Alaska cruises typically sail along the Inside Passage, a maritime route along the southern coast of the state, and into British Columbia and Washington state. Some venture farther north into the Gulf of Alaska, offering one-way cruises from Vancouver or Seattle to Seward or Whittier. Most Alaska cruises depart from Vancouver, Seattle, Alaska, and California.
There are two basic options for Alaska cruise routes: an Inside Passage or a Cross Gulf cruise. The Inside Passage is considered the classic, with about two-thirds of Alaska cruises departing from this route. One-way cruises travel between Vancouver and Whittier or Seward in Alaska, visiting several Inside Passage ports but swapping Victoria for a more northern Alaska stop, such as Sitka. Seattle and Vancouver are two of the most popular embarkation ports for Alaska cruises, both of which have major airports and plenty to explore on pre- or post-cruise stays.
There are also year-round non-stop domestic U.S. flights from Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, and Anchorage Alaska. Most Alaska cruises depart from Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Anchorage Alaska, which includes departures from Seward and Whittier. Weeklong itineraries generally embark in either Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia, though some itineraries originate in Juneau.
There is no train from Alaska back to either port, but the Alaska Railroad offers a direct flight from Seattle or Vancouver. To book your Alaskan cruise, fly into Vancouver International Airport, departing from the Canada Place Cruise Terminal. You can also book direct into Anchorage on Alaska Airlines, Delta, and American.
In summary, Alaska cruises offer a variety of options for travelers, including Inside Passage cruises, Cross Gulf cruises, and other options.
📹 The Best Time of Year to Take an Alaska Cruise | When Should I Cruise to Alaska?
If you are planning an Alaska cruise, but not sure when to go, this video is for you. We break down all of the factors like weather, …
📹 Our Alaska Cruise – 6 Things That SHOCKED Us: Our Lessons Learned
We just got back from our Alaska cruise. We had a great time. However, there were some things that really surprised us! In this …
My advice if you’re planning an Alaskan cruise… 1. DON’T GO IN THE SPRING! I am from the Seattle area and spring is “usually” the PNW, Pacific Coastal Canada, and Alaska’s wet season. Best to book your AK Vacay in late summer or after the 4th of July. 2. Plan for a late Summer adventure to AK. The weather becomes dryer and the sun is on its way back south, making AK darker at night. Perfect for star gazing and possible auroras, from mid July to September. However, if you’re looking for “Land of the Midnight Sun” and being chilled to the bone in soggy weather, then spring and early summer are perfect for this type of experience. Just remember to bring something to cover your eyes while you try to sleep in your windowed cabin. Remember, the farther north you go, the days become longer in the late spring and early summer months. 3. It’s always best to pack for the cooler temps. Especially if you’re from hot climates. It’s not uncommon to see 30 degrees or cooler in the summer in the mornings. The temperature will change dramatically throughout the day. Cool mornings, warm afternoons, and pleasant evenings may make packing a challenge. Pack a little bit of everything or buy a sweatshirt with a Cosalish Native American art to show off you survived an Alaskan Cruise. 4. BUGS, and Wildlife Yes, AK has mosquitos! They are big, they bite and they could make going on a land excursion unpleasant. Lemongrass oil is good, but it is best to bring what is good for your body. Mosquitos can not see light-colored clothing.
We’re just arrived home (to Australia) from our first Alaskan cruise. We sailed right at the start of the season, departing April 27th. I had read that May is Alaska’s driest month and it did not disappoint. We had NO rain during the day and brilliant, clear skies most days, including Glacier Bay. The mornings were cool but the afternoons quite warm. We walked about Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan with no need for umbrellas or rain wear. They were fantastic days and going early meant that most days we were the only ship there. Loved that! We saw many eagles, sea otters and some humpback whales on a shore excursion. Even if it had rained we went prepared.
My husband and I have been to Alaska twice (both times in Holland America!) and we were there in September both times. Not one rainy day! We were able to climb around on Mendenhall glacier and had a blast. I would suggest that if you don’t want your cruise to be filled with kids, which we didn’t, take Holland America!
Last year, four of us went to Glen Arbor, MI in late October. As I sat in our condo and checked the weather for our first kayak trip scheduled for 7am, I freaked out. 40 degrees and rain… All day… I told the other 3 I was stunned we were still going to attack the Platt River in what to me was INSANE weather. Guess what? BEST Kayak run I have EVER TAKEN. The memories and fun we had that day are still unmatched. I learned a lot that day and the most important is DON’T LET THE WEATHER DICTATE your fun… !!
We did an Alaska cruise out of Seattle in mid May on Norwegian Bliss and found the weather to be quite good. Two tips I’d add to your solid list are: 1. The stops in port are brief, so get off the boat and get to your excursion quickly. 2. Bring your ID with you coming off the boat. The cruise line made it sound like we just needed our cruise pass card to reboard after our excursions, but learned that the port security in Ketchikan will insist on seeing a photo ID from at least one member of your party to enter the port area.
