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shyla100
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Hello

My husband and myself are booked on an Alaska cruise late September next year and would like any feed back from cruise members re the weather the tours and so on.

Did you think that it was too late in the season? Were ports effected by this. Were tours cancelled?

Any help at all would be much appreciated, as it is not to late to move it to an earlier date.

Thank you.

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We just did the last Seabourn Alaska cruise of the 2017 season. It was our 6th Alaska cruise. We have cruised there in May, June, July, Aug and twice in late Sept. We like Sept the best as you should hit the salmon run and a good chance to see bears. The weather is cool 40's to 60's(F), The crowds are gone....during the high season some ports swell to 10,000+ visitors, and this negatively affects the port experience. Early in the season baby seals affect the access to the Glaciers,

 

Of our 6 cruises we have been to Sitka three times, all in the rain, Ketchikan six times, five in the rain and Juneau six times, about half the time in the rain, We have had good weather at the various Glaciers every time.

 

Oher ports have had good weather at least part of the day and we have had the blue bird days also, just not in the three cities mentioned above. That part of Alaska gets a lot of rain every year...up to 200 inches in some areas.

 

It is the luck of the draw on flight tours in Ketchikan. They have only operated one day and half of another one when we visited. Juneau has better luck with flight tours. Most other tours run rain or shine. Do at least one of the salmon or crab bake tours. They are great. Also do a whale watching tour.

 

This time we did the ATV tour at Icy Strait, the catamaran cruise at Misty Fjords and the glacier and the Jet Boat tour in Wrangell, a wonderful tour. The kayak tours all got high marks, do at least one if you can and the zodiac tours were also well liked. We just are not that athletic anymore.

 

Just be prepared for getting out in wet weather. It really doesn't interfere with most activities. Don't plan all flight seeing type tours or be prepared for some disappointment if you do. It is a great cruise because the ship is small enough to go into areas the larger ships can't and some of the tours are more expedition like.

 

Alaska is beautiful!

 

Look at our blog if you haven't already.

 

www.tigerbluecheese.blogspot.com

Edited by cwn
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When it comes to weather in Alaska history really means nothing.

 

Take September for example.

 

This year I know several people who sailed in September and overall they enjoyed some very nice weather.

 

However, September in Alaska can sometimes mean a lot of rain and shorter daylight hours.

 

But each and every month can vary considerably year over year.

 

A benefit of going early or late in the season is less tourists/ships in port including far less children.

 

For ideas as to what to do I would list out the ports on your voyage. The Alaska Ports Of Call Board is also an excellent area to learn about what to do in each port of call.

 

Keith

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Thank you that information is amazing

We just did the last Seabourn Alaska cruise of the 2017 season. It was our 6th Alaska cruise. We have cruised there in May, June, July, Aug and twice in late Sept. We like Sept the best as you should hit the salmon run and a good chance to see bears. The weather is cool 40's to 60's(F), The crowds are gone....during the high season some ports swell to 10,000+ visitors, and this negatively affects the port experience. Early in the season baby seals affect the access to the Glaciers,

 

Of our 6 cruises we have been to Sitka three times, all in the rain, Ketchikan six times, five in the rain and Juneau six times, about half the time in the rain, We have had good weather at the various Glaciers every time.

 

Oher ports have had good weather at least part of the day and we have had the blue bird days also, just not in the three cities mentioned above. That part of Alaska gets a lot of rain every year...up to 200 inches in some areas.

 

It is the luck of the draw on flight tours in Ketchikan. They have only operated one day and half of another one when we visited. Juneau has better luck with flight tours. Most other tours run rain or shine. Do at least one of the salmon or crab bake tours. They are great. Also do a whale watching tour.

 

This time we did the ATV tour at Icy Strait, the catamaran cruise at Misty Fjords and the glacier and the Jet Boat tour in Wrangell, a wonderful tour. The kayak tours all got high marks, do at least one if you can and the zodiac tours were also well liked. We just are not that athletic anymore.

 

Just be prepared for getting out in wet weather. It really doesn't interfere with most activities. Don't plan all flight seeing type tours or be prepared for some disappointment if you do. It is a great cruise because the ship is small enough to go into areas the larger ships can't and some of the tours are more expedition like.

 

Alaska is beautiful!

 

Look at our blog if you haven't already.

 

www.tigerbluecheese.blogspot.com

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Hello Keith101

 

Thank you for your reply much appreciated , are ports of call as follows very thankful for any advise.

Klemtu

Prince Rupert

Rudyerd Bay

Wrangell

Juneau

Sitka

Ketchikan

Alert Bay

 

When it comes to weather in Alaska history really means nothing.

 

Take September for example.

 

This year I know several people who sailed in September and overall they enjoyed some very nice weather.

 

However, September in Alaska can sometimes mean a lot of rain and shorter daylight hours.

 

But each and every month can vary considerably year over year.

 

A benefit of going early or late in the season is less tourists/ships in port including far less children.

 

For ideas as to what to do I would list out the ports on your voyage. The Alaska Ports Of Call Board is also an excellent area to learn about what to do in each port of call.

 

Keith

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