Some lines also offer Alaska cruisetours that venture into Canada's Yukon, including a few Holland America tours that combine half a cruise with a cruisetour that starts or ends in Skagway. On a cruisetour, you'll sail on 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. For these itineraries, you'll need to fly into or out of Anchorage and take a train or bus to/from the cruise departure ports, which can take an hour or two.
How to Make your Alaska Cruise Travel Easier: Tips - Royal Caribbean Blog
How to Make your Alaska Cruise Travel Easier: Tips.
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Nesting Eagles
Warmer weather in Alaska also has an unexpected bonus for cruisers in the form of glacial calving. 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. July is filled with opportunities to see the stunning wildlife of Alaska while enjoying milder temperatures. 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. They begin migrating from Hawaiian waters in the springtime to feed in the nutrient-rich Alaskan waters.
The best time to cruise Alaska
However, most of Alaska's tastiest fruits and vegetables aren't on offer until later in the summer. Experience the wonders of Endicott Arm Fjord and Dawes Glacier on the gorgeous Celebrity Solstice on a June cruise to Alaska. It’s one of the state’s most lucrative industries, and many cruisers can’t wait to try their hand at it. In addition to the spectacular scenery and rich native wildlife, you’ll also find the ports of call on your Alaska cruise to be welcoming and full of interesting things to see and do.
Shoulder Seasons Offer Lower Prices
Many expedition cruises to Alaska also employ Zodiac rafts and offer kayaks and hiking trips to bring passengers closer to glaciers and creatures. While early May often carries a chill in the air, by the end of the month, you might encounter temperatures in the 60s. The warmer weather means glaciers begin shedding ice more frequently, so you have a better chance of experiencing the sight and sound of a house-size chunk of ice calving into the sea.
Juneau
You can expect Alaska cruise temperatures in May to have lows of around 40 and highs of around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Alaska is a special place to cruise because it’s very different from standard tropical cruise destinations. Cruises to Alaska don’t occur during the months of January, February, March, November and December. The dark and cold winters are not ideal for cruises because travelers aren’t able to enjoy the wonders of the state of Alaska.
While booking shore excursions on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website is convenient, you might find more options (or lower prices) by booking through independent tour operators. More hours of daylight on an Alaska cruise means more time to sightsee, whether in port or when sailing through the Inside Passage. Juneau, for example, sees around 18 hours of daylight in June compared to just 12 in September. Additionally, June, July, and August may come with more crowds, but offer several more hours of daylight compared to in the fall.
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.
Disembark your ship early on each port day to avoid crowds
It’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared, so there’s no harm in reading articles and watching YouTube videos to help you prepare for your Alaska cruise. Nonetheless, it’s helpful to know the basic rules of photography before setting sail. Practice taking pictures at home and watch a few beginner photography tutorials on YouTube to ensure you have the skills needed to take that perfect shot. Outside of clothing, there are other essentials you should pack for an Alaska cruise. While not required, bringing items like motion-sickness medication, binoculars, and cabin essentials like outlet adapters are helpful to have handy. Browse a local outdoor consignment shop or search for used clothing on websites like Facebook Marketplace or eBay to find the best deals.
Alaskan Cruise Month-By-Month Guide
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. Temperatures are relatively mild, with daytime highs in the upper 40s and into the 50s depending on where you're visiting and cloud cover. Walk to Skagway’s historic downtown from the cruise dock and tour the town’s infamous saloons, including the Red Onion. Then, tip back a genuine Southeast Alaska specialty, a spruce tip ale at the Skagway Brewing Company; this unusual ale uses spruce tips instead of hops in its brew.
If you want a more active trip in less touristed areas, a great choice would be a small-ship expedition line, including Alaska specialists such as Alaskan Dream Cruises and UnCruise Adventures. Many people trek to Alaska to commune with nature, but there's also history here that you shouldn't overlook. Dress in layers of clothing so that you can peel off (or add on) slowly as the thermometer dictates. You will want to pack a bathing suit and a very warm fleece jacket -- and you'll likely wear both at different times.
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. The best time to cruise Alaska is in May or June, at the beginning of the cruise season.
Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for a cruise up north - The Points Guy
Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for a cruise up north.
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The chance of rain during this month is over 50%, so you’ll want to pack plenty of waterproof gear – including waterproof shoes and wool socks. 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.
Bald eagles hatch and rear young in April and you can see their mottled fledglings from May through June. Winter, when nights are long, dark, and clear, is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. That said, it is possible but not guaranteed to see them on an Alaska cruise. An Alaska cruise in early April, or late September, close to the fall equinox (September 21), will increase your chances. Another way to save some money is to check out glacier routes that go northbound, which can be slightly cheaper than those heading southbound.
Weather, ocean conditions, and limited sunlight make winter cruising to Alaska impossible. Since I grew up in Alaska, I’m a fan of just about everything in the Land of the Midnight Sun. I also know that your experience can vary widely depending on the month you choose to visit Alaska. June is one of the best months for wildlife sightings, with caribou, black bears, mountain goats, moose calves, and even polar bears out and about. The Alaska cruise temperature is warmer in June, with lows of 45 and highs in the low 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
These are the months when all good things combine to create the optimal Alaskan experience. Weather is a pretty big consideration when it comes to booking an Alaskan cruise. If you have a low tolerance for cold weather, cruising Alaska during the warmest months of July and August is a better choice. June is a smart choice for cruisers who don’t want to travel during peak season but want more opportunities. Because they don’t migrate, you have a great chance of viewing these 1000+ pound, 10-foot-long animals on rocks near the shorelines as you cruise.
To ensure you don’t miss out, consider booking a later dinner time, or simply eat dinner elsewhere on the nights the sailaway overlaps with your dining time. The Windjammer buffet can be an excellent place to enjoy dinner in Alaska, as the buffet has floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the venue, in addition to outdoor seating on select ships. One of the best ways to become acquainted with Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships is to watch a full tour of the ship on YouTube. On our YouTube channel, we have full, high definition tours of each Royal Caribbean ship sailing to Alaska. Just as Alaska’s weather can be unpredictable in terms of rain and snow, you may also encounter surprisingly warm weather, particularly in the peak summer season.
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