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Normally 2-4 park rangers board the ship to provide highly enriching commentary and programming, to stamp your national park passport book, and to offer educational resources and souvenir merchandise. By the time our cruise ship arrived in late October, their season was already over. While all travel has environmental and cultural impacts, cruising leaves its mark to varying degrees on Alaska's fragile ecosystems. The average large cruise ship can have a carbon footprint greater than 12,000 cars and produce up to a ton of trash each day. While there can be a positive economic impact on ports of call, a small community visited by 15,000 people per day during sailing season can intrinsically change. No matter which itineraries you choose to sail on from Seattle or Vancouver, the best way to maximize your Alaska cruise is with a CruiseTour.
QUANTUM OF THE SEAS
The immediate port area will be filled with tourist shops and eateries. If you want to see nature at its finest, you must book a tour or venture farther afield. Alaska cruises offer a wide range of activities in port, with options for active travelers, wildlife lovers, history buffs and shoppers. Whether you're traveling with young kids or require more sedentary recreation, the Alaska cruise ports won't disappoint. These cruise lines, especially on their newer ships, offer something for everyone — as well as a higher caliber of onboard dining than on the cheapest cruises. On a cruisetour, you'll sail on a one-way Gulf of Alaska cruise, so your cruise starts or ends in Alaska.
Princess wilderness lodges
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. You’ll also have a chance to visit the incredible Butchart Gardens, witness glaciers, pan for gold, hike through temperate rainforests, and much more.
Alaskan Cruise Costs: What You Can Expect to Pay - NerdWallet
Alaskan Cruise Costs: What You Can Expect to Pay.
Posted: Sat, 09 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Ketchikan
Rainfall slows down a bit in June, with about 13 days of the month having some precipitation. Temperature is relative, so don’t be shocked if you see an Alaskan sporting shorts and a tank top in June. The 60s can feel downright tropical after winter temperatures in the 20s and 30s. A hat, gloves, and a winter coat would be a good idea to pack for an Alaskan cruise, especially if you depart in April, May, or September. 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.
A limited number of cruises in October (predominantly on Norwegian Cruise Line) make it possible for cruisers to experience a taste of Alaska in winter without sub-zero temperatures. You will want to bundle up; the average temperature in Juneau in October is 39 degrees. Mid-to-late September is one of the best times to spot wildlife in Alaska. Bears will be hunting for the last of the berries and salmon, and caribou, deer and moose will be mating. 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.
A day aboard the 86-passenger Wilderness Legacy might start out with a hike to a glacial lake followed by an early-evening kayak adventure in Thomas Bay. Or, you might enjoy a bit of scenic cruising by LeConte Glacier (where the big ships don't go) then continue the fun with hiking and biking the trails of Ideal Cove. Guided skiff tours will take guests in search of Alaskan wildlife in remote bays and secret coves. Ovation of the Seas sails round-trip from Seattle on seven-night cruises, but the exact itinerary varies by week. The ship cruises Endicott Arm for scenic views of Dawes Glacier and typically visits three Alaska ports and Victoria. We have more Alaska cruise port departures featuring Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line.
By the end of September, there are less than 12 hours of daylight in Juneau. 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. For cruise itineraries in Alaska, August high temperatures will be somewhere in the upper 50s and low 60s. We’ve reached the pinnacle of summer temperatures, and the rainier season has just begun. 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.
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 to Anchorage, Denali National Park, the Yukon, Kenai Peninsula, Talkeetna and Fairbanks. When you want to go will depend on which activities you want to do, how you feel about cool weather and rain, and the price.
If you've ever dreamed of visiting Alaska, there's no better way to explore the state than on a cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line has been cruising to Alaska for decades and offers some of the best itineraries available. Our lineup of 2022 Alaska cruises includes varying trip lengths and a wide selection of shore excursions.
If you are in port, you’ll get to see how Alaskans take advantage of the Midnight Sun with locals out biking, hiking, and fishing at all hours of the night. Another thing to keep in mind when deciding the best month for your Alaskan cruise is wildlife viewing opportunities. Arguably, the biggest draw is the marine animals, with opportunities to see pods of humpback whales, gray whales, orcas, sea lions, sea otters, and more. Because of its latitude, Alaska experiences extremes in daylight in the summer and darkness in the winter. The benefits of cruising in April include less expensive pricing, fewer tourists, and less crowded ports.
Explore fjords, glaciers and Gold Rush-era towns on weekend voyages out of Seattle. Keep an eye out for seabirds and songbirds, seals, Steller sea lions and humpback whales. Marine life is so prolific that some small-boat shore excursions guarantee you will see animals. Bears will be fishing; in late August, they will be looking for blueberries, which also become a featured item on restaurant menus. 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.
In this post, I share a month-by-month guide about the best time of year for an Alaskan cruise. I’ve included tips on the weather, wildlife, daylight, and the general experience you’ll have each month of the Alaska cruise season to determine when to set sail for the 49th state. For those voyagers seeking to sail from Southern California all the way up the Pacific coast to Alaska, try a new 16-day roundtrip Inside Passage voyage from Los Angeles. During the cruise season, popular cruise lines assist travelers in enjoying all of the unique sights, wildlife, excursions, events and food. If you prefer warmer temperatures, ranging from 50° to 70° Fahrenheit, and longer days with up to 22 hours of sunlight, a summer Alaskan cruise might be the perfect choice. For the most midnight sun, travel 3 weeks before or after June 21, the summer solstice.
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