Table Of Content
- When do cruises go to Alaska?
- Cruising Alaska Between Mid-Summer to Early Fall (Late July to Late September)
- When is the best time for families to visit Alaska?
- Alaska Cruise Lines: From Holland America and Royal Caribbean to Small Ships like Silversea
- The Best Time to Cruise Alaska: Crowds, Weather and Cost Are All Factors
On land, you'll likely spy bears and Dall sheep while eagles, puffins and a host of seabirds circle above. Witnessing bears catch (or try to catch) slippery salmon from a river is one of the most incredible Alaska experiences you can have. The best time to view this dramatic display is mid-July to mid-August, though you can take wildlife excursions to bear hangouts at any time during cruise season. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines.
When do cruises go to Alaska?
Precipitation increases to 19 days of the month, so pack a raincoat with a hood (you’ll be grateful to have it!). Humpback whales have yet to begin their migration to warmer waters, so you will still be able to see them, especially in early August. 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. That being said, the weather and wildlife in Alaska are notoriously unpredictable. You might take a float plane to see bears and, sadly, not see a single one.
Cruising Alaska Between Mid-Summer to Early Fall (Late July to Late September)
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. 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. For major cruise lines, the Alaska cruise season runs between May and late September, including Viking and Disney. You're in luck if you're hoping to see whales on your Alaska cruise, as the majority of the cruise season coincides with whale season.
When is the best time for families to visit Alaska?
Attractions and shops will switch to peak-season hours at the end of the month; Denali National Park & Preserve switches into summer mode in May. You'll find those who work in tourism excited to be back in business, considering that many people in southeast Alaska earn their income from out-of-state visitors. Cruise lines will offer the opportunity to extend your cruise with land tours, which include accommodations, transportation and some meals. When planning your cruise, the weather should be a consideration for many shore excursions. For example, flightseeing via fixed wing or helicopter is a popular way to see glacier fields and spectacular mountain vistas, but small aircraft are sensitive to weather conditions.
If you're happy with a couple of historic tours and a guided hike, you could likely budget $500 or less per person for shore excursions in Alaska. But if once-in-a-lifetime Alaska experiences like helicopter rides and flightseeing in Ketchikan are more your speed, you'll need to triple that amount -- or more. Due to unpredictable weather, though, there’s a risk of shore excursions being cancelled -- especially boat and helicopter tours.
Alaska Cruise Lines: From Holland America and Royal Caribbean to Small Ships like Silversea
During the land portion of your vacation, your tour guide will make sure you have everything you need and will arrange comfortable transportation from one site to the next. When it comes to transportation and accommodation, you’ll experience luxurious glass-domed trains and stay in high-end hotels and lodges. Aim for the week right after school ends or the week before school begins if you’d like to get there just ahead of the most crowded part of peak season. A cruise to Alaska is an unforgettable summer family vacation experience your kids will cherish forever.
Trip Planning Help
And in addition to the glaciers outside, you can stay entertained with phenomenal live music performances featuring musicians from The Juilliard School, B.B. King’s Blues Club Memphis, and other institutions. On the ship itself, there are lots of spots where you can take some Instagrammable selfies with the majestic Alaska scenery behind you. Consider upgrading to The Retreat, Celebrity’s exclusive ship within a ship, for a more private and intimate cruise. Luckily, when it comes to Alaska cruises, there is truly something for everyone. Whether you’re traveling solo or with kids, whether you’re looking for total luxury or a bargain and whether you love giant ships or something more intimate, we’ve found the best Alaska cruises to fit your needs. See which one sounds right for you, and once you’re booked, get a head start by checking out these hidden cruise features, cruise ship code words and things you can’t do on cruises.
How to Make your Alaska Cruise Travel Easier: Tips - Royal Caribbean Blog
How to Make your Alaska Cruise Travel Easier: Tips.
Posted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:23:24 GMT [source]
There are days throughout the year when there can be a temperature swing of a hundred degrees on opposite ends of the state—50 degrees Fahrenheit in Sitka and 50 degrees below zero in Fairbanks, for example. May can be one of the finest months across Alaska, as daylight reaches near-summer heights, while June is even nicer, with the last chill of the arctic winter departing for the season. Save money to use for shore excursions by opting for an interior room, since you won’t be spending much time in your cabin anyway. In Alaska, on the other hand, you will want to lower your expectations when it comes to weather. It’s challenging to predict whether your cruise will encounter sunny skies and 70 degrees, or seven days of straight rain.
Active travelers can explore Alaska by sea kayak or canoe, hike on glaciers and through rainforests, zip line, bike, ride an ATV and even snorkel (you'll need a dry suit). Some lines also offer Alaska cruisetours that venture into Canada's Yukon, including a few Holland America tours that combine half a cruise with a cruisetour that starts or ends in Skagway. 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.
The weather in Alaska can, and will, change multiple times per day, but you will find the warmest months to be June, July and August. There are definite ebbs and flows to demand and crowds in the ports you will visit depending on which month you sail. It is hard to top the majestic beauty of rugged glaciers, plethora of unique animal sightings, or huge mountains.
Ice calving is both a thunderous warning of climate change and an incredible phenomenon to behold. The best time to view artic-blue ice plunge into the sea is during the warmest months of June, July, and August at active glaciers. With more daylight and improved weather, your options for excursions also increase. This can help enrich the overall experience of your Alaskan adventure and give you more of an opportunity to see what it would be like living in the United States’ most inhospitable state.
This breath of fresh air yields longer days and more time to explore forested canopies and coastal waterways. In fact, June brings maximal daylight with over 18 hours of golden sunshine in the Southeast and Inside Passage regions. Princess travels to Alaska during this season so guests can maximize their time on shore and enjoy the beautiful scenery from their ship. Take a relaxing ride on Mount Roberts Tramway for an unparalleled view of Juneau’s exquisite features, or journey into the vast waters for a chance to observe 50-foot humpback whales in their natural habitat.
Toward the end of summer and early fall, bears are highly active as they prepare for winter hibernation. For those hoping to participate in some of the many excursion options you can enjoy in Alaska, like fly fishing and whale watching, longer daylight hours mean you have more time during the day to do so. For a lot of cruisers, mid-June through mid-July is the peak season, because of optimum weather and daylight. 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!
A limited number of cruises in October (predominantly on Norwegian Cruise Line) make it possible for cruisers to experience a taste of Alaska in winter without sub-zero temperatures. You will want to bundle up; the average temperature in Juneau in October is 39 degrees. As someone who has cruised Alaska many times, I love cruising in May when the weather is dry and locals are emerging from their winter cocoons, embracing the sunshine. The wildlife is doing the same, and you might spot bears with their cubs, moose with their calves and humpback whales returning from their winter home in Hawaii.
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