Table Of Content
- Repositioning Cruises: From Alaska to Asia in One Trip
- Alaska Cruise Lines: From Holland America and Royal Caribbean to Small Ships like Silversea
- This story is part of Travel Tips
- Bug Spray Is a Must for Anyone on a Cruise to Alaska
- This Is the Cheapest Time to Cruise to Alaska
- Read more on when to cruise to Alaska:
- Other Posts You May Enjoy:
The shops, restaurants, and attractions are all open and ready to welcome visitors, offering a wide variety of experiences to choose from. The larger crowds can add to the atmosphere and make for a lively and enjoyable vacation. You’ll enjoy wildlife viewing, warmer temperatures, and daylight returns to more typical hours. However, the dry season has ended, so rainfall will begin to increase as the month progresses.
Repositioning Cruises: From Alaska to Asia in One Trip
You might be surprised with warm days in September or chilly, rainy days in July! The weather in July is usually warm and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to the low 70s. The only issue with a July Alaska cruise is the rain, as the state averages around 12 inches of rain in the month of July. With the school year coming to a close, many families take advantage of the opportunity to travel together during the summer months.
Alaska Cruise Lines: From Holland America and Royal Caribbean to Small Ships like Silversea
Choosing to cruise in the early spring of Alaska will impact your experience. Less travelers might sound appealing, but many port towns aren’t fully “tourist operational” until late June when summer workers start to arrive. Arguably, the biggest draw is the marine animals, with opportunities to see pods of humpback whales, gray whales, orcas, sea lions, sea otters, and more. Since the skies do still get dark during this month, there is a slight chance that you’ll be able to view the Northern Lights on an Alaskan cruise in April. Peak viewing of the Aurora Borealis happens between November and March, but on a clear night with lots of solar activity, you have a shot at this once-in-a-lifetime viewing experience.
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]
This story is part of Travel Tips
If you are willing to trade warmth for less precipitation, then go for May. In fact, the end of May and early June offers some of the best weather in the region throughout the year. If your itinerary includes stops in Anchorage, Seward, or Whittier, you might experience rougher seas as you cross the Gulf of Alaska in September. Birds also haven’t started their migration, so you can spot both songbirds and seabirds as you cruise along the coast. Juneau gets about 17 days of rain in August, so a high-quality raincoat is essential.
Bug Spray Is a Must for Anyone on a Cruise to Alaska
Embarking and disembarking in Seattle or Vancouver can make air travel easier and cheaper than one-way Alaska cruises, which require flights to smaller, more expensive airports in Alaska. Holland America and Princess are the biggest mainstream lines for an Alaska cruise. But you'll also see Alaska itineraries from Carnival, Disney, Norwegian (NCL) and Royal Caribbean, which gives you an array of price points to consider. An Alaska cruise costs anywhere from $500 to $8,000 or more during high season.
This Is the Cheapest Time to Cruise to Alaska
The Alaska cruise season is quite short, with just six months to choose the best time to cruise Alaska. 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 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. July and August are considered peak seasons to cruise to Alaska for good reason.
Cheaper fares can be usually found on mainstream lines like Royal Caribbean and NCL, while Cunard, Disney and Seabourn will be more expensive. If you are cruising in Alaska during the Northern Lights season, note that the Gulf of Alaska is choppiest in September and not recommended for travelers who get seasick. Also, certain sections of the access road to Denali National Park may close in September due to snow, so check your itinerary if that's your preferred Northern Lights viewing spot.
Read more on when to cruise to Alaska:
Many cruise lines also have limited early cruise ships departing for Alaska in April. Norwegian Cruise Lines has the first departures of the season in early April from Seattle. May, June and July have the most daylight hours (17 to 18), while August averages 16 hours of daylight. Whatever month you choose for your Alaska cruise, though, is sure to bring the opportunity to visit charming towns, explore phenomenal nature, and make memories with family and friends.
Cruise bookings can be difficult to come by in July, but with some careful planning ahead, you can secure cabins on either large or small ships. Matt started Royal Caribbean Blog in 2010 as a place to share his passion for all things Royal Caribbean with readers. He oversees all the writers at Royal Caribbean Blog, and writes a great deal of content on a daily basis. The closer you can get to the end of the month, the less you'll pay as a result of lessening demand and cooler temperatures. Other than May, September is the best month for an Alaska cruise if you're looking for a deal.
These are the months when all good things combine to create the optimal Alaskan experience. Weather is a pretty big consideration when it comes to booking an Alaskan cruise. If you have a low tolerance for cold weather, cruising Alaska during the warmest months of July and August is a better choice. June is a smart choice for cruisers who don’t want to travel during peak season but want more opportunities.
Such a large price difference allows you to enhance your Alaska cruise experience in other ways, whether booking a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter tour or kayaking through fjords. 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. Although the weather will likely include more rain, you have a better chance of viewing the Northern Lights, which might outweigh this drawback. 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.
During spring, wildflowers bloom along the Inside Passage; you’re more likely to see larger animals migrating. Early June is an excellent time to see calving glaciers, Orcas, Minke whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins. If you venture off the cruise ship and head north of the Arctic Circle, you may be able to see the midnight sun. 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 state is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including bears, moose, caribou, and whales.
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. The best months to catch a glimpse of the amazing fauna that call Alaska home are the months of June and July. Few places allow for viewing of the aurora borealis, and the best time see the Northern Lights is in September. Alaska is not a cheap cruise, but if you want to save money on your cruise fare, then your best bet is May or September.
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. For cruise itineraries in Alaska, August high temperatures will be somewhere in the upper 50s and low 60s. We’ve reached the pinnacle of summer temperatures, and the rainier season has just begun.
My advice is to pack plenty of warm (and waterproof) layers, expect the unexpected, and find joy in whatever experience you get. If you are an angler, there is nothing like hooking and reeling in a King. With an average size of 24 to 36 inches and weighing pounds, you’ll finally have a true fishing story worth telling. If you are in port, you’ll get to see how Alaskans take advantage of the Midnight Sun with locals out biking, hiking, and fishing at all hours of the night. 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. Orca whales (which are actually members of the dolphin family) are a fairly common site on an Alaskan cruise.
As your ship reaches the Inside Passage, the early morning views outside of your room are breathtaking. Check out our list of the 10 Must-Pack Items for an Alaska Cruise for more information on packing necessities on your Alaskan cruise. One-way Gulf of Alaska itineraries are the best option for Alaska touring, as they begin or end in Alaska.
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