Cruises - when is the best time for Alaska cruises?

never been to Alaska before. so wondering what is the best time if I want to take a cruise (maybe plus land) tour?

I'd thought winter is the peak season, but would Aug/Sep sounds fine as well?

Purely summer as far as big ships go. Season just started this month and runs until September.

For a cruise your choices are usually May through September. May and September are usually less crowded, but you also run the risk of things not being open. I've had better weather in May and June but it's always a crapshoot.

Cheapest is May and Sept/Oct

Warmest is July/Aug

Neatest is late June, when the sun shines nearly all day long.

Mid June to mid July. Longest, warmest days for sure.

Any other time, much greater chance of cold, rain, and what people often fail to forget about Alaska, fog!

People often go e.g. September or early June to save money. Penny wise, Pound Foolish!

Worldspan
131 cruises strong

That's great info. Thanks to all! ^

One other thing to consider, if you want to do bear viewing out of some of the ports, apparently early in the season isn't as good a choice. For example, in Ketchikan, most of the bear viewing floatplane trips don't start operating until mid July or so, because they bears aren't in the right locations until then.

One other thing to consider, if you want to do bear viewing out of some of the ports, apparently early in the season isn't as good a choice. For example, in Ketchikan, most of the bear viewing floatplane trips don't start operating until mid July or so, because they bears aren't in the right locations until then.

good to know that, too. This is the reason I love FT!

Thanks, piper28!! ^

One other thing to consider, if you want to do bear viewing out of some of the ports, apparently early in the season isn't as good a choice. For example, in Ketchikan, most of the bear viewing floatplane trips don't start operating until mid July or so, because they bears aren't in the right locations until then.

I think that's because that's when the salmon run, which would be a sight in and of itself.

I think that's because that's when the salmon run, which would be a sight in and of itself.

Yup, pretty sure that's the reason. I know when we were in Ketchikan in August a couple years ago, you could see the entire creek along Creek Street just full of salmon, and further upstream you could watch them jumping their way up the river. Was definitely interesting to see.

Also, if the weather in port is misty do an otter watching excursion (close to shore) - if clear, go for whales (open water). Take zip lock baggies for the cell phone, camera and electronics. Layer your clothes. Generally cheaper to run Seattle to Seattle. Bring the binoculars and shoes that won't slip in the wet.

good to know that, too. This is the reason I love FT!

Thanks, piper28!! ^

Our Alaska cruise from Seward down to Vancouver was over Labor Day weekend 2003, so early September. The weather for seven days was absolutely beautiful, sunny, cool and a very slight breeze. In Ketchikan, we had a few hours one afternoon of light mist, but no fog.

The week before it was cold and it rained 24/7!

Be sure to have a port intensive cruise, there is so much to do ashore!

FWIW, weather there is highly variable. Flew up in early April 2002 (huge huge mileage purposes - got me some 480,000k worth) to JNU and weather for 2 days was great in JNU, SIT and KTN (no cruise ship :cool: ). Flew up again (flight misposted) in late July and it was heavy rain.

We took an Alaska cruise during the first week of June in 2009 and it was cold! We had packed capris and jeans, short and long sleeve shirts. We ended up buying coats while in port. It was snowing when we left Ketchikan!

We saw a few whales while on the ship but we were told that it was too early in the season for the salmon and wildlife. Alaska is beautiful - but we missed some great things!

We're going back to Alaska this year (2nd week in July) and are hoping for a tad warmer weather and to see wildlife this time!

We took an Alaska cruise during the first week of June in 2009 and it was cold! We had packed capris and jeans, short and long sleeve shirts. We ended up buying coats while in port. It was snowing when we left Ketchikan!


The funny part is I was there the last week in May 2009 and we experienced record highs in every port. I came back home with a sunburn. But if I remember correctly, the last two weeks of May was the only good weather of the entire 2009 season. That's the thing with Alaska, one day may be perfect and the next day may be miserable. Prepare for anything.

The funny part is I was there the last week in May 2009 and we experienced record highs in every port. I came back home with a sunburn. But if I remember correctly, the last two weeks of May was the only good weather of the entire 2009 season. That's the thing with Alaska, one day may be perfect and the next day may be miserable. Prepare for anything.

Wow! What a difference!
I'm hoping we'll be able to have lots of sun and warmer temps next month.

good to know that, too. This is the reason I love FT!

