How early is too early for Alaska?

I am looking at a May 13th cruise R/T Vancouver. Is this too early in the season to cruise Alaska & for Glacier Bay? What would be the downfalls of cruising so early in the season? Thank you.

Glacier Bay is always accessible.

Certainly, a very nice time to go to Alaska.

Bear tours are not operating and you are too early for fishing, or salmon runs. You have an opportunity to see some humpback migration between the Queen Charlottes and Dixon Passage. All the humpbacks will not be migrated for the tours out of Juneau and Hoonah, but good whale watch touring is still available.

I did a similar itinerary in mid-May 2014 and it was absolutely awesome!!!

We did a whale watching excursion out of Juneau and saw lots of whales, even saw 2 that breached.

The only thing we saw that might be different later in the summer was that the train in Skagway did not go quite to the end of the line (Bennett or Carcross, I'm not sure), but we did a bus to Carcross and back to Fraser and then boarded the train back (booked through Chilkoot Tours). It was fantastic!!!

The only thing we saw that might be different later in the summer was that the train in Skagway did not go quite to the end of the line (Bennett or Carcross, I'm not sure), but we did a bus to Carcross and back to Fraser and then boarded the train back (booked through Chilkoot Tours). It was fantastic!!!

Yes, the train to Bennett and Carcross doesn't start until May 31st this year. Beyond that, it depends what your interests are - trails that go into the high country are still closed by snow, at the top of the Mount Roberts tramway you'll see snow instead of flowers, much of the glaciers will be covered by snow so you won't see much of the blue ice, etc. But most things are the same as later, and there are many advantages, too, which is why we usually cruise in May.

I have done that week many times - it has been great. Glacier Bay looks awesome at this time.

I am looking at a May 13th cruise R/T Vancouver. Is this too early in the season to cruise Alaska & for Glacier Bay? What would be the downfalls of cruising so early in the season? Thank you.

We are sailing 13 May on the CRown Princess return Vancouver, might see you on board.

Many will try to do a Tracy Arm side trip from the boat.... ice congestion can be an issue so early in the season.

Most of our Alaska trips are in the first week of the season April/May and have never missed seeing the whales in Juneau. FWIW our last guide from the U. of Alaska Southeast told us that some whales do not migrate but spend the winters in Auke Bay.

When it comes to Alaska you never know and history means nothing.

My best views of Glacier Bay and our most enjoyable cruise was in April three weeks before any other ship arrived for the start of the new Alaska Season but next time around could be different. We've sailed Alaska many times and will be there again this summer and we know that we will be surprised with whatever weather we experience.

Glacier Bay April, 2012.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AqQs3TEBbcw/T4hXuRKXz2I/AAAAAAAAQqA/XoAXQVQwILM/s1600/DSC_4194.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0UdF6OlPUIM/T4hXwxtIOwI/AAAAAAAAQqI/hjUyFoGaF1s/s1600/DSC_4195.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tlzUwFwKL8Q/T4hX1vim56I/AAAAAAAAQqY/0TZe241SSfY/s1600/DSC_4197.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-znUhqiLWDwI/T4hX3dKZ_bI/AAAAAAAAQqg/rK4XrLnAYa8/s1600/DSC_4198.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ_N-HHz2dI/T4idcb-8oHI/AAAAAAAAQrU/YJ-_LyrFd2Y/s1600/DSC_4203.jpg

I like early in the season. Less people. More snow on the mountains.

Yes, a little cooler temperature wise.

Whatever it is though, we will love it.

Keith

Most of our Alaska trips are in the first week of the season April/May and have never missed seeing the whales in Juneau. FWIW our last guide from the U. of Alaska Southeast told us that some whales do not migrate but spend the winters in Auke Bay.

 

Ironically - I have had better luck with whales and orcas the 2nd week of May vs in July.

Maybe I am just lucky but I have had excellent whale experiences that 2nd week in May.

Ironically - I have had better luck with whales and orcas the 2nd week of May vs in July.

 

Maybe I am just lucky but I have had excellent whale experiences that 2nd week in May.

It is a fact, however, the humpbacks are still migrating, so you have the added opportunity- to catch some views on those "sea" days, (Seattle) especially in/below Dixon Passage.

Yes there are humpbacks in Alaska year round, they don't all migrate.

It is a fact, however, the humpbacks are still migrating, so you have the added opportunity- to catch some views on those "sea" days, (Seattle) especially in/below Dixon Passage.

 

Yes there are humpbacks in Alaska year round, they don't all migrate.

I believe that but I have been extremely lucky with orcas in May. We saw 30 plus on my last trip in this same time frame in Juneau. It was amazing.

I believe that but I have been extremely lucky with orcas in May. We saw 30 plus on my last trip in this same time frame in Juneau. It was amazing.

There is a resident Juneau orca pod, which comes into Auke Bay on average of maybe 2/3 days out of 10. I have seen both resident and transient pods in Auke Bay. Possible throughout the entire season. May just happens to be when you were there and got lucky. :)

We also go often in May and June. I don't see an increase in whales in June when we have sailed. I don't feel like I am missing whale sightings by going Mid-May.

We also go often in May and June. I don't see an increase in whales in June when we have sailed. I don't feel like I am missing whale sightings by going Mid-May.

