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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. A September cruise has its benefits, including less crowding and cheaper prices. However, a cruise this time of year will also slightly decrease your chance of viewing wildlife and make for sleepier ports of call because most summer workers return home for college. Just remember our earlier reminder that you are visiting the world’s largest temperate rainforest and enjoy the lush greenery. While it is possible to see humpbacks during the entire cruise season (April-October), your best bet for whale watching will be the months of June, July, and August. They are quite an awe-inspiring sight to see as they travel in pods, breech, and feed.
Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for a cruise up north - The Points Guy
Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for a cruise up north.
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When’s the Best Time to See the Northern Lights on an Alaska Cruise?
Gaze at the water’s surface as thousands of bald eagles congregate to enjoy the final salmon of the season. If spotting wildlife is a priority for you on an Alaska cruise, pick your sailing date carefully. 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.
What are nighttime temperatures like in Alaska during the summer?
The worst months to cruise to Alaska - Royal Caribbean Blog
The worst months to cruise to Alaska.
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Each part of the season offers something different, so aligning your cruise with these times will maximize your chances of a successful fishing experience. Whether you’re a novice or an avid angler, Alaska’s rich waters provide an unforgettable salmon fishing adventure. Whether or not fishing is your forte, be sure to pack water- resistant apparel for every splash and sprinkle that may arise from kayaking down crystalline fjords and hiking through misty rainforests. 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.
Planning an Alaskan Cruise? Start here…
If you’re looking to eschew the cruise ship behemoths for something more intimate, this is it—Alaska Dream Cruises’ Alaskan Dream holds only 40 passengers. Meals and activities (including going for high-speed Zodiac rides, kayaking, and paddleboarding) are included. To witness the majestic bald eagles in Alaska, timing your visit can make all the difference.
Alaska Port Cities Worth Exploring
Although the northern lights can potentially be visible all year, your chances are much better from late September to early October. The best time to spot bears in Alaska, particularly grizzly bears, is during the summer months, with June and July being the peak. There’s always a chance of seeing whales from the deck of your cruise ship, but for a closer look and more immersive experience, small boat tours in the ports of call can provide unforgettable encounters.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Alaska: Glacier Bay, Skagway & Juneau
So if you want to see eagles, bears, or salmon, then July is your best bet. Being from Arizona, I was specifically looking for cool, chilly weather on my Alaskan cruise. Ice calving is both a thunderous warning of climate change and an incredible phenomenon to behold. 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. Winter, when nights are long, dark, and clear, is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. That said, it is possible but not guaranteed to see them on an Alaska cruise.
June is a smart choice for cruisers who don’t want to travel during peak season but want more opportunities. Just expect cooler weather, fewer wildlife viewing opportunities, and less active ports with some shops that are still shuttered. Arguably, the biggest draw is the marine animals, with opportunities to see pods of humpback whales, gray whales, orcas, sea lions, sea otters, and more. The Official Visitors Guide for Juneau playfully uses a raindrop graphic for every month in the calendar (in Southeast Alaska it’s never a question of whether it will rain, but how much it will rain). Wetter weather often sets in during the month of July, getting progressively wetter going into autumn.
Each summer month brings new and exciting adventures – peaceful hiking trails in June, fruitful fishing expeditions in July and extraordinary flightseeing tours in September. So, the best month for an Alaska cruise depends entirely on which excursion you want to embark on during the summer season. 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. Additionally, June, July, and August may come with more crowds, but offer several more hours of daylight compared to in the fall.
Advantages of Visiting Alaska in May
If you want to see fall foliage ashore, wait until the first week of September. 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.
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. As the month progresses, temperatures rise slightly, and daylight hours increase. Choosing to cruise in the early spring of Alaska will impact your experience. 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.
If you prefer to explore the lush scenery by foot, wait until June when the sun has overcome the frosty terrain of the Inside Passage and trails are primed for adventures. Regardless of which month you choose to explore Alaska, you’ll encounter iconic marine life and embark on heart-stirring adventures when you set sail with Princess. Temperatures can vary anywhere between 30 to 80 degrees throughout the summer travel months – inviting guests to layer on the sweaters and windbreakers as weather can be unpredictable. Breathe in the tranquility of the shoulder season when you sail to Alaska in May or September.
A few lines, such as Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Cunard Line, offer 10-night Inside Passage cruises from Seattle or Vancouver. Most sail along the Inside Passage, a maritime route along the state's southern coast (and into British Columbia and Washington state) that weaves around the area's thousand islands. Some venture farther north into the Gulf of Alaska; these are often one-way cruises that begin and end at the ports near Anchorage.
Generally, these one-way sailings travel from Seward or Whittier (the cruise ports closest to Anchorage) to Vancouver (or vice versa). Most itineraries are seven nights, but you'll find a handful that are longer. One nice thing about the Inside Passage is how calm the water is because you're sailing between land masses.
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