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The best time to book an Alaskan cruise is the months between April and September. If you think this is a long stretch to be deemed “the best” time to book a cruise in Alaska, you are not wrong, but there is a reason for this. This is also when you’ll be able to find most of the cruise itineraries.
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska Month by Month - Royal Caribbean Blog
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska Month by Month.
Posted: Thu, 05 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Best Alaskan Cruise Shore Excursions for 2023
Make sure to bring sunglasses and sunscreen, as the extended hours of sunlight can be intense. While layering is advisable for port visits, consider lightweight clothing for active shore excursions like hiking or glacier walking. Expert tour guides will share fascinating facts about the different species and whale pods you may come across. However, the largest number of whale species in the Inside Passage and Alaskan coast can be found during peak whale season in June. To maximize your chances of spotting whales, consider booking your Alaska cruise during this prime time.
What Months Can You Sail To Alaska?
If you’re eager to spot whales, aim for mid-June through mid-August, when these majestic creatures are most active. The Aleutian Island city of Unalaska is also on some boutique cruise line itineraries, so check carefully that the region that sparks your interest. Most Alaska itineraries include some "scenic cruising," where your ship sails past incredible natural sights. For a view of the city and cruise port, take a ride in the sky on the Mount Roberts Tramway.
Alaska Cruises In September/October
To truly enjoy an Alaskan cruise, cruisers can visit from April to October when daylight hours, weather and wildlife are better. Explore Alaskan cruises and learn more about each fun-filled trip to the 49th state. 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.
New to cruising
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 cruises are popular with multi-generational groups, and as such, North American school schedules tend to dictate pricing peaks. Price-conscious travelers will generally find price breaks before Memorial Day or after mid-August, when schools in many parts of the country will be in session.
In this post, I share a month-by-month guide about the best time of year for an Alaskan cruise. I’ve included tips on the weather, wildlife, daylight, and the general experience you’ll have each month of the Alaska cruise season to determine when to set sail for the 49th state. September Alaska cruises embrace the end of summer, and the days are getting shorter again. Although on average, cruise passengers enjoy an impressive 15 hours of daylight.
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.
So, Which Is the Best Time to Cruise Alaska?
With that in mind, Alaska is still a dynamic destination—no one snapshot of time during the year is guaranteed to encompass all this state has to offer. For both cruising and land-based tours, May and September are the “shoulder” seasons in Alaska, with better deals and fewer crowds. Cruise prices during those times may be lower, perhaps by a couple hundred dollars per person. Multiple major cruise lines offer sailings in Alaska, but mainly during the Spring and Summer months.
Alaska Cruise in August: Wet, Summer Days When You Cruise Alaska in August
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. Donning subtle notes of the sea, the silver salmon is one of the most sought-after fish and just so happens to be most fruitful this time of year. Whether or not fishing is your forte, be sure to pack water-resistant apparel for every splash and sprinkle that may arise from kayaking down crystalline fjords and hiking through misty rainforests. With lows in the upper 40s and highs of around 60, you’ll feel refreshed and eager to explore the captivating wonders of Alaska. Princess cruise itineraries travel to the Southeast and Inside Passage regions of Alaska from May through September when wildlife is bustling, greenery is flourishing and salmon are running.
It's also very likely to encounter rain, as September is an even rainier month than August. You'll likely encounter the highest chance of rain if you take an Alaska cruise in August, but it's also when you can expect to find the most comfortable outdoor temperatures. The weather in May is usually mild, with temperatures ranging from the mid-40s to the mid-60s. As mentioned in this article, not only does September provide the opportunity to see the Northern Lights, but you will also enjoy less crowds and likely lower prices on a cruise.
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. 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.
The Official Visitors Guide for Juneau playfully uses a raindrop graphic for every month in the calendar (in Southeast Alaska it’s never a question of whether it will rain, but how much it will rain). Wetter weather often sets in during the month of July, getting progressively wetter going into autumn. Juneau averages 15 days of rain in June, reaching 21 days of rain by October. In Anchorage and the northern part of the state, the rain often turns to “termination dust”—i.e. It does get dark enough at night to see them by the second week of September, but it's still not as brilliant as what you’ll see on a winter, land-based Alaska aurora viewing vacation.
How to Plan the Best Alaska Cruise - Travel Alaska
How to Plan the Best Alaska Cruise.
Posted: Thu, 26 Jan 2023 17:02:13 GMT [source]
Yet, their size limits access to smaller Alaskan ports, which can constrain the range of direct exploration. Also, the large number of passengers can lead to a less personalized experience. However, small ships typically have fewer amenities compared to larger vessels and may experience more motion in rough seas, which could be a concern for those prone to seasickness. The town itself is rich in history, with several museums and restored buildings that tell the stories of the thousands who flocked here in the late 1800s seeking gold.
I also know that your experience can vary widely depending on the month you choose to visit Alaska. September is the best month for an Alaskan cruise for a chance to see the Northern Lights. Emphasis on the word “chance.” The Aurora Borealis is unpredictable, and even when the conditions are ideal, they don’t always show their nighttime colors. However, in the early weeks, ice can block passage to the end of the fjord. Seals choose to birth in fjords because the narrow passageways provide protection from hungry whales.
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