Table Of Content
Summer Alaska cruises fill up quickly, so always book well in advance. If you want to spot herds of caribou, book an Alaska cruise that puts you in range of Denali National Park. And with salmon runs in full force, you can catch fishing bears in the southeast.
Travel Planner
If any ports are visited, they're likely to be smaller communities like Wrangell, Sitka, Petersburg and Yakutat. Some attractions and shops will be closed for winter, though your cruise line will still operate a full roster of shore excursions. On the plus side, you will experience southeast Alaska towns as they are most of the year, sans tourist crowds.
Travel Is Our Tradition
Best times to go on a cruise: Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean - USA TODAY
Best times to go on a cruise: Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean.
Posted: Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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. The Alaska cruise weather in June is fairly cool, but it has the least amount of rainfall during the Alaska cruise season.
Next Norwegian Ship Will Sail with New Restaurants
I think this cruise will give you a great taste of southeastern Alaska. Our best weather ones have been in late August and early September. But one thing to keep in mind is that the very early season sailings are oftentimes precluded from getting up close to the glaciers due to ice in the water. I took a positioning cruise from California to Alaska, late April, early May, weather was awesome, luck of the draw.
What to Do in Alaska: Top Things to Do in August
The dark and cold winters are not ideal for cruises because travelers aren’t able to enjoy the wonders of the state of Alaska. September is one of the last months of the cruise season in Alaska and it is also one of the coldest, with temperatures staying in the low to high forties on average. As the month advances, the temperatures drop lower and lower, and the nights and early mornings can be bitterly cold. May brings warmer weather within the cities and towns of the Alaskan inside passage.
Alternatively, birders might want to time their cruise with the Copper River Shorebird Festival, which takes place early in May in Cordova. Check ahead to make sure your itinerary will stop here, as it's usually only featured on longer 14-day cruises to Alaska. August brings a gradual decrease in temperatures again, but it is still one of the hottest months of the year in this region.
The temperatures will be cooler and the weather more unpredictable, but, like the spring, prices will often be lower and you’ll have less company. And the Alaska wildlife viewing can rival that of the summer, as creatures great and small are out prepping for the barren, frigid months ahead. With fall comes shorter days, but this isn’t without its advantages.
Visiting Alaska in April
Summer workers (typically college students) begin to arrive for the peak tourist season, and shops and restaurants open for the summer. May is an excellent cruising month for birdwatchers as migratory songbirds start to arrive in Alaska and seabirds gather in their nesting spots or rookeries. Keep an eye out for my favorite, the ever-adorable puffins, Arctic terns, cormorants, and bald eagles. When it comes to Alaskan cruises, balcony cabins come at a premium. You can save money by opting for an inside or an oceanview cabin. However, the views and ability to go sightseeing from your room on ocean days make the higher price worth it.
Great Reasons To Cruise To Alaska In May
Another thing to consider for an Alaska cruise in May is that it might still be too early in the season to reach some spot because of ice. Before I left for my early season Alaska cruise, I had gotten the impression from reading things online that you actually have a better chance of better weather in May. May is one of the best times to visit Alaska for dry weather, fewer crowds, and lots of wildlife. It’s not uncommon to wake up to a hot sunny day, only to find it cold and raining 10 minutes later.
Plan your own shoreside activitiesThere is no requirement to book excursions or activities through the cruise line. If a more independent style of exploration is your thing, feel free to do your own research ahead of time or visit each port of call’s visitor bureau upon arrival. Onshore activities differ depending on the size and style of the cruise.
So if you’re on the hunt for some of that famous northern solitude, spring is the time for you. And best of all, the land is bursting back to life after the long, cold winter months. Flowers are blooming, bears are rousing from their slumber, and a sense of renewal permeates the land. So, don’t scratch spring off your calendar just because Alaska’s climate may not be ideal.
If you’re planning an Alaska cruise in June, temperatures average a low of 45 and a high of 62. May tends to be slightly rainier than June and July, with a slight chance of snow earlier in the month. Alaska is known for its unpredictable and often erratic weather, so many travelers hesitate over which month to book their sailing.
No comments:
Post a Comment