Alaska weather is totally unpredictable. Each year is different.
3 years ago, Jul/Aug was almost 100 degree hottest in over hundred years. 2004 Sept was incredibly good. 2005 Sept was incredible bad.
I have a friend did at least 6 times Alaska cruise - her conclusion was, May has least rain.
The ideal way to do Alaska, is to combine a cruise with a land trip.
Reasons for that:
1) You can only go by ship - whether it is a cruiseship, or Alaska Marine Highway (a Ferry type service with sleeping cabin) to visit the South East part of Alaska, including its Capital, Juneau.
2) The only way to see Glacier Bay National Park is by boat. There are only certain number of ships are allowed to go into the NP each day. Currently only Princess and Holland America are allowed to go into NP. There are other smaller boats that are allowed - they depart from various islands at SE Alaska - you cannot do this on a land only trip.
3) Kenali National Park can be done from Seward - that was what we did on our first trip (landtrip) - but it is a big waste of money when you consider the cost. It costed $110 or more per person, on a regular boat, for about 7 to 8 hours trip out to Kenali NP. On the other hand, an Alaska cruise itinerary would include 80% of the scenes you would see at Kenali NP, and an inside cabin may cost you about $600 per person, for a 7 day cruise, incl room and board and transportation from port to port. So you do the math.
4) Inland Alaska - Denali NP, Wrangell NP cannot be done on a cruise - it must be a land trip or a land tour as an extension of a cruise. (either Pre or Post cruise)
5) Airfare to Alaska is not cheap - it goes without saying, you want to make the most of it. The best way is to COMBINE a landtrip with a cruise. Cruiseline all market the CruiseTours. However, you can easily do the land portion yourself with a much more flexible schedule and may be 1/2 to 2/3 of the cost charged by cruiselines.
3 years ago, Jul/Aug was almost 100 degree hottest in over hundred years. 2004 Sept was incredibly good. 2005 Sept was incredible bad.
I have a friend did at least 6 times Alaska cruise - her conclusion was, May has least rain.
The ideal way to do Alaska, is to combine a cruise with a land trip.
Reasons for that:
1) You can only go by ship - whether it is a cruiseship, or Alaska Marine Highway (a Ferry type service with sleeping cabin) to visit the South East part of Alaska, including its Capital, Juneau.
2) The only way to see Glacier Bay National Park is by boat. There are only certain number of ships are allowed to go into the NP each day. Currently only Princess and Holland America are allowed to go into NP. There are other smaller boats that are allowed - they depart from various islands at SE Alaska - you cannot do this on a land only trip.
3) Kenali National Park can be done from Seward - that was what we did on our first trip (landtrip) - but it is a big waste of money when you consider the cost. It costed $110 or more per person, on a regular boat, for about 7 to 8 hours trip out to Kenali NP. On the other hand, an Alaska cruise itinerary would include 80% of the scenes you would see at Kenali NP, and an inside cabin may cost you about $600 per person, for a 7 day cruise, incl room and board and transportation from port to port. So you do the math.
4) Inland Alaska - Denali NP, Wrangell NP cannot be done on a cruise - it must be a land trip or a land tour as an extension of a cruise. (either Pre or Post cruise)
5) Airfare to Alaska is not cheap - it goes without saying, you want to make the most of it. The best way is to COMBINE a landtrip with a cruise. Cruiseline all market the CruiseTours. However, you can easily do the land portion yourself with a much more flexible schedule and may be 1/2 to 2/3 of the cost charged by cruiselines.