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A cruise ship dwarfed by the magnificence of Glacier Bay[1]

When is the best time to cruise Alaska?

Hero photo: Commander John Bortniak, NOAA Corps, Public domain
2018-09-18 MS EURODAM - IMO - Glacier Bay, Alaska USA
2018-09-18 MS EURODAM - IMO - Glacier Bay, Alaska USAPhoto: Gordon Leggett, CC BY-SA 4.0
ms Statendam in Glacier Bay from the ms Oosterdam
ms Statendam in Glacier Bay from the ms OosterdamPhoto: Edward Weston from Wilmington, DE, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
NPS Photo
NPS PhotoPhoto: National Park Service, Alaska Region, Public domain
Dramatic view of Marjerie Glacier from a cruise ship, Glacier Bay, Alaska
Dramatic view of Marjerie Glacier from a cruise ship, Glacier Bay, AlaskaPhoto: Nvvchar, CC BY-SA 3.0
Glacier Bay, Alaska. Images from my cruise on Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam to Alaska Inside Passa
Glacier Bay, Alaska. Images from my cruise on Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam to Alaska Inside PassaPhoto: Gary Bembridge from London, UK, CC BY 2.0

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Alaska · When to go

When is the best time to cruise Alaska?

Alaska's cruise season runs from about late April to early October. June through August is the warmest and busiest stretch. May and September are the shoulder months, with smaller crowds.

Last checked Nov 1, 2026. This is general information, and conditions change, so confirm the details in your quote.

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Season dates

Alaska.org and Cruise Critic both put the cruise season at roughly late April to early October. Peak season is June through August.

Month by month

  • May: a shoulder month with fewer families aboard, plus spring flowers and big waterfalls.
  • June and July: the longest days. Daylight peaks around the June 21 solstice, and July is often the warmest month.
  • August: salmon runs and bear viewing, but it can be rainier.
  • September: fall colors, quieter ports, and nights dark enough for a chance at the northern lights.

Whale watching

Cruise Critic names May through September as the best window for seeing whales.

Common questions

What months are Alaska cruises?

Roughly late April to early October, with peak season from June through August.

What is the least crowded month to cruise Alaska?

May and September, the shoulder months, have smaller crowds.

Can I see the northern lights on an Alaska cruise?

It's possible from about mid-September, when nights get dark enough.

Sources

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