Table Of Content
Feel the warm embrace of the summer sun throughout June when the Land of the Midnight Sun experiences the height of its daylight. With over 18 hours of golden sun each day, Alaska landscapes kiss the snowy surfaces goodbye and welcome the lush green meadows that bear the fruits of winter’s labor. As you venture into the depths of Alaska’s wilderness, reach new heights where you can enjoy unparalleled views of staggering glaciers and roaming hillside wildlife. With lows in the upper 40s and highs in the mid-60s, allow the revitalizing, crisp breeze to tickle your neck as you rejoice in the unforgettable climb.
The Best Deck on a Cruise Ship For Every Type of Cruiser
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. Alaska has humpback whales, gray whales, killer whales, and a small population of belugas. Though it’s species-dependent, the best time to go whale watching in Alaska is in high summer, when the days are long and the feeding is plentiful.
August
And for good reason, as July in Alaska is ideal for salmon fishing, culture festivals like the Girdwood Forest Fair, bear viewing and memorable trips into the interior. 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.
Should I cruise on Princess to Alaska? I booked a sailing to see for myself - Cruise Blog
Should I cruise on Princess to Alaska? I booked a sailing to see for myself.
Posted: Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Repositioning Cruises: From Alaska to Asia in One Trip
In addition to cooler temperatures, there is a higher tendency for rain during the late spring. Alaska is often considered the last American frontier due to its pristine and seemingly endless natural landscapes. When they’re fully mature, millions take a harrowing upstream journey from the ocean to the rivers where they were born. Salmon runs in Alaska start in early May until September, with different species of salmon running at different times of year. Read on for the best time of year to cruise to Alaska, based on your personal preferences and the breathtaking experiences you want to check off your bucket list.
When Is The Perfect Time for Alaska’s Glacier Viewing?
Hundreds of king salmon grace the majestic waters of the Pacific while freckled lynx bask in the early summer sun. Thanks to the modest daytime temperatures and refreshing evening climates, May is peak season for many of Alaska’s most cherished wildlife. Weather typically ranges from the 30s to a high of around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. May itineraries invite guests to pack sweaters and jackets for easy layering.
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. 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.
With extended daylight hours, you’ll have ample time to experience it all. High summer is when most people visit Alaska, and with good reason— temperatures are warmer, the days seems to never end, and the land is blanketed with colorful wildflowers. Keep in mind though that higher demand means you’ll have to book your onshore activities much further in advance, plus share the beauty with lots of other fellow travelers. And while Alaska’s too big to ever truly feel crowded, maybe you crave the quiet tranquility of empty streets and unoccupied trails.
Cruises
The 11 Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2024, From Whale Watching to Glacier Tours Condé Nast Traveler - Condé Nast Traveler
The 11 Best Alaska Cruise Excursions in 2024, From Whale Watching to Glacier Tours Condé Nast Traveler.
Posted: Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
In general, booking around 75 days before your stay allows you to find the best deals. While it may seem counterintuitive that a popular time to travel would mean that cruise fares are lower, the reason is that there are more ships operating at this time. With more options to choose from, you can typically find a good deal if you are booking for the period that stretches between May and June.
Almost all Gulf of Alaska cruises visit to Hubbard Glacier and spend some time scenic cruising in College Fjord. Alternatively, Gulf of Alaska cruises are typically seven-night, one-way itineraries between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier, the gateway ports for Anchorage and northern destinations in the state. An Alaska cruise from Seattle will visit the Inside Passage but tends to favor the open (and frequently bumpier) Pacific Ocean. Sailings from Vancouver tend to traverse more of the Inside Passage and spend a full day sailing this scenic region. 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.
You’ll witness lush green forests, snow-capped mountains, and fields of wildflowers in every hue, from pink and purple to yellow. If you’re ready to book your Alaska cruise, browse itineraries, view stateroom and suite categories, choose which shore excursions you want to do, and even book your airfare all in one convenient place. Glacier viewing is an all-cruise-season activity, with many ways to get to the glacier depending on your preference while in different ports.
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. During the cruise season, popular cruise lines assist travelers in enjoying all of the unique sights, wildlife, excursions, events and food. To help you find the best time to cruise to Alaska, Cruise Critic is breaking down the Alaska cruise season month by month to help you plan your bucket-list trip.
Temperatures can vary anywhere between 30 to 80 degrees throughout the summer travel months – inviting guests to layer on the sweaters and windbreakers as weather can be unpredictable. So, the best month to travel to the Great Land depends on what you want to do. For the fishing aficionado, consider May when king salmon reach their greatest appearance.
The warmer the weather, the better your chance to view a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence called “calving.” This is when a large chunk of the glacier separates in a giant icy landslide. 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. Small-ship Alaska cruise lines like American Queen Voyages and Uncruise can go further into narrow passages and get closer to shoreline wildlife like Dall sheep and bears.
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.
Keep in mind, the closer your starting port is to Alaska, the fewer days you will spend at sea. 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.
If you’re looking for dry weather and lots of wildlife, then May is a great time to join a cruise as it’s one of the state’s driest months and features spring migrations and lots of newborn wildlife. As temperatures continue to rise, relish in the warmest month of the year when Alaska’s wildlife comes out to play. In Icy Strait Point, find regal brown grizzly bears roaming through streams in search of fresh salmon. Or, look for lively humpback whales making a splash off the coast of Juneau. As you embark on your summer adventure, bring light jackets for hiking through shady regions as well as plenty of sunscreen for basking in 18 hours of glorious sunlight each day this month.
