Alaska Cruisetours Alaska Cruise & Land Tour

Table Of Content

• Alaska Food: Where to Find the Best Food in Alaska Royal Caribbean Cruises
• Alaska Cruises from Vancouver
• Featured Alaska Cruise Itineraries
• Night Alaska - SeattleDetails
• Alaska Ports of Call
• Alaska Cruises Starting In October 2024

Visit its most popular attractions, such as the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. Named for the Northern compass point, Noordam is fitting for a cruise to Alaska. Museum-quality art outfits this ship, from oils to photographs of music legends.

Alaska Food: Where to Find the Best Food in Alaska Royal Caribbean Cruises

If you're hoping to see the northern lights, booking a cruisetour in September might be your best bet to see the aurora on a cruise vacation. Finally, you'll find some San Francisco round-trip itineraries — usually 10 or 11 nights long — as well as longer sailings between San Francisco and Vancouver. These cruises are best suited to travelers who love days at sea. You'll find magnificent mountains (often snow-capped, even in the summertime), lush forests, waterfalls, fjords and calving glaciers. If it's marine life you've come to see, you'll find it in abundance, from whales and dolphins to sea lions and harbor seals. On land, you'll likely spy bears and Dall sheep while eagles, puffins and a host of seabirds circle above.

Alaska Cruises from Vancouver

On dry land, bears are more common in May, though not as frequently spotted as they are in peak summer. I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. If, however, you are a die-hard many-time cruiser and just want to spend time on the ship, (potentially) seeing some beautiful scenery out the window, these cruises could be a good option.

Holland America Unveils Incentive For Alaska Cruisetours - Cruise Hive

Holland America Unveils Incentive For Alaska Cruisetours.

Posted: Tue, 10 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Featured Alaska Cruise Itineraries

Some tourist facilities — including those at national parks — may still be shuttered for the winter. 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. 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.

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. June is a smart choice for cruisers who don’t want to travel during peak season but want more opportunities. 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. Peak viewing of the Aurora Borealis happens between November and March, but on a clear night with lots of solar activity, you have a shot at this once-in-a-lifetime viewing experience. On Winter Solstice (December 21 or 22), the state breaks out of its winter hibernation and begins gaining a few minutes of sunlight each day.

Experts On Board Your Cruise To Alaska

Just expect the majority of your shipmates to be older adults. Our Alaska cruise departure ports have big personalities and loads of attractions. Choose from seven refreshingly uncrowded ships for a front-row seat to Alaska's splendor. With more than 20 animal sanctuaries and sightseeing excursions, we bring you closer to creatures great and small. Learn about the Big Five and other amazing animals you might spot. Combine a cruise + train + lodge + Denali for an in-depth Alaska experience.

Master frontier flavor with regional cooking demonstrations on board. Fluid lines, light-filled spaces and a blend of modern elegance and nautical tradition make Koningsdam a sublime ship for Alaska cruises. They are living laboratories that show what the Earth was like thousands of years ago and how it is changing today. Cross Alaska’s massive ice shelves, crystal fjords, and fascinating marine wildlife off your bucket list with itineraries that conveniently depart from Seattle and Vancouver.

Must-Sees for Your Once in a Lifetime Alaska Cruise Vacation

Little kids will adore meet-and-greets with beloved characters onboard Disney cruises or hanging with Dr. Seuss characters when sailing with Carnival. Older kids will love the rock climbing walls, video game stations, sports courts, go-karts and laser tag on Royal Caribbean and NCL ships. You may also find one-way repositioning cruises between southern California ports (Los Angeles and San Diego) and Vancouver at the beginning or end of a ship's Alaska cruise season.

Alaska Cruises Starting In October 2024

Royal Caribbean Cruise Adjusted - Port Cancelled, Port Added - Cruise Hive

Royal Caribbean Cruise Adjusted - Port Cancelled, Port Added.

Posted: Mon, 29 Jan 2024 16:05:28 GMT [source]

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. Weather is a pretty big consideration when it comes to booking an Alaskan cruise. Temperatures can be quite chilly on deck and in ports of call. If you have a low tolerance for cold weather, cruising Alaska during the warmest months of July and August is a better choice.

This is also the time of year when King Salmon runs both begin and end. If you are an angler, there is nothing like hooking and reeling in a King. With an average size of 24 to 36 inches and weighing pounds, you’ll finally have a true fishing story worth telling. Packing-wise, you’ll still want to bring a raincoat, but you can probably leave your winter coat home if you are cruising in June. If you purchase a balcony cabin, you can take advantage of the long days in the Land of the Midnight Sun. As your ship reaches the Inside Passage, the early morning views outside of your room are breathtaking.

