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Choose a May or June sailing for drier weather and fewer mosquitos; summer is the best time to cruise to see abundant marine life and birds. Cruise ships arrive in southeast Alaska in spring, stay the summer and linger only into early fall. The 49th state's snowy, cold and dark winters are not conducive to cruising. To truly enjoy an Alaskan cruise, cruisers can visit from April to October when daylight hours, weather and wildlife are better.
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska: A Month-by-Month Guide
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. Most sail along the Inside Passage, a maritime route along the state's southern coast (and into British Columbia and Washington state) that weaves around the area's thousand islands. Some venture farther north into the Gulf of Alaska; these are often one-way cruises that begin and end at the ports near Anchorage. 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. 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.
Glacier Bay
Temperature is relative, so don’t be shocked if you see an Alaskan sporting shorts and a tank top in June. The 60s can feel downright tropical after winter temperatures in the 20s and 30s. A hat, gloves, and a winter coat would be a good idea to pack for an Alaskan cruise, especially if you depart in April, May, or September. If you purchase a balcony cabin, you can take advantage of the long days in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Research low-cost things to do in port if you’re on a budget
Alaska’s interior is colder than the coast so the land-based travel season can be shorter than the cruising season. Keep this in mind if you are planning an Alaska small ship cruise and an Alaska land tour combination. Alaskan wildlife and Alaskan residents are preparing for the cold dark winter to come.
Alaska Cruise Weather by Month
Better itinerary – Once cruise ships leave Alaska, it opens up areas for other vessels to cruise. You could visit Glacier Bay National Park or stay longer in port towns. Aurora Borealis – Maybe the biggest appeal of cruising late in the season is the increased chance of seeing the Northern Lights. A bucket list event, some people plan their Alaska cruise for a chance to see the colorful light show. Since most guests avoid the cold weather, cruise lines struggle to fill cruises, especially in the later weeks.
What to Do in Alaska: Top Things to Do in August
So, don’t scratch spring off your calendar just because Alaska’s climate may not be ideal. The peak season to view the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis is between late August and late April, which unfortunately doesn’t overlap much with the Alaskan cruise season. If the Northern Lights experience is high on your Alaska bucket list, consider a September cruise with more dark nighttime hours and increased solar activity. The abbreviated Alaskan cruising season goes from May to September. It has the least rain (less than 7.5 inches in Ketchikan), long days (17 to 18 hours of daylight), and a warm climate. Ketchikan, a popular stop for cruise ships, is one of the rainiest places in North America.
Best times to go on a cruise: Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean - USA TODAY
Best times to go on a cruise: Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean.
Posted: Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Best Months To Cruise Alaska For Midnight Sun
Prepare for a range of conditions, no matter what month you travel. The city of Skagway, for instance, features authentic boardwalks throughout its main area, and wood is slippery when wet. The southernmost port city, Ketchikan, also features many wooden walkways, and weather is typically wet both here and in Alaska’s capital, Juneau. Late May and early June are the best possible times to view a momma moose and her calves in Alaska. If you do see these majestic creatures hulking around, stay far back (at least 50 feet) and never disturb a lone calf, as mom is somewhere nearby. September weather in Alaska may be unpredictable but with the right preparation you can enjoy all the exciting events.
Advantages of Visiting Alaska in September
Summer workers (typically college students) begin to arrive for the peak tourist season, and shops and restaurants open for the summer. In April, towns along the Inside Passage will have just over 15 and a half hours of sunlight and will be gaining daylight every day. Because of its latitude, Alaska experiences extremes in daylight in the summer and darkness in the winter. The average rainfall in Juneau during the month of April is 2.77 inches. Although the rain isn’t convenient, it is the reason for the lush vegetation you enjoy.
If you’re hunting the northern lights, then include a land trip to Fairbanks, where you can enjoy Denali Park and hopefully catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis. A downside to visiting Alaska in May is that the interior National Parks are still closed, along with many of the land-based attractions and shops that later cruisers will get to enjoy. New small ship cruises, adventure trips, ships & the best deals at your fingertips. About 30,000 eagles call the Great Land home and they’re more abundant in Alaska than anywhere else in the United States.
Many cruise ships begin their summer deployments to Alaska in May before peak season begins in June. Just as Alaska’s weather can be unpredictable in terms of rain and snow, you may also encounter surprisingly warm weather, particularly in the peak summer season. This is another reason why layers are so important—you never know when you’ll need that t-shirt over your winter jacket.
The good news is that no matter which month you choose, your Alaskan cruise will reward you with incredible experiences and memories that last a lifetime. To maximize your chance of witnessing the northern lights, get off the boat and join a land excursion to Fairbanks. The aurora season in Fairbanks lasts from the end of August to April and the lights can be seen four out of five nights if the sky is clear. As August winds down, fall colors explode across the mountains, giving you gorgeous landscapes to explore by ship, train and foot. From the Alaska State Fair in the Mat-Su Valley to the Talkeetna Bluegrass Festival, there is so much to do in this glorious state in August. Blueberries are in season, with berry festivals following, bears roam the hills, and Seward’s Silver Salmon Derby is the perfect place to cast your fishing rod.
For many, the summer months, when the kids are out of school, is the best time to travel due to warmer weather. However, you’ll pay the highest prices for a cruise to Alaska during peak season. The warm weather and long hours of sunlight mean you’ll want to pack sunglasses and sunscreen. You should still wear layers when visiting the port, but if you’re planning active shore excursions like hikes or glacier walks, you’ll want to stick with lightweight clothing. July is the peak season for Alaska cruises and provides the best Alaska cruise weather and wildlife opportunities. This month has some of the warmest weather, longest daylight hours, and the largest number of tourists.
If you are hoping to travel during peak Alaskan cruise season (July and August), you should plan on booking your Alaskan cruise at least one year in advance. The farther in advance you can book your Alaskan cruise, the more options you will have for cruise dates, itineraries, and cabin amenities. Cruising to Alaska in September has many benefits of the peak season (milder weather and good wildlife viewing) with less expensive prices and fewer tourists. You’ve got about a 50/50 chance of getting rained or snowed on during excursions.
Mid-to-late September is one of the best times to spot wildlife in Alaska. Bears will be hunting for the last of the berries and salmon, and caribou, deer and moose will be mating. The beginning of September is much like August, but after the kids go back to school and the family crowd departs, it's shoulder season for cruising and pricing drops.
May brings warmer weather within the cities and towns of the Alaskan inside passage. While it can be freezing cold at times, the weather can also be pleasantly cool. The low temperatures typically range from the mid-thirties to the low forties Fahrenheit, but the highs can get up to the upper fifties. Finding the right Alaska cruise and time to go depends on your preferences.
Nature is in full bloom during cruise season in Alaska, but what you’ll see depends on the time of year and location. Tourist attractions are in full swing, salmon swim upriver and bears (and humans) have access to fishing. Each season has its pluses and minuses and the best time to cruise to Alaska depends on what’s important to you. Now that you know what to expect from the weather, peruse Alaska cruise itineraries. When traveling from Vancouver in the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska, the waters are mostly protected and provide smooth sailing. If ports include Anchorage, Seward, or Whittier, cruise ships must cross the Gulf of Alaska, which has notoriously rougher waters.