My late parents invited me on a last minute trip to SE Alaska several years ago. We went in early August and the weather was absolutely perfect. Most days were sunny and quite warm; around 80 degrees. The whales would lazily swim right up to our fishing boat. We could almost reach over and touch them! We fished in Icy Strait of Glacier Bay and stayed at a small fishing cabin with about three other families. The meals at night were fabulous. They had a large vegetable garden and the produce was about three times larger than we were accustomed to due to the much longer daylight hours of Summer. There were also wild strawberries growing EVERYWHERE! One day we took a cruise up to the calving glaciers and spotted several puffin birds, bald eagles, grizzlies and brown bears. We caught several salmon and halibut. The other side trip we made was in a float plane to Ketchikan. That was a bit scary but worth the flight. We had explored the Mendenhall glacier outside of Juneau the first day. My wife and I have wanted to take an Alaskan cruise for years. She’s never been. Maybe next year.
Went to Alaska on a cruise in early/mid June 2000 for the first time. My ex who had lived in Alaska…including in Ketchikan made sure to tell me what to pack. We were thankfully quite comfortable. Also, it depends on the time of year for daylight. When we went, it wasn’t full daylight, yet. That typically starts around summer solstice. We went again in May 2015 and made sure to check average temps, etc. We had gorgeous days in the 60’s and low 70’s. The locals said it was fairly unusual but we were thankful for it. We were very comfy in jeans and tees. We brought an umbrella and rain jackets as well. Both came in super handy.
We’re from NC and live in the UK. Long summer days, overcast skies, cool weather..we are used to this. In fact we have grown to appreciate the beauty of gray skies. No matter where we travel we ALWAYS check the climate, geography and weather. ‘There is no bad weather, just bad clothing choices’ Lol our motto! We can’t wait for our cruise next June! Thanks for the tips!!
Completely different than my experience cruising May 29, 2022. We had sunshine and 70s every day but one of the cruise and our 4 days in Anchorage /Denali afterward. It rained at Hubbard Glacier and that was the only day where I used my puffy coat, hat and gloves. In Skagway it was 70s and sunny for our train excursion. I got sunburn in Glacier Bay,it was so sunny and beautiful and I was in shorts in Denali as well. I packed leggings, jeans, waterproof pants, shorts, swim suits, sundresses, long sleeve tops for dinner, windbreaker, puffy coat/hat and gloves. I used all of it! Look at the weather in advance and you should not be surprised. A waterproof jacket is a good item to pack just in case, I also had waterproof pants which I only needed once. I saw a handful of bald eagles the entire trip. Only 1 in Ketchikan. They are prevalent but you aren’t guaranteed to see them everywhere. We saw several in the trees leaving Seward for Anchorage and that was about it. They are not really found in Denali Park since the rivers are so silt laden, they don’t have much fish. Our excursions were cancelled when we got on board but we quickly rebooked and they were awesome. The perspective in this article is so different from our experience. I guess it goes to show be prepared for anything because you don’t know what you will get. Although do monitor the weather in advance. It’s how we knew to plan for warmer weather.
A lot of people don’t know that: “Southeast Alaska lies at the heart of the North American temperate rainforest — a forest that extends in a narrow 2,500-mile coastal strip from northern California, along coastal British Columbia, and to the eastern edge of the Kodiak archipelago in southcentral Alaska.” And that’s why is rains. I had no idea until I went in 2021.
We had the opposite experience with weather last September. We were prepared and packed for cold and rainy weather. Pleasant surprise when we had 5 straight sunny days with temps in the 70s. We wore shorts every day! It was even comfortable when we spent two hours ice climbing on Mendenhall Glacier. Had just one day of rain and still spent the day wandering around Ketchikan.
I went in late August > First week of September way back in 2013. Top Tips- Check your excursions that you want to do. If you’re booked shoulder May / September your Excursion may not even be running. For me a must do was Skagway- White Pass Rail- We got on the LAST train ride of the season. Spawning Salmon- This was an amazing thing to witness, times vary depending on port / species but July / August seems to be a sweet spot. We caught them in our August / September cruise at all ports we visited. Bring Layers / hat / sunscreen- Our trip was unusually HOT and Sunny. I live in Hawaii and I found it uncomfortable to sit outside in the direct sun in a few ports. Excursions can get incredibly expensive. Anything that goes in the air will approach 1K for a couple. But I mean, once in a life time for lots of people right.
#7 surprise: inappropriate artwork in the cabin! Funny. I do think you gave (as usual) great information to help prepare first-time cruisers. Our cruise to Alaska was extraordinary and perfect: 10 straight days of 18 hours of sunshine, temps in the 70s and 80s. Everyone told us that this was extremely unusual, so we were thankful for every second.
