Alaska Cruise Weather Month By Month Guide

Table Of Content

• Juneau
• Alaska Cruise in August: Wet, Summer Days When You Cruise Alaska in August
• The best time to cruise Alaska
• Alaska Cruise in June: See the Sights on an Alaska Summer Cruise
• Alaska in March: Things to Do, Places to Go & What to Pack
• Cruise to Alaska from April to October for an Incomparable Life Experience

They are quite an awe-inspiring sight to see as they travel in pods, breech, and feed. In most Alaska ports, rainfall occurs about 15 days of the month. You’ve got about a 50/50 chance of getting rained or snowed on during excursions. You’ll be very happy if you purchase a quality raincoat and pack clothing you can add or remove in layers. On Winter Solstice (December 21 or 22), the state breaks out of its winter hibernation and begins gaining a few minutes of sunlight each day.

Juneau

May in Alaska invites travelers to embrace the changing seasons and immerse themselves in a wide range of outdoor activities and cultural experiences. With longer daylight hours and landscapes coming to life, here are some activities perfectly suited to the weather and conditions in May. Most hotels in Alaska’s largest cities, like Anchorage and Fairbanks, are open year-round.

Alaska Cruise in August: Wet, Summer Days When You Cruise Alaska in August

June is one of the best months for wildlife sightings, with caribou, black bears, mountain goats, moose calves, and even polar bears out and about. We’ve put together this Alaska cruise weather guide to help you find the best time to cruise to Alaska. To discover Alaska’s rich historyYou can’t skip Ketchikan, Juneau or Skagway on an itinerary.

The best time to cruise Alaska

Rated as Ketchikan’s number one shore excursion, visitors see a frenzy of eagle feasting on herring. Select a vessel with an indoor pool and hot tubs for those who like to swim. Most modern vessels have thermal spas, ideal for cold days in a fjord. As Alaska experiences its winter thaw, those planning to hike don’t need to worry about mosquitoes. Recent price drops allow me to cruise for less than I paid ten years ago.

What is the best time of year to see the northern lights in Alaska cruise?

They’re in the summer, so you don’t have to worry about pesky insects while enjoying your vacation. We have the answers so your first time will be nothing but smooth sailing. You may be able to find some deals towards mid-August, but expect full fares for the most part. Temperatures in July average from the high 40s to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Alaska Cruise in June: See the Sights on an Alaska Summer Cruise

In May and September, you can anticipate a few extra rainy days and slightly cooler (though still pleasant!) temperatures. Note that the best times for whale watching are mid-June to mid-August, though you can catch them before and after this, too. May offers a wide range of outdoor activities in Alaska, including hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, kayaking, scenic drives, and glacier tours. Many trails and waterways begin to open up as snow melts, providing opportunities for exploration and adventure. Traveling to Alaska in May offers a taste of both winter and summer, with a wide range of outdoor activities, wildlife viewing opportunities, and cultural experiences to enjoy.

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However, visiting Alaska in the spring brings plenty of opportunities to explore the state’s vast landscapes, culture, and wildlife. 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. 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. Locals typically call the months of April and May “break-up” because the snow and ice begin to break apart and melt after the long winter. In April, mountains will still be snowy, and high temperatures will max out in the upper 40s for most cruise ports.

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Cruising to Alaska in the early season will also bring fewer mosquitos than in late June through August. There are dog sledding options in many ports, including Juneau, Skagway, and Anchorage. Each excursion typically includes a helicopter ride and dog sledding on a glacier. It's a must do in Alaska, but which port you try it in is up to you. Traveling to Alaska in May offers a unique opportunity to witness the state’s transition from winter to early summer.

The warm weather makes it one of the best times to witness the calving of glaciers. The Alaska cruise season generally runs from May to September, with occasional cruises in April and October. You’re not alone if you’re worried about how cold it gets in Alaska or which month is best to avoid the rain. The weather in Alaska is unpredictable and can change at a moment’s notice. 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. Large cruise companies sail Alaska's Inside Passage from Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, and on through the Gulf of Alaska to Seward or Whittier.

Those booked on a whale watching excursion, will see sea lions and bald eagles too. With average daytime temperatures in the mid-50s, packing lists should include those sweaters and fleece layers to stay warm. North American cruises always offer the lowest prices in shoulder season.

Because they don’t migrate, you have a great chance of viewing these 1000+ pound, 10-foot-long animals on rocks near the shorelines as you cruise. Orca whales (which are actually members of the dolphin family) are a fairly common site on an Alaskan cruise. “Resident” orcas (who stay near shore and feed on fish) are easy to spot and fun to watch from the cruise ship or on a whale-watching excursion. June is also one of the best months for whale-watching; late June and early July are the best times for bear-spotting excursions. For nature lovers, you’ll be glad to know that May marks the beginning of the salmon-fishing, whale-watching, and wildlife-viewing seasons. Welcome to High Seas Cruising, your resource for exploring the exciting world of cruise ship travel.

In June, Juneau gets about 18 hours of sunlight -- sometimes at 10pm there's still enough to read by. Summer temperatures here are roughly comparable to those in Southeast. This is when Alaska and the Yukon are enjoying a last hurrah before winter sets in. Running from late August through September, fall in Alaska can feel very much like spring.

Alaska has a shortened cruise season from late April to early October. These are the only months’ cruise ships can access bays with glaciers without ice blocking their passage. While late June to mid-August attracts the most visitors for the warmer weather, consider an Alaska cruise in May.

Marine life is so prolific that some small-boat shore excursions guarantee you will see animals. Bears will be fishing; in late August, they will be looking for blueberries, which also become a featured item on restaurant menus. Toward the end of August, you'll see leaves changing to fall colors. While early May often carries a chill in the air, by the end of the month, you might encounter temperatures in the 60s. There's also the bonus that Alaska's large mosquito population has yet to emerge. We have never sailed to Alaska but are thinking of booking an Alaskan cruise in the next couple of years.

There was snow cover in some areas, spectacular  waterfalls  due to melting snow, foliage  was just blooming and crowds of tourists  minimal . As far as cruising months, May has the least amount of rain and every month after has more potential for rain (historically). September has (historically) the most rain and potential bad storms of any of the cruising months to Alaska. I haven't been to Alaska in awhile, but I would do first cruises or last, never what is considered ideal time to cruise. If preferring to cruise on ships with fewer children, choose an itinerary in May.

There is also potential for viewing orcas, gray whales, and walruses. A hat, gloves, and a winter coat would be a good idea to pack for an Alaskan cruise, especially if you depart in April, May, or September. The high temperature in May in the capital city of Juneau, averages in the mid-50s, with lows in the 40s. The average rainfall in Juneau during the month of April is 2.77 inches.