Table Of Content
An Alaskan cruise in July guarantees a fantastic adventure filled with breathtaking scenery, thrilling wildlife encounters, and an abundance of outdoor activities. So, pack your sense of adventure and get ready to immerse yourself in the wonders of Alaska during this peak cruising month. In this post, I share a month-by-month guide about the best time of year for an Alaskan cruise. I’ve included tips on the weather, wildlife, daylight, and the general experience you’ll have each month of the Alaska cruise season to determine when to set sail for the 49th state.
Distances to Alaska Cruises
September brings Alaska’s fall shoulder season, with fewer visitors and often Alaska special offers. Longer nights again bring possible opportunities to view the aurora borealis. The cooler weather turns trees and tundra into explosive fall colors of red, gold and purple.
General Weather Conditions in July
Packing for Alaska in July requires accommodating a variety of activities and weather conditions. The best time to cruise Alaska for whales is from mid-June through mid-August. As Alaska small ship cruise experts, we advise clients that the best time to cruise Alaska is May 15 through September 1. Though weather can be hard to predict, especially in Alaska, there are trends that’ll help you know what to expect during your summer cruise. So, check the weather before you pack, but these will give you a guesstimate.
Tours and Activities
Small Alaska cruise ships begin plying Alaskan waters as early as mid-March, with most early spring departures running regularly starting in mid-April. Early spring offerings center on Alaska Inside Passage cruise itineraries, with most spanning a week. During this time, you can also consider a longer cruise, traveling with small ships positioning from Seattle, Washington up to Alaska. Nights are still long enough to possibly see the northern lights, while days are getting longer and animals are beginning to stir.
Night Temperatures
This period allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the natural beauty and unique experiences that Alaska offers. Here’s a guide to some of the best activities to enjoy in Alaska during July. July in Alaska is the heart of summer, offering long days, warmer temperatures, and a landscape alive with nature’s bounty.
The 49th state's snowy, cold and dark winters are not conducive to cruising. During this month, you can expect the weather begins to cool, higher rainfall, and gorgeous fall landscapes. Daylight hours in July are long, with some areas experiencing up to hours of daylight. This allows for more time to explore and enjoy outdoor activities but also means preparing for sleep with blackout curtains or eye masks in accommodations.
August in Alaska
Best Time to Visit Alaska in 2023 When Is the Best Time to Go to Alaska? Trusted Since 1922 - Reader's Digest
Best Time to Visit Alaska in 2023 When Is the Best Time to Go to Alaska? Trusted Since 1922.
Posted: Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
With the planning done for you, you can sit back, relax, and take in the beauty of Alaska. In rivers, you can fish for sockeye salmon, king salmon, Dolly Varden, and rainbow trout. During your visit, there’s bound to be at least one opportunity for you to immerse yourself in Alaska’s vibrant culture.
Personal Items
While it is possible to see humpbacks during the entire cruise season (April-October), your best bet for whale watching will be the months of June, July, and August. They are quite an awe-inspiring sight to see as they travel in pods, breech, and feed. As the month progresses, temperatures rise slightly, and daylight hours increase. On Winter Solstice (December 21 or 22), the state breaks out of its winter hibernation and begins gaining a few minutes of sunlight each day. By the time Summer Solstice occurs (June 20,21, or 22), travelers to Juneau, Alaska, a common port, will experience a day with 19 hours of sunlight. Be sure to pack high-quality rain gear for excursions along with warm, layered clothing and a hat and gloves.
The Midnight Sun
Cruise lines will offer the opportunity to extend your cruise with land tours, which include accommodations, transportation and some meals. You may encounter freezing rain or even snow on your April cruise and should expect to tread through mud. Some tourist facilities — including those at national parks — may still be shuttered for the winter. Fishing enthusiasts will do their best cruising in July since most types of salmon are running during this month. As with June, it’s an ideal month for wildlife viewing, whether you seek out bears, moose, or Humpback whales. Ketchikan averages 16 hours of daylight in May; you’ll get even longer days as you travel north to Anchorage and still more if you take a cruise tour up to Fairbanks.
Inland regions, such as Denali National Park and Fairbanks, tend to receive less rainfall compared to the coastal areas. These regions can experience around 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters) of rain on average during July. However, it’s important to note that weather patterns can be unpredictable, and rain can occur even in these drier regions. Coastal areas, such as Juneau and Ketchikan, receive higher levels of precipitation as they are influenced by the marine environment and the moist air from the Pacific Ocean. On average, these coastal regions can experience around 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rain in July.
Your views will likely include snowy mountains, but they are gorgeous nonetheless. Alaska is still gaining sunlight as the Summer Solstice approaches, so you’ll experience longer days during your May cruise. Because of its latitude, Alaska experiences extremes in daylight in the summer and darkness in the winter. Locals typically call the months of April and May “break-up” because the snow and ice begin to break apart and melt after the long winter.
In Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, expect milder temperatures ranging from 55ºF to 70ºF (13ºC to 21ºC). Fairbanks and the rest of Interior Alaska experience warmer and drier conditions, with average temperatures of 60ºF to 80ºF (15ºC to 27ºC). Southeast Alaska, including Juneau and Ketchikan, tends to be milder and wetter, with temperatures around 55ºF to 65ºF (13ºC to 18ºC) and frequent rain showers.
No comments:
Post a Comment