If your itinerary includes stops in Anchorage, Seward, or Whittier, you might experience rougher seas as you cross the Gulf of Alaska in September. Birds also haven’t started their migration, so you can spot both songbirds and seabirds as you cruise along the coast. Gray whales and Humpback whales begin their migration to warmer waters in October and November, so you still have a chance to see them in Alaskan waters in September. Warmer weather in Alaska also has an unexpected bonus for cruisers in the form of glacial calving. Not only is it your best shot for warmer weather, but you’re also sure to see a good amount of the wildlife Alaska is famous for. You also might see fuzzy harbor seal pups and sea lion pups (born in June and July) warming themselves on rocks with their mothers.

Come aboard Norwegian Cruise Line to Alaska and feel what it's like when you let the outside in. Browse through our Alaskan cruises and find the best cruise deals designed to make your cruise experience unforgettable. With 7 cruise ships sailing from 6 departure ports, including land and sea packages on our Alaska Cruisetours, there's something for everyone to enjoy. With ships custom-built to help you see nature at its most majestic, you can witness whales breaching the surface, marvel at spectacular glaciers, and experience everything Alaska has to offer.

Precipitation increases to 19 days of the month, so pack a raincoat with a hood (you’ll be grateful to have it!). In August, the wildlife can sense that winter is on its way, and activity picks up to prepare for the months of cold, snow, and darkness. The loss of daylight does mean you could see the Aurora Borealis while cruising to Alaska in late August. The best time to see the Northern Lights is between late August and April, typically peaking in March. 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. Small-ship Alaska cruise lines like American Queen Voyages and Uncruise can go further into narrow passages and get closer to shoreline wildlife like Dall sheep and bears.

We have more Alaska cruise port departures featuring Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line. All Alaska cruises include one or more glacier-viewing days, and you’ll get closer to ‘the giants’ on ships perfectly sized for the Great Land. Travel the Inside Passage on 10 or 11-day Alaska cruises from San Francisco and allow the natural landscapes to inspire your day’s adventures.

Alaska Cruises 2024-2025 Award-Winning Cruises to Alaska

Table Of Content

• Our Alaska Seafood Is Certified Sustainable
• Seabourn Odyssey, Alaska Glacier Bay & Inside Passage from Juneau, October 4, 2024
• Pros of End of Season Alaska Cruises
• What to Expect on an Alaskan Cruise in June
• Longer sailings from the West Coast

If you want to cruise Alaska but also see some of the interior and enjoy a stay in a lodge or hotel, go for a cruisetour package from either Holland America or Princess Cruises. Both have fantastic itineraries that take passengers not only to the Inside Passage, but also Anchorage, Denali National Park, the Yukon, Kenai Peninsula, Talkeetna and Fairbanks. On a cruisetour, you'll sail a one-way Gulf of Alaska cruise, so your cruise starts or ends in Alaska. Depending on the tour itinerary you choose, you might visit Seward and the Kenai Peninsula, Alyeska, Talkeetna, Anchorage and Fairbanks — as well as spend one to three nights in Denali National Park.

Our Alaska Seafood Is Certified Sustainable

It’s definitely not the same as cruising in July, but it’s still Alaska and beautiful. After a long winter, Alaska begins to wake up in April, and that includes the wildlife. A few big ships, such as the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Bliss out of Seattle, begin their season this month with discounted early season pricing. I cruise to Alaska so many times every year that I’ve started telling people I summer there. However, if Alaska is a one-time bucket list itinerary for you, I’d avoid October (you might get lucky like I did, but the odds are against it). If I only had one shot at Alaska, I’d go in July (maybe August) on either Holland America or Princess on an itinerary that includes Glacier Bay.

Seabourn Odyssey, Alaska Glacier Bay & Inside Passage from Juneau, October 4, 2024

Add high-powered binoculars to your Alaska packing list to ensure that you get to see all of the wildlife possible. You might see bears that are continuing to fatten up before hibernation. Humpback whales have yet to begin their migration to warmer waters, so you will still be able to see them, especially in early August. Juneau gets about 17 days of rain in August, so a high-quality raincoat is essential. They begin migrating from Hawaiian waters in the springtime to feed in the nutrient-rich Alaskan waters. Rainfall slows down a bit in June, with about 13 days of the month having some precipitation.

Pros of End of Season Alaska Cruises

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. Choosing the best time of year for an Alaskan cruise can be challenging. From month to month, the weather, wildlife, and your chances of viewing the mesmerizing Northern Lights vary greatly. Just like the weather, sea conditions are also unpredictable in October.

Why You Should Take an Alaska Summer Vacation Cruise

That being said if it was our first cruise to Alaska wouldn't go in October. The whale watching company we have really enjoyed in Icy Strait Point closes late September but the crab shack we like in Juneau will probably still be open at least the first cruise we are on. Alaska is a primarily summer destination; over 90% of people visit Alaska during the summer season between the end of May and mid-September. This means that cruising during the summer is a very popular – and pricey – activity, and will probably give you some sticker shock even if you find a good deal.

