when is the best time for Alaska cruises?
May 21, 2012, 1:00 pm
#1
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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?
I'd thought winter is the peak season, but would Aug/Sep sounds fine as well?
May 21, 2012, 1:49 pm
#3
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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.
May 21, 2012, 2:43 pm
#4
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Cheapest is May and Sept/Oct
Warmest is July/Aug
Neatest is late June, when the sun shines nearly all day long.
Warmest is July/Aug
Neatest is late June, when the sun shines nearly all day long.
May 21, 2012, 5:22 pm
#5
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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
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
May 22, 2012, 11:26 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2008
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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.
May 22, 2012, 2:26 pm
#8
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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.
Thanks, piper28!! ^
May 24, 2012, 8:09 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2011
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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.
May 25, 2012, 9:51 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2008
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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.
May 25, 2012, 9:57 am
#11
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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.
May 25, 2012, 11:02 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2008
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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!
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!
May 25, 2012, 11:07 am
#13
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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 
). Flew up again (flight misposted) in late July and it was heavy rain.
). Flew up again (flight misposted) in late July and it was heavy rain.
May 29, 2012, 8:36 am
#14
Join Date: May 2012
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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 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!
May 29, 2012, 9:52 am
#15
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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.