How to Plan the Best Alaska Cruise

Table Of Content

• Planning a cruise is an exciting experience that offers endless possibilities for adventure and relaxation.
• Alaska Cruise in July: Alaska in July Is the Best Month to Spot Wildlife
• An Expert's Guide to Booking the Perfect Alaska Cruise in 2023
• Major Cruise lines
• Juneau
• Shoulder Season (May and September)

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. Whether you’re looking for an all-inclusive multi-day Alaska cruise package or simply a day cruise to see wildlife and glaciers, there are many options to choose from. ​Smaller ships often access narrower waterways, providing closer views of glaciers and wildlife. ​The Inside Passage, which most cruises traverse, is protected and usually offers calm waters. However, the Gulf of Alaska can be a bit rougher, especially in the off-season.

Planning a cruise is an exciting experience that offers endless possibilities for adventure and relaxation.

Don't forget that you're not simply booking the sailing, but you will likely need to account for flights and potentially a hotel for the night before your cruise. Whether or not you need to account for accommodations on land depends on your flight options and when you arrive at the port of embarkation area in advance of your cruise. Dog sledding is a popular excursion during a cruise through Alaska, as are helicopter tours. Native American history and cultural experiences are a highlight of exploring this region. That could include anything from seeing Formline art in ports to learning about totem poles and local dance performances. If thinking of Alaska evokes images of evergreen trees, blue and white glaciers, bears, and salmon, it's all accurate!

Alaska Cruise in July: Alaska in July Is the Best Month to Spot Wildlife

The best time to cruise Alaska for good weather is between late June and early July. The summer months have the warmest temperatures and the least amount of snowfall. During this month, you can expect the weather begins to cool, higher rainfall, and gorgeous fall landscapes.

An Expert's Guide to Booking the Perfect Alaska Cruise in 2023

It's said that the sea is calm along this route because it closely borders the mainland on one side and islands on the other. We enjoyed sailing in this area with Alaskan Dream Cruises on a passenger ship with less than 75 people. In addition, some smaller cruise ships can embark or disembark from smaller cities, like the port in Sitka. 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.

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]

You will want to bundle up; the average temperature in Juneau in October is 39 degrees. If you prefer warmer temperatures, ranging from 50° to 70° Fahrenheit, and longer days with up to 22 hours of sunlight, a summer Alaskan cruise might be the perfect choice. For the most midnight sun, travel 3 weeks before or after June 21, the summer solstice. Many cruise ships begin their summer deployments to Alaska in May before peak season begins in June.

During these months, the weather in Alaska can be quite chilly, with temperatures ranging from 40° to 53° Fahrenheit. You’ll want to bring plenty of layers to wear while you’re on the ship and when you stop at ports. Due to the cooler weather, some port destinations may be inaccessible because of ice; however, May is one of the driest months for visiting Alaska. If you’re looking for a great deal on an Alaskan cruise and you have a flexible travel schedule, consider the shoulder seasons in your plans.

Juneau

On a cruisetour, you'll sail on a one-way Gulf of Alaska cruise, so your cruise starts or ends in Alaska. Depending on the tour itinerary you choose, you might visit Seward and the Kenai Peninsula, Alyeska, Talkeetna, Anchorage and Fairbanks — as well as spend one to three nights in Denali National Park. 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. You can book the transportation on your own or through your cruise line. 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.

Shoulder Season (May and September)

Due to unpredictable weather, though, there’s a risk of shore excursions being cancelled -- especially boat and helicopter tours. The cost of an Alaskan cruise, of course, rises during high season and will be less expensive before and after those months during shoulder season. Peak cruising months, July and August, are the best time of year to cruise to Alaska. During these months you will have the warmest weather and the greatest chance to see wildlife. 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.

FAQs About Alaskan Cruises

Small ship cruises tend to offer more adventure-focused shore excursions alongside personalized service and luxurious accommodations and amenities. Smaller ships can reach ports of call and destinations that are inaccessible to larger cruise ships, allowing you to explore more remote settings and communities. For an even more customized experience, consider a private cruise on smaller ships like yachts and sailboats. While the tourism season in Alaska doesn’t really kick in until June, many small cruise ships start running tours in May. 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. Traditionally, July and August have been considered the best time to cruise to Alaska, as these months offer warm sun, long days, and abundant wildlife.

While layering is advisable for port visits, consider lightweight clothing for active shore excursions like hiking or glacier walking. During this time, the sun sets earlier, and the nights provide a dark canvas necessary for viewing the vibrant displays of the aurora. This period marks the end of the cruising season, offering a unique opportunity to witness these ethereal swirls of light dancing across the sky. The best time to visit Alaska to see the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, is during the darker months when nights are longer.

A mythic journey along the scenic St. Lawrence River and out to the Atlantic, this Concierge Cruise is a cultural immersion into Québec, Newfoundland and the Maritimes. Call your travel agent directly or your nearest AAA store to get pro tips, TripTik maps, and more. Call your travel agent directly or your nearest AAA store to get pro tips, travel guides, and more. Fortunately, you don’t need to sweat too hard about that last one as there’s no bad month to do an Alaska cruise. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip.

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. The median months will see higher temperatures and longer days for touring, and it represents the limited summer that Alaska enjoys.

You will find local asparagus on some menus in southeast towns later in the month, and fiddlehead season also begins in Alaska in May. However, most of Alaska's tastiest fruits and vegetables aren't on offer until later in the summer. On clear nights, you could have a chance to spot the northern lights — though they won't shine as brightly as they do in winter. Rather than stay up all night, see if your ship or pre- or post-cruise hotel has a sign-up sheet for people who want a wake-up call should the lights appear. National park facilities and some tourist businesses will switch to winter hours.

Also, generally speaking, the longer the cruise, the more money it will be. Part of the fun of cruising to Alaska is the potential to see a lot of wildlife. Binoculars will get you even closer to the beautiful creatures around you.