Alaska Cruise Outfits: June What to Wear, Packing List
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Sunlight from long midsummer Alaskan days causes a bloom of phytoplankton (tiny plants) which serves as the base of Alaska’s rich marine food chain. And while, of course, Alaska is open for travel year-round, the primary tourist season begins in June and ends in August. But our Alaska by month travel season calendar below starts in early spring, because that is when the cruising season kicks off in some of Alaska’s lower, warmer latitudes. The guide below is one piece of the puzzle to help you determine the best month to visit Alaska. We outline Alaska weather by month and answer questions such as “When is summer in Alaska?
Alaska Cruise Weather in June
You can’t gamble while in Alaska, but casinos will open up while the ship sails in international waters around Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We know that many people say, a balcony cabin is a waste of money. This may be true for other cruises, but having a balcony is definitely worth the extra money on most Alaska cruises. Often there is at least one day when the ship stays in a breathtaking place, like Glacier Bay.
Best Time to Visit Alaska
If you have a low tolerance for cold weather, cruising Alaska during the warmest months of July and August is a better choice. While it is possible to see humpbacks during the entire cruise season (April-October), your best bet for whale watching will be the months of June, July, and August. They are quite an awe-inspiring sight to see as they travel in pods, breech, and feed. 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. Glacier hiking/walking is an incredible experience to have year round.
July in Alaska
Ketchikan is slightly warmer with an average daytime temperature of 61 degrees Fahrenheit or 16 Celsius. Nighttime temperatures average 47 degrees Fahrenheit or eight Celsius. The average rainfall is nearly seven inches, and it rains 16 days on average. In Alaska, on the other hand, you will want to lower your expectations when it comes to weather. It’s challenging to predict whether your cruise will encounter sunny skies and 70 degrees, or seven days of straight rain.
What to Expect on an Alaskan Cruise in August
Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. With the planning done for you, you can sit back, relax, and take in the beauty of Alaska. You’ll find plenty of deep-sea charters to go angling for huge halibut.
Best time to go on a cruise - The Points Guy
Best time to go on a cruise.
Posted: Tue, 02 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Fishing
During May, you’ll find several whale species along Alaska’s inside passage. By this time of the year, most of the whales will have completed their migration from the warm waters of Mexico to Alaska, where they will spend the summer. While Alaska might be colder than other summer vacation spots, it offers unique experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. These include sightings of wild orcas, sea lions, and humpback whales and riding one of the world’s longest ziplines. August brings a gradual decrease in temperatures again, but it is still one of the hottest months of the year in this region. Temperatures during this month usually range from the mid-forties to the low sixties, and days are typically cool or chilly.
Because you will arrive in your embarkation city the night before your cruise, remember to book your hotel stay sooner rather than later. When booking a hotel in Seattle or Vancouver (or Anchorage/Seward for one-way itineraries), you will want to book a hotel in a convenient location. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the best free and low-cost activities to do in each Alaska cruise port, which should help give you some ideas. We hope this guide helps you make the most of your Alaska summer vacation.
Day Alaska Round-Trip Seattle: Glacier Bay, Skagway & Juneau
A private balcony provides passengers with breathtaking views of Alaska’s changing scenery, including mountains, wilderness, glaciers, and wildlife. Balcony staterooms are also a great way to escape the crowds and enjoy the view in privacy. Occasionally, you can find deals last minute, but you may only have two or three weeks before sailing. June and July are the most popular months for Alaska cruises, so if you wait for a last-minute deal, you must have a flexible schedule and no cruise line or cabin preference.
If you haven’t booked travel arrangements yet, now is the time
Temperatures at night average 48 degrees Fahrenheit or nine Celsius. The average rainfall is more than four inches, and it rains 18 days on average. Royal Caribbean sends four cruise ships to Alaska each season, and each ship varies from one another. Although ships in the same class, such as Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, share similarities, they still offer varied dining venues, entertainment, and decor.
During this time, you can also consider a longer cruise, traveling with small ships positioning from Seattle, Washington up to Alaska. Nights are still long enough to possibly see the northern lights, while days are getting longer and animals are beginning to stir. The annual early spring Pacific herring migration makes for optimal wildlife viewing opportunities, as humpback whales and orca seek out the abundant fish. Hungry bears awake from hibernation and also go looking for food.
Keep in mind that Alaska and the Yukon make up an enormous mass of land; in fact, combined they are about half the size of the lower 48 states! As you can imagine, it can be difficult to speak in generalities about the climate for a place so vast. However, we’ve broken down the weather in Alaska by season and area, with advice on what to expect, so you can choose the best time to cruise to Alaska. Cruise season in Alaska is just five months long, running from May to September, although Holland America Line offers Alaska cruises in late April and early October. Small ships offer a more personalized and expedition-style of cruising, allowing passengers to explore remote waterways and get up close to glaciers and wildlife.
They are followed by younger males, females and finally mothers with calves arriving in late May and early June. Small ship cruises in May will likely view whales, but they will be individuals or smaller groups of two or three spread about looking and waiting for food. Fishing excursions can be usually booked through the cruise line. An example of a tour is in Ketchikan, where you can spend four hours fishing for salmon. The cost of the fishing excursion is approximately $180 per person and will vary by the cruise line.
Obstacles and challenges are often the begining to our most memorable stories, and what is travel for if not growth and experience? So maybe I should’ve saved my poetic waxing for the “Visiting Alaska in December” article. Plan ahead, expect high prices, crowds, and maybe a few bug bites and remember to see the good and to hold it high. Places like Denali offer glimpses of black and brown bears, Dall sheep, Moose, mountain goats, and caribou. The skies are alive with a slew of various bird species, including puffins, seabirds, sandpipers, arctic terns, ducks, and of course eagles. While Alaska has a lot of resident marine wildlife, everyone is in town and ready to party during the summer months.
During our time in Alaska we’ve documented countless stories from every corner and crevasse of the state. We have the answers so your first time will be nothing but smooth sailing. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. The city of Skagway, for instance, features authentic boardwalks throughout its main area, and wood is slippery when wet.
You should still wear layers when visiting the port, but if you’re planning active shore excursions like hikes or glacier walks, you’ll want to stick with lightweight clothing. July is the peak season for Alaska cruises and provides the best Alaska cruise weather and wildlife opportunities. This month has some of the warmest weather, longest daylight hours, and the largest number of tourists.
And with the tourism industry in full swing, you’ll find more services and a seemingly endless list of activities to take part in. But you won’t be alone — more stuff to do and nicer weather in Alaska means more people — and the prices will generally be a bit higher. After spending the winter in warmer climates, humpback whales migrate north and break the waters of the Inside Passage, marking the dawn of Alaska’s most vivacious season. Hundreds of king salmon grace the majestic waters of the Pacific while freckled lynx bask in the early summer sun. Thanks to the modest daytime temperatures and refreshing evening climates, May is peak season for many of Alaska’s most cherished wildlife.
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