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I want to preface this by saying it’s not too cold to visit Alaska in September! Vibrant fall colors, fewer crowds, unforgettable excursions, abundant wildlife, and (potentially) the Northern Lights await you in the 49th state during the shoulder season. A September trip can be an incredible experience if you know what to expect and prepare accordingly. Explore the dynamic glaciers, soaring peaks and captivating history of the 49th state on our award-winning itineraries.
Glacier Bay Cruise Itineraries
The 6 Best Cruises for Northern Lights Viewing - AFAR Media
The 6 Best Cruises for Northern Lights Viewing.
Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Read on for average Alaska cruise prices, things to do in Alaska and everything else you'll need to decide which is the best month to cruise Alaska for you. The beginning of September is much like August, but after the kids go back to school and the family crowd departs, it's shoulder season for cruising and pricing drops. Most cruise ships will have repositioned out of the state by the end of the month.
Visiting Scenic Restaurants in Alaska
There is a chance you will see some snow, so a winter coat, gloves, and a hat are a smart addition to your packing list. Not only is the cracking sound shocking, but the calving also produces a giant wave of water and captivating icebergs. July and August are prime time for viewing glacier calving on an Alaskan cruise. You also might see fuzzy harbor seal pups and sea lion pups (born in June and July) warming themselves on rocks with their mothers. Add high-powered binoculars to your Alaska packing list to ensure that you get to see all of the wildlife possible.
Alaska Cruise Onboard Experience
As September begins, the sun dips below the horizon signifying the inauguration of fall. The lush green forests transition into vibrant hues of gold and saffron while the mountaintops become freckled in snowfall. Daylight quietly recedes and the growing twilight perfectly contrasts the luminous green lights of the Aurora Borealis. The enchanting colors invite you to marvel at the miracles of Mother Nature that so often act as the inspiration for treasured postcards. With only 12 hours of sunlight, temperatures range from around 43 degrees to the mid-50s.
For most travelers, Southeast Alaska means cruising—and cruising in September offers just as much of a gamble as a land tour. You still have that increased chance of rain and clouds, so your shipboard views of the coastline could be shrouded in fog. On the other hand, if you get a nice day, your experience will be crisp and crystal clear. September in Alaska is the shoulder season—offering the promise of lower prices on hotels and excursions, fewer crowds and bugs, fall colors, and northern lights viewing. While brochures wax poetic about how early fall can be the perfect time to visit Alaska, the days are shorter, and it can also be rainy and cooler. The main cruise season in Alaska is May through September, though many cruise lines are adding shoulder season itineraries in April and October.
Gaze at giant glaciers from the pool deck while you sail through Endicott Arm. Scan the surrounding waters on your way to Juneau for glimpses of wildlife from the North Star®, the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship. If you’re been to Alaska before and prefer to skip shore excursions, taking a shoulder season cruise allows you to save money and savor the experience of being at sea on a luxury cruise ship. Even with bad weather conditions, some cruise guests love to go in the fall for the chance to see the northern lights. Ships often sail with empty rooms allowing them to enjoy onboard venues with fewer people. Weather varies by region and will get colder the further north you go.
If you purchase a balcony cabin, you can take advantage of the long days in the Land of the Midnight Sun. As your ship reaches the Inside Passage, the early morning views outside of your room are breathtaking. Weather, ocean conditions, and limited sunlight make winter cruising to Alaska impossible. Since I grew up in Alaska, I’m a fan of just about everything in the Land of the Midnight Sun.
This area is similar to Denali in the sense that many hotels and tours shut down by mid-September—after which things are really shut down. So, if you want to experience this area, you just have to come in the early part of the month. Cruise ships run through September—docking in Whittier and Seward, and with buses and trains departing for Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks.
Alaska National Parks
On dry land, bears are more common in May, though not as frequently spotted as they are in peak summer. Alternatively, birders might want to time their cruise with the Copper River Shorebird Festival, which takes place early in May in Cordova. Check ahead to make sure your itinerary will stop here, as it's usually only featured on longer 14-day cruises to Alaska. Temperatures are relatively mild, with daytime highs in the upper 40s and into the 50s depending on where you're visiting and cloud cover.
You can’t do a land tour – Denali National Park and tours in Denali typically close for visitors around mid-September. Helicopter tours close shop early as bad weather affects their ability to take off and fly safely. Large boat tours such as the Misty Fjords Explorer and the Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tours also stop offering excursions by mid-September. Snow – As the month progresses, the chances of snow increase at higher elevations.
So grab your gear, lace up your shoes, and prepare to dive into the ultimate sporting extravaganza in beautiful Sitka. On average, Anchorage and other Southcentral destinations receive about 15 hours of daylight. If we move further north, Fairbanks and Denali have around 17 hours of daylight depending on how far north you go.
And for the ultimate outdoor adventure, take a CruiseTour into Alaska’s interior where you can hang with huskies in Denali, and scale glaciers in Alyeska. Planes are plentiful in Alaska, where they're a common form of transportation across the state. Charter a helicopter or fixed-wing flightseeing tour at Juneau and get an unforgettable perspective of the mountains and glaciers of this vast landscape. In some parts of the state, dog sledding is still the primary mode of transportation through the winter months.
These new, cooler climates encourage Alaska’s famed wildlife to begin preparing for hibernation. Gaze at the water’s surface as thousands of bald eagles congregate to enjoy the final salmon of the season. Cruises are typically offered in three-night, seven-night, and even up to 28-night cruises. On average, a seven-night cruise ranges from $500 to $5,000, depending on the cruise line and state room of your choice.
Sometimes, the aurora presents itself as shimmering white patterns across the sky that dissolve and reform. Other times, you’ll see the full rippling curtains effect, with pinks and greens creating a magnificent light show. Photographers will love the mesmerizing sight of the first snowfall, especially on a clear day. The white mountaintops scrape a deep blue sky, while the orange and yellow fall foliage on the lower slopes creates the perfect contrast. The phrase was made up by early gold miners, as it means the end of summer and the approach of the harsh winter—and those gold prospectors didn’t stop just because the weather was getting cold. Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us.
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