I live just outside of Seattle…I can attest that Bald Eagles are everywhere around here too. They even sit in the big fir trees by our house in the suburbs, we see dozens of them on our walks by Lake Washington. We were in the Olympic Peninsula a couple weeks ago and on 1 beach near a popular marina there were dozens sitting on the beach…they are majestic, it never gets old.
Alaska is a very popular cruise for people, I’ve checked in many people who are going on their tenth Alaskan cruise and at least 1 person who was going on his 20th Alaskan cruise. Had one couple who this year went on a pair of back-to-back cruises on a pair of Saturdays, came back after those 2, spent the night in Seattle and then went on a pair of back-to-back cruises on a pair of Sundays! Even had one lady who, 3-4 years ago, was going on her 4th Alaskan cruise that season! It helps to live in a port city where you can go on a cruise without having to fly somewhere first! Tom
My husband and I went on an Alaska cruise in July 2018 for our 25th anniversary. My two biggest shocks were the rain (pretty much every day) and the cold ( pretty much upper 40’s low 50’s every day). Our first port of call was Ketchikan, where we immediately purchased warmer jackets! Hope to someday get back to this amazing place!
I’ve been to Alaska on 4 different occasions. In May, early June, late August and late September. On all 4 cruises I only had to break out my rain gear twice. In Skagway in August and in Ketchikan in September. My husband and grown sons wore shorts in port on all the cruises except for the cruise in May.
5 times I’ve cruised to Alaska and everyone has been a pleasure! Sitting on the balcony and perusal the scenery and whales go by is a must – – We found down throws (blankets) at Costco one year and they are standard items for the trips – nothing like sitting on your balcony with your thermal coffee mug and your down blanket to leave the whole world behind!!
Great article! Having been on an Alaskan cruise 6 years ago this was a nice refresher for our upcoming Alaskan cruise in a couple of weeks. Living out west the time change would not be a shocker. About the weather, my wife and I expected lousy weather 6 years ago and we expect it on the next one. But we went with the mindset so what, it’s not a cruise where I plan to hang out on the beach, it’s a siteseeing cruise. Yes, sunny skies would be better but the passing scenery is gorgeous regardless of the weather. If you want warm, sunny weather skip Alaska, if you want unbelievable scenery and wildlife do Alaska as you won’t be disappointed. Alaska was and is still my favorite cruise.
Thanks for the heads up. We will be going to Alaska from East Coast next August 2023. I have been before in “97” but my new husband has not and we are going for his BD celebration next year in August. I believe the weather should be a little more cruise friendly that time of year, in 97 in late September to early October it was snowing the last day as we were setting to cruise down to the Hawaiian Islands for 2 more weeks. (4 days crossing the Pacific through a hurricane 🌀 off the California coast and a Typhoon off the Hawaiian Pacific coast. Rough ride for 4 straight days. Didn’t see half the passengers or crew for 4 days, gotta love my ear patches and our drink packages, kept us stable for those 4 days) once we finally got to the first Hawaiian 🌺 island everyone got down and kissed the ground, 😂, not kidding. The rest of the 10 days cruising and exploring The 10 Islands was Unforgettable. Best cruise ever, total of 21 days back to back cruise. Alaska Inside and Glacier Bays down the Pacific to 10 beautiful Hawaiian Tropical Islands. Two different worlds in the Same Country. AMAZING 🤩. When we finished the Alaska part, we went into Vancouver and found a post office to return our winter clothes back to Maryland. Wouldn’t need that extra clothing or luggage in Hawaii. Expensive to do but worth it. Funniest part is after our cruise and Flying back to Maryland from Honolulu, we still beat that luggage home after 14 days of cruising down to Hawaiian Islands, 10 days around the Islands and flying back home for 14 hours, we beat the returned luggage from Vancouver 14 days shipped prior.
New to your website…..on our Alaska cruise, which was many years ago, we had rain just about every day. Our cruise was in August. I was also really surprised by the weather. At the last minute I packed a heavy jacket for both of us and one pair of jeans for both of us. I ended up using my hairdryer to dry them every night. We were fortunate that our day in glacier bay the sun came out and we did take a seaplane out to a salmon bake one day. Our shorts and tee shirts never even made it out of our suitcase! That being said….I would like to go back again. A side note…..it was solo g ago that an Halen and his girlfriend were on the cruise with us and no one knew who they were! I held out until breakfast the last morning to ask for an autograph because my sons walls were plastered with his pictures and I knew I didn’t dare go back and tell my son I was on the ship with him and didn’t have an autograph.
