{"id":55759,"date":"2019-11-21T12:30:36","date_gmt":"2019-11-21T16:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/?p=55759"},"modified":"2026-02-27T12:41:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T18:41:09","slug":"when-is-the-best-time-to-cruise-alaska","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/2019\/11\/21\/when-is-the-best-time-to-cruise-alaska\/","title":{"rendered":"When is the Best Time to Cruise Alaska?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Make sure to maximize your Alaska cruise by timing it perfectly with the weather and activities you want to enjoy.<\/h2>\n

The best time to cruise Alaska can vary depending on what you want to do and see.<\/p>\n

Do you want to see wildlife (whales, bears, caribou, eagles, and more), view and photograph the aurora borealis (northern lights), hike one or more of the many amazing Alaskan trails, soak up some gold rush history, or absorb the beauty of the ruggedly beautiful glaciers and fjords?<\/p>\n

It’s important to know the best time to take an Alaska cruise to be sure you don’t miss out on the specific things you want to see and enjoy. At CruiseExperts.com, we know what the best Alaska cruise is for the important activities you want to enjoy.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Best Time to Cruise Alaska<\/h3>\n

Alaska typically has a short five-month cruise season that runs from May to September and each of these months has carved out a niche of its own. However, because of the high demand and popularity to visit Alaska, some cruise lines are now starting their season in mid-April and booking cruises through mid-October.<\/p>\n

Although June, July, and August are the most popular cruise months, they may not be the best for the activities you want to enjoy. Here at CruiseExperts.com, we’ve put together a list of each month and the best activities and viewings for those months.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Shoulder Months of May and September<\/strong> – The weather during these two months is less predictable, and sometimes shore excursions must be canceled. On the upside, the shoulder months offer you lower fares and fewer crowds.<\/p>\n

\u2022 May<\/strong> – Daylight hours are long (17) providing ample time to enjoy your time on the ship and onshore. Temperatures are still cool during the day, averaging in the mid-50s with much cooler nights. Layering your clothing is the best option for comfort. May is also the driest month which is another plus. Wildlife is more visible as trees have not fully leafed out, and migratory birds are arriving providing plenty of photo opportunities. Pods of orca whales can often be seen in Seward.<\/p>\n

\u2022 June<\/strong> – Fare prices haven’t yet peaked in June, the weather’s still on the dry side, nature is blooming everywhere, and there are nearly 24 hours of daylight as the summer solstice (June 21st) approaches. Your camera can be busy any time day or night capturing amazing images. You’ll see an abundance of wildlife, birds, sea life (humpback whales), and if you’re lucky you might spot a moose and calf or a bear with a cub (never approach wildlife).<\/p>\n

Nights will be chilly, but days will be comfortable in the low 60s. Mosquitoes show up in June so pack your favorite bug repellent and wear long-sleeve shirts if you go hiking or onshore excursions<\/p>\n

\u2022 July<\/strong> – Traditionally the warmest month of the year in Alaska, July is also the peak month for cruises. Crowds will be larger, fares will cost more, and excursions can sell out if you don’t book early. It’s the warmest month for Alaska with highs in the mid-60s and occasionally the temperature hits 70.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, you will need to bring rain gear as July brings an average of 12 inches of precipitation on average. Your chances are highest for spotting bear as July is the peak salmon season. Keep your camera handy for possible snaps of bear, seals, sea lions, walrus, and if lucky a blue whale which is the largest animal in the world.<\/p>\n

Check out everything you’ll need to pack for a cold-weather cruise here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\u2022 August<\/strong> – Although August is still in the peak season, you can expect a fifty-percent chance of rain during your cruise, so be prepared with waterproof boots and some wool socks to keep your feet warm and dry. Be sure to pick some of Alaska’s famous blueberries which are in season during this month. This is still a great time for seeing bear catching salmon or eating blueberries. Watch for bald eagles near the salmon-spawning streams. There are great photo opportunities everywhere you look.<\/p>\n

\u2022 September<\/strong> – The last shoulder month can offer some great fare savings and smaller crowds. You’ll also have about the same chance for rain as in August, but that is part of the Alaska experience. The days are getting shorter and the nights longer and colder. September is rutting season (mating), and it’s not uncommon to catch moose or caribou in the act.<\/p>\n

Bears can still be seen at salmon streams and filling their stomachs at berry patches. Keep your eyes open for the southern migration of gray, bowhead, and beluga whales. September is best known for a chance at spotting the aurora borealis (northern lights).<\/p>\n

Discover the cruise terminology you should learn before embarking on your Alaska cruise here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We can book the best Alaska cruise to give you the experience you want. Call us today at 1.888.804.CRUISE (2784)<\/a> As with every cruise we book, we’ll get you the very best deals and discounts available with no charge ever for our services. We can answer all your questions, book plane flights (when needed), hotels, your cruise, excursions, and more. Our job is to lessen your workload, save you money and time, eliminate guesswork, and give you more time to enjoy your amazing cruise. Call us today at 1.888.804.CRUISE (2784)<\/a>, and let us make your cruise dream a reality. We can help you with all your cruise-related questions, and we love doing it.<\/p>\n

Visit our webpage at CruiseExperts.com<\/a><\/u>, and check out our <\/strong>Facebook page<\/a> <\/strong>and join the <\/strong>InnerCircle<\/a><\/strong> for exclusive offers. Our <\/strong>Resource Center<\/a> <\/strong>gives you all the “expert” knowledge you’ll need for your next cruise or cruise tour!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Make sure to maximize your Alaska cruise by timing it perfectly with the weather and activities you want to enjoy. The best time to cruise Alaska can vary depending on what you want to do and see. Do you want to see wildlife (whales, bears, caribou, eagles, and more), view and photograph the aurora borealis … When is the Best Time to Cruise Alaska?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":55760,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,10],"tags":[1103,1104,2105],"class_list":["post-55759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alaska","category-did-you-know","tag-best-alaska-cruise","tag-best-time-to-cruise-alaska","tag-best-time-to-take-an-alaska-cruise"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55759"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55759\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruiseexperts.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}