Best time of summer for Alaska?

[Chrisey]

Weather wise, is there a better time in the summer to sail Alaska?

 

[jdb in AZ]

Late July/early August will be warmest. Also the salmon will be "running" -- heading upstream to spawn, so you'll have a better chance of seeing bears fishing for them. Early August you'll start to see Alaskan Fireweed -- the bright pink wild flowers. When they bloom, that's Mother Nature's warning that winter is on its way.

Alaska is still "do-able" in May.

 

[Chrisey]

Last week of August is cheapest. Do you think it is worth paying more for earlier in the summer?

 

[jdb in AZ]

Last week of August is cheapest. Do you think it is worth paying more for earlier in the summer?

I wouldn't hesitate to go on the cheapest cruise. A lot of U.S. kids will be back in school by the end of August, so (hopefully) the ship and ports will be less crowded.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I wouldn't hesitate to go on the cheapest cruise. A lot of U.S. kids will be back in school by the end of August, so (hopefully) the ship and ports will be less crowded.

Not on DCL, but we took the last cruise of the season for our first Alaska cruise. Departed Sept 19. It was the last cruise of all cruiselines that year. Lots of really good sales in ports and onboard.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

We were on the June 22 sailing last year, and the weather was really good. A bit cold/windy for Tracy Arm day and it rained the day we were in Juneau. Ketchikan was so warm.

 

[brookmey]

We've been the first week of August and the weather was great. It only rained in Ketchikan and it was warm in Skagway and Juneau (like mid-high 60s). We did have some rain overnight and it was hazy and damp on Tracy Arm day, but not really cold. We spent the entire day on deck and I wore layers, 2 sweatshirts and a jacket, and I was just right.

During our whale watching excursion, our boat captain told us August is one of the best months to visit Alaska.

 

[ohMom]

We did the final week of the season in 2015, for scheduling reasons but it worked out great. The only rainy day was embarkation day all the other days were beautiful. The crewmembers did tell us that the week before it had rained almost every day, there's just no prediction of the weather. We had taken our Columbia layers, and waterproof windbreaker and boots. We use them all along with lightweight hats and gloves. We didn't see many eagles, we were fortunate to see many whales on the whale watching as by that point they are starting to migrate to Hawaii. The salmon we're still running, and we had no problems with bear viewing on that excursion

 

[lorimay]

We booked a *VGT rate for the last Alaska cruise in September of 2013 and we paid half of what the cruise was offered at.
Best deal we ever got on DCL.
2Adults in a category 5A for $2500.
If you can wait till the last cruises, you can save some serious money, of course there is not a guarantee they will release *GT rates.

 

[xlxo]

Been in Alaska on the 2nd week of August in 2013 & 2014. Half the ports were rainouts. However you do see more wildlife. I heard in mid-August 2015... there was a windstorm where some ports were closed.

I prefer dry weather for excursions.... so future trips will be July when it's warmer and statistically dryer.

 

[Naomi Collison]

Last week of August we get a lot of rain. Typically rain starts mid August and continues till we get snow late September or early October. July is typically the warmest and driest. The ports you will hit with a cruise ship though get more rain than Seattle. Juneau averages 86 sunny days a year. My advice is to plan and expect rain, and if it doesn't rain be pleasantly surprised.

 

[AngelDisney]

We did the final week of the season in 2015, for scheduling reasons but it worked out great. The only rainy day was embarkation day all the other days were beautiful. The crewmembers did tell us that the week before it had rained almost every day, there's just no prediction of the weather. We had taken our Columbia layers, and waterproof windbreaker and boots. We use them all along with lightweight hats and gloves. We didn't see many eagles, we were fortunate to see many whales on the whale watching as by that point they are starting to migrate to Hawaii. The salmon we're still running, and we had no problems with bear viewing on that excursion

Probably mine was the one with all the rain. It was the August 24, 2015 sailing and it rained on every port day! But we were prepared with rain gear and enjoyed our excursions. We did zip lining in Skagway before the rain came in (the dog sledding excursion was cancelled due to warm weather). Dog sledding in Juneau and it snowed on the glacier but rained in town while we were shopping. We went snorkelling in Ketchikan. It rained periodically but didn't affect our excursion. We had good weather on Tracy Arm day but there was not much ice left because of the warm weather. We went on the last cruise in August because it was the cheapest one in the summer before school started in September. I think you would get to see more ice carving at Tracy Arm in June and early July. But last year was quite a warm year for Alaska I think.
Hope this helps! Have fun planning!!

 

[Allabouthemouse]

We sailed DCL the last week of May and had gorgeous, dry weather. Little chilly but not uncomfortable. We sailed RCCL early September and it was cold and drizzly. We read that the latter part of the cruising season is rainier. You will get better deals during shoulder weeks if you can cruise then.