Definitely my cruise on Golden Princess with family was such a great memory! It was late summer and the weather was mostly sunshine! Lucky us! The lumberjack show, Red Dog saloon, the views of Alaska, were amazing! Being a person that is interested in hydraulics & Ship structure, I was amazed how the 950′ 109K ton ship could go UP the Tracy Arm Fiord as the tide was exiting? Icebergs were on ground creating huge wakes as the outgoing tide ran past them! Those ice bergs were only 150 yards off both sides of the ship and all this with offering so many restaurants / bars & amenities. Getting out of bed about 4:30- 5 am every morning to watch us pull into port as I had Bagel, cream cheese & lox W/Coffee, was so awesome as very few people are up around the ship at this time. Our family stills used the Phrase from Red-Dog Saloon years later when someone walks through the door! ” hey, look who’s here? WHO GIVES A SH”t, LOL.
I came back to watch this now that we’ve taken our first Alaska cruise, and these are definitely all true! I didn’t wear any of my shorts or short-sleeve shirts. We had terrible weather in Juneau, too, but thankfully it didn’t affect our whale perusal tour. Our bus driver in Ketchikan told us that they get 13 FEET of rain a year, BUT they get much less snow than we do in Wisconsin, so that kind of surprised me too.
We just got back and the time change didn’t bother us at all and we’re from Florida. We had gorgeous weather, some cold days, some cool days and in Ketchikan, it was sunny and warm! Disney did an amazing job narrating and alerting everyone to what could be seen. An awesome cruise and I hope we can go back again someday!
So glad you enjoyed your cruise to Alaska — thanks for sharing. NOTE — Southeast Alaska is a rainforest….RAINforest. So, yes, it would be normal to be raining (smile). Ketchikan is the wettest of Southeast and Skagway is the dryest…so dryer as you go north. Bald Eagles…yes, they do live in Juneau. Driving out the road you see them perched on the light posts..similar to what you saw in Ketchikan. For other viewers .. I appreciate you were very clear this was YOUR cruise experience. The cruise you are right – more days then not you wouldn’t .. but, surprising how many visitors do end up buying t-shirts because they packed as if it was winter and the weather was warmer then they thought….add the land and you can get 80 in Fairbanks. Thanks
We live near Chicago. We’ve been to Canada and Scotland. When we visited Alaska some years ago, we were not surprised. The most beautiful skies We’ve seen were in the Greek Islands. In the Caribbean, it seems to rain briefly each day. We read or watch as much as we can before we take a trip. Tina, Al’s wife
I wore shorts and T-shirts in both Iceland and Alaska. Without wind, I am good down to about 48 degrees. With a slight breeze, I can do 55 degrees. Also, at least in the Interior, there are about 3 crops of mosquitoes: late May, late June to early July, and early August. I slipped in between those the two of the three times I was there.
You’re so right about the time difference and being from the East Coast. Our cruise was in the first week of June of this year and we were lucky with only one day of rain and temperature range between the mid 60’s and 70’s during the day. I did my homework on what to prepare for packing by checking on long range weather forecasts for each location and based on what excursions we were doing.
Thanks so much for this article! You guys have great personalities and awesome tips! I’m going on an Alaskan cruise in just 2 days, and I will definitely have a better perspective going onto my cruise 🙂 The weather seems oddly nice so far in many of the ports, and hopefully it will stay that way for the upcoming week! Thanks again for this article and you just got a new subscriber
We were on a 2 week cruise tour in Alaska the last 2 weeks of May 2022. We had 1 cold rainy day in Ketchikan, and yes Ketchikan is known for getting a lot more rain than sun. Otherwise we had terrific weather, we didn’t need any of the warm clothes we took with us . But you never know so you need to pack for all kinds of clothes. It was in 60s & 70s when we were there. We opted to go then to avoid the rain and mosquitoes. But we didn’t see whales from the ship. But the snow covered mountains everywhere were gorgeous which you don’t see in the summer. If I can go again I will go in the spring again. Denali was wonderful. Thanks for the great articles.
My best advice for an Alaskan cruise is to be prepared for anything. Bring a bit of everything, windproof/waterproof outer layer. Most days I wore hiking capri pants, and flip flops. The weather is highly changeable and it’s helpful to be able to layer on and off though the day. Even in gloomy weather (I’ve been in Oct) Alaska is gorgeous.
I went on my Alaska cruise in May of this year (ports of call were Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan). I LOVED every second of it (cold, wet rain with some snow still on the glaciers and all.) I had done a great deal of research prior to my travels so I was very prepared for this adventure of a life time. My only regret was not having spent a few hundred dollars more for a room with a balcony. Pay attention, people: Get a room with a balcony. It will be worth every penny; especially, on days when the whole ship seem to be in the observation deck or upstairs in the upper decks to see animal life and get up close and personal (via tripods and super cameras) to the awesome beauty of some passages through glacier bay.
