Best time for Alaskan cruise? (Metlakatla: live, relocating to, expensive)

[Spanky25]

I’m looking to plan a cruise to Alaska. Preferably in the summer time. Which months would be best?
Any particular cruise ship over the other? Thanks in advance !

[Frostnip]

I think the standard advice for cruise questions is to visit the Trip Advisor forums. Alaska residents don't tend to do Alaska cruises

As far as time of year goes, it depends on what you want to see/do. I can't tell you how many summer tourists I've heard being surprised that they can't see the northern lights, for example, lol. Some things are seasonal, such as whale watching and various types of fishing.

[stiffnecked]

Originally Posted by Spanky25

I’m looking to plan a cruise to Alaska. Preferably in the summer time. Which months would be best?
Any particular cruise ship over the other? Thanks in advance !

Summer is the only time you can take a cruise. May thru September.

[bmw335xi]

I've gone on 4 Alaskan cruises... the best times have been early summer such as like last week of May, first week of June. I find it less rainy and higher chance of getting a warm front. If you have any questions on cruise lines or ships, I've gone on about 32 cruises so far and counting lol.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

I've gone on 4 Alaskan cruises... the best times have been early summer such as like last week of May, first week of June. I find it less rainy and higher chance of getting a warm front. If you have any questions on cruise lines or ships, I've gone on about 32 cruises so far and counting lol.

This is certainly true for SE Alaska. May and June are drier than later into summer. Typically more scenic too, with more snow left in the mountains.

For ships, I'd go for one of the smaller, WAY expensive cruises if you can swing it, for the obvious reasons. Better food, nicer room, more thoughtful itinerary, fewer people.

But no, I've never taken a cruise anywhere in the world.

[AKStafford]

This forum is primarly for questions about relocating to Alaska. For cruising advice, you should visit the Cruise Critic forum: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

[Metlakatla]

City-Data has a cruise forum.

I'd go in late June to get the most from the region's long sunsets.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cruises/

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

City-Data has a cruise forum.

I'd go in late June to get the most from the region's long sunsets.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cruises/

Late June is very rainy in SE Alaska where most of the ports are... horrible idea, not to mention cruise ships don't stay in port at midnight anyways, so who cares.

[Schmooky]

Early May or August. The weather can be dodgier but it is a lot less crowded. When I was working in Juneau that’s what I saw. Avoid peak season like the plague.

[Metlakatla]

You don't need to be in a port city to enjoy a SE Alaska sunset. It's probably better from the ship anyway.

June is among the driest months on the panhandle. In the years I've lived there, I've never noticed late June to be particularly rainy (the rains seem to start in July or August), but an Alaska cruise probably isn't a good idea for those who want a sure thing as far as weather.

Here you go, OP:

http://www.weather.gov/media/ajk/art...EAKTouring.pdf