Thursday, April 11, 2024

Alaska is ready for another record-breaking cruise season

alaska cruise in april

The abundant cloud cover and frequent rain make the landscape all the more beautiful, but visitors should dress properly for a better overall experience. Witnessing bears catch (or try to catch) slippery salmon from a river is one of the most incredible Alaska experiences you can have. The best time to view this dramatic display is mid-July to mid-August, though you can take wildlife excursions to bear hangouts at any time during cruise season. These ships often feature complimentary shore excursions, kayaks and bikes for guest use and onboard scientists and naturalists. The Alaska cruise season winds down in October, with only a few ships setting sail.

Night Alaska - Northbound WhittierDetails

Donning subtle notes of the sea, the silver salmon is one of the most sought-after fish and just so happens to be most fruitful this time of year. Whether or not fishing is your forte, be sure to pack water-resistant apparel for every splash and sprinkle that may arise from kayaking down crystalline fjords and hiking through misty rainforests. With lows in the upper 40s and highs of around 60, you’ll feel refreshed and eager to explore the captivating wonders of Alaska. As temperatures continue to rise, relish in the warmest month of the year when Alaska’s wildlife comes out to play. In Icy Strait Point, find regal brown grizzly bears roaming through streams in search of fresh salmon. Or, look for lively humpback whales making a splash off the coast of Juneau.

Glacier Bay National Park

alaska cruise in april

Our experts have more information on when to visit Alaska, planning your Alaska trip or the best time of year to visit Alaska. When you are ready to book the trip of a lifetime, just give us a call, our experts are ready to help. The first humpbacks begin to arrive in Alaska about late April and early May. These are typically the adult males that can make the long migration the fastest.

The 6 Best Cruises for Northern Lights Viewing - AFAR Media

The 6 Best Cruises for Northern Lights Viewing.

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Must-See Alaska Wildlife in August:

Many flock to Alaska every year for a chance to witness the aurora borealis. Did you know they are more likely to display during high solar activity cycles? Find out how to pick the best time to see the northern lights in Alaska. Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. 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®.

The adventurous can find some of the best winter sports conditions of the year at higher elevations, and when night freezes have created a morning crust. The mountains and foothills remain white, while flatlands and shorelines awaken to spring. In our opinion the best time to travel to Alaska is in June, July and August. The best month to visit Alaska is July, when travelers will experience the best combination of weather and wildlife.

What to Expect on an Alaskan Cruise in June

Ice calving is both a thunderous warning of climate change and an incredible phenomenon to behold. The best time to view artic-blue ice plunge into the sea is during the warmest months of June, July, and August at active glaciers. Because Alaska has such a short season with a limited number of ships and is a dream trip for many, cruises are in high demand and people plan early. Floatplane and helicopter tours take you around scenic areas like Misty Fjords or land you on a glacier, perhaps for a dogsledding or hiking adventure on the ice. If you prefer to stay grounded, you can find informative trolley tours of ports like Skagway. Active travelers can explore Alaska by sea kayak or canoe, hike on glaciers and through rainforests, zip line, bike, ride an ATV and even snorkel (you'll need a dry suit).

Great experiences from the great land

But they are more annoyance than deterrent so don’t let bugs affect your travel plans. Mosquitoes and other bugs are most prevalent in the boggy interior and Arctic tundra regions during mid-summer. They can’t fly in a light breeze and they aren’t as active in rain, which keeps coastal and mountainous regions relatively bug-free.

On a cruisetour, you'll sail 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. Popular Inside Passage ports of call include Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Haines and Skagway. 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.

alaska cruise in april

Alaska National Parks

Embark on a thrilling journey with young explorers through breathtaking landscapes. 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.

For a view of the city and cruise port, take a ride in the sky on the Mount Roberts Tramway. Various wildlife-viewing trips (whale, bears and more) and visits to dogsled camps and salmon bakes leave from Juneau. Some activities are included in the cost of the cruisetour; other outings can be booked like shore excursions depending on your interest and budget.

Most of the month of June in Alaska is either cold or pleasantly cool with very cold temperatures being less frequent than in May. The lows can be as low as forty-three degrees Fahrenheit, and the highs can get up to the sixties on average. Here’s what you can expect each month on your upcoming Alaska cruise along with what you really need to pack. It was interior - Anchorage - Fairbanks, with a side day down to Seward/Whittier, so my experience matters little to what your days will look like. 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.

We have developed comprehensive Alaska planning guides for our booked clients, with expertise culled from years of our own living, working, guiding and traveling in Alaska. As Alaska small ship cruise experts, we advise clients that the best time to cruise Alaska is May 15 through September 1. If we had to choose one, the best month for an Alaska cruise is July. Thankfully, our experts have compiled all our tips here so you can see the benefits of each month as they might pertain to your needs. Start thinking about your own best time to go to Alaska, then make it happen with our trips that focus on wildlife and wilderness. Salmon have a fascinating, beautiful life cycle well worth viewing.

Home to Mendenhall Glacier, this is a popular port for hikes by, kayak tours to and helicopter landings on the glacier. 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. Gulf of Alaska sailings — especially those in late August and September — can encounter rough seas in the gulf portion of the voyage. If you book a Gulf of Alaska voyage, you'll also enjoy exploring parts of the Inside Passage and its ports that could include a mix of Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Ketchikan, Haines and Icy Strait Point. Fluid lines, light-filled spaces and a blend of modern elegance and nautical tradition make Koningsdam a sublime ship for Alaska cruises.

With over three acres of windows and glass exterior viewing elevators, you can watch for whales along Alaska’s Inside Passage when you aren’t wandering wilderness paths from Ketchikan to Juneau. 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. The waters also start to teem with marine life, including whales, sea otters, and seals.

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