Yes, doing your research before cruising to a new place is essential to ensure there are no surprises. Where you travelled is a temperate rain forest so it’s not surprising there was rain. The cruise lines offer recommended items to pack. My trips to Alaska in August still could be cold. Last year, we wore shorts several days in port. Pack for layers. Binoculars are great to have. On Holland America, a pair was provided in the stateroom. Twenty-two years ago we were married on a glacier. We’d chartered a helicopter, the marriage commissioner picked us up at the port, we collected our license from the town hall, watched our safety article and flew to the glacier. Glad our flight wasn’t cancelled. Though, we did have a back up plan. 😊
More than a few years ago, on Oct 1 there was a light rain in Ketchikan. The rest of the cruise was mostly sunny with some clouds. Not another drop of rain, and I wore shorts often. Rare, of course, but I’m glad I had shorts. It was the last cruise of the season, and the crew said it was the best weather of the season.
In my experience and my 15 non cruising vacations in SE Alaska I had many sunny days and actually prayed for some rain so I can explore museums and local native culture. Alaska is my lifetime love affair and after my initial cruise I kept coming back and never got enough. Only pandemic and health issues stopped me.
I’m on Carnival Luminosa in September 2024 to Akaska. I always book a balcony, I’m so excited, and I hope to see the whales and other animals like my nephew who’s stationed in Alaska. Thank you for the tips, especially about the excursion tips. I love the cool weather, and I heard it rains a lot in september. Yes, indeed, this has helped me even though it’s next year. Thank you!
New sub’s here. We try to get to Alaska every year – and often we’re going to get their cold weather! We were there for two weeks in August of 2019 and we never once got rain. In fact, it was so dry they were worried about wildfires for the first time. So we think terrible weather is par for the course. See you guys on the next adventure!
Been to alaska many times. As tourist and as crew member on airplane. Clocks change. Time zones exist all over the world. Gets like twilight all night.pretty cool to go out in the middle of the night and many are out. Love alaska.my crew member up early and the iderod started in front of our hotel. He saw the dogs and sleds.cool place.
My Fav cruise was to Alaska in 2011:-)… our weather was cloudy/rainy which is the norm. I took extra layers with me, mini gloves and a hat. Next time, I’m also taking my down filled jacket. The pool at one point was hot tub warm and my hubby was in the pool while we were perusal the glaciers. Going to EU this summer and taking a rain phoncho, down filled jacket, mini gloves, touque but some cool layers as well. Summers are much cooler in the North so always prepare by researching the weather where you’ll be cruising 🙂 Take care 🙂
Great tip but I grew up in New England so weather did not bother me. I would arrive several days early if coming from the east coast to adjust for the time change. A small back pack, good binoculars, and rain gear a must. Other than that just enjoy the great outdoors and wildlife. We will be coming back for many more AK cruises in the future.
We were on a back 2 back Alaskan cruise from June 4th-18th 2022. It was our second time going and it was amazing. Not sure where you were but we had sunshine in each and every port we stopped at Close to each glaciers is when we had cloudy skies Many times we had to take our layers off because we were so warm
The overcast rainy days would put me in a dreary mood. Can you imagine moving there? The adjustment plus change in time zone from the East Coast!! Thanks for sharing. I’m really loosing interest in an Alaska cruise. I was suppose to go a few years ago, but my friend that was going to drag me along kicking, passed away unfortunately. If I ever go, would be in her honor. 🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾
This was a hilarious article, thank you for the laughs. You should have gone to the salmon hatchery along the way. You’d see how scary Bald Eagles actually are. Oh and shorts. I took my Mom on the cruise in May. We were the only ones in shorts and a wind breaker in Glacier Bay! lol We could always tell when the other passengers were from like Arizona…they were in snowmobiling suits, looked like the Michelin Man and were shivering!
We went to Alaska the last time in June and when we got to Skagway, got off the ship and was walking down the pier a ways, turned around and went back to our cabin to change into shorts and a tank top because it was 90 degrees outside! So yeah, you never know what the weather will be like. Everywhere else was cooler though. We had very little rain on that trip, even on the land portion of our trip. We got to see the top of Denali in bright sunlight. Gorgeous! And a rare occurrence seeing a pod of whales bubble-netting for over an hour right next to our excursion boat. Fantastic day! Anchorage was cold and wet and so was Fairbanks. The rest was beautiful and sunny. Our first cruise was in late August/early September and it was cold and raining everywhere. Chill you to your bones! We’re planning another cruise to Alaska next year. We love Alaska.
I went the week before you, on Princess, no rain at all but the Dawes Glacier was iced in. We had daylight 24 hours a day, we left our balcony curtain open day and night. The best way to dress was to layer, LL Bean flannel shits were just the ticket. I came from Florida a day early, the plane schedules were terrible, however, the trip was wonderful.
i lived in alaska for a year, and well, have no desire to go on an alaskan cruise as i like warm and sunny places but your article did make me smile remembering what it was like LIVING there LOL and the end… very funny lol you may well have eagles in georgia. we have them in virginia. we live near a lake and have them here. not as many as alaska obviously, but its not unusual to see them.
