In All Kinds Of Weather

Stay Sensibly Stylish No Matter Where Your Next Cruise Takes You — Even Into The Arctic Circle.

- Judi Cuervo

Not too long ago, it seemed cruising was synonymous with sun-drenched islands, sweltering heat, and turquoise seas. A few pairs of shorts, sleeveless tops, sandals, and swimsuits were all we’d need for daytime sightseeing, beach going, and lazing beside the pool.

Fast forward to 2019: So many of us now realize that some of the most beautiful, charming, or fascinating places on earth that our favorite cruise ships transport us to — Alaska, the Norwegian fjords, Europe’s Christmas markets, Iceland and Greenland, Antarctica — can often be rainy, windy, and downright frigid.

If you’d like to give the tropical cruise the cold shoulder this year, take our suggestions and bundle up!

Pick Your Layers

THE NON-NEGOTIABLE BASICS: You don’t want to be distracted by chattering teeth and body shakes when the northern lights are putting on their dazzling show across the night sky, so remember what Mom told you and layer! Experts suggest four layers for the coldest environments, with a snug base of thermal underwear in merino wool (silk or synthetic if your skin doesn’t tolerate wool well) to wick away perspiration and keep you dry. A well-fitted sweater or shirt, and pants in a synthetic fabric or wool come next and act to preserve your body heat. The third layer should be a hooded jacket or thigh-length coat thick with down or synthetic insulation (note that synthetics are preferable to down in potentially rainy environments). Top your layers off with a hooded wind shell — waterproof or not, depending upon conditions.

The best thing about layering is the ability to remove one or more layers if temperatures increase through the day, so be sure to take along a waterproof backpack to tuck them into!