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Of course, temperatures during September will be lower than other times of the year, but the opportunity to see the Northern Lights is a real treat. Here is your guide for figuring out the best times to visit for your first (or 50th) Alaska cruise. When they’re fully mature, millions take a harrowing upstream journey from the ocean to the rivers where they were born.
Best Months To Cruise Alaska For Midnight Sun
You'll have up to two days of scenic cruising, in addition to sailing the Inside Passage. Because Gulf of Alaska cruises sail farther north, scenic destinations may include College Fjord, in addition to Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. When you want to go will depend on which activities you want to do, how you feel about cool weather and rain, and the price.
June to August
Top scenic cruising destinations in Alaska include Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm (Twin Sawyer Glaciers), Dawes Glacier at Endicott Arm and College Fjord. If you've got active teens who have an interest in nature and the environment, an expedition voyage could be exactly what will keep them engaged and off their devices. Many people trek to Alaska to commune with nature, but there's history here you shouldn't overlook. Call your travel agent directly or your nearest AAA store to get pro tips, TripTik maps, and more. Call your travel agent directly or your nearest AAA store to get pro tips, travel guides, and more. Fortunately, you don’t need to sweat too hard about that last one as there’s no bad month to do an Alaska cruise.
The best time to cruise Alaska - The Points Guy
The best time to cruise Alaska.
Posted: Wed, 11 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Alaska Inside Passage Cruises: Calmer Waters and Big-Ticket Destinations
During this time, flowers, plants, and forests are just coming to life after a long winter’s sleep. King Salmon runs start and other wildlife is waking up too, as mothers and their calves or cubs can be seen ashore. The spring months are also great for viewing moose, sheep, mountain goats, and black bears who are lured back out to feed on the new vegetation.
Alaska Cruise in July: Alaska in July Is the Best Month to Spot Wildlife
Summer is the height of the Alaska cruise season, which means crowds in port towns, especially when several ships are in port at the same time. You might have to wait hours for a table at Tracy's King Crab Shack in Juneau. Temperatures are pleasant — in the 60s and sometimes higher, with wildflowers in bloom and glaciers calving. Anglers will find opportunities to reel in halibut along with king and sockeye salmon and rainbow trout.
Shoulder Season Cruises in Alaska
Cruises at the beginning (April and May) and end (September and October) of Alaska's cruise season are generally a bit cheaper than those in June, July and August. Alaska cruise weather can be chilly (in the 40s to 50s) first thing in the morning and at night. However, if it's a sunny summer day, temperatures can shoot into the 70s and even low 80s.
The only issue with a July Alaska cruise is the rain, as the state averages around 12 inches of rain in the month of July. You will see plenty of wildlife during your Alaska cruise throughout the cruise season, including whale watching, sea lions, bears, & birds. Alaska has humpback whales, gray whales, killer whales, and a small population of belugas.
Adventure Awaits on a Cruise to Québec, Newfoundland and New England
Cruise lines will offer the opportunity to extend your cruise with land tours, which include accommodations, transportation and some meals. April and May are also the driest months in Alaska, so the chances of rain are slim. To truly enjoy an Alaskan cruise, cruisers can visit from April to October when daylight hours, weather and wildlife are better.
During May, you’ll find several whale species along Alaska’s inside passage. By this time of the year, most of the whales will have completed their migration from the warm waters of Mexico to Alaska, where they will spend the summer. We’ve put together this Alaska cruise weather guide to help you find the best time to cruise to Alaska.
If you prefer warmer temperatures, ranging from 50° to 70° Fahrenheit, and longer days with up to 22 hours of sunlight, a summer Alaskan cruise might be the perfect choice. For the most midnight sun, travel 3 weeks before or after June 21, the summer solstice. This month brings cooler weather and more rain but fails to dampen the high spirits on cruise ships. The cruise season in Alaska is short (just May-September), but what this state lacks in winter tours it makes up for in stunning summer vistas, exciting wildlife and a travelogue of iconic land excursions.
If you are looking for the months with the lowest crowds in Alaska, try for May or September. These are the "shoulder season" months, which is when the season begins and ends, and is when you will find less people vying for a cruise. There are advantages of cruising in each of the summer months, including when prices will be higher or lower.
When planning your Alaska trip, you’ll find endless activities to choose from that will let you view the wildlife up close. A whale watching tour in Seward’s Kenai Fjords National Park, where you’ll also encounter brightly colored puffins and spirited sea otters, is a favorite. A ride on a flightseeing plane will give you an eagle’s-eye view of these cold-weather critters in their natural habitats.
You're also quite likely to see many bald eagles that are also interested in salmon. While it is impossible to see and do it all over the course of a one week cruise, Alaska has the power to enchant even brief visitors. So while you are stuck at home, this may be the perfect time to start planning a cruise to The Last Frontier. Late May and early June are the best possible times to view a momma moose and her calves in Alaska.
That includes warm days, where even being near a glacier or a passing cloud (or socked-in rain) can make things chilly. An Alaska Inside Passage cruise typically lasts seven nights, embarking and returning to Seattle or Vancouver. It's one of the most popular and common itineraries for Alaska cruising. Holland America and Princess are the biggest mainstream lines for an Alaska cruise.
Another time to book is during the “Wave Season” during the first two months of the year, when cruise deals abound for all destinations. Last-minute deals are also most common on large-ship lines, including Cunard, Celebrity, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean. The Alaska cruise season begins in mid-May, but it doesn’t reach full swing until after Memorial Day.
While daylight hours begin declining in September, they’re near their peak in mid-summer. On top of that, during the late summer and early fall, you will have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights in all of their glory. For both cruising and land-based tours, May and September are the “shoulder” seasons in Alaska, with better deals and fewer crowds.
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