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In July, the early weeks bring the warmest weather, with average daytime highs of 62F or 17C in Juneau. It’s the best month to cruise Alaska if you have school aged children. By June, the animals have had their young, and it’s a great time to for wildlife viewing. Visitors can spot bears in the creek near the Mendenhall Glacier visitors center near Juneau.
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As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. If your itinerary includes stops in Anchorage, Seward, or Whittier, you might experience rougher seas as you cross the Gulf of Alaska in September. September is also an excellent time to witness a towering Alaskan moose. With shoulder heights at 6 foot 9 inches and over 1,400 pounds, these massive animals are as dangerous as impressive, so you’ll want to view them from a distance.
Best Time Of Year For The Northern Lights
The rainy season continues with approximately 23 days receiving some sort of wet stuff (in Juneau). During the cruise season, popular cruise lines assist travelers in enjoying all of the unique sights, wildlife, excursions, events and food. Mid-to-late September is one of the best times to spot wildlife in Alaska. Bears will be hunting for the last of the berries and salmon, and caribou, deer and moose will be mating. The beginning of September is much like August, but after the kids go back to school and the family crowd departs, it's shoulder season for cruising and pricing drops.
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June, July, and August are fantastic times to cruise Alaska to view wildlife, as these months bring the highest chances of spotting whales, bears, and salmon. The state is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including bears, moose, caribou, and whales. In July, the whales are usually in full migration, making it an ideal time for whale watching. Visitors can take a whale watching excursion to see humpback whales, orcas, and other marine life up close. The salmon are also in full run during this time, which attracts bears and eagles, making it an excellent time to spot these animals in their natural habitat.
Most cruise ships will have repositioned out of the state by the end of the month. You will experience a change of season, with cooler temperatures (in the 50s or lower) and some rain. While all travel has environmental and cultural impacts, cruising leaves its mark to varying degrees on Alaska's fragile ecosystems. The average large cruise ship can have a carbon footprint greater than 12,000 cars and produce up to a ton of trash each day.
Juneau
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. And it all depends on what species you intend to see—humpbacks are in the area year-round, while others like gray whales migrate to Alaska in summer. 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.
The Ideal Time to Take an Alaskan Cruise Is Right Now - Thrillist
The Ideal Time to Take an Alaskan Cruise Is Right Now.
Posted: Mon, 31 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Gray whales and Humpback whales begin their migration to warmer waters in October and November, so you still have a chance to see them in Alaskan waters in September. Cruising in September will give you the highest chance of viewing the Aurora Borealis on an Alaskan cruise. You won’t want to miss this indescribable sight, so watch for clear night skies and set an alarm to go on deck (or on your balcony) for potential middle-of-the-night Northern Lights shows. Precipitation increases to 19 days of the month, so pack a raincoat with a hood (you’ll be grateful to have it!).
Summer at Crystal Mountain Is Filled with Adventure
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. Between May and July, Alaska fully thaws from the deep winter freeze. This is when bears have emerged from hibernation and tend to be fairly active. If you hope to spot a grizzly, you might just have your opportunity if you cruise Alaska during this period, along with viewing moose and even a chance to see more calves or cubs running around. Ultimately, there is no perfect time to sail to Alaska, as each month offers its own advantages and disadvantages, and choosing when to cruise to Alaska comes down to your preferences.
October
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. The stretch between late April and late July is often considered to be Alaska’s second most popular time of the year for cruises.
Choosing the right time for an Alaskan cruise depends on your personal interests and what you hope to experience in America’s Last Frontier. The variety of excursions available, from gentle nature walks to interactive cultural experiences, means there’s something for every age to enjoy. Witnessing these majestic creatures breach the water against the captivating Alaskan landscape is an unforgettable memory you’ll cherish for a lifetime. An Alaska cruise is an unforgettable experience, especially if you have never had the opportunity to witness the stunning beauty of America’s Last Frontier. To discover Alaska’s rich historyYou can’t skip Ketchikan, Juneau or Skagway on an itinerary. Ketchikan once was a major player in the timber industry and has a sordid past steeped in bootlegging and brothels.
Some venture farther north into the Gulf of Alaska; these are often one-way cruises that begin and end at the ports near Anchorage. Restaurant prices in Alaska can be high, but a cruise bundles meals, accommodations and transportation into one price that, with sales, can be cheaper than you'd think. One of the key reasons to cruise Alaska versus taking a land tour is to visit destinations along the Inside Passage that you cannot reach by road. Plus, many of the state's famous glaciers are best viewed from the sea. Ice calving is both a thunderous warning of climate change and an incredible phenomenon to behold.
Given the warmer temperatures of July and August, many people who want to avoid the cold will choose to book during these months. 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. There’s no right or wrong time to cruise to Alaska, but having an idea of the pros and cons of each season should help decide which time of year works best for you. In addition, sailing in the shoulder season does not necessarily mean there won’t be crowds onboard.
To maximize your chance of witnessing the northern lights, get off the boat and join a land excursion to Fairbanks. The aurora season in Fairbanks lasts from the end of August to April and the lights can be seen four out of five nights if the sky is clear. Gray whales, humpback whales, orca, beluga whales — Alaska has them all. Here are some quick tips to help you increase the odds of seeing whales during your cruise. As August winds down, fall colors explode across the mountains, giving you gorgeous landscapes to explore by ship, train and foot. Down south, the waters around the southwestern and southcentral regions of Alaska teem with ships visiting Kodiak Island, the Aleutian Islands, Prince William Sound and Katmai National Park.
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. We have the answers so your first time will be nothing but smooth sailing. Fishing is good during any month—there are just different species of salmon that peak as the weeks go by. The truth is that both of these stretches can allow for an exciting and memorable experience. You must remember that Alaska is a rugged landscape that poses countless challenges for human life, so these cruises will never be as tranquil as a tropical cruise.
The immediate port area will be filled with tourist shops and eateries. If you want to see nature at its finest, you must book a tour or venture farther afield. Carnival, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean all have extensive kids clubs aboard their ships that cater to all ages, from babies to teens. Little kids will adore meet-and-greets with beloved characters onboard Disney cruises, or hanging with Dr. Seuss characters when sailing with Carnival.
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