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As someone who has cruised Alaska many times, I love cruising in May when the weather is dry and locals are emerging from their winter cocoons, embracing the sunshine. The wildlife is doing the same, and you might spot bears with their cubs, moose with their calves and humpback whales returning from their winter home in Hawaii. 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. Just as Norwegian Cruise Line kicks off the 2024 Alaska cruise season in April, it’s the last cruise line to set sail in the state, and the only one to sail in October. The seven- and nine-day itineraries sail roundtrip from Seattle, and a recent search found fares more than 80% off published fares, starting at $499 per person. The Alaska cruise season winds down in October, with only a few ships setting sail.
The best time to cruise Alaska - The Points Guy
The best time to cruise Alaska.
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New To Cruising
July cruisers enjoy the warmest weather, with highs around 65 degrees. Warmer weather also makes glaciers more active, so it's quite likely to see impressive calving events while cruising in front of Hubbard Glacier, or through the beautiful Glacier Bay National Park. If fishing in Alaska is on your bucket list, July is a good month to book a fishing trip during one of your shore days.
What to Do in Alaska: Top Things to Do in April
When she’s not out exploring, you’ll find her writing about travel, finances and parenting as well as gift ideas on her website, September is also an excellent time to witness a towering Alaskan moose. With shoulder heights at 6 foot 9 inches and over 1,400 pounds, these massive animals are as dangerous as impressive, so you’ll want to view them from a distance. Birds also haven’t started their migration, so you can spot both songbirds and seabirds as you cruise along the coast.
July Alaska Cruises
To help you select the ideal time for your trip, the following guide will introduce you to weather and attraction differences between the months. Then we’ll wrap up by answering some frequently asked questions about Alaskan cruises — the best time to see whales and northern lights, the best time for salmon fishing and similar queries. Most cruise passengers will head to Alaska between Memorial Day in late May and Labor Day in early September when temperatures range from slightly chilly to warm during the long daylight hours. Tourist attractions are in full swing, salmon swim upriver and bears (and humans) have access to fishing. Cruise ships arrive in southeast Alaska in spring, stay the summer and linger only into early fall. The 49th state's snowy, cold and dark winters are not conducive to cruising.
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Best times to go on a cruise: Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean.
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Temperatures will be in the 60s, sometimes higher — you might even see 80s in Juneau in July. During long days of light, you'll find hearty Alaskans swimming in the sea and enjoying water sports. While early May often carries a chill in the air, by the end of the month, you might encounter temperatures in the 60s.
Other adventurous activities, such as hiking trails, open up in the summer months. Hatcher Pass typically opens up in July, depending on the specific Hatcher Pass weather conditions. Mt. Denali is another option for cruisers, but be sure to check on the Mt. Denali weather with your cruise line. On clear nights, you could have a chance to spot the northern lights — though they won't shine as brightly as they do in winter.
Temperature & Daylight Hours
Summer is the height of the Alaska cruise season, which means crowds in port towns, especially when several ships are in port at the same time. You might have to wait hours for a table at Tracy's King Crab Shack in Juneau. 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. We’ve broken the seasons down for you, including the highlights of each, as well as the best cruise lines and cruise ships to consider so you can make your bucket list dreams come true. To truly enjoy an Alaskan cruise, cruisers can visit from April to October when daylight hours, weather and wildlife are better.
Explore Alaskan cruises and learn more about each fun-filled trip to the 49th state. The summer cruise season in Alaska runs from mid-May to mid-September. Check out our quick tips for picking the best time to cruise Alaska, then read on for more details. For both cruising and land-based tours, May and September are the “shoulder” seasons in Alaska, with better deals and fewer crowds. Cruise prices during those times may be lower, perhaps by a couple hundred dollars per person. With that in mind, Alaska is still a dynamic destination—no one snapshot of time during the year is guaranteed to encompass all this state has to offer.
Alaska Cruise in September: Alaska Temperatures Start to Drop
Expect less activity and fewer shop openings in some smaller port towns in May since most summer workers are in college and won’t arrive until June. May is an excellent cruising month for birdwatchers as migratory songbirds start to arrive in Alaska and seabirds gather in their nesting spots or rookeries. Keep an eye out for my favorite, the ever-adorable puffins, Arctic terns, cormorants, and bald eagles. Another thing to keep in mind when deciding the best month for your Alaskan cruise is wildlife viewing opportunities. Alaska is still gaining sunlight as the Summer Solstice approaches, so you’ll experience longer days during your May cruise. While prices in the early season are generally less expensive, your experience during a May cruise will look different from during the high season in July and August.
At the beginning of the month, you might still be able to find some early season pricing; the peak season for Alaska cruising begins in late June. You may encounter freezing rain or even snow on your April cruise and should expect to tread through mud. Some tourist facilities — including those at national parks — may still be shuttered for the winter. Each month has its advantages, not the least of which is discounted pricing in the spring and fall shoulder seasons. Some adventurous cruisers will board ships when they arrive in Alaska in April to see the remnants of winter.
A few big ships cruise into mid-October for those who want a peek at what life is like in Alaska towns when all the other tourists have returned home. If you are hoping to travel during peak Alaskan cruise season (July and August), you should plan on booking your Alaskan cruise at least one year in advance. The farther in advance you can book your Alaskan cruise, the more options you will have for cruise dates, itineraries, and cabin amenities. If you cruise to Alaska this month, you can enjoy more shop and restaurant options in port towns but expect things to be slightly more crowded. June is a smart choice for cruisers who don’t want to travel during peak season but want more opportunities.
Orca whales (which are actually members of the dolphin family) are a fairly common site on an Alaskan cruise. “Resident” orcas (who stay near shore and feed on fish) are easy to spot and fun to watch from the cruise ship or on a whale-watching excursion. Be sure to pack high-quality rain gear for excursions along with warm, layered clothing and a hat and gloves. The benefits of cruising in April include less expensive pricing, fewer tourists, and less crowded ports.
Revel in the rousing vibrations of May sunlight and lookout for humpback whales as they make their first appearance of the year. Or, explore the outdoors on a peaceful boat tour through deep fjords and enjoy a relaxing train ride up the sweeping mountains. As the driest month of the year, May provides optimal conditions to experience the great outdoors. While temperatures cool off in September, witness schools of halibut glisten beneath the Alaska waters and try your hand at casting a reel. Or, strap into a dog sled and venture over frosted terrains that make for an unforgettable ride. While the end of cruising season brings darker skies, guests can discover the secrets behind the mystifying Northern Lights.
July and August are considered peak seasons to cruise to Alaska for good reason. These are the months when all good things combine to create the optimal Alaskan experience. 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.
If bear viewing is high on your bucket list and you are traveling on a bigger cruise ship, look for a float plane excursion that will take you to where the bears feed. Although it is getting darker earlier, solar activity is not at its peak in the summer, so your chances of viewing the Northern Lights in July are slim to none. That being said, the weather and wildlife in Alaska are notoriously unpredictable. You might take a float plane to see bears and, sadly, not see a single one. If you cruise to Alaska in June, you can expect warmer and drier temperatures, fewer children onboard, increased wildlife sightings, and more cruise offerings.
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