Thursday, April 18, 2024

The Best Time to Cruise Alaska: A Month-by-Month Guide

alaska cruise in july

Small ship cruises tend to offer more adventure-focused shore excursions alongside personalized service and luxurious accommodations and amenities. Smaller ships can reach ports of call and destinations that are inaccessible to larger cruise ships, allowing you to explore more remote settings and communities. For an even more customized experience, consider a private cruise on smaller ships like yachts and sailboats. You’ll enjoy wildlife viewing, warmer temperatures, and daylight returns to more typical hours.

Enjoy the Views

For example, Alaska cruises from San Francisco seem to be sold out for July. Earlier this year, I went on 2 Alaska cruises with Princess, and I have one more Princess cruise booked for September. Your Alaska cruise may also go to Whittier (Anchorage) or Seward, and these are a bit further north, leaving Southeast Alaska. But the highlights will be different depending on the time of year you go, and you will want to manage your expectations for certain things depending on the time of year you go.

Voyage of the Glaciers

Whether you’re looking for an all-inclusive multi-day Alaska cruise package or simply a day cruise to see wildlife and glaciers, there are many options to choose from. There is also a focus on respecting the cultural traditions of destinations through cooperative regenerative tourism that preserves a community's unique history, culture and values. Seattle is known as "The Emerald City" thanks to its green forests and lush surroundings. Pike Place Market buzzes with merchants while coffee shops house locals drinking espresso in America's coffee capital. Climb the Space Needle and enjoy the Seattle skyline, or explore the history of Pioneer Square, the city's oldest neighborhood — only when you cruise to Alaska from Seattle.

Norwegian Jade / Norwegian Jewel12-Day Denali by Rail Explorer

It’s also a good idea to pack a few pairs of moisture-wicking socks to keep your feet dry and prevent unpleasant odors. Visit its most popular attractions, such as the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. Our Alaska cruise departure ports have big personalities and loads of attractions. Ketchikan, Alaska is one of the best spots along Alaska's Inside Passage to explore the rich cultural sights of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian. Amble historic Creek Street, a boardwalk over a wide creek that fills with salmon during certain times of year. An elegant and spacious Alaska cruise ship with fresh floral arrangements and garden-inspired décor.

The best time to cruise Alaska - The Points Guy

The best time to cruise Alaska.

Posted: Wed, 11 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The Princess cruise ships that are doing these kinds of Alaska cruises in July 2023 are the Grand Princess, Majestic Princess, Royal Princess, and Sapphire Princess. There are also “cruisetours” that you can add through Princess on the one-way cruises, which are combination tours of both cruise and land, with extra days being spent on land in Alaska. While the weather in July in Alaska is known to be the warmest out of any time of the year, July is also one of the months in the year that you may experience a lot of rain. From top-rated cruises that visit Glacier Bay National Park to scenic rail travel and exclusive Princess lodges, you will find a seamless Alaska experience with Princess.

Real Alaska from local Alaskans

Explore the cultures of the Native Alaskans, and learn about the Klondike Gold Rush. With spectacular wildlife and dozens of thrilling, kid-friendly activities, Alaska is perfect for families. Kids will love spotting bears and whales, and the whole family can try sea kayaking, go zip lining, join guided hikes through the forest, and learn to drive a team of husky dogs. Choose the style to suit your personal taste, from Destination Highlights to Small Group Discoveries, or even custom-designed Private Journeys.

Glacier & Wildlife Day Cruises

Large cruise companies sail Alaska's Inside Passage from Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, and on through the Gulf of Alaska to Seward or Whittier. In between, passengers usually stop in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, and then sail up College Fjord to see glaciers stretching their icy fingers into the sea. You'll see plenty of stunning scenery along the way but not up close – for most cruisers, it's more than enough to satisfy. You can visit Alaska without a passport on a closed-loop sailing (one that begins and ends in the same U.S. port). Be sure to bring your passport if you plan on crossing the border from Skagway into Canada's Yukon Territory -- or exploring any Canadian port of call. Go back in time to the Klondike Gold Rush on cruises to Skagway, Alaska, once the primary gateway to the goldfields.

