Is it best to go on an Alaskan cruise in the highest season, warmest months of July and August? Or do the shoulder months of June and September have advantages? The time that you choose to travel depends on your personal interests & desires. Our Alaska cruise experts reveal their recommendations.

Learn the BIG differences of small ship expeditions compared to the huge, more traditional cruises. Fewer passengers means having the complete attention of the crew, personalized activities, and more time to really explore Alaska!

Between June and September is the best time to visit Svalbard and Spitsbergen as it is high season for cruises, the wildlife is active, the ice flows have melted, and the days are long.

An expedition cruise through the Arctic is unlike any other vacation experience. As you follow in the wake of great explorers, you will discover firsthand the breathtaking beauty and surprising biodiversity that exists in the northernmost region of the globe. A cruise of the Arctic may circumnavigate one single country or cross the Arctic Circle on a comprehensive expedition.

May through September is usually the top season to plan your Arctic cruise as there are fewer insects, the temperatures are tolerable, and usually above freezing levels.

Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Haines, Sitka, Wrangell, and Thorne Bay are the best ports of call for cruises throughout Alaska. The state of Alaska is unrivaled in the United States as a place to discover the breathtaking wilderness, history, and culture that surrounds the Northwest.

The best time to take an Alaskan cruise is April through September with July and August being the highest season attracting the most travelers. Convention holds that the best months to cruise Alaska are July and August when the temperatures are at their highest and the weather is generally sunnier. However, the best time for Alaska cruises depends on your personal preferences.