How bad is Alaska Cruise in September?

[Bibbidi_Boo]

How bad is the weather and such to cruise in Alaska in September? We have only gone once back in 2011 and went mid may and it was great. July is going to cost us (8 people) at least 5-6k more than going in September. We aren't concerned about helicopter tours to a glacier so that is not a concern,

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How bad is the weather and such to cruise in Alaska in September? We have only gone once back in 2011 and went mid may and it was great. July is going to cost us (8 people) at least 5-6k more than going in September. We aren't concerned about helicopter tours to a glacier so that is not a concern,

Our first Alaska cruise (not DCL) was in September. The weather was pretty much OK. Not particularly cold, but it was grey and misty most days.

That said, Alaska weather can change in the drop of a hat, so it's quite likely you'd encounter anything from sunny & hot to cold & rainy during that time of year.

One really good thing about it, we were the last cruise into Alaska that season - while some shoreside shops were already closed for the season, the ones that were open had great sales going on.

 

[AgentMama]

I think you should do what makes the most financial sense for you and your family. Alaska is beautiful and will be awesome in July and September. You could have crappy weather in either month. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[serrem2]

We've done two September trips. Right after Labor Day in 2019, and just got off the last trip of 2023 on 9/19. First trip was bright, sunny, and warm. This one was cold and rainy. We still had a great trip, just had to dress in waterproof layers and tough it out. It was well worth it.

Seas were rough on a few days, but Capt. Thord did an incredible job finding calmer waters, including an inside inside passage which was a beautiful fjord for about 100 miles south of Prince Rupert. He also got us as close to the Sawyer Glacier as the excursion boats did (some complaints on Facebook from people who paid $300 for the excursions). He also got us into Ketchican and Juneau on days where other ships had to cancel. (Our booking for the Great Alaskan Lumberjack show was cancelled because of the other cruise ships missing the port, but we were able to reschedule).

September cruises are a risk. We took the risk, got some of the worst weather possible, and still had the cruise of a lifetime.

And to add to PrincessShmoo's post, shoreside stores were mostly 40% off.

 

[Starwind]

We did the last DCL cruise to Alaska this season. The weather was generally miserable with plenty of rain and the temps ranging from 1C - 15C, but we knew that was a possibility and we still had a great cruise !

We dressed in layers and took them on and off as needed. Having good rainwear and insulating layers was imperative.

Some excursions were canceled, though none of ours were - we deliberately chose ones that had a high liklihood of being able to happen. One family we met had three of their excursions canceled. As another poster noted, the shops in ports had some great sales.

One thing that we were not pleased about is that DCL was already sold out of almost all of the Alaska and 25th merchandise before our cruise even sailed. So things like the Alaska tumblers and blanket were not available at all. Very disappopinting as the DCL souvenirs we really wanted we couldn't get; in the end as a result we spent very little in the on board shops.

 

[DCLMP]

It gets dark early like 7ish. We're doing a do-over next July. If I was trying to save money I'd choose May for the longer days. What type of room are getting? I'd choose July with an inside room or oceanview than Sept with a balcony.

 

[MillauFr]

I'll take a cruise to Alaska in October rather than in the Caribbean during hurricane season.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

It gets dark early like 7ish. We're doing a do-over next July. If I was trying to save money I'd choose May for the longer days. What type of room are getting? I'd choose July with an inside room or oceanview than Sept with a balcony.

We can’t do May. We are doing inside room no matter when but comparing inside rooms rooms for just 4 people from July to sept is 3k more.

 

[DCLMP]

We can’t do May. We are doing inside room no matter when but comparing inside rooms rooms for just 4 people from July to sept is 3k more.

We went labor day in September. The weather in Vancouver was fantastic 80 degrees. The weather on the cruise was ok a little foggy. The short days were my biggest issue. When we sailed out of port some days it was almost dark and always foggy. You couldn't see the scenery. Since you've already seen Alaska maybe that's not such a big deal. I'm taking my son on the 9 day in July. Since it's just two of it's not that painful, but if I decide I need to save money I'll change it to May.

I know you live in Florida. On our September cruise, hurricane Irma hit the west coast of Florida and there were a lot of Floridians on our cruise that had flight issues. Something else to think about.

 

[grantclaire]

Hi I have a friend who just got back from a 14 day cruise to Alaska on Holland America. Cold and rain every day! Still had a great time!

 

[Kwami]

I was on the August 28 - September 4 cruise this year. The temperature was in the low 60s every day. We didn't get much sun, but we also didn't get much rain. The only rainy day was the glacier viewing day, but that rain stopped in the early afternoon. Sunrise was at about 6am and sunset was at about 8pm, which was quite nice. There's still plenty of light for a while after that, too. Unfortunately, we had too many clouds to see the aurora.

