is the most stunning I've seen.

This is a cruise for the nature loving individual - although there were some activities geared for the teenage dancing set - it is definitely not for the "Cancun Cruisers."

Which was more than acceptable to me, as I really wanted to experience the Alaskan wilderness, glaciers and lifestyle, and I dressed in layers.

Make sure you are fully aware of what you will be treated to on this cruise, as it is truly a treat! Rafting the rapids, trekking the glaciers, hiking the mountains and helicopter rides through the unfettered beauty of the northland - it is a priceless adventure.

And be sure to let us know which trip you plan to take!

Have a great time.

Alaskan cruise
 

Did the Alaska cruise 2 yrs ago in Sep for 7 days. We sailedon Vision of the Seas. It was fabulous trip. Temperature was around 50 to 55F, poolwas heated,hot tubs. We had the pool ourselves.The water was great,a little chilly getting out but not unbearable. If you can try and get a balcony. The sea was rough only one day, and we didnt notice any difference on board. There was some rain and wind in ports.Bring a warm waterproof jacket. Dont let the weather deter from taking this trip. It is worth it no matter what. Have a good one

I taught on a 7-day Alaskan cruise out of Seattle (ended up arriving in Vancouver) last Aug/Sept. It was at least light jacket weather outside the whole time, heavier jacket while at Hubbard Glacier and some shore excursions. I was on a Celebrity ship and appreciated the level of service we received.

Did Alaskan land tour past summer. With land tour you can see more of the interior of AK than cruise (duh)...but it does involve long bus rides and hotel transfers. Land tours show you more stuff- like Denali Natl Park (although most visitors don't get to see Mt.McKinley/Denali) and oil pipeland, Fairbanks, etc. Maybe you could take a cruise and a short pre/post add-on land tour.
BTW, beware of TSA screeners who force you to take off all shoes in ANC, at least the last time I was there (a few months ago).