When is the best time to see whales on an Alaskan cruise?

Table Of Content

• When Is The Best Time To Cruise To Alaska For Salmon Fishing?
• Whale-Watching Excursions in Sitka
• Carnival Cruise Passengers Attempt to Bring Portable Washing Machine Aboard Ship
• Best ports for viewing whales in Alaska
• What to Do in Alaska: Top Things to Do in April
• What are nighttime temperatures like in Alaska during the summer?

On top of that, during the late summer and early fall, you will have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights in all of their glory. From the panhandle to the Beaufort Sea, this is prime whale watching habitat, especially during summer when most species make their annual migration north. In southcentral Alaska, the most popular spots include Kenai Fjords and Resurrection Bay, Prince William Sound and the Kodiak area.

When Is The Best Time To Cruise To Alaska For Salmon Fishing?

You can book the transportation on your own or through your cruise line. Generally, these one-way sailings travel from Seward or Whittier (the cruise ports closest to Anchorage) to Vancouver (or vice versa). Most itineraries are seven nights, but you'll find a handful that are longer.

Whale-Watching Excursions in Sitka

If you’re looking for a great deal on an Alaskan cruise and you have a flexible travel schedule, consider the shoulder seasons in your plans. In May and September, with fewer people traveling, it’s much easier to find discounts on unsold cabins. During this time, the sun sets earlier, and the nights provide a dark canvas necessary for viewing the vibrant displays of the aurora. This period marks the end of the cruising season, offering a unique opportunity to witness these ethereal swirls of light dancing across the sky. The best time to visit Alaska to see the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, is during the darker months when nights are longer.

Carnival Cruise Passengers Attempt to Bring Portable Washing Machine Aboard Ship

For those hoping to participate in some of the many excursion options you can enjoy in Alaska, like fly fishing and whale watching, longer daylight hours mean you have more time during the day to do so. Some guests may want to go whale watching but combine the tour with other popular activities in port. This gives the opportunity to not only spot whales, but experience what else a port has to offer. While it’s possible to view whales in any Alaska cruise port, two of the most popular whale watching destinations are Juneau and Icy Strait Point. Both locations are home to feeding grounds for humpback whales, making sightings extremely common. Whale watching on an Alaska cruise is nothing short of spectacular, and not just because of the magnificent wildlife.

Given the warmer temperatures of July and August, many people who want to avoid the cold will choose to book during these months. Each month within the April to September stretch offers its own unique advantages and disadvantages. To help you choose which is the best month for you, we’ve created this month-by-month guide to the Alaskan cruise season. If you are prone to seasickness, don’t hesitate to pack seasickness remedies with you for your whale watching excursion, whether medication or natural remedies. Pack a pair of binoculars with you for your tour to ensure you can catch the best glimpse of whales if they happen to be far away. While a binocular is not necessary for every person in your travel party, having a pair to share with the group is recommended.

The Best Time to Cruise Alaska - TripSavvy

The Best Time to Cruise Alaska.

Posted: Wed, 07 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]

This 970-foot-deep fjord extending south from Seward toward the Gulf of Alaska and the Kenai Fjords National Park may be one of the most reliable places to view marine wildlife in the world. Its pristine, food-rich waters are only a few miles from the open ocean, offering extraordinary access to the productive outer coast. Whales can sometimes be seen from the waterfront park or off the beach at Lowell Point south of town. There visitors will see feeding humpback whales on most summer days, and have a good chance of encountering pods of killer whales, especially once salmon have begun schooling for spawning runs. During calm weather in the outer bay, where real ocean swells sometimes roll in from the Gulf, it can be a total bird-and-mammal show, with Alaska’s most common marine species active and easy to see.

