Michelle and others: How cold on a cruise ship?

ManidipaM

I know a 'cruise' conjures up visions of sweet little summer dresses and shorts and swimsuits galore... but what's the reality? Is the AC shiver-inducing without a jacket? After all, it can't be too warm or the poor officers and crew in their suits would be quite uncomfortable.

Michelle, I know you mentioned you run warm rather than cold and I remember you were primarily using the white casual jacket to layer. But I daresay you could compare the temperature to, say, an airplane cabin? I tend to use a light sweater and a silk-wool blended stole on flights --- and still shiver or get really stiff and sore in the knees after a couple of hours. If I wear sandals on a plane, I'm utterly *miserable* (socks and shoes all the way, please!). Would a cruise ship be comparable? A little warmer or quite a bit cooler?

Any other veteran shipmates that can weigh in for me? MaryK? Carole? Sona? Enginemom? Joy? Sarah?

13 years ago

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6 replies

Latest reply was from ManidipaM

velvetychocolate

Veteran

It depends on where you're going and from where to where. Generally, I did not find the air conditioning to be too chilly, and I could control the temperature in my stateroom as far as the degree of air conditioning or not.

I will say that even in somewhat warm/tropical areas - it's not quite as warm as you might expect when you're out on the open sea. It's not cold exactly, but because of the breezes and so on, it's not as tropical as you'd expect. More balmy, a little cooler and so on.

Thing is? As soon as you're in port, in a warm-ish place, it gets a lot hotter than you've been used to for however many days you've been at sea getting to said port. All of a sudden, the ship is in port, standing still, and it's not so breezy anymore. Can be a lot hotter all of a sudden.

Meanwhile, I didn't notice extremely cold air conditioning either - you're wandering around on deck, heading for breakfast or lunch, or maybe off to sit by the pool or what have you - most of this is open air and no real air conditioning to speak of. It's not the same as being enclosed on a plane. The only place I actually noticed the air conditioning was in the fine dining areas and specialty restaurants. Oh, and my stateroom too - but I could always turn the a/c down or off if I wanted to.

All of this is to say that if you're off to a tropical destination on a cruise, it won't be as hot as you expect while at sea, and further - the a/c isn't frigid, because there are so many open areas.

Where are you thinking of going, and when? My parents just returned from a Hawaii cruise from the Pacific Northwest area. It was cool-ish on the way down and on the way back, and warm-ish/tropical while in Hawaii - but never too hot at any one point. On the contrary, Mom went to Europe a couple of summers ago in the middle of August, and while it wasn't too hot on the ship, it was very hot (for her) in the numerous ports they stopped at.

Figuring out jackets depends on where/when, if that makes sense. I've been on two cruises, both to tropical areas, and did not use a jacket at all except for one formal night when I opted for a dressy suit instead of a dress. That said, something like Alaska or Northern Europe would be a whole different story!

13 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

Hey, VC! Thanks so very much for the detailed reply. Greatly appreciated!

If I do end up going, it's a work trip this month. Asian tropical waters, and very short voyage, so am not worried about the outdoors.

I grew up on ships (my dad was a merchant marine), so I'll actually be delighted to be at sea and would love to just stand on deck and stare at the water all day! Unfortunately, being a *work* trip, there's not likely to be nearly enough lounging and hot-tubbing, and much too much of indoor public spaces involved. I envisage most of my time being spent in one or the other of those enclosed areas, hence the question.

For logistical reasons, I have to pack today and bring everything I want to take, so also very grateful for the quick response. Sounds like a single jacket and a wrap should be enough!

13 years ago

Anonymous

My DH and I have taken 4 Carnival cruises, to various destinations. Each and every time, it's been cold inside the ship; hot outside. I advise you to dress in layers. That's the only way to tolerate the extreme difference in indoor and outdoor temperatures.

Our worst experience, believe it or not, was on a cruise to the Bahamas. A cold front swept through and the weather turned cold; unusual for the Bahamas. We spent our cruise in jackets, and did not take the speed boat tour we signed up for. Instead, we toured the Atlantis hotel and aquarium. No one got in the ship's swimming pool, except for a couple of foolish teens who had no better sense.

13 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

Yikes! Just what I'm afraid of! Thanks so much for weighing in, Ruth.

13 years ago

Meredith1953

Veteran

I have never taken a cruise before but when in doubt it is good to bring layers. Where might you be cruising?

13 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

Good sound advice, Meredith. I really wish I had lighter, less bulky layers on the whole, since I'm packing to be away for a month and that month might include travel to just about anywhere as well as normal daily life! As it is, I have to take a few risks --- really regretting the lack of a mix-and-match all-occasion capsule, including shoes and bags, right about now (mine lack continuity and are hole-y). Though even a single black cardigan would be rather handy to have at this point!

The cruise should be in the Singapore-Malaysia area.

13 years ago

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