Carnival Confirms Popular Item Not Permitted on Alaska Sailings
A cruise to Alaska can be a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list vacation, but what should you pack for the journey? The cruise experience in the Last Frontier is far different than that in the Caribbean or Mexico, and guests want to be prepared to enjoy it.
For some cruise passengers, while the beauty of Alaska is intriguing, the cold can be concerning. Bringing along sweatshirts, a heavier jacket, a scarf or gloves, and other gear can be useful, but one comfort item is a big no-no.
For sitting out on the deck or enjoying one’s private balcony while the icy mountaintops glide gracefully past and ice bobs in the water nearby, a cozy blanket can be ideal. However, certain types of blankets are not permitted.
One eager cruise guest reached out to Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, with their concerns about how best to stay toasty and comfortable while sailing so far north.
“We will be sailing on the Spirit to Alaska! I’ve been checking the weather in Alaska, and it looks really cold. I’m one of those people that if I get cold and stay cold I’m utterly miserable, and apparently I have the character defect of spreading my misery around to the other passengers and the crew people too,” the guest explained.
“Recently for car camping I got an electric throw blanket that is WONDERFUL. What is Carnival’s policy on electric blankets?”
The 85,920-gross ton Carnival Spirit has just begun her Alaska season with her April 14 departure from Seattle. The ship is offering primarily 7-night sailings through mid-September, visiting destinations such as Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Victoria.
Though visiting Alaska can certainly be “cool” in more ways than one, Heald is adamant that electric blankets are not permitted.
“Let me start by saying that they are not allowed so please do not bring one or it will be taken,” he confirmed. “This [is] of course for safety reasons.”
Carnival Cruise Line’s prohibited items list clearly states that any item with a heating element is not permitted onboard.
All “electrical and household appliances containing any kind of heating element” are banned, including immersion heaters, water heaters, hot plates, heating pads, and heating blankets. Limited exceptions are made for hair styling tools.
Guests onboard Alaska sailings – or wherever a ship may be sailing with chillier temperatures – are not without options, however.
“If you require an extra duvet or blankets to keep you warm please just ask the state room attendant and he or she will provide what you need,” Heald noted.
For time out on the deck, perhaps enjoying movies at the Seaside Theater or just watching the stunning Alaska scenery, many guests also use pool towels as convenient throw blankets.
Read Also: Your Guide to the Best Alaska Cruise Ports
How Cold Is It Sailing in Alaska?
It is true that the temperatures expected in Alaska can be very different than those guests may be used to in the Caribbean.
My own experiences are proof of the temperature changes. My first sailing to Alaska was at the end of April, to open the sailing season.
According to US Climate Data, this was just when temperatures in Skagway – the northernmost of the most popular Alaskan ports of call – averages in the high 40s Fahrenheit. On a warm day, the low 50s are possible, but on chillier days, temperatures might only reach the mid-30s.
For comparison, the temperatures at the end of April in Nassau, Bahamas – one of the most popular ports for Florida-based ships – average in the low 80s, with lows in the upper 60s and occasional highs reaching upper 80s or even low 90s.
Before sailing to Alaska, I had to shop around extensively to find sweatshirts in Florida – not an easy task at that time when the normal temperatures in the Sunshine State are in the 70s.
While I was able to find sweatshirts before sailing, not all cruise guests might be so lucky. Fortunately, guests on Carnival Spirit can visit the Fun Shops on Deck 3 (Atlantic Deck) for sweatshirts perfect for every Carnival sailing!
How else can Carnival guests stay warm onboard? Try enjoying the Alaska scenery from a hot tub, sipping on a hot chocolate from the Lido Marketplace, or consider sailing during July or August, when the average temperatures are in the 60s.
Carnival Confirms Popular Item Not Permitted on Alaska Sailings