What to Expect on an Alaskan Cruise in June

September is one of the last months of the cruise season in Alaska and it is also one of the coldest, with temperatures staying in the low to high forties on average. As the month advances, the temperatures drop lower and lower, and the nights and early mornings can be bitterly cold. Denali National Park boasts the continent’s highest peak, and Glacier Bay National Park is one of the world’s largest protected areas. You can discover even more magnificence during your Alaska cruisetour at Wrangell-St. Elias and Kenai Fjords National Parks, where one of the four largest ice caps in the world invites guests to explore its terrain. Cruise lines often run sales in the fall or in the early months of the year (a period known in the cruise industry as "wave season").

Longer sailings from the West Coast

The high temperature in May in the capital city of Juneau, averages in the mid-50s, with lows in the 40s. There are also amazing birds, including bald eagles and land animals like mountain goats, Dall sheep, and brown and black bears. In April, towns along the Inside Passage will have just over 15 and a half hours of sunlight and will be gaining daylight every day. While the weather in Alaska in June brings out the flowers and even greener scenery, expect mosquitoes to be biting. Alaska temperatures can be unpredictable, so come prepared with the proper wardrobe.

Alaska Cruises October

Take a cruise across Alaska in October 2024 and soak up the stunning landscapes at one-of-a-kind sites. Alaska is known as the “last big real frontier” of the United States of America. Alaska is a destination for true explorers, with scenery that never fails to impress visitors. This pristine wilderness is home to glistening glaciers, rich forests, towering mountains, unusual wildlife, and waterfront villages. October 2024 is not the best time to take Alaska cruises, but you can still find a few cruises from Seattle, Juneau, and Ketchikan. You’ll also have a chance to visit the incredible Butchart Gardens, witness glaciers, pan for gold, hike through temperate rainforests, and much more.

Norwegian Jewel Itineraries: 2024 & 2025 Schedule (with Prices) on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

Norwegian Jewel Itineraries: 2024 & 2025 Schedule (with Prices) on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:16:13 GMT [source]

What to Expect on an Alaskan Cruise in August

Begin by sailing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and along the Pacific Coast. As you voyage into the Inside Passage, enjoy one of the best ways to explore the fjords, small towns and natural landmarks with your favorite people. 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. Rather than stay up all night, see if your ship or pre- or post-cruise hotel has a sign-up sheet for people who want a wake-up call should the lights appear. 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.

Speaking of which, I’ve watched over the past few years as the Seattle to Alaska cruise season has gradually gotten longer, now starting in early April and extending through late October. It’s always a sad day when the last cruise ship sails away for the season. I live in a high rise apartment in downtown Seattle, so I can literally see it sailing away and have been known to shed tears while drowning my sorrows in a chocolate martini (my favorite cruise drink). The Alaska cruise season is a little over six months long, but choosing the best time to cruise Alaska is surprisingly not that simple. This month also experiences near constant cloud cover with a good chance of rain on any given day.

With over three acres of windows and glass exterior viewing elevators, you can watch for whales along Alaska’s Inside Passage when you aren’t wandering wilderness paths from Ketchikan to Juneau. And for the ultimate outdoor adventure, take a CruiseTour into Alaska’s interior where you can hang with huskies in Denali, and scale glaciers in Alyeska. For cruise itineraries in Alaska, August high temperatures will be somewhere in the upper 50s and low 60s.

With lows in the 50s, you don’t need to pack a winter coat and hat, but be sure to include warm, wicking layers to keep your temperature steady. The average July temperature in Juneau is 64 degrees, with an average low of 51 degrees. If you have an exterior room and are sensitive to light while sleeping, a sleeping mask will help you rest during these long days. You’ll also have more hours to look for wildlife from your room window or veranda. 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. There is also potential for viewing orcas, gray whales, and walruses.

Locals typically call the months of April and May “break-up” because the snow and ice begin to break apart and melt after the long winter. In April, mountains will still be snowy, and high temperatures will max out in the upper 40s for most cruise ports. However, they start making their way back to warmer waters from late September to early October, so you’ll see far fewer whales on an October cruise (you may still see some though – I did).

The nearby Spasski River Valley holds one of the world’s largest populations of brown bears, who are often found hunting for salmon in the rivers. Zipline over the wilderness, watch a tribal dance or kayak in coastal waters to see the wildlife up close during your Alaska cruise vacation. Sail 500 miles deeper into the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound on our back-to-back Voyage of the Glaciers Alaska cruise.

With the largest collection of tidewater glaciers in the world, your scenic Alaska cruise through the fjord will make a lasting memory. 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.