Pretty much everything was still open. Some shops had end-of-season discounts. The animals are supposed to be more active and visible in September, but we were very unlucky and didn't see many.

Overall, it was the best Disney cruise that we've taken so far and I'd absolutely go in September again.

 

[jdb in AZ]

A friend just returned from Alaska and complained about the rain. I told her I enjoy rainy weather. (We live in the desert so rain is a novelty.) i guess she didn't expect other parts of the world to actually get wet -- often.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

We did the last DCL cruise to Alaska this season. The weather was generally miserable with plenty of rain and the temps ranging from 1C - 15C, but we knew that was a possibility and we still had a great cruise !

We dressed in layers and took them on and off as needed. Having good rainwear and insulating layers was imperative.

Some excursions were canceled, though none of ours were - we deliberately chose ones that had a high liklihood of being able to happen. One family we met had three of their excursions canceled. As another poster noted, the shops in ports had some great sales.

One thing that we were not pleased about is that DCL was already sold out of almost all of the Alaska and 25th merchandise before our cruise even sailed. So things like the Alaska tumblers and blanket were not available at all. Very disappopinting as the DCL souvenirs we really wanted we couldn't get; in the end as a result we spent very little in the on board shops.

We had that same issue on iur Ta last two weeks. Barely any 25th, just some shirts and sweaters cruisespecific. NONE of the shipspecific merch like the dream loungefly, shipmodel,atriumstatue and spirit jersey only in the biggest two sizes

 

[holula]

I agree with both the posters who were on the last cruise of the season like me. Merch was dire, weather was miserable in all ports except Juneau and the morning in Sitka, seas were rough. Skagway was absolutely miserable the whole day and honestly I was glad I’d booked the experience into the Yukon since I was sheltered under a bus/train the whole day. Characters on glacier day were mostly under the gazebo. I’ve also done May which had better overall weather. I got as close to the glacier on glacier day on both cruises!

But it was still beautiful despite the weather and it was lovely having a 60% capacity ship. However I likely wouldn’t sail again in September. I think my next one will be August.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

I agree with both the posters who were on the last cruise of the season like me. Merch was dire, weather was miserable in all ports except Juneau and the morning in Sitka, seas were rough. Skagway was absolutely miserable the whole day and honestly I was glad I’d booked the experience into the Yukon since I was sheltered under a bus/train the whole day. Characters on glacier day were mostly under the gazebo. I’ve also done May which had better overall weather. I got as close to the glacier on glacier day on both cruises!

But it was still beautiful despite the weather and it was lovely having a 60% capacity ship. However I likely wouldn’t sail again in September. I think my next one will be August.

The week we are looking at in Sept 2024, leaves the 9th looks like it will be well above 60% lol, alot rooms already seem sold.

 

[DCLMP]

We had that same issue on iur Ta last two weeks. Barely any 25th, just some shirts and sweaters cruisespecific. NONE of the shipspecific merch like the dream loungefly, shipmodel,atriumstatue and spirit jersey only in the biggest two sizes

There really wasn't much on the earlier European cruises either. I don't recall seeing any European-specific merchandise and the 25th wasn't much. There was no European-specific merchandise last year either.

 

[Kwami]

I agree with both the posters who were on the last cruise of the season like me. Merch was dire

What a difference a few weeks makes. On the August 28 - September 4 cruise, there was tons of Alaska and 25th anniversary merchandise. I guess I'm glad to have missed Sitka in exchange for better merchandise options and better weather!

Skagway was absolutely miserable the whole day

That's pretty typical, though.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

There really wasn't much on the earlier European cruises either. I don't recall seeing any European-specific merchandise and the 25th wasn't much. There was no European-specific merchandise last year either.

There were pins, coffee mugs, ornament, ears, tshirts and sweaters this year. Ta specific there was only an ugly poloshirt and a shirt with the design of the hoodie of last year but then on the front it said dream

 

[holula]

What a difference a few weeks makes. On the August 28 - September 4 cruise, there was tons of Alaska and 25th anniversary merchandise. I guess I'm glad to have missed Sitka in exchange for better merchandise options and better weather!


That's pretty typical, though.

On my only other Alaska cruise we had gorgeous blue skies in Skagway!

Sitka was my favourite port and I’m happy I visited there…. But I would have liked better weather.

I only wanted the 25th spirit jersey which I got but there was such an insane rush for them on day 1… and then they put tons more out during the cruise

 

[Karin1984]

I think it gets too hard to predict the weather. More and more often you hear "the average weather is X, but we had Y". And Y being the opposite of X. It can go all ways nowadays.

I was on the mid May sailing, on average weather is in the high 50s/low 60s. We left Vancouver with 86 degrees.

If September works the best for your family. Best is just to be prepared for every type of weather.