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If your itinerary includes stops in Anchorage, Seward, or Whittier, you might experience rougher seas as you cross the Gulf of Alaska in September. There is a chance you will see some snow, so a winter coat, gloves, and a hat are a smart addition to your packing list. You also might see fuzzy harbor seal pups and sea lion pups (born in June and July) warming themselves on rocks with their mothers.
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Depending on the tour itinerary you choose, you might visit Seward and the Kenai Peninsula, Alyeska, Talkeetna, Anchorage and Fairbanks — as well as spend one to three nights in Denali National Park. For these itineraries, you'll need to fly into or out of Anchorage and take a train or bus to/from the cruise departure ports, which can take an hour or two. You can book the transportation on your own or through your cruise line. Additionally, you'll have one day spent cruising the Inside Passage and one focused on "scenic cruising," where you can enjoy the landscapes but won't go ashore. This is not nearly as boring as you might think since you'll see incredible sights like Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve or Hubbard Glacier. Restaurant prices in Alaska can be high, but a cruise bundles meals, accommodations and transportation into one price that, with sales, can be cheaper than you'd think.
The worst months to cruise to Alaska - Royal Caribbean Blog
The worst months to cruise to Alaska.
Posted: Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
What to Do in Alaska: Top Things to Do in April
The loss of daylight does mean you could see the Aurora Borealis while cruising to Alaska in late August. The best time to see the Northern Lights is between late August and April, typically peaking in March. By the end of August, the sunrise and sunset times in Alaska are pretty close to “normal” times for most states in the USA. You might feel like you aren’t getting the true Alaskan “Midnight Sun” experience this month. If you cruise to Alaska this month, you can enjoy more shop and restaurant options in port towns but expect things to be slightly more crowded. Summer workers (typically college students) begin to arrive for the peak tourist season, and shops and restaurants open for the summer.
The best time to go on a cruise to Alaska
Both the peak season and shoulder seasons offer high-quality excursions, breathtaking scenery and memorable tourist events and cultural festivals. So the “best time to visit Alaska” looks different for each person, as your personal trip preferences are what determine the best month for you. Most big-ship and luxury cruise lines send at least one cruise ship to Alaska every summer.
The average July temperature in Juneau is 64 degrees, with an average low of 51 degrees. 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. While temperatures are warmer and the snow is typically gone at lower elevations, the highs in Juneau average in the low 60s, with lows in the upper 40s.
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When Is the Best Time to Visit Alaska? It Depends on Your Travel Plans. - AFAR Media
When Is the Best Time to Visit Alaska? It Depends on Your Travel Plans..
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Read on for the best times to visit Alaska for the northern lights, wildlife viewing, snow sports, cruises, and good deals on flights and hotels. The best time to take an Alaska cruise is in the summer when beauty and adventure instill a newfound sense of wonder into the Great Land. Lush green landscapes are sprinkled with delicate, magenta flowers while the horizon dons frosted alps and royal blue skies. Locals gleefully prepare for peak fishing season, and iconic wildlife take their graceful positions among the pristine backdrop. Each summer month brings new and exciting adventures – peaceful hiking trails in June, fruitful fishing expeditions in July and extraordinary flightseeing tours in September.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Alaska To Avoid Crowds?
For those who crave luxury and personalized experiences, the Northern Passage – Glacier Bay Cruise is tailor-made for you. With smaller ships and fewer passengers, this cruise offers a premium and upscale journey through the wonders of Alaska. If you’re an adventure enthusiast seeking an active cruise experience, the Glacier Bay National Park Adventure Cruise and the Alaska Fjords and Glaciers Cruise, are ideal choices. These cruises allow you to explore Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its glaciers, wildlife, and unspoiled wilderness.
Best time to cruise to Alaska
At Alaska Tours, we’ve been helping travelers explore the Last Frontier for over 30 years, and we can confidently say that summer is the prime season for an Alaska cruise. The Alaska summer cruise season is quick, but each month offers something unique. Likewise, while weather should be colder during the shoulder seasons of May and September, Alaska’s weather is quite unpredictable. You might be surprised with warm days in September or chilly, rainy days in July! Additionally, June, July, and August may come with more crowds, but offer several more hours of daylight compared to in the fall. The weather in July is usually warm and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to the low 70s.
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.
If you’re looking for dry weather and lots of wildlife, then May is a great time to join a cruise as it’s one of the state’s driest months and features spring migrations and lots of newborn wildlife. The ideal time to experience the stunning glaciers of Alaska is during the summer, particularly from June through August. During these months, the warmer temperatures melt much of the winter ice, allowing cruise ships to navigate closer into the Inner Passage and Fjords.
While price should definitely be a consideration, it’s important to consider other factors before choosing an Alaska cruise. Bears in Alaska are still around because they're looking for food, such as berries or salmon. You're also quite likely to see many bald eagles that are also interested in salmon.
Plus, as prices are cheaper in the shoulder season, it can be an excellent opportunity to upgrade your stateroom category or splurge on add-ons like excursions, dining packages, or beverage packages. One downside to July is the price of your cruise will be higher than other months of the year. It's the very peak of the Alaska cruise season, which makes July expensive. The median months will see higher temperatures and longer days for touring, and it represents the limited summer that Alaska enjoys. However, July and August tend to also have higher levels of precipitation.
Other adventurous activities, such as hiking trails, open up in the summer months. Hatcher Pass typically opens up in July, depending on the specific Hatcher Pass weather conditions. Mt. Denali is another option for cruisers, but be sure to check on the Mt. Denali weather with your cruise line. Peak cruising months, July and August, are the best time of year to cruise to Alaska. During these months you will have the warmest weather and the greatest chance to see wildlife. If bear viewing is high on your bucket list and you are traveling on a bigger cruise ship, look for a float plane excursion that will take you to where the bears feed.
But as the destination has grown in popularity, the season has extended, and there’s a definite sweet spot to target. In May and June, the days will be at their longest, the weather (although still unpredictable) will generally be its sunniest and driest, and the range of excursions and options at their most plentiful. Traditionally, July and August have been considered the best time to cruise to Alaska, as these months offer warm sun, long days, and abundant wildlife. However, the shoulder seasons (April–May and September–October) are growing in popularity, thanks to fewer crowds, lower-priced cruises and seasonal attractions like the northern lights. If you’re seeking Alaska cruise discounts and excellent value, consider the shoulder seasons of May and September.
“Resident” orcas (who stay near shore and feed on fish) are easy to spot and fun to watch from the cruise ship or on a whale-watching excursion. On clear nights, you could have a chance to spot the northern lights — though they won't shine as brightly as they do in winter. Rather than stay up all night, see if your ship or pre- or post-cruise hotel has a sign-up sheet for people who want a wake-up call should the lights appear. National park facilities and some tourist businesses will switch to winter hours.
Weather in Alaska in August may keep some cruisers away, but there are still many excursions and experiences to enjoy. You will find local asparagus on some menus in southeast towns later in the month, and fiddlehead season also begins in Alaska in May. However, most of Alaska's tastiest fruits and vegetables aren't on offer until later in the summer. Although the weather will likely include more rain, you have a better chance of viewing the Northern Lights, which might outweigh this drawback.
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