The best months to catch a glimpse of the amazing fauna that call Alaska home are the months of June and July. Royal Caribbean also sails to Alaska in early May and into late September or even October, where you can find some great deals. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. My advice is to pack plenty of warm (and waterproof) layers, expect the unexpected, and find joy in whatever experience you get. If you have an exterior room and are sensitive to light while sleeping, a sleeping mask will help you rest during these long days.
June
Weeklong itineraries generally embark in either Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia — though some itineraries originate in Juneau. A few lines, such as Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Cunard Line, offer 10-night Inside Passage cruises from Seattle or Vancouver. Most sail along the Inside Passage, a maritime route along the state's southern coast (and into British Columbia and Washington state) that weaves around the area's thousand islands. Some venture farther north into the Gulf of Alaska; these are often one-way cruises that begin and end at the ports near Anchorage.
Temperature & Daylight Hours
In fact, they introduced a generation to the idea of cruising via the hit TV show The Love Boat, which was set on a Princess ship and featured many episodes in Alaska! The height of the Alaska cruise season (June, July, and August) is the best time to cruise Alaska on these itineraries to ensure you’ll be able to see and enjoy the glaciers on each of the routes. The best time for an Alaska cruise is from late spring to early fall, and you’ll find lots of itineraries to choose from sailing from May to September.
October
If you book a weeklong Gulf of Alaska voyage, you'll also enjoy exploring parts of the Inside Passage and its ports that could include a mix of Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Ketchikan, Haines and Icy Strait Point. We have the answers so your first time will be nothing but smooth sailing. 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. We have the answers so your first time will be nothing but smooth sailing.
Longer sailings from the West Coast
You can also get away without paying additional fees for shore excursions, because one is included in every port, giving you an opportunity to see the highlights of destinations including Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Sitka and Valdez. The warming weather even allows cruise ships to penetrate Arctic waters, giving you the opportunity to see polar bears on Wrangel Island. Choose a longer vacation that lets you soak up the warmer weather that July is known for in Alaska. The Grand Heartland Adventure Cruisetour combines a 7-night Alaska cruise with seven days of touring the inland area of Alaska through Denali National Park and up into Fairbanks. You can also choose tours tailored to your interests during your July cruise. There’s no question that the best time for most cruisers to go to Alaska is during peak season, and alternately in shoulder season.
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska 2024: A Month-by-Month Guide - Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska 2024: A Month-by-Month Guide.
Posted: Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Best Months To Cruise Alaska For Midnight Sun
Mary Curry is another T+L A-List advisor who specializes in small-ship cruises to Polar regions and the Galapagos. We spoke to cruise experts to find the best Alaska itineraries to book this year. While the weather in Alaska in June brings out the flowers and even greener scenery, expect mosquitoes to be biting.
What to Pack for An Alaskan Cruise: A Complete Checklist - Travel + Leisure
What to Pack for An Alaskan Cruise: A Complete Checklist.
Posted: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 21:11:15 GMT [source]
The "best time" could be different for a solo cruise traveler who dreams of photographing bears than it is for a parent who wants a family vacation in the great outdoors. From May to September, the Alaska cruise season is just five months long, although Holland America Line offers Alaska cruises in late April and early October. The cruise season beefs up in June, with the number of ships growing and the season in full swing by the end of the month. The midnight sun means many hours of daylight, especially on June 20, the longest day of the year — when you'll have to stay up late to see any darkness at all.
You’ve got about a 50/50 chance of getting rained or snowed on during excursions. You’ll be very happy if you purchase a quality raincoat and pack clothing you can add or remove in layers. As the month progresses, temperatures rise slightly, and daylight hours increase. Just expect cooler weather, fewer wildlife viewing opportunities, and less active ports with some shops that are still shuttered. 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.
With extended daylight hours, you’ll have ample time to experience it all. Several cruise lines also offer land extensions (sometimes called “cruisetours”) to make the experience as seamless as possible. Breathe in the tranquility of the shoulder season when you sail to Alaska in May or September. With fewer crowds in May, take a step inside Alaska’s finest fisheries and taste fresh king salmon — a local delicacy — as they’re plucked from the cool waters. Revel in the rousing vibrations of May sunlight and lookout for humpback whales as they make their first appearance of the year.
For more on what to bring on an Alaska cruise, check out our Alaska cruise packing list. If you want to cruise Alaska but also see some of the interior and enjoy a stay in a lodge or hotel, go for a cruisetour package from either Holland America or Princess Cruises. Both have fantastic itineraries that take passengers not only to the Inside Passage, but also to Anchorage, Denali National Park, the Yukon, Kenai Peninsula, Talkeetna and Fairbanks. If you want a more active trip in less touristed areas, a great choice would be a small-ship expedition line, including Alaska specialists such as Alaskan Dream Cruises and UnCruise Adventures.
Biking alongside the glacier, or taking a helicopter to land on top of a glacier, is a memorable and spectacular way to begin a glacier hike. One of the best ways to experience salmon fishing is by booking a shore excursion. Any of the fishing tour companies offer services that package up your catch and ship it back to your home packed in dry ice so you can have a feast, and bragging rights, when you return home. If you’re thinking about taking an Alaska cruise vacation, you’ll be happy to know that America’s Last Frontier is best explored on a cruise. If you’ve never visited before, you’re probably wondering when is the best time to cruise to Alaska.
The beauty of the land and its immense history; the thrill of seeing bears, moose and bald eagles; and the mysteries of the surrounding marine life will astound you. It's a trip worth taking the time to plan and doing right — because who knows if or when you'll make it back to the Last Frontier. In general, waiting until the last minute is not the best idea, unless you live in Seattle or Vancouver and don't need to book flights.
Be sure to pack high-quality rain gear for excursions along with warm, layered clothing and a hat and gloves. However, it’s important to remember that this area is part of the world’s largest temperate rainforest. Holland America Princess, and Royal Caribbean have Alaskan Inside Passage cruises departing from Vancouver at the end of April. Carnival has 14-day Alaskan cruises departing from Seattle and Long Beach in late April. Regardless of the ship, passengers can expect a wide range of entertainment offerings, an abundance of bars, restaurants, and lounges, and a handful of accommodation options. Eric Goldring is a T+L A-List travel advisor specializing in expedition, small-ship, and medium-ship cruises.
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. If you cruise to Alaska in June, you can expect warmer and drier temperatures, fewer children onboard, increased wildlife sightings, and more cruise offerings. May is a practical choice for Alaskan cruisers who are on a limited budget but want to have slightly warmer and drier weather and more chances to see wildlife.
No comments:
Post a Comment