I am on the carnival spirit Alaska cruise !! It’s been fun ..we have been so lucky it was so nice this week!! They said this was a amazing week weather wise❤️ I would definitely advise that people not buy bar cash you can only use it at the bar nowhere else and if you don’t use it you lose it even though it’s your own money 😳 you can’t use it in the casino so you can’t cash it out!! I definitely learned my lesson !! I meant to get Cruise cash and got a bar cash instead!! We don’t drink 😳
Hello Travel Scouts: Thanks for those great tips, I went Alaska the 1st week of May 2019. We were so luck to have an amazing weather, 7 straight days of sun. I am planning to go back next May 2023, and this time I want to go kayaking. Where did you go kayaking. How was it? Thanks for your response. Elba
Especially for Alaska: layers, layers and layers. I live in Alaska and have been on 3 Alaskan cruises. One cruise we had a sunny day in Ketchikan and rain in Juneau and Skagway. Glacier Bay also gloomy. The other two cruises we had sunny and hot days (90°) in Skagway (shorts needed!). All three cruises were from Whittier to Vancouver. Also, one cruise was in June, one in mid July and the coldest was in early August.
Alaska is so pretty. I went in August 2017 and the weather was great. It was sunny some days and cloudy other days yet the temperature was warm enough for a jacket during the daytime when we were on excursions. I packed long pants and shirts, sweaters and a jacket. I bought another jacket and a couple of hats while there. I am always cold yet I was okay in Alaska as long as I had a jacket on. The excursions were great and the tour guides covered a lot of information. I would cruise again to Alaska. Really liked your tips.
We leave in 13 days for our Alaska cruise on the Splendor. We are VERY excited and this article was so helpful. I will be packing shorts and t-shirts as we are all hot natured! I was glad to hear that there are some heated pools. And we’ve got the Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Bake excursion which I hope is not cancelled! A BIG concern for us is the time change as we are coming from the East Coast as well (and we’ll be headed to Vegas 2 weeks later, the first week in August!)
I’ve cruised twice to Alaska, and rain just one day at sea. A cruise out of Florida was stormy and we could not dock at the private island. Look at the pricing. Lower prices indicate unpopular times, which is bad weather. I hate hot weather. I love green forests. Green requires rain. I live near Seattle. It is daylight right now at 4:45am. Dark after 11. Even better in Alaska. Gives you more time to enjoy the out of doors.
I went to Alaska on Carnival Luminosa last summer and it was the middle of June and both locals and passengers alike said my family got lucky with our dates in Alaska because it had rained the day before we arrived to Seattle. While in Alaska, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the weather was not too hot, not too cold, it was just right
I just found this article and I’m like WTH did you guys not research at all? How could you not know it might be rainy? lol This is NORMAL… and if the rain bothers you that much and it would “kill the vibe” of the cruise or whatever wording they said… then don’t go. Cause I love a good Alaska cruise! One year we got super lucky and had sun and HOT weather all but maybe one day. I will say, I live in WA so I’m used to the rain, and dont’ even take an umbrella but seriously. Do your research lol This article was funny… and not in a great way.
There are lots of eagles in Juneau too. They must have been fishing. Haha – That’s true. When you don’t see the eagles, they are probably in the river. I picked this article for my Alaska Bush Life pick of the day for July 7, 2023. Nice job!!! Oh, and you might want to bring one pair of shorts because you could encounter warmer weather.
Since we live in Arizona, we have the same “adjustment” period flying to a cruise in Ft. Lauderdale or East Coast cruise. It is HARD! So, I know what you’re talking about. I’ve never had sunshine in Ketchikan. It’s normal. We had great rain gear with us so we were prepared. We have been to Alaska a couple times and we had sunny days in other ports so we weren’t upset. We could cruise to Alaska every summer and really enjoy it. What month did you sail in Alaska? It changes every year so you can’t count on the weather no matter what month you book your cruise. Just be prepared for anything. It was in the 80s in June when we sailed. We also did a week on land when we rented a car and drove over 1000 miles in Alaska. At the end of August when we sailed, Ketchikan was the only port with rain that year.
I enjoyed your article very much. I live in the suburbs of Vancouver, so we see bald eagles all the time. I have been on 4 Alaskan cruises and I have to say I’ve been very very lucky with Weather. I am going twice this summer once in May once in September, my other trips have been in June so we will see if there is a difference in the weather. But I much prefer cruising in the Caribbean lol.
