Bugs in Alaska?

[mom+3girls]

If you have cruised in Alaska, did you have problems with bugs/insects? When did you cruise? My BF is almost convinced that we need to go on a Disney Alaskan cruise. When I think I have him hooked he comes up with another question. This is his latest question.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If you have cruised in Alaska, did you have problems with bugs/insects? When did you cruise? My BF is almost convinced that we need to go on a Disney Alaskan cruise. When I think I have him hooked he comes up with another question. This is his latest question.

Yes, there are bugs in Alaska. However, they are typically more inland (not really on the cruise ship). And more so in the warmer weather, like the spring/summer season.

That said, we've taken 2 Alaska cruises, and not really had any issues. But, then, mosquitoes and such don't typically seem to like me.

 

[sdjen]

We cruised early August this summer and did several outdoor excursions. I had bug spray with us but we didn't need it at all. Not sure if we were just lucky but we didn't have any issues.

 

[roobug]

The only real bugs you would have issues with are the mosquitoes and they can get pretty bad once off the boat and around the trees but bug spray helps with that

 

[yogamom]

We also just sailed in August and bugs were not an issue for us on our excursions (whale watching, sea kayaking, or on the family adventure (sled dogs, panning for gold in Skagway) or on the ship. You will not regret taking an Alaskan cruise. It was amazing.

 

[jetskigrl]

We sailed the second week of August and had no problems with bugs at all. We did a city tour in Ketchikan, Whale watching in Juneau and the train excursion to the dog sled camp in Skagway.

 

[jtba]

we went in the second week of July this year, and we only encountered major hordes of mosquitoes when we took the bus up the mountains in Skagway. they were buzzing around heavily at one particular stop at the top of the mountain (Fraser? we were there to use an outhouse w/o plumbing), but as soon as we left that area we didn't see any more. the guide mentioned they typically congregate in areas where there's no wind.

 

[sambycat]

We went last May/June. I was concerned there might he giant mosquitoes and brought bug spray etc. we had no bugs anywhere at all.

 

[RebelHawk]

We were there the last week of Aug into first week of Sep. We didn't notice any bugs at all when on excursions. Of course we did have a one wet day at least one really cold day and a couple of EXTREMELY windy days in port. That would have been a big contributor to our bug free days.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We've cruised Alaska five times at different times of the summer, and have never had problems with bugs. It's been said that the mosquito is the state bird but we really haven't run into any (and they normally eat me alive.)

 

[dugthetalkingdog]

I was there the 3rd week of August this year and did not have any problems with mosquito or bugs. I had taken bug spray with me but never used it. Usually if there are mosquito out there
they will find me.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

When we got off the ship in Skagway and were waiting for our shuttle, those little buggers (mosquitoes) were pretty thick. I pulled out our bug spray, applied and we were good. Once we left the dock, there were no other issues. We were on the June 22 sailing.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We went the end of May last year and only saw mosquitoes in Caribou Crossing in the Yukon. Otherwise we didn't see any in any of the towns or water excursions.

 

[xlxo]

My August trip in Liarsville had black flies. Only place where I wished for bug spray.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

When we got off the ship in Skagway and were waiting for our shuttle, those little buggers (mosquitoes) were pretty thick. I pulled out our bug spray, applied and we were good. Once we left the dock, there were no other issues. We were on the June 22 sailing.

This made me laugh

This was our experience in June 2013 and I think ours was June 17-24 so very close in dates. Skagway is definitely the place I remember them in port (so on the verandah as well) and on the White Rail Pass they were inside the train and people were trying to kill/swat at them with magazines. They were indeed big buggers! We didn't get bit which is surprising as I tend to be a magnet for them but it might be because we had jackets, pants/jeans, etc.

It wasn't enough of an issue to bother us but definitely noticeable.

Alaska is amazing!
Heather

 

[Spart02]

We were on a Disney cruise in mid-June of 2013. The only place that we saw mosquitoes was in Juneau at the Taku Lodge that we took a float plane too. I've NEVER seen such giant mosquitoes before in my life and so many of them in one place. You couldn't open your mouth or you would be eating them. I'm talking...insane amounts of them! But with that being said, they weren't biting...just swarming. Thank goodness, or every inch of our skin would have been eaten alive. They did have bug spray at the lodge, but that didn't keep the swarms away. Beyond that, we had no other problems with bugs. We did a float trip and hike in Skagway, a helicopter ride to the glacier in Skagway, and the Deadliest Catch boat in Ketchikan.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I don't know about SE Alaska, but I'm from Southcentral AK and noted very few mosquitos there this summer compared to normal. (Maybe because of the very mild 2014/15 winter?)

I've lived in five different states from New England to the South to the Midwest, and Alaskan mosquitos are anecdotally bigger and come in much larger numbers than in the Lower 48. But this summer was noteworthy for their absence, at least in SC AK. (We did notice a lot of flies; I even saw a news article about how there were so many flies this summer.)

 

[mom+3girls]

thanks everyone for your responses. Maybe I can get him to book one.

 

[Little Doe]

Cruised late May - not a bug one!