I've noticed differences. I've been sailing the area over 20 years, and the mid May trips, on the whale watches have been fewer. I see a lot more humpback whales spread out

There is a resident Juneau orca pod, which comes into Auke Bay on average of maybe 2/3 days out of 10. I have seen both resident and transient pods in Auke Bay. Possible throughout the entire season. May just happens to be when you were there and got lucky. :)

The orcas I saw were not in Auke Bay - they were probably a mile or so out from the AJ dock. It was amazing.

I don't worry about people whale watching in May since my July whale watching trips have been been less then what I have seen in May and June. They are not going to walk away not seeing whales.

When it comes to Alaska you never know and history means nothing.

 

My best views of Glacier Bay and our most enjoyable cruise was in April three weeks before any other ship arrived for the start of the new Alaska Season but next time around could be different. We've sailed Alaska many times and will be there again this summer and we know that we will be surprised with whatever weather we experience.

 

Glacier Bay April, 2012.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AqQs3TEBbcw/T4hXuRKXz2I/AAAAAAAAQqA/XoAXQVQwILM/s1600/DSC_4194.jpg

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0UdF6OlPUIM/T4hXwxtIOwI/AAAAAAAAQqI/hjUyFoGaF1s/s1600/DSC_4195.jpg

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tlzUwFwKL8Q/T4hX1vim56I/AAAAAAAAQqY/0TZe241SSfY/s1600/DSC_4197.jpg

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-znUhqiLWDwI/T4hX3dKZ_bI/AAAAAAAAQqg/rK4XrLnAYa8/s1600/DSC_4198.jpg

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ_N-HHz2dI/T4idcb-8oHI/AAAAAAAAQrU/YJ-_LyrFd2Y/s1600/DSC_4203.jpg

 

I like early in the season. Less people. More snow on the mountains.

 

Yes, a little cooler temperature wise.

 

Whatever it is though, we will love it.

 

Keith

Stunning pictures!! What a goregous time, you are right!! What ship did you take to experience this?? TIA

When it comes to Alaska you never know and history means nothing.

 

My best views of Glacier Bay and our most enjoyable cruise was in April three weeks before any other ship arrived for the start of the new Alaska Season but next time around could be different. We've sailed Alaska many times and will be there again this summer and we know that we will be surprised with whatever weather we experience.

 

Glacier Bay April, 2012.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AqQs3TEBbcw/T4hXuRKXz2I/AAAAAAAAQqA/XoAXQVQwILM/s1600/DSC_4194.jpg

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0UdF6OlPUIM/T4hXwxtIOwI/AAAAAAAAQqI/hjUyFoGaF1s/s1600/DSC_4195.jpg

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tlzUwFwKL8Q/T4hX1vim56I/AAAAAAAAQqY/0TZe241SSfY/s1600/DSC_4197.jpg

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-znUhqiLWDwI/T4hX3dKZ_bI/AAAAAAAAQqg/rK4XrLnAYa8/s1600/DSC_4198.jpg

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ_N-HHz2dI/T4idcb-8oHI/AAAAAAAAQrU/YJ-_LyrFd2Y/s1600/DSC_4203.jpg

 

I like early in the season. Less people. More snow on the mountains.

 

Yes, a little cooler temperature wise.

 

Whatever it is though, we will love it.

 

Keith

Keith, beautiful pictures. Did you use a filter on your lens for these shots? If so, what type?

I just got back from a May 5-15 cruise and I don't feel it was too early at all. In fact, I think I will choose this time frame again because the mountains were even more beautiful with more snow still on them. Glacier Bay day was awesome, and with great weather too (sunny and around 70F). You never know what you are going to get with the weather!

The only real downside we experienced when going this early is that there is much less chance of seeing bears. The salmon runs have not started and so the bears are not out for that. However, we still had the opportunity to see four bears (different sightings) while on a bus tour out of Skagway, so it's not impossible!

When it comes to Alaska you never know and history means nothing.

 

My best views of Glacier Bay and our most enjoyable cruise was in April three weeks before any other ship arrived for the start of the new Alaska Season but next time around could be different. We've sailed Alaska many times and will be there again this summer and we know that we will be surprised with whatever weather we experience.

 

Glacier Bay April, 2012.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AqQs3TEBbcw/T4hXuRKXz2I/AAAAAAAAQqA/XoAXQVQwILM/s1600/DSC_4194.jpg

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0UdF6OlPUIM/T4hXwxtIOwI/AAAAAAAAQqI/hjUyFoGaF1s/s1600/DSC_4195.jpg

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tlzUwFwKL8Q/T4hX1vim56I/AAAAAAAAQqY/0TZe241SSfY/s1600/DSC_4197.jpg

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-znUhqiLWDwI/T4hX3dKZ_bI/AAAAAAAAQqg/rK4XrLnAYa8/s1600/DSC_4198.jpg

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ_N-HHz2dI/T4idcb-8oHI/AAAAAAAAQrU/YJ-_LyrFd2Y/s1600/DSC_4203.jpg

 

I like early in the season. Less people. More snow on the mountains.

 

Yes, a little cooler temperature wise.

 

Whatever it is though, we will love it.

 

Keith

Great pictures Keith!