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Bears will be fishing; in late August, they will be looking for blueberries, which also become a featured item on restaurant menus. Summer is the height of the Alaska cruise season, which means crowds in port towns, especially when several ships are in port at the same time. You might have to wait hours for a table at Tracy's King Crab Shack in Juneau. If you want to immerse yourself in the beauty of Alaska without the distraction of little kids, you’ll be in good company on Viking.
Advantages of Visiting Alaska in July
Less travelers might sound appealing, but many port towns aren’t fully “tourist operational” until late June when summer workers start to arrive. Since the skies do still get dark during this month, there is a slight chance that you’ll be able to view the Northern Lights on an Alaskan cruise in April. Peak viewing of the Aurora Borealis happens between November and March, but on a clear night with lots of solar activity, you have a shot at this once-in-a-lifetime viewing experience.
Shoulder Seasons Offer Lower Prices
The abundance of wildlife in summer creates a captivating spectacle that you won’t want to miss, making it the best time to go on an Alaska cruise. With the warmth of summer breathing new life into the outdoors, May through September continues to be the most popular season to travel to the Land of the Midnight Sun. That said, the best time for an Alaska cruise during these months depends on what experiences you’re looking to have.
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska
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The seven- and nine-day itineraries sail roundtrip from Seattle, and a recent search found fares more than 80% off published fares, starting at $499 per person. The Alaska cruise season winds down in October, with only a few ships setting sail. Just as in April and May, you’ll likely have the water to yourself, and even fewer people in the ports you call upon. Along with cooler weather, you’ll also find lower fares that will please your bank account.
Cruising to Alaska in September has many benefits of the peak season (milder weather and good wildlife viewing) with less expensive prices and fewer tourists. Just remember our earlier reminder that you are visiting the world’s largest temperate rainforest and enjoy the lush greenery. Keep an eye out for seabirds and songbirds, seals, Steller sea lions and humpback whales. Marine life is so prolific that some small-boat shore excursions guarantee you will see animals.
The best time to cruise to Alaska to see wildlife
Little kids will adore meet-and-greets with beloved characters onboard Disney cruises or hanging with Dr. Seuss characters when sailing with Carnival. Older kids will love the rock climbing walls, video game stations, sports courts, go-karts and laser tag on Royal Caribbean and NCL ships. Some activities are included in the cost of the cruisetour; other outings can be booked like shore excursions depending on your interest and budget. If you're hoping to see the northern lights, booking a cruisetour in September might be your best bet to see the aurora on a cruise vacation. Some lines also offer Alaska cruisetours that venture into Canada's Yukon, including a few Holland America tours that combine half a cruise with a cruisetour that starts or ends in Skagway.
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. Although the northern lights can potentially be visible all year, your chances are much better from late September to early October.
Days in Alaska are longest throughout the month of June, sometimes reaching close to 20 hours of sunlight. That’s plenty of light to explore the vast seaside plains, glacier-dotted bays, lush alpine forests, and misty mountain-flanked fjords you’ll encounter while traveling from one incredible port to another. Temperatures are warmest in the month of July, so if you’re sensitive to the cold but still want to experience the wild beauty of Alaska, mid-summer might be the ideal time for you to visit. Alaska’s summer cruise season is a spectacular window of opportunity, with peak popularity between June and August. During these months, the Last Frontier comes alive in all its glory, offering an array of options for visitors.
Their gorgeous ocean ships sail with a maximum of 930 passengers, all over the age of 18, so you can indulge in adult conversation over a bottle of wine or a cocktail or two. As the school season begins and fall approaches, cruise prices start to dip, affording the opportunity to snag a last-minute bargain for Alaska. We still recommend planning ahead though, as an increasing number of tourists have been booking cruises each year in September.
Alaska may be one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it's rugged and can be tricky to get around. Explore the Last Frontier by cruise ship, and you can travel to Gold Rush towns, glaciers, Alaska Native heritage sites and natural areas brimming with wildlife in comfort, even luxury. Cruising Alaska can vary significantly depending on whether you choose a small ship or a large ship, as each offers distinct experiences, benefits, and limitations. Small ship cruises excel in providing a more intimate and immersive experience.
Fall is also mating season for wildlife, so expect to see some friskiness. April and May are also the driest months in Alaska, so the chances of rain are slim. 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. Read on for average Alaska cruise prices, things to do in Alaska and everything else you'll need to decide which is the best month to cruise Alaska for you.
For a cruise-tour option, Princess’ 12-day Denali Explorer itinerary blends five days on land with a weeklong cruise with mini-suite rates from $4,008 per person. When traveling from Vancouver in the Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska, the waters are mostly protected and provide smooth sailing. If ports include Anchorage, Seward, or Whittier, cruise ships must cross the Gulf of Alaska, which has notoriously rougher waters.
