Pros and Cons from end of the season Alaska Cruises

[Countrygirl44]

DH and I have cruised Alaska six times, however, the latest was the last week of August. Weather was not bad. Worst weather was July 2012. We have been offered an opportunity to go with a local group that is fully escorted. It is inclusive of everything, transportation, transfers, flights, cruise, motels, and insurance. We would be responsible for tips, gratuities, meals in Seattle and any tours and excursions we planned to do. It is a balcony handicapped cabin as DH has health issues. With it being fully escorted would be such a stress reliever for me. The lady escorting and I have been friends for so many years. She is a first class escort! I would only have to drive about eight miles to meet the bus for the transport to the airport. On the return, I would pick up my car and drive eight miles home. It just can't hardly get any easier than that. My problem? I want to hear from you "last cruise of the season people" with pros and cons. Thanks you so much for your help.

[FoghornLeghorn]

Countrygirl,

Sorry I can't answer your question...

We're going on our first Alaska cruise the last week in August/first part of September. You said the weather was "not bad" on your previous cruise during that time....can you elaborate?

 

Thanks!

Edited May 12, 2014 by FoghornLeghorn

[Countrygirl44]

Countrygirl,

Sorry I can't answer your question...

We're going on our first Alaska cruise the last week in August/first part of September. You said the weather was "not bad" on your previous cruise during that time....can you elaborate?

 

Thanks!

 

We used our umbrella some in Juneau. Ketchikan was fine and our trip to the Yukon (from Skagway) the weather was wonderful. The coldest, wettest, and worst weather was July 2012. Our other trips in May were a mixture of rain and sunshine. Can't remember the year, but once we were in Ketchikan when they hit a record high. My favorite of our times are in late May. I followed the web cams last week and the temperatures were very nice in the ports.

[FoghornLeghorn]

Thanks so much!

[Sailingpeace]

Did a San Francisco to San Francisco on Sea Princess, last cruise of the season a few years ago. Smooth ride out and into of SF ( no potato patch) and only one port where we took our raincots out for a short while, drizzle not pouring rain. On the helicopter landing on the glacier tour, it was absolutely clear skies and the lady guide on the glacier told us it was one of the very few ( count the fingers on one hand) perfect warm weather day of the season. In Ketchikan, it was so sunny and warm that all the store clerks were mentionning how wonderful the weather was, they were thrilled. Some passengers were weari g bermudas and sandals ! The crew told us that the three itineraries before ours, it had been rainy and passengers were complaining. We did get the storm from hell for almost 20 hrs on our way to Victoria ( night and sea day) but that could have happened any time of year. I call it the weather lottery, there are statistics and there is luck. Have a great cruise.

[crackupforlaughs]

Hi. I live in Seattle and have been to Alaska (cruises) three times: last cruise of the season in Sept., late June and first week of August (1996, 2009 and 2010 respectively).

 

Last cruise of the season in Sept it rained the whole time. The June one we had rain in Ketchikan, but clear everywhere else. August was sunny and 80s at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway.

 

The weather in the Northwest is hit and miss -- we have two seasons: rain and sun, the former can be 8 months long (we kid, but seriously...and it's not monsoon stuff, but mist mostly... although lately we've had some downpours). That said, the most "likely" sunshine can be found end of July to mid August. Somehow, rain finds its way back the last week of August. But again, nothing is dependable.

 

Does that help? Good luck!

[Colo Cruiser]

I agree there is no way to predict this. We have the same climate here in Colorado. One minute its sunny and clear and snow and cold within hours.

In Alaska we have had snow at the end of July and sunburn at the end of May. We have sailed the last season cruise twice and had fantastic weather on one and as mentioned lots of rain on the other. :)

[poolreader]

My mother and I did a 2 week last cruise of September in Alaska, with a ride home to San Pedro. It was the best weather the ship had seen all that season.

[Thrak]

DH and I have cruised Alaska six times, however, the latest was the last week of August. Weather was not bad. Worst weather was July 2012. We have been offered an opportunity to go with a local group that is fully escorted. It is inclusive of everything, transportation, transfers, flights, cruise, motels, and insurance. We would be responsible for tips, gratuities, meals in Seattle and any tours and excursions we planned to do. It is a balcony handicapped cabin as DH has health issues. With it being fully escorted would be such a stress reliever for me. The lady escorting and I have been friends for so many years. She is a first class escort! I would only have to drive about eight miles to meet the bus for the transport to the airport. On the return, I would pick up my car and drive eight miles home. It just can't hardly get any easier than that. My problem? I want to hear from you "last cruise of the season people" with pros and cons. Thanks you so much