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Check out our Alaska Inside Passage Cruises with convenient departures from Seattle and Vancouver for the chance to see Humpback whales on Holland America Line adventures. If you’re dead set on seeing a specific kind of whale, read on for the best times to see whales in Alaska. The best spots onboard to watch whales from the ship are from a private balcony, Promenade deck, upper pool deck/running track, and outdoor area at the Windjammer. Reach out to us today, and together we'll have your first Discovery Call and start planning your next unforgettable vacation. The fastest way to connect is to email us directly, and we'll reply within 24 hours, 365 days of the year.
Motion Sickness On The High Seas
(Sea lions, seals and sea otters also abound.) In April and May, gray whales pass the mouth of the bay on their epic spring migration to the Arctic. Many tour operators offer partial and full-day trips, with captains often maintaining radio contact with each other to share intel about sightings. Regular visitors are humpback whales on their summer-long binge, and killer whales in pursuit of salmon. Both species work the rich coastline on the southern shore of the bay, from Halibut Cove to the Herring Islands area. Further out, where the bay opens into vast Cook Inlet with the storybook cone of Augustine Volcano shimmering on the horizon, chances increase for a rare encounter with one of the giant baleen whales. Fin whales occasionally enter the inlet, and tour operators have even reported seeing blue whales far offshore.
What to Do in Alaska: Top Things to Do in September
Weeklong itineraries generally embark in either Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia — though some itineraries originate in Juneau. A few lines, such as Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Cunard Line, offer 10-night Inside Passage cruises from Seattle or Vancouver. If you want to see landlocked areas, such as Denali National Park, you can tack a cruise line-operated tour onto the beginning or end of your sailing for a seamless land and sea vacation. It's easier than fumbling with multiple train, bus, ferry and hotel reservations to cobble together the same trip on your own.
Alaska Whale Watching in June
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska 2024: A Month-by-Month Guide - Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Time to Cruise Alaska 2024: A Month-by-Month Guide.
Posted: Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Little kids will adore meet-and-greets with beloved characters onboard Disney cruises, or hanging with Dr. Seuss characters when sailing with Carnival. Older kids will love the rock climbing walls, video game stations, sports courts, go-karts and laser tag on Royal Caribbean and NCL ships. Finally, you'll find some round-trip San Francisco itineraries — usually 10 or 11 nights long — as well as longer sailings between San Francisco and Vancouver. You'll have up to two days of scenic cruising, in addition to sailing the Inside Passage.
What Happens On Adults-Only Cruises?
Prince William Sound is 3,800 miles of coastline surrounded by mountains, glaciers, and islands. Other whales in the area include fin, minke, sei, and killer whales (orca). The towns along the sound include Whittier (90 minutes from Anchorage), Cordova (not on the road system), and Valdez.
It also rains a lot in Alaska; it's drier in the spring than in the summer. One of the key reasons to cruise Alaska versus taking a land tour is to visit destinations along the Inside Passage that you cannot reach by road. Each type offers a unique way to explore the stunning landscapes and wildlife of Alaska, tailored to different cruising desires. However, small ships typically have fewer amenities compared to larger vessels and may experience more motion in rough seas, which could be a concern for those prone to seasickness. Cruising Alaska can vary significantly depending on whether you choose a small ship or a large ship, as each offers distinct experiences, benefits, and limitations.
Cruising in Alaska offers several opportunities to witness the beauty of whales in their natural habitat. Numerous species, such as humpbacks, orcas, grey whales, and minke whales, inhabit Alaska’s waters during the prime whale-watching season from May to September. The fall salmon run also attracts bears and other predatory species to the rivers and shorelines, making viewing them from a cruise ship deck much easier. Humpback whales, orcas, seals, and other marine species are also more active during these months.
Some guests opt not to book a whale watching tour in Juneau and instead book it in a port where there are less excursion and activity options. If you’re traveling to Alaska in the early season, you may be able to spot gray whales as they migrate further north. Another benefit of being in Alaska during this time is the amount of daylight.
Month-by-Month Guide for Alaskan Cruises
Temperatures are relatively mild, with daytime highs in the upper 40s and into the 50s depending on where you're visiting and cloud cover. They can be found in the Bering Sea and even further north in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas (in the Arctic Circle). Orcas are fast and have a unique black backside with a white belly and ‘eye spot’.
Home to Mendenhall Glacier, this is a popular port for hikes by, kayak tours to and helicopter landings on the glacier. Alaska cruises provide plentiful opportunities to learn about Native Alaskan culture. You can get a taste of the gold rush life by trying your hand at panning for gold, attending a salmon bake or visiting a dog-sled camp. A hike on the Chilkoot Trail or ride on the White Pass Railway lets you follow in the footsteps of the miners who came to seek their fortunes. Alaska cruises offer a wide range of activities in port, with options for active travelers, wildlife lovers, history buffs and shoppers. Whether you're traveling with young kids or require more sedentary recreation, the Alaska cruise ports won't disappoint.
The popularity of this period is also why many people consider it the best time of the year to book an Alaskan cruise. The best time to book an Alaskan cruise is the months between April and September. If you think this is a long stretch to be deemed “the best” time to book a cruise in Alaska, you are not wrong, but there is a reason for this. This is also when you’ll be able to find most of the cruise itineraries. Learn how luxury makes a difference on the All-Inclusive Luxury Whale Watch. Climb aboard the only luxury whale-watching day-yacht in Alaska, and keep your eye out for orcas, and humpback whales.
Although the northern lights can potentially be visible all year, your chances are much better from late September to early October. During this peak season, you’ll enjoy milder weather, vibrant wildlife, and stunning, clear views of Alaska’s famous landscapes. Although it’s summer during these peak whale watching times in Alaska, one might assume you still must bundle up for an excursion like whale watching. Humpback and blue whales, for instance, have a gestation period that’s between 11 and 12 months.
Orcas stay throughout the summer and some pods are known to be in Alaska year round. The best places for whale watching on the road system is Seward on Resurrection Bay. The best tour companies include Major Marine (my personal favorite) and Kenai Fjords tours. Icy Strait Point also provides a wonderful opportunity to see Freddy, a local favorite and one of Alaska’s most famous humpback whales.
Whittier is probably my least favorite and least recommended area to see whales in Alaska. It’s only because I’ve never seen whales during any of the tours I’ve been on. The tours are mainly focused on seeing glaciers, which are incredible to see regardless!
Orcas, on the other hand are pregnant for up to 18 months, which means they might often give birth in their feeding grounds. The reason different species migrate at different times is due to their differences in gestation period. One of the most common sea creatures to see from the surface in Alaska maybe the killer whale. A true fan favorite of the west coast of North America, these ridged sweethearts of the deep love to frolic in the Alaskan waters. They tend to make the northern part of the Gulf of Alaska their summer home. There is more narrowing down that we can do to have a better chance of you catching that perfect shot of your beloved whale.
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