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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. You may encounter freezing rain or even snow on your April cruise and should expect to tread through mud. Some tourist facilities — including those at national parks — may still be shuttered for the winter. Most cruise passengers will head to Alaska between Memorial Day in late May and Labor Day in early September when temperatures range from slightly chilly to warm during the long daylight hours. Tourist attractions are in full swing, salmon swim upriver and bears (and humans) have access to fishing.
Glacier Bay National Park
The best time to cruise to Alaska is a matter of personal preference. The "best time" could be different for a solo cruise traveler who dreams of photographing bears than it is for a parent who wants a family vacation in the great outdoors. From May to September, the Alaska cruise season is just five months long, although Holland America Line offers Alaska cruises in late April and early October. Temperatures can vary anywhere between 30 to 80 degrees throughout the summer travel months – inviting guests to layer on the sweaters and windbreakers as weather can be unpredictable.
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If you worry about seasickness, an Inside Passage trip is the best Alaska cruise itinerary versus a sailing where your ship transits rougher, open waters. One of the key reasons to cruise Alaska versus taking a land tour is to visit destinations along the Inside Passage that you cannot reach by road. Plus, many of the state's famous glaciers are best viewed from the sea.
Night Alaska AdventureDetails
You'll find magnificent mountains (often snow-capped, even in the summertime), lush forests, waterfalls, fjords and calving glaciers. If it's marine life you've come to see, you'll find it in abundance, from whales and dolphins to sea lions and harbor seals. On land, you'll likely spy bears and Dall sheep while eagles, puffins and a host of seabirds circle above. This is but one of the incredible experiences that may be had when visiting Alaska in the “secret season”—springtime. Not only are the flowers and plant life awakening from their wintertime slumber, so is its wildlife. Alaska’s cruise season is seven months long, from April to October.
While Alaska might be colder than other summer vacation spots, it offers unique experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. These include sightings of wild orcas, sea lions, and humpback whales and riding one of the world’s longest ziplines. During this month, you can expect the weather begins to cool, higher rainfall, and gorgeous fall landscapes. July is an ideal month to visit for salmon fishing, cultural festivals, bear viewing, and small-town exploring.
Holland America's 'Glacier Day,' fresh catch, special drinks enhance Alaska cruises - Seatrade Cruise News
Holland America's 'Glacier Day,' fresh catch, special drinks enhance Alaska cruises.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 13:30:50 GMT [source]
See our breakdown of Alaska weather by month above to learn more about the temperatures, sunlight and wildlife, to find the best time to visit Alaska for you. Cast your line into the marvels of an Alaska summer by cruising in August. As you sail into each port of call, delight your taste buds in the delicacies of Alaska’s waters.
However, a cruise this time of year will also slightly decrease your chance of viewing wildlife and make for sleepier ports of call because most summer workers return home for college. In most Alaska ports, rainfall occurs about 15 days of the month. You’ve got about a 50/50 chance of getting rained or snowed on during excursions. You’ll be very happy if you purchase a quality raincoat and pack clothing you can add or remove in layers.
Alaska Wildlife
Cruising in Alaska starts in April it marks the onset of the cruising season. An April vacation in Alaska gives you a bit of everything with fewer people and slightly lower prices. Alaska in April is considered the beginning of the shoulder season.
If you're hoping to see the northern lights, booking a cruisetour in September might be your best bet to see the aurora on a cruise vacation. Finally, you'll find some San Francisco round-trip itineraries — usually 10 or 11 nights long — as well as longer sailings between San Francisco and Vancouver. These cruises are best suited to travelers who love days at sea. Just as Norwegian Cruise Line kicks off the 2024 Alaska cruise season in April, it’s the last cruise line to set sail in the state, and the only one to sail in October.
Just as in April and May, you’ll likely have the water to yourself, and even fewer people in the ports you call upon. Along with cooler weather, you’ll also find lower fares that will please your bank account. We’ve broken the seasons down for you, including the highlights of each, as well as the best cruise lines and cruise ships to consider so you can make your bucket list dreams come true. A limited number of cruises in October (predominantly on Norwegian Cruise Line) make it possible for cruisers to experience a taste of Alaska in winter without sub-zero temperatures. You will want to bundle up; the average temperature in Juneau in October is 39 degrees. Mid-to-late September is one of the best times to spot wildlife in Alaska.
Whether you're interested in hiking through a forest, trekking to glaciers or a shopping spree downtown, the towns along Alaska's inside passage provide a variety of adventurous activities. Alaska cruise ports such as Juneau and Ketchikan are small cities with their own personalities. Anchorage is the state's largest city and a gateway to the rest of the state. Denali National Park takes you out of the city altogether, into a wilderness full of spruce forests and snow-capped mountain peaks. When planning a trip to Alaska, many travelers wonder if it's better to explore the state by land or by sea. Since it’s the beginning of the season, you’ll find that prices for accommodation and activities are generally lower than in the peak summer months.
That's especially true in Skagway, where snow can keep the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad only traveling a few miles due to snowed-in tracks. Juneau is an exception, as it's the state capital and always buzzes.
Gray whales and Humpback whales begin their migration to warmer waters in October and November, so you still have a chance to see them in Alaskan waters in September. Cruising in September will give you the highest chance of viewing the Aurora Borealis on an Alaskan cruise. You won’t want to miss this indescribable sight, so watch for clear night skies and set an alarm to go on deck (or on your balcony) for potential middle-of-the-night Northern Lights shows. Precipitation increases to 19 days of the month, so pack a raincoat with a hood (you’ll be grateful to have it!). Not only is the cracking sound shocking, but the calving also produces a giant wave of water and captivating icebergs.
What’s the best time to cruise Alaska to see the northern lights? Look to our dedicated page on northern lights cruises for tips and best places to spot the aurora. June is when the Alaska travel season comes into full swing, especially in the latter part of the month, and marks the beginning of the best time to visit Alaska. Cruises in the Southcentral and Southwestern part of the state begin operating, offering adventures along Prince William Sound, Kodiak Island, Katmai National Park and the Aleutian Islands. Some departures even focus on the Arctic waters of the Bering Sea, bringing guests ashore at various points along Russia’s Siberian coastline—you might even spot a polar bear on Wrangel Island.
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