Gosh! This is making me a little homesick. Last time I went back to Alaska it was 32-38 degrees, per the temp the c ar was telling me while waiting for my sister to come out of the MVCU. And, I was sitting there, perusal a young man in shorts and sneakers, some knd of long sleeved t, no jacket, no hat, no nothing else. Well, perhaps socks and undies. I didn’t look into his outfit that deeply. But, it was lovely. No one was even batting an eye at that. Here, in Arizona, people look at me like I’m insane for wearing shorts in the “wintertime”, when it is between 50-72 degrees. lol
We cruised in Alaska in the first week of July in 2018. The entire crew said we had the best luck in 5 years with weather. It was only cloudy/foggy one morning and it burned off by noon. No rain at all. We were very lucky. And yes, eagles everywhere. I took 100s of pictures of eagles alone! Lol. Being from Maine, I was over prepared for the weather and needed my hoodie every early morning and every evening on deck.
We went in July and it was mostly warm and sunny. Juneau was sunny and beautiful. Icy Strait Point was hot. Skagway was dry but a bit cloudy. Ketchikan was dry and partly sunny. But I have a friend who lived in Juneau for several years and she said the weather was depressing for most of the year. Bottom line: go to Alaska between mid-June and mid-August for best results.
Anchorage, Seward, Kenai, Wasilla, and Homer areas of Alaska (South Central to Southwest) have the best summers. If you go to Fairbanks (not on a cruise of course) it gets super hot there, even in the low 100’s. If it’s 70 in Anchorage (which is the norm in Summer) and it’s a sunny day, it’ll feel much hotter because the sun is so close and it faces your whole body, not just your head and shoulders. Alaska is the most amazingly beautiful state, but I’m biased since I live here hahaha!
We were on that cruise with you. Great time and many of the same surprises…although my biggest surprise was the “lifeboat tender” to Juneau (where we first met you 😉) (understand that was not the normal) they usually port up where we were left off. However I saw at least 20 eagles in Juneau. There was one on post at pier and saw them on almost every light post on our bus ride.
I just can’t imagine it being rainy and cold in Alaska! (Humorous sarcasm) Regardless, it did sound like you guys did have a good time. I know adjustments are always necessary when planning a cruise. Being my OCD self, I investigate, maybe too much, what it’s going to be like in countries I visit. The bad side to this is I may overpack but I’m glad I have what I need. We went to Hawaii in February and believe it or not, it was colder than I had experienced in previous visits. I am a shorts and flip-flop kind-of-guy and it’s difficult to adjust when you don’t expect chilly weather in the tropics. I’m glad we have the problems we have, traveling on a cruise ship! Our next cruise is to Mexico this fall. What do you know, shorts and flip-flops weather ahead but I will pack a rain jacket just in case I missed something. Safe and healthy travels. Enjoyed the article; you guys rock!
Well apparently you were on a different Alaska cruise than I was!! It was beautiful, in the high 70s and I was able to be in the pool. It also only rained one time on our 7 day cruise in July. Never saw whales either. I think it depends on the time of year you go. I am from the East coast and did not have any issues with the time difference
I love yalls articles.. yall kinda made up my my mind sailing the carnival pride boat instead of the luminosa when going to Alaska.. we are in Texas so if you could help on traveling to Seattle with hotels and transfers would be great.. btw… going to cruise on vista in October to Jamaica.. 2nd time on vista … can not wait another second
Our first cruise to Alaska….the weather was quite rare! We were on the North Bound up to Whittier, getting off and doing our own thing for 2 weeks. We started off in Vancouver, which we were there for about 4 days prior. We went through all of our shorts and t-shirts, it was so warm!! Mid to upper 70’s, for 14 days in a row!! Just beautiful! However….this July we went again. The weather was just like what you had. We couldn’t get into Glacier Bay National Park as the fog was super heavy!! Like heavy, as in, not even could we see the bow of the ship!! We made it a little over half way, and the park ranger made the captain turn around. Nevertheless, we all got credited for that. Which they did not have to do, it was though, a very awesome gesture! Thank you for great article’s!
The wife and I are platinum on Carnival. She keeps asking if we should do a Alaska cruise. We are with Kelly. We love the beach and warm weather but feel we need to do a Alaskan cruise. I love the tips. I would of thought 1 pair of short I would wear at least once also. I think I would bring the swim suite . Thanks for the tips LOVE THE Caribbean cruising
Great article! I have a quick question: I have booked our first ever cruise (a 7-night Celebrity Edge cruise leaving Seattle on May 23rd). I have booked an infinite Veranda room (full window where the top window will come down). I am second guessing that room and am wondering if I should move up to a Sky Suite which has the traditional balcony (also has more room and other perks). I worry about the weather being bad and not being able to use the balcony as much. Many people say get the traditional balcony but some are also saying to do the IV room. What is your opinion on a traditional balcony for this cruise?
Great article, thanks! We’ve been on several Caribbean cruises, but just booked our first Alaskan cruise on the Discovery Princess next September. We decided to spend a couple days in Seattle and we chose the cruise that ends in Vancouver to spend a few days there after. I have a question… how do most people dress on an Alaskan cruise? (I’m used to Carnival Caribbean cruises where shorts and flip flops are the norm.) we do like to dress nice in the evenings. Any advice on that would be appreciated. Thank you.
