Table Of Content
- What to Do in Alaska: Top Things to Do in June
- When Is The Perfect Time for Alaska’s Glacier Viewing?
- Trip Planning Help
- Best Time For Avoiding Tourist Crowds In Alaska
- When Is The Best Time To Cruise Alaska To See Whales?
- Alaska Port Cities Worth Exploring
- Alaska cruise in May: Cheap prices when you cruise in May
Plus, as prices are cheaper in the shoulder season, it can be an excellent opportunity to upgrade your stateroom category or splurge on add-ons like excursions, dining packages, or beverage packages. One downside to July is the price of your cruise will be higher than other months of the year. It's the very peak of the Alaska cruise season, which makes July expensive.
What to Do in Alaska: Top Things to Do in June
Wildlife lovers have plenty of opportunities to search for whales and eagles here; adventure-seekers won't want to miss the ZipRider, with its course of six zip lines. Finally, you'll find some round-trip San Francisco itineraries — usually 10 or 11 nights long — as well as longer sailings between San Francisco and Vancouver. They want to admire its rugged beauty, seek out wildlife (such as eagles, bears and whales) and learn about its Native cultures and gold rush history. It's so far from the rest of the mainland U.S. that it's become a bucket list destination, especially for travelers looking to visit each of the 50 states.
When Is The Perfect Time for Alaska’s Glacier Viewing?
Each type offers a unique way to explore the stunning landscapes and wildlife of Alaska, tailored to different cruising desires. Visitors can also explore the nearby Misty Fjords National Monument, which offers dramatic landscapes of sheer cliffs, waterfalls, and deep fjords that can be explored by boat or floatplane. There is also a focus on respecting the cultural traditions of destinations through cooperative regenerative tourism that preserves a community's unique history, culture and values.
Trip Planning Help
The best time to cruise to Alaska is a matter of personal preference. 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. 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.
Numerous species, such as humpbacks, orcas, grey whales, and minke whales, inhabit Alaska’s waters during the prime whale-watching season from May to September. During this peak season, you’ll enjoy milder weather, vibrant wildlife, and stunning, clear views of Alaska’s famous landscapes. The best time to cruise Alaska really depends on what you’re hoping to see and do!
The Best Times to Visit Alaska for Bear Spotting, National Parks, and More - Travel + Leisure
The Best Times to Visit Alaska for Bear Spotting, National Parks, and More.
Posted: Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
During the peak of the summer, all trails are accessible, so it’s a great time to put on hiking boots and enjoy outdoor activities. If you prefer to forego an expensive shore excursion, all Alaska ports offer trails suitable for all fitness levels. Being one of the busiest months, expect to pay higher prices for your Alaska cruise.
Alaska Port Cities Worth Exploring
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. It is hard to top the majestic beauty of rugged glaciers, plethora of unique animal sightings, or huge mountains. Going on a cruise to Alaska is an extremely popular kind of cruise, because it offers an easy way to see so much in a compact amount of time. The Alaska cruise season runs between May and September, which happen to be the most temperate times of the year in the 49th state.
The popularity of this period is also why many people consider it the best time of the year to book an Alaskan cruise. On top of that, some of Alaska’s most iconic wildlife species tend to be at their most active and visible when the weather cools off towards the end of summer. While this can be incredibly enticing for nature lovers, it can be off-putting for those who do not enjoy the cooler temperatures. A suite that costs $2000 per person in May may cost upwards of $3300 per person in mid-July. 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.
Alaska cruise in May: Cheap prices when you cruise in May
While the weather in Alaska in June brings out the flowers and even greener scenery, expect mosquitoes to be biting. Alaska temperatures can be unpredictable, so come prepared with the proper wardrobe. Temperatures are relatively mild, with daytime highs in the upper 40s and into the 50s depending on where you're visiting and cloud cover. You’ll also end up paying more for excursions this month and have to book early as they sell out quickly. Another great thing about June is that it is a relatively dry month so your chances of getting rained out of an excursion are much lower.
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. Here is your guide for figuring out the best times to visit for your first (or 50th) Alaska cruise. While it is impossible to see and do it all over the course of a one week cruise, Alaska has the power to enchant even brief visitors. So while you are stuck at home, this may be the perfect time to start planning a cruise to The Last Frontier. The best month to visit Alaska depends on what you hope to experience during your trip.
Onshore activities differ depending on the size and style of the cruise. Traditional excursions are created to fit a specific number of people, all of whom come from the ships and are expected to be in port for a specific time. They provide an overview of Alaska's history, culture, recreation and industry, and don't offer much of a personal touch. These vessels may not stop in local ports, instead anchoring at night and offering guests the chance to hike a remote shoreline, whale-watch from a kayak or attend a presentation by indigenous artisans. If any ports are visited, they're likely to be smaller communities like Wrangell, Sitka, Petersburg and Yakutat.
In fact, it's the gateway to the Klondike and Dawson mining district in Canada's Yukon territory, where prospectors searched for gold in the late 1890s. The historic district still has a Wild West feel, though that's been a bit commercialized for the modern era. This port can get crowded in summer when several ships can call on the same day. The best Alaska cruise ports are also the most crowded because no matter which type of itinerary and cruise line you select, you'll likely visit a mix of the same ports.
Not only are the flowers and plant life awakening from their wintertime slumber, so is its wildlife. May is the driest month if you dislike traveling in the rainy season. Since Alaska cruise season generally starts in May, many tour operators don’t offer excursions in April. 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. While some people prefer the reduced crowds and whale-watching opportunities of midsummer, others might value the warmer weather and greater options for excursions you get in the late summer months.
With seven Alaska cruises behind me, I prefer to sail in May, simply because it offers excellent prices, and I’m not too fond of the rain, lol. Just be prepared with a mosquito repellent or choose a cruise earlier in the season. If you’re itinerary includes Ketchikan, be sure to check out the “Liquid sunshine gauge” in town. May’s shoulder season allows cruise-goers to score great deals on early Alaskan departures. Alaska is a special place to cruise because it’s very different from standard tropical cruise destinations. Cruises to Alaska don’t occur during the months of January, February, March, November and December.