Thanks, piper28!! ^

Same here, love FT, was about to ask same question :) Thanks for the info everyone.

Another data point- we just cruised from Ketchikan to Juneau July 7-14 and had extraordinarily good weather (other than cold, miserable rain the day we left Ketchikan, but that's normal for Ketchikan). We did need all our layers for trips near the glaciers, but one afternoon I was out paddleboarding in shorts and a light jacket. Bring layers including rain gear, plan for rain and if you get sun you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I would first ask what you would like to experience during the cruise. Theoretically seeing the Mendenhall and other glaciers should be fine anytime during the May-Sept cruise season. Some shore excursion may not be in full force very early or late.

IMHO the best part of our cruise in early August was the excursion via float plane to Anan Creek to see the bears feeding in the river. This was an excursion that we set up privately as only about 60 permits to visit are issued for any day. This was similar to national geographic with salmon "wall to wall" on the river and about a dozen bears happily feeding, including a few cubs. The viewing platform is about 20 feet above the river and a second photo blind platform is about 5-10 feet above the river.

Viewing bears in any location is date specific so you may want to decide if this is for you and chose your travel date accordingly.

We took an Alaska cruise during the first week of June in 2009 and it was cold! We had packed capris and jeans, short and long sleeve shirts. We ended up buying coats while in port. It was snowing when we left Ketchikan!It sure varies by year. Maybe there's no consistent rule, and it's all luck. I was just in AK for the first week of June. Weather was chill and crisp (55 to 60F), but the weather was sure gorgeous! No rain in Ketchikan or Skagway. No rain all along the way. Terrific day in Glacier Bay. Just a half day of light rain in Juneau. The morning was still really pretty and allotted enough time to go to the Mendenhall glacier :)

Roll the dice on the weather, and enjoy your vacation!

One more factor: mosquitos. They are mostly gone by August, but the weather is already more variable then.

One more factor: mosquitos. They are mostly gone by August, but the weather is already more variable then.

You know, I've seen lots of people talk about mosquitos in alaska, but so far, I can't say that was an issue on either of my two alaska cruises, one in june, one in august. Meanwhile, here in michigan, with an exceptionally dry summer, we're still getting clobbered with the things.

The funny part is I was there the last week in May 2009 and we experienced record highs in every port. I came back home with a sunburn. But if I remember correctly, the last two weeks of May was the only good weather of the entire 2009 season. That's the thing with Alaska, one day may be perfect and the next day may be miserable. Prepare for anything.

This same thing happened with us in 2006. We were there in late May and had the best week of the entire season.

How's the weather usually like in the fall between Sept/Oct? Is it already cold with ice and snow everywhere and can you still see a lot of fauna (e.g. whales, birds, etc)?

The weather will be colder, and you may see snow.

Fauna is always subject to their own whim.

June is my favorite time...
no salmon running but days are longer...

We just went the last week of July & first week of August on a B2B and had perfect weather every single day (except ongoing mist in Whittier). It became a running joke on board when the naturalist would comment how "lucky we are to see <fill in seemingly normal sightings>". Everything from sun to calving to wildlife, they were all some of the "best time to be here" days. Hard to believe we were the only ones that were just that lucky.
:confused:
piper, I think the mosquitos are more of an inland problem, as I've heard those on the land tour portion comment the most; especially in Denali. The only time we experienced them lightly was when we rented a car in Skagway and drove inland to Emerald Lake. There were some at one of the roadside scenic spots.

piper, I think the mosquitos are more of an inland problem, as I've heard those on the land tour portion comment the most; especially in Denali. The only time we experienced them lightly was when we rented a car in Skagway and drove inland to Emerald Lake. There were some at one of the roadside scenic spots.


the mosquitos are not a coastal issue. They are an issue when you get to inland areas that have thawed...like in Denali.

piper, I think the mosquitos are more of an inland problem, as I've heard those on the land tour portion comment the most; especially in Denali. The only time we experienced them lightly was when we rented a car in Skagway and drove inland to Emerald Lake. There were some at one of the roadside scenic spots.

Even inland, we never had a problem with them *shrug*. Compared to the ones we have in Michigan, they seemed pretty tame to me. We had no problems in Denali, and no problems up in the Carcross area out of Skagway (and for that part, on either of two trips we've done now). We didn't go to Wonder Lake in Denali, and I know that area is known for mosquitos.