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The best time to take an Alaska cruise is in the summer when beauty and adventure instill a newfound sense of wonder into the Great Land. Lush green landscapes are sprinkled with delicate, magenta flowers while the horizon dons frosted alps and royal blue skies. Locals gleefully prepare for peak fishing season, and iconic wildlife take their graceful positions among the pristine backdrop. 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.
Alaska cruise in August: Rain and high temperatures
Finally, in addition to classic ports like Juneau and Ketchikan, Viking Ocean Cruises’ Alaska itinerary also calls on Valdez, which is chock-full of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. During the cruise season, popular cruise lines assist travelers in enjoying all of the unique sights, wildlife, excursions, events and food. The Alaska cruise season is a little over six months long, but choosing the best time to cruise Alaska is surprisingly not that simple. While the tourism season in Alaska doesn’t really kick in until June, many small cruise ships start running tours in May.
Bears Feeding On Salmon
Should I cruise on Princess to Alaska? I booked a sailing to see for myself - Cruise Blog
Should I cruise on Princess to Alaska? I booked a sailing to see for myself.
Posted: Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The Studio Lounge is a welcoming spot to meet other solo travelers so you can join up for meals or shore excursions to places like Dawes Glacier and Icy Strait Point. Luckily, when it comes to Alaska cruises, there is truly something for everyone. Whether you’re traveling solo or with kids, whether you’re looking for total luxury or a bargain and whether you love giant ships or something more intimate, we’ve found the best Alaska cruises to fit your needs. See which one sounds right for you, and once you’re booked, get a head start by checking out these hidden cruise features, cruise ship code words and things you can’t do on cruises. While you’re on the boat, you’ll enjoy delicious and local cuisine, with many of our cruises offering fine-dining options.
What to Do in Alaska: Top Things to Do in August
May can be one of the finest months across Alaska, as daylight reaches near-summer heights, while June is even nicer, with the last chill of the arctic winter departing for the season. If you’re looking to get away from the summer crowds and enjoy an intimate cruise in remote Alaska, then we recommend booking an ocean view cabin on a smaller ship. Smaller boats have access to quieter coastlines, like the Wrangell Narrows, that larger cruise ships don’t have access to. Get to Alaska right when the cruise season begins on an Alaska Northbound Glacier Cruise that departs in May from Vancouver, British Columbia. During the land portion of your vacation, your tour guide will make sure you have everything you need and will arrange comfortable transportation from one site to the next. When it comes to transportation and accommodation, you’ll experience luxurious glass-domed trains and stay in high-end hotels and lodges.
When do cruises go to Alaska?
The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024 - AFAR - AFAR Media
The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024 - AFAR.
Posted: Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The salmon are also in full run during this time, which attracts bears and eagles, making it an excellent time to spot these animals in their natural habitat. Another reason June is a great month for an Alaska cruise is that the ports are in full swing. The peak season for Alaska tourism starts in June, and the ports are buzzing with activity. The shops, restaurants, and attractions are all open and ready to welcome visitors, offering a wide variety of experiences to choose from.
Woodinville Getaway: Pair Wine with Adventure
For those embarking on their first Alaska adventure or with limited time, we recommend two outstanding options. The Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise and the Spring Wildlife Alaska Whale Watching Cruise in Ressurection Bay provide an excellent overview of Alaska’s breathtaking scenery and wildlife. These cruises are perfect for travelers looking to make the most of their limited time in Alaska.
Consider upgrading to The Retreat, Celebrity’s exclusive ship within a ship, for a more private and intimate cruise. With lots of outdoor activities and great wildlife sightings, an Alaska cruise is ideal for kids, and not surprisingly, no one does it better for them than Disney. Little ones will be just as happy to see Goofy as they are to see a glacier, making this the best cruise for kids.
Best Months To Cruise Alaska For Midnight Sun
Whether you want to hike in the wilderness, go whale watching, or learn about Alaska's history and culture, there is something for everyone. Additionally, May is an ideal time to take advantage of the extended daylight hours and enjoy some outdoor activities. Alaska is known for its outdoor adventure opportunities, and the springtime weather is perfect for hiking, fishing, and kayaking.
King's Blues Club, Billboard Onboard (a dueling piano bar), Lincoln Center Stage, and Rolling Stone Rock Room. After our shore excursions, we’d hop back on board the ship for drinks, dinner, and a nightcap at the dueling piano bar to jam out to hits from Billy Joel and Elton John. All of the above make HAL a popular pick among middle-aged and mature couples traveling without kids; however, onboard our summer sailing, I did notice quite a few small children traveling with their parents and grandparents. That said, the routing of cruise ships away from shore and the light pollution of major cities affords some of the best conditions for northern lights spotting.
If you’re trying to squeeze in one last summer vacation before the kids go back to school and life becomes hectic again, opt for a shorter tour portion of the cruisetour. For all your Alaska shore excursions, you’ll want to dress in layers, as the weather can change quickly. You can also book an Alaska cruisetour with an optional Evening Aurora Pursuit excursion in Fairbanks that offers the best chance to see this spectacle of light. You may even catch a glimpse of a whale swimming alongside your cruise ship as you sip morning coffee on your stateroom veranda; it’s just one of the joys of cruising to Alaska. Onboard naturalists generally narrate what you're seeing, so head to the observation lounge (or tune to a broadcast on your in-room television) to learn about some of the top sights featured on scenic cruising days.
Another time to book is during the “Wave Season” during the first two months of the year, when cruise deals abound for all destinations. Last-minute deals are also most common on large-ship lines, including Cunard, Celebrity, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean. The Alaska cruise season begins in mid-May, but it doesn’t reach full swing until after Memorial Day. Sailings departing earlier in the season will less frequently be sharing berth space in port with numerous other ships, meaning that crowds in the ports will be somewhat lighter.
As mentioned in this article, not only does September provide the opportunity to see the Northern Lights, but you will also enjoy less crowds and likely lower prices on a cruise. Fishing is good during any month—there are just different species of salmon that peak as the weeks go by. It might surprise many, but July and especially August are rainy, so don't expect endless sunshine. That said, you are in Alaska at a time for festivals and other special events, and frontier towns really come alive. Stephanie Yrungaray grew up in gorgeous Eagle River, Alaska and now calls Utah her beUtahful home.
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