Interesting about your weather statements. In my teenage years I was on a boat 44-feet long and we stopped at a place called Little Port Walter, not a long ways from Sitka and a book there said that it rained 212 inches a year. I spent parts of 4 summers in Southeast Alaska and that was when you had to have sun to take much of a picture and I only have some 20 pictures. I remember working in a raincoat when it would pour down rain for 3 days in a row but if the wind blew also, then we would have to find an anchorage for several days. I saw some whales but I stood near the bow once and killer whales traveled with us some 4 feet away from our boat. Our skippers said not to worry. They seem to think we are just another whale. I saw bald eagles a lot but I grew up on an island in Puget Sound, Washington, also famous for eagles. And I was on a family commercial fishing boat and we would stop next to ice bergs in Icy Strait where we would chip off chunks of ice for our coolers. Boats in those days had no electric ice boxes. We had a college kid on our boat who liked to dive in the water for a swim until we caught 2 eight foot mud sharks in our net. He gave up swimming. I rarely saw a cruise ship.
I have not been to Alaska but I know that according to the time of the year, there are completely dark days and days when the sun doesn’t set. Have you been to Europe? You lose an entire half- day. Leave the States at 7PM, arrive in Europe at 7 AM with the sun rising, and no sleep the previous night. On return to the States you fly during the day so the change is not so bad.
If you’d gone to Whittier, Seward, or Anchorage and done a land tour, your shorts could come in handy when you went up north. Fairbanks regularly hits the 80s in the summer and 90s aren’t as rare as you’d think. But, yeah, if you’re on an Alaska cruise and see someone in shorts and a t-shirt, they are likely locals. We sport the tourists by their windbreakers or even puffy jackets in the middle of summer. Good rain jackets are a must…I should really get around to buying one.
I think weather wise, you just went to Alaska when it is very wet. September is better and May as well. I wonder what month you went. And before you go on a cruise,you check the weather anyways…so I wonder why the weather is a surprise. Thanks for your update and very honest review according to your experience.
I did an Alaska cruise in 2022. Unfortunately, I chose the third week of September to go. Well Seattle was spectacular and the temperature was 72 or 73° and sunny, the entire time north of there was gloomy and foggy to the point where the ship had to blow its horn every two minutes due to absolutely zero visibility.when we got to Juno, it was pouring rain all day. All we could do is go to the local pub and drink. We were graced with beautiful weather in glacier Bay and that was amazing, but honestly having come from a cruise in Norway for 14 nights it puts Alaska to shame. Norway is spectacular. I found Alaska to be a big disappointment having just taken the Norway cruise the year before.
Not sure the dates of your cruise. We sailed via Vancouver to Alaska 5/27 to 6/11. It was sunny and warm. Regretted having no summer clothes. Juneau was 82, Skagway 78, Anchorage 75, Denali 72, Fairbanks 75. We’re from the Seattle area and use to the rain/damp and was expecting simular weather. Alaska has been having warm beautiful weather (better than Seattle) so check the forecast before leaving.
We’re going on an Inside Passage Alaskan Cruise during the first week in May. I realize that the forecast is unpredictable; having said that, what temperature range should we expect? (please let me know if you state the temperature range in Celsius or Fahrenheit) I will have a packable hooded long rain jacket, that provides NO warmth; however, I will have something fleece underneath, oh, and I plan on utilizing a waterproof backpack on excursions. I plan on dressing in layers. I plan on wearing stretch hiking pants, which are VERY thin, and wearing a base-layer polyester legging underneath, that can be removed. I just don’t want my legs to very very cold, so I’m trying to decide if I should layer thin pants or layer jeans. I only plan on wearing jeans on the flight to/from Vancouver, from Arizona. Our first Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise was in September 2016 and it stayed dark longer, mornings were 30 degrees F and highs were 50 degrees F, and until the sun rose and sort of warmed up the environment, it was very cold (we live in Southern AZ and we left temps that were in the 90s, at that time). I’m open to suggestions. Thank you.
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest where cool and gloomyish weather are a staple! Yes, we’re a little different than the rest of the country, but look at what it allows to live!, grow and thrive! The gentleman you described in hot weather clothing is probably from up here. It is a common sight to see people walk around in a tshirt, hoodie, shorts and sandals. Umbrellas (usually) are a dead giveaway of a tourist…usually.
Thanks for this info. I’ve always known that I’d never like a cruise to Alaska because being from Atlanta Georgia, I need the sunshine. We cruise all the time for the beaches and the warmer weather (>80), and I agree with you that the rain and dreery skies would ruin the cruise vibe for us big time! I personally can’t justify the expense of paying for cold wet weather (note: being from Atlanta, less than 70 is winter for me).