What's the best month to go on an Alaskan cruise?


What's the best month to go on an Alaskan cruise? Alaska basks in gorgeous 24-hour daylight during two months of the year surrounding the summer solstice. This is when Alaska residents get their outdoor activities in, including 2:00 am hikes, dog walks, and beach volleyball. Mid-May through mid-July are the best months to cruise to Alaska to soak in the midnight sun.


Can you see the northern lights on an Alaskan cruise?

Generally, skies are clearest near the spring and fall equinoxes in later September and March. Some late September/early October Alaska cruises can include northern lights sightings as well.


What months can you see the northern lights on an Alaskan cruise?

The best time to see the aurora borealis in Alaska is from August 21 to April 21. We call it the Aurora Season.


Do you need a passport for an Alaskan cruise?

Just to recap, you do not necessarily have to have a passport to cruise to Alaska. As long as you are a United States citizen and the cruise is making a close-loop sailing out of a U.S. port, you can cruise as long as you carry the proper alternate identification.


Is it cold on an Alaskan cruise?

Temperatures range on average between fifty and sixty degrees with mostly cool afternoons and evenings and chilly mornings and mid-day hours. The late nights and early mornings can be very cold, but these are also the hours when most people are asleep in their cabins.


What is the best time of year to see whales on an Alaskan cruise?

When is the Best Time of Year for Whale Watching on an Alaska Cruise? You're in luck. April to November is the best time to see whales in Alaska and that nicely aligns with the Alaska cruise season. Like most of us, whales enjoy Alaska in the spring and summer months, when the days are long and food is plentiful.


Which is the best side of a cruise ship to be on Alaska?

Northbound Alaska cruises sail up the coastline through the Inside Passage and along Hubbard Glacier, so your best view of Alaska's scenic landmasses are likely on the starboard side of the ship. Southbound Alaska cruises are the opposite.


What do you wear to whale watching in Alaska?

from Rudee Tours suggests “Layers of clothing, and of course a camera!” Consider a rain jacket or windbreaker (waterproof jacket) if you get cold easily or don't like getting wet.


Are Alaskan cruises rainy?

Even during the prime cruising months of June, July, and August, temperatures are generally fairly mild during this time, with average highs in the 60s and lows in the high 40s and 50s. Ketchikan receives the most rain, with weather conditions becoming progressively drier the farther north you go.


Are the seas rough on an Alaskan cruise?

Alaska Cruises Can Be Bumpy in the Gulf of Alaska Rough Waters: The majority of sailing on an Alaska cruise is done in the protected waters of the Inside Passage, but ships sailing to Seward, Whittier or Anchorage must cross the Gulf of Alaska, which is much rougher.


What month are whales most active in Alaska?

Gray whales are the first to arrive, typically in April when they're often spotted off of Seward. By May, we start to see more orcas, then humpback whales come June. Alaska's peak whale season is considered to be May through September, and it's during this time that the boat tours operate.


How many days is best for an Alaskan cruise?

10 Days. This is a very popular vacation length, and no wonder: 10 days is enough time to combine a cruise with a land tour and experience both sides of Alaska. Trips of this length usually include a whirlwind tour of some of Alaska's popular interior and Southcentral destinations, plus a 7-day cruise.


Can you always see the shore on an Alaskan cruise?

“How far from shore do the Alaskan cruises go - can you always see land?” Most of the time you see land. You are out at see the first and last night.


What is the cheapest month to cruise to Alaska?

The Alaska cruise season typically runs from late April to late September, and the cheapest months to cruise to Alaska are during the shoulder season months of April, May, and September.