Towering above the water over 30 stories, the glacier often calves 100-foot chunks of ice into the ocean. What lies beneath the waves is almost as impressive, where ice plunges 1,200 feet beneath the surface. Alaska cruisetours combine our top-rated Voyage of the Glaciers cruise with three to ten nights on land exploring Denali National Park. Travel aboard our exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness® train and unwind at Princess Wilderness Lodges®. Every year Princess introduces more people to Denali National Park than any other cruise line. Sourdough is such an important part of Alaskan culture that long-time Alaskans are actually called sourdoughs in local parlance.

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June is a smart choice for cruisers who don’t want to travel during peak season but want more opportunities. 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.

The Alaska cruise season is a little over six months long, but choosing the best time to cruise Alaska is surprisingly not that simple. July brings some of the warmest temperatures to Alaska, but the summer does get rainier as it progresses. In Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, expect milder temperatures ranging from 55ºF to 70ºF (13ºC to 21ºC). Fairbanks and the rest of Interior Alaska experience warmer and drier conditions, with average temperatures of 60ºF to 80ºF (15ºC to 27ºC). Southeast Alaska, including Juneau and Ketchikan, tends to be milder and wetter, with temperatures around 55ºF to 65ºF (13ºC to 18ºC) and frequent rain showers.

alaska cruise in july

You’ve got about a 50/50 chance of getting rained or snowed on during excursions. You’ll be very happy if you purchase a quality raincoat and pack clothing you can add or remove in layers. From the sweeping mountains of Juneau to the fish-bearing seas of Ketchikan, discover our Alaska cruise ports and set sail into the adventures that await you. Travel back in time and pan for gold like a prospector during the Gold Rush. Snuggle sled dog puppies in the ship's Piazza, or see the Northern Lights in the planetarium. At the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, explore our treehouse and enjoy unmatched views of Denali.

Both combine a look at the rugged, raw coastlines with time spent on shore in towns with few frills. Weather can often be cold, rainy and windy, but if you want a unique adventure in Alaska, check out the itineraries from Hurtigruten. Our Princess fleet includes ships that range from our smaller vessels to large ships.

During July, Alaska experiences incredibly long daylight hours, providing an extended window each day for visitors to enjoy the outdoors. While that’s especially true in the northern part of the state, even areas like Anchorage and Denali serve up lots of daylight and only a few hours of darkness. Take advantage by indulging in various adventures and create memories that will last a lifetime. When it comes to packing clothing for an Alaska cruise in July, it’s important to prioritize comfort and layering. The key is to be prepared for a variety of weather conditions, including cool temperatures, rain, and even occasional sunny days.

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. Other adventurous activities, such as hiking trails, open up in the summer months. Hatcher Pass typically opens up in July, depending on the specific Hatcher Pass weather conditions. Mt. Denali is another option for cruisers, but be sure to check on the Mt. Denali weather with your cruise line.

alaska cruise in july

Most people tend to focus on the Caribbean for summer cruises, but an Alaska summer vacation can be a great option, too. Embark on a thrilling journey with young explorers through breathtaking landscapes. On our family Alaska cruise, we created lifetime memories by sharing glacier spotting, dog sledding, flightseeing and other adventures with our teens. Brilliance of the Seas makes it impossible to feel bored during a vacation! These top things to do onboard this beloved cruise ship make it a fan favorite for many. The sheer size of Alaska lends itself to a wide variety of terrain and travel experiences.

You can make it a 7-day Alaska cruise going northbound from Vancouver to Anchorage one-way. These 14-day cruises are actually 2x 7-day one-way cruises, so they can also be booked as individual 7-day Alaska cruises one-way between Vancouver and Anchorage. There is a scenic cruising glacier day at Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier. You can do a 7-day Alaska cruise round trip from Seattle on the Discovery Princess. So this makes it even more important to think about how you can have the best Alaska cruise without excursions.

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