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I also know that your experience can vary widely depending on the month you choose to visit Alaska. October is one of the wettest months in Alaska, so prepare for low clouds and rain. Alaska weather in October is manageable if you pack the right gear and protective clothing. Weather in Alaska in August may keep some cruisers away, but there are still many excursions and experiences to enjoy. Even if you're a seasoned fisherman, we recommend using a local guide to help find you the best fishing spot.
How To Pick The Best Time of Year to Cruise to Alaska
This is mostly due to summer vacations with kids and the desire to sail around holidays like the fourth of July. About 30,000 eagles call the Great Land home and they’re more abundant in Alaska than anywhere else in the United States. There’s a good chance you’ll see eagles perched high near the shoreline, in town scavenging garbage dumps, or even feasting off a salmon run. Bald eagles hatch and rear young in April and you can see their mottled fledglings from May through June. The most temperate Alaska weather is in July, then June and August when it’s warmer (though again, not near tropical) and drier. When it comes to May vs. September, May is slightly cooler, but gets significantly less rainfall.
Alaska Inside Passage Cruises in 2024 – Your Ultimate Guide
Another great thing about June is that it is a relatively dry month so your chances of getting rained out of an excursion are much lower. If your goal is to see the Northern lights, consider a different vacation. Or try to select the earliest sailing date or the latest sailing date (even then it is still extremely rare). However, it’s not necessarily a good idea to pick a cruise based solely on price. 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.
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska to see Wildlife?
The state is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including bears, moose, caribou, and whales. In July, the whales are usually in full migration, making it an ideal time for whale watching. Visitors can take a whale watching excursion to see humpback whales, orcas, and other marine life up close.
6 best Alaska cruises for families - The Points Guy
6 best Alaska cruises for families.
Posted: Thu, 19 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Going on a cruise to Alaska is an extremely popular kind of cruise, because it offers an easy way to see so much in a compact amount of time. The Alaska cruise season runs between May and September, which happen to be the most temperate times of the year in the 49th state. As for land trips, June sees Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park open, both of which offer stunning floatplane and flightseeing adventures. Alaskan railroad trips are also available, giving you access to interior hiking, cozy lodges and remote wildlife viewing.
Humpback whales, orcas, seals, and other marine species are also more active during these months. One of the main advantages of cruising Alaska during the later summer months is the milder temperatures and more predictable weather. During these peak months of the Alaskan summer, daytime temperatures range between 50 and 60 °F, with some days reaching as high as 90 °F. The Alaska cruise season, like the 49th state’s summer, is all too brief. The vast majority of sailings, particularly those along the Inside Passage (the island-filled coastal waterway in the southeast portion of the state), occur somewhere between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That being said, there are some shoulder-season departures in April, May, September, and October.
The goal is to have the Alaska cruise experience you and your travel companions long for. The best souvenir advice I've received is to buy a cozy throw or blanket at your first port stop. It won't cost a fortune and will serve a purpose for the rest of the cruise. Picture yourself cozy and warm in your fuzzy Alaska souvenir blanket, sipping hot chocolate while watching glaciers calving. Once home, you'll remember your epic vacation every time you snuggle up on the couch. They're also useful for getting a close-up view of glaciers or spotting eagles in port.
FAQs: Best Season for Alaska Cruise
The days are much shorter now and temperatures are extremely low, especially at night time. All of this ensures that October isn’t the first choice for many travelers and really isn’t the best time to visit Alaska. This is very much a shoulder season meaning that there are few other tourists around. The wildlife is very active in September, and this is the best time to visit Alaska to see the wildlife preparing for their winter hibernation, by stocking up on food and hunting. For an off-the-beaten-track experience, take a cruise to the little-visited Aleutian Islands, which are glorious this time of the year. The days are long and there is little darkness in July, and you’ll find wildlife everywhere, both in the oceans and on land.
You don't have to stick with ship-sponsored shore excursions in every port in Alaska. On my last Alaska cruise, we booked kayaking independently for our stop in Ketchikan. We were guaranteed an on-time return to the ship and paid far less than for the ship's kayaking excursions. The days are getting longer and this is a good time to visit if you want to enjoy outdoor activities in the snowy wilds of the Alaskan national parks. To prepare for all conditions, you should plan for temperatures ranging from the 40s to 70s, both on and off ship. For your on-shore day excursions, be sure to pack layers of clothing and rain gear so that you can be comfortable.
The best time to cruise Alaska really depends on what you’re hoping to see and do! If you’re eager to spot whales, aim for mid-June through mid-August, when these majestic creatures are most active. Many cruise lines also travel to additional locations such as Sitka, Hoonah/Icy Strait Point, and Haines. Programs like Princess Cruises' Cruisetours take the stress out of planning on-shore excursions and curate incredible itineraries for extensive, luxurious travel across the state. The Alaska Inside Passage boasts milder weather, making it a viable option even during the off-season, such as late April and October. If you’re short on time but still want to experience this iconic route, consider a 7-day cruise departing from Port of Seattle.
The larger crowds can add to the atmosphere and make for a lively and enjoyable vacation. 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. The Alaska cruise season is a little over six months long, but choosing the best time to cruise Alaska is surprisingly not that simple.
Temperatures are relatively mild, with daytime highs in the upper 40s and into the 50s depending on where you're visiting and cloud cover. Despite having the best weather, Alaska’s weather in July is very unpredictable. You’ll want to pack for all kinds of weather and wear a lightweight rain jacket. During May and September, Alaska is a bit on the cold side (40 to 53 degrees), so you will want to pack plenty of layers to wear around the ship and at the port. Travelers visit Alaska from around the world to see these colorful bands of light dancing in the dark night sky.
The variety of excursions available, from gentle nature walks to interactive cultural experiences, means there’s something for every age to enjoy. Visitors can also explore the nearby Misty Fjords National Monument, which offers dramatic landscapes of sheer cliffs, waterfalls, and deep fjords that can be explored by boat or floatplane. On an Alaskan cruise, you will have the opportunity to marvel at the grandeur of these massive glaciers.
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