This Is What To Expect On A Whale Watching Cruise In Alaska

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. In this post, I’ll share the best things to do near Icy Strait Point on a cruise, including shore excursions as well as inexpensive or free activities. You’ll also learn everything you need to know about visiting the Icy Strait Point cruise port for the day and get answers to commonly asked questions. You'll find magnificent mountains (often snowcapped, even in the summertime), lush forests, waterfalls, fjords and calving glaciers. If it's marine life you've come to see, you'll find it in abundance, from whales and dolphins to sea lions and harbor seals. On land, you'll likely spy bears and Dall sheep while eagles, puffins and a host of seabirds circle above.

I Took an Alaskan Cruise to See Bears, Killer Whales, and Secret Beaches — Here's How You Can, Too - Travel + Leisure

I Took an Alaskan Cruise to See Bears, Killer Whales, and Secret Beaches — Here's How You Can, Too.

Posted: Mon, 01 Aug 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

What to Do in Alaska: Top Things to Do in April

Plus, the stunning scenery and wildlife sightings provide a captivating backdrop that can both entertain and educate kids. It’s a comfortable and convenient way to experience the vast wilderness of Alaska together as a family. Additionally, adventure lovers can enjoy activities like zip-lining through the lush forests or kayaking among icebergs.

Many cruise lines offer family-friendly amenities such as kids’ clubs, family cabins, and activities tailored to younger passengers, like educational programs about wildlife and nature. For those planning to take an Alaskan cruise, consider booking a balcony cabin. As you plan your Alaskan cruise, one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is the timing of your voyage. Alaska’s charm varies with each passing month, and your choice of when to set sail can greatly impact your experience. Always Good Idea – You may choose to contact travel companies within Alaska itself to find some great whale watching tour experts. Many cruise ship companies offer excursions directly through them and we encourage you to find out what your cruise may offer.

Alaska’s vast and unspoiled wilderness offers a unique and immersive whale watching experience. Its nutrient-rich waters attract a variety of whale species, making it one of the best places in the world for whale watching. The stunning backdrop of snow-capped mountains and glaciers adds to the allure of whale watching in Alaska, creating a truly unforgettable experience. As the start of the whale watching season, May tends to be a dry month in Alaska, meaning the weather is pleasant and not too cold. Furthermore, fewer crowds mean a better chance to get close to whales and secure cruises at more favorable rates. The best time to go whale watching in Alaska is during the winter and summer months of May to September.

Choosing the right time for an Alaskan cruise depends on your personal interests and what you hope to experience in America’s Last Frontier. The choice between small and large ship cruises ultimately hinges on personal preferences for intimacy and access to nature versus onboard amenities and stable sailing. Yet, their size limits access to smaller Alaskan ports, which can constrain the range of direct exploration. Also, the large number of passengers can lead to a less personalized experience. This proximity often results in more personalized excursions and a focus on the natural surroundings.

It's known for great fishing (salmon, halibut and trout) and an eagle preserve — because eagles know where the best fish can be found. Floatplane and helicopter tours take you around scenic areas like Misty Fjords or land you on a glacier, perhaps for a dog-sledding or hiking adventure on the ice. If you prefer to stay grounded, you can find informative trolley tours of ports like Skagway.

The reason being is that whales migrate from the warmer water of Hawaii, Baja California, Mexico, and Central America to the colder waters of the Alaskan feeding grounds. Plan your own shoreside activitiesThere is no requirement to book excursions or activities through the cruise line. If a more independent style of exploration is your thing, feel free to do your own research ahead of time or visit each port of call’s visitor bureau upon arrival.

Alaska’s scenery is so vast that sometimes a closer look through binoculars at mountains, glaciers, and wildlife is helpful. If you don’t want to book a whale watching tour while in Alaska, consider booking one in your cruise departure port. Both Seattle and Vancouver offer whale watching opportunities, so this can be a nice way to add another day of excitement to your vacation before or after a cruise. That being said, Juneau is a port offering an abundance of other activities to enjoy, from hiking at Mendenhall Glacier to the Goldbelt Tram Cable Car and drinking in saloons.