While it is possible to find Alaska cruise deals just about any time of the year, there are some times that are better than others to catch Alaska’s best cruise deals.
Best Alaska Cruise Deals, When to Go
Like most cruise destinations, Alaska has its peak times and off-times. While Alaska is a year round vacation destination, most visitors arrive between mid-May and mid-September. So the best time to visit Alaska is in the shoulder seasons, May and September.
Alaska has a short visitor season and during the peak summer months, availability is limited in the most popular areas so, early season travel offers many advantages. Besides great weather and a colorful environment to explore, Alaska is not as crowded and passengers can take advantage of early season specials and lower rates. Princess Alaska Lodges, offers lower rates during the early the season.
Even more colorful is late season in Alaska. Fall brings even brighter and more intense color to Alaska’s landscape, and by this time crowds have thinned and some of the best Alaska cruise deals are available during this time. In addition, land excursions are easier to enjoy with thinner crowds and believe it or not wildlife search opportunities also improve in late season.
Larger mammals begin feeding in the lower elevations to pack on as much winter weight as possible. If you aren’t one who enjoys heat, the weather during this time is perfect for you. The weather fluctuates between warm days and chilly nights. An added benefit—it gets dark enough in the interior of Alaska to see the Northern Lights!
Where to Hunt for Alaska’s Best Cruise Deal
Before you start searching for the cruise line with the best Alaska cruise deals, it’s important to know a little bit about the basics of an Alaska cruise including popular types of Alaska cruises, ports of call and length of cruises. Three of the most popular types of Alaska cruises are: Alaska Inside Passage Cruises (roundtrip), Alaska Glacier Cruises (Gulf of Alaska) and Alaska – Cruise and Land.
Inside Passage cruises typically begin and end at the same port of call, they are usually seven nights and they set sail from and return to Seattle or Vancouver. Inside Passage cruises are popular for cruisers on a budget or cruisers that are short time.
Alaska Glacier Cruises are one-way cruises sailing North from Vancouver or South from Anchorage. An advantage to this type of cruise is passengers will see more glaciers, mountains, wildlife and scenery in seven nights than on typical Alaska Inside Passage Cruise.
An Alaska Cruise and Land tour combines an Alaska cruise with an Alaska land tour. These types of tours allow the passenger to explore the coastline and interior regions of Alaska, including Denali National Park.
Cruises range may range from seven to 23 nights depending on the itinerary. Ports of call include: Anchorage, College Fjord, Glacier Bay, Haines, Hubbard Glacier, Icy Straight Point, Inside Passage, Juneau, Ketchikan, Misty Fjord, Nome, Prince Rupert, San Francisco, Seattle, Seward, Sitka, Skagway, Tracy Arm, Valdez, Vancouver, Victoria and Whittier. In many cases, shorter cruises such as 7-night cruises offer the hottest deals. Some may start as low as $499.
For the Alaska’s best cruise deals, contact your favorite cruise line or your local cruise travel agent. A representative from any given cruise line can review their best Alaska cruise deals and help you select the right one for you. A cruise travel agent can review all of the cruise lines offering Alaska cruise deals and help you select the best deal for you.