What would be the best month to go on the Alaska cruise?

Question

i have a pinched nerve which hurts more in cool weather but i really want to go on the Alaska cruise

Answer 1

August would be nice.  But you know....you just never know how the weather is going to be.  I went in the beginning of August and we had incredible weather, even warm for that part of the country.  Two weeks earlier they were drenched in rain.  I think the summer months are a better bet.

Answer 2

The best time would be in the spring or in the summer.

Answer 3

No worries the summers are not that cold!!  The weather in the summer where the crew ships go is about the same as Seattle, WA (I'm from Alaska and live in Seattle)  You should defiantly do it I promise you wont be disappointed!!  And try and get on a ship that has a massage therapist, that will help with your pinched nerve.  Hope this helps!!  You'll have a blast!!

Answer 4

July or August. Take mosquito repellent.

Answer 5

Well, I have taken a cruise and I used to live in Alaska, but I have never taken a cruise to Alaska... :)

Every major cruise in Alaska travels through SE Alaska, so my answer will be based on that. Here are the factors I can think of:

Price:  I always wanted to go to Alaska as a "tourist" on a cruise.  When I followed the prices, it seemed that May and September offered the best prices overall, but for the most part, the prices weren't very predictable.

Weather: The weather in SE Alaska is unpredictable. Though the cruise ships sail through September, I would avoid September if you are looking for the best weather. I have seen it rain every day for months in SE Alaska, so be prepared. Mid June through early August is probably your best bet for nice weather.

Fishing: If you plan on fishing during your cruise on an excursion, timing is very important. Salmon come in “runs”, that is they head to freshwater streams in groups around certain days. King Salmon tend to head toward fresh water from late April through May (King Salmon are the least predictable. They can be caught in the ocean or the streams all summer long). Sockeye (red) Salmon head for the streams roughly from early May to early June, hitting the streams by June (the Sockeye run seems to happen quick. Some places do not allow them to be fished from beaches). Dog (Chum) and Pink (Humpy) Salmon run from roughly the end of June to late August, hitting the streams in late July and early August. Coho (silver) Salmon run from late July to mid September, with mid August usually being the peak of the run. The dates are from my experience in Juneau and will vary slightly from city to city. If you have a big interest in charter fishing, try and contact the charter company in advance to seek their advice.

Bears: Bears tend to be seen with the salmon runs. The salmon runs in the streams tend to be heaviest in August and September. If you are interested in taking a excursion to see bears, that would be the best time (there used to be a charter to Pack Creek on Admiralty Island in the Juneau area that always see lots of bears).

Other Wildlife: Other wildlife is unpredictable. Eagles tend to be everywhere and usually hang out along the coast line and where fisherman hang out (they eat the scraps). Whales are around all summer long, but usually require a special excursion. I have rarely seen one close to land, at least in the Juneau area. Sea lions tend to hang out around boats and around islands away from the mainland (you would probably see them if you go see the whales). If you are lucky (or unlucky), you may see deer and bears while hiking trails, but this is very rare. If you are hiking by yourselfs, bears tend to avoid humans, but talk loudly, clap your hands, sing, or wear bells on your clothes so bears know you are in the area. They may attack if surprised (I’ve hiked more miles of trails and more mountains than I can remember, and I have yet to have a bear bother me).

Shopping: A large majority of the tourist shops in all the ports close down for the winter. Because of this, the month of September tends to boast many sales in these shops as they are trying to get rid of their inventory for the year. This is just something to keep in mind.

I wish you happy sailing. There really is not bad time to visit Alaska, as long as you are prepared. Be prepared for cool weather (mid 60’s to low 70’s) and fine, misty rain. I’d recommend carrying a rain coat (or a waterproof wind breaker or waterproof coat of some kind) and dressing in layers. The weather can warm up quickly when the sun comes out and cool off quickly when it is cloudy. If you go fishing on the open water, it can get cold in a hurry. It seems that the smaller the boat, the colder the fishing trip (when I would go out on a 16 ft open Aluminum boat, I dress like it was winter. Once you get out in the wind, rain, and water spray, there is no way to warm back up). Large boats tend to be warmer (not sure if it is because they usually have an area out of the wind or there is enough room to walk around and move).

There is a good website on cruising at http://www.cruisecritic.com that also has message boards and articles about what to expect if this is your first cruise

Answer 6

Most cruises go up the inside passage of SE Alaska which is a temperate rain forest.  The best weather (warmest months with least rain) are June and July.  The SE Alaska rain forest gets about 100 inches of rain annually and has about 60 days per year with no precipitation.  A warm summer day usually reaches the mid 60's and it gets colder and substantially more windy around the glaciers and ice fields (which is what you want to see when you come here). To give you an example of what the weather is like, one time I was downtown where the tourists go (most locals never go there) and a lady was complaining about the downpour and asked,

"Does it always rain like this?"

"No... in the winter it snows." I replied.  

The other locals around got a good laugh but when you get precipitation 305 days out of the year you have to learn to live with it.

Answer 7

http://www.laurajamestravel.com and look up an Alaskin cruise to find the cheapest booking

Answer 8

If you're wanting the warmest weather, then I'd shoot for late June or July. Alaska is beautiful. I used to live there and then took a cruise 4 years ago in June. We had great weather. We were laying out by the pool in the sun as we cruised past snow covered mountains. It was cooler when we went to the glaciers, but I think you'll be just fine. Enjoy yourself! :)

Answer 9

We went in August and it was about 75 degree's everyday. Never had a rain day, it was gorgeous out.  It was the best cruise in the world.  The towns and scenery are just like looking in a history book.

Answer 10

Any summer month is great, with the lowest fares in September.

It's also getting cooler then. For a list of all available please go here:

http://wwwcruise.com