When is the best time to do Alaska?

[Unknown Survivor]

I am planning an Alaskan cruise in 2016 and I am wonder when is the best time to go, I am hoping for less chilly weather. I have been looking at dates in late May or perhaps sometime in August?

 

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Cindy :)

[mapleleaves]

is 'less chilly weather' your only criteria?

one way cruise or RT ?

 

Both time periods have their positives and negatives

Late May is typically drier. Rain increases as the summer progresses. If you're doing one way, be mindful that some activities, vendors, parks, don't open until after Memorial Day so if you have a specific activity in mind, call to be sure they're open or accessible.

Positive ... lots of snow in the mountains, baby wildlife,

 

After mid Aug there can be ugly Fall storms.

Positive .. salmon runs, bear viewing

[GORDONCHICK]

Least chilly? Late June/all of July. But then again, we're talking about weather. But I would never base the trip on that alone.

[rslinky]

All I can tell you is what factored into our decision when it came to choosing when to do Alaska.

 

1. We love children. But when we travel, we like to go when places are not packed with children. We figured May before school was out or Sept when it was back in session.

 

2. We like good prices. The prices are cheaper on the shoulder seasons of May and Sept.

 

3. We looked for incentives. The explore 4 was offered for certain cruises and there was OBC for booking before a certain date.

 

4. We can't get predict weather a day ahead yet alone months or a year out so we look at what is typical knowing we may get an extreme or a normal and know there is nothing we can do about it. So May might be colder but less rainy. Sept may be warmer but greater chance of storms.

 

July and August can have problems with mosquitos. Decided it would be nice to avoid those months but they were already not at the top of the list due to schools being out.

 

We chose May. We booked in Sept of 2014 for a May 2015 trip. This year it was a great choice. May was not cold. We had sunshine every single day - in fact never saw a drop of rain in Alaska. We saw Denali all three days we were there. The ship was not full and even though it was our first HAL, we got an incredible upsell to a suite.

 

Decide what is important and make your choices accordingly. Make your decisions based on what you can control. And then keep a good attitude if the weather isn't perfect.

Edited June 22, 2015 by rslinky

[Unknown Survivor]

All I can tell you is what factored into our decision when it came to choosing when to do Alaska.

 

1. We love children. But when we travel, we like to go when places are not packed with children. We figured May before school was out or Sept when it was back in session.

 

2. We like good prices. The prices are cheaper on the shoulder seasons of May and Sept.

 

3. We looked for incentives. The explore 4 was offered for certain cruises and there was OBC for booking before a certain date.

 

4. We can't get predict weather a day ahead yet alone months or a year out so we look at what is typical knowing we may get an extreme or a normal and know there is nothing we can do about it. So May might be colder but less rainy. Sept may be warmer but greater chance of storms.

 

July and August can have problems with mosquitos. Decided it would be nice to avoid those months but they were already not at the top of the list due to schools being out.

 

We chose May. We booked in Sept of 2014 for a May 2015 trip. This year it was a great choice. May was not cold. We had sunshine every single day - in fact never saw a drop of rain in Alaska. We saw Denali all three days we were there. The ship was not full and even though it was our first HAL, we got an incredible upsell to a suite.

 

Decide what is important and make your choices accordingly. Make your decisions based on what you can control. And then keep a good attitude if the weather isn't perfect.

 

I was looking at one in May and one in late August, your advice is helpful and appreciated ... thank you.

[Unknown Survivor]

is 'less chilly weather' your only criteria?

one way cruise or RT ?

 

Both time periods have their positives and negatives

Late May is typically drier. Rain increases as the summer progresses. If you're doing one way, be mindful that some activities, vendors, parks, don't open until after Memorial Day so if you have a specific activity in mind, call to be sure they're open or accessible.

Positive ... lots of snow in the mountains, baby wildlife,

 

After mid Aug there can be ugly Fall storms.

Positive .. salmon runs, bear viewing

 

I am looking at cruises in mid to late May and late August in 2016, leaving/returning out of Seattle. I think chilly is the wrong word, I would love to do a lot of hiking and was looking for a time that it would be more green. I didn't even think about Memorial Day, so thanks for the heads up.

[Budget Queen]

With your hiking mention, May has some impassable trails due to mud and not being groomed.

 

If you are firm on your round trip Seattle choice, mid May would offer you a look at the humpback migration on your "sea" days, whereas, in August it's just open ocean. Seattle is also the least scenic routing.

 

Weather is hit and miss, and no way to predict.

 

There are some "points" written about here, that aren't really valid for Alaska itineraries, about the "kids" mention. There are FAR fewer kids sailing Alaska, in my opinion, it is insignificant worrying about kids on board. It's a whole different story in the Caribbean, completely different in Alaska where the demographics are all ages with bulk middle aged and above. Bugs also are not near the problems, on the inside passage compared to mainland Alaska- and a lot of areas few tourists on this board go. eg, Wonder Lake, Lake Clark/Katmai etc.

[xlxo]

I am planning an Alaskan cruise in 2016 and I am wonder when is the best time to go, I am hoping for less chilly weather. I have been looking at dates in late May or perhaps sometime in August?

On my August trips.... when the sun comes out... I wanna go topless. When it rains.... where's my goretex? Edited June 23, 2015 by xlxo

[Putterdude]

Each time of the year has its own appeal. June is statistically the driest month in SE Alaska if statistics will keep you dry. But having been there every month from May thru September my favourite time of the cruise season lies between mid-July thru mid-August. Yes, there are variations in weather from day to day and year to years but I have generally found the temps to be higher in this period. Once you move to far away from mid-August you do run the risk of cooling temps and wetter weather.