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The average rainfall in Juneau during the month of April is 2.77 inches. Although the rain isn’t convenient, it is the reason for the lush vegetation you enjoy. April marks the beginning of the dry season for Southeast Alaska. However, it’s important to remember that this area is part of the world’s largest temperate rainforest. Weather, ocean conditions, and limited sunlight make winter cruising to Alaska impossible. Since I grew up in Alaska, I’m a fan of just about everything in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Alaska Cruise Ports of Call
Fancy some half off ice cream in Skagway where, with the windchill, it feels like it’s -15°F? But seriously, many of the shops that remain open (see #7 below), will have great end-of-season sales where you can pick up souvenirs or local foods to try. Expect highs in the 40s and possibly 50s, with lows in the 30s. October is one of the wettest months in Alaska, so prepare for low clouds and rain.
What is the best time of year to see the northern lights on an Alaska cruise?
It's easier than fumbling with multiple train, bus, ferry and hotel reservations to cobble together the same trip on your own. They want to admire its rugged beauty, seek out wildlife (such as eagles, bears and whales) and learn about its native cultures and Gold Rush history. It's so far from the rest of the mainland U.S. that it's become a bucket list destination, especially for travelers looking to visit each of the 50 states.
Day Alaska Round-Trip Seattle: Glacier Bay, Skagway & Juneau
Last minute booking should be a significant money saver here (assuming the Encore keeps her current schedule). Explore some of Alaska’s most beautiful and natural locations, many of which receive few tourists. The voyage via the Alaska Inside Passage is by far the most popular itinerary.
An April sail date is one way to save money on your Alaskan cruise. Just expect cooler weather, fewer wildlife viewing opportunities, and less active ports with some shops that are still shuttered. Cruisers can typically enjoy Alaska in October at lower rates than the Alaska summer cruise season prices. Juneau gets % more rain in the autumn than in the summer – so your chance of clear days is much better in the middle of the summer season compared with the end of the season. I went late September and my CA friends brought winter coats.
The summer adventures have ended and the winter fun has not yet begun. The days are getting shorter, the weather can be cold and rainy or even snowy, the salmon runs are over, and bears are preparing for hibernation. And while you can experience dazzling fall colors in early October, the leaves will have fallen by mid-month. The cruise season beefs up in June, with the number of ships growing and the season in full swing by the end of the month. The midnight sun means many hours of daylight, especially on June 20, the longest day of the year — when you'll have to stay up late to see any darkness at all.
Cruise to Alaska from April to October for an Incomparable Life Experience
What it's like to go on an Alaskan cruise at the end of the season - Royal Caribbean Blog
What it's like to go on an Alaskan cruise at the end of the season.
Posted: Tue, 16 Nov 2021 08:00:00 GMT [source]
When you want to go will depend on which activities you want to do, how you feel about cool weather and rain, and the price. Cruises at the beginning (April and May) and end (September and October) of Alaska's cruise season are generally a bit cheaper than those in June, July and August. If you're eager to spot bald eagles in the wild, ride a dogsled atop an ice field or pan for gold after a hearty salmon feast, an Alaska cruise is calling your name.
This is also the trip for a camera with good telephoto lenses and binoculars. For more on what to bring on an Alaska cruise, check out our Alaska cruise packing list. Book a fishing trip to try your hand at catching salmon or halibut, or go out crab fishing for a glimpse into that type of work. Look to UnCruise Adventures, Alaskan Dream Cruises, Hurtigruten and Lindblad Expeditions for the best adventure cruises. If you've got active teens who have an interest in nature and the environment, an expedition voyage could be exactly what will keep them engaged and off their devices.
Travel, Airfare, & Hotels: Let Princess Get You There
By the time our cruise ship arrived in late October, their season was already over. The season started late due to Covid, so some of the cruise lines decided to add some extra cruises on at the end to make up for it. We don’t know if some shops and restaurants may decide to stay open longer than normal because this isn’t normal. I sailed late September once and it was cold and it had snowed already, but that was several years ago and we have global warming now.
Plan your romantic Alaskan cruise with our adventurer’s guide to discovering the coziest vacation spots and most scenic restaurants for couples traveling in Alaska. Most people tend to focus on the Caribbean for summer cruises, but an Alaska summer vacation can be a great option, too. On our family Alaska cruise, we created lifetime memories by sharing glacier spotting, dog sledding, flightseeing and other adventures with our teens. Planes are plentiful in Alaska, where they're a common form of transportation across the state. Charter a helicopter or fixed-wing flightseeing tour at Juneau and get an unforgettable perspective of the mountains and glaciers of this vast landscape. In some parts of the state, dog sledding is still the primary mode of transportation through the winter months.
While not optimal, for some of us in order to get on a cruise ship in 2021 it's either Alaska or nothing. I'll take AK and, as the other poster said, be happy just to be on the ship and enjoying beverages in the fantastic observation lounge. It should be a much needed relaxing break from the outside world. Then again, I'm not a big shopper/hiker/explorer, so even when weather is nice and excursions are plentiful I still often prefer to just enjoy the ship.
To illustrate how the weather differs at the end of the season compared with the peak season, I’ve pulled data using Juneau as a representative community for the entire Inside Passage. However, it’s worth noting that many communities have more dramatic weather than Juneau, which is relatively sheltered and in the middle of this waterway. If you look at data for communities like Skagway and Sitka, the seasonal changes are even more dramatic (in temperature for Skagway and rainfall for Sitka). So the “end of season” window in Alaska is from mid-September through the end of October; an “end of season” Alaska cruise is any cruise that departs in mid-September or later. This is also what I typically consider the late autumn/early winter season.
Head to Kenai Fjords National Park in Seward for a whale watching tour. There's nothing like seeing these behemoths hurl themselves out of the water, to splash back into the sea. Don't pass up an opportunity to watch these giants feed and play in the water.
And this was Juneau from the top of the tram with only ONE ship in port (normally there are at least five). September weather in Alaska may be unpredictable but with the right preparation you can enjoy all the exciting events. That's especially true in Skagway, where snow can keep the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad only traveling a few miles due to snowed-in tracks. Juneau is an exception, as it's the state capital and always buzzes.
The waters before you enter the Inside Passage can be calm, rough or anything in between, depending on when you go. Alaska cruise weather can be chilly (in the 40s to 50s) first thing in the morning and at night. However, if it's a sunny summer day, temperatures can shoot into the 70s and even low 80s.
With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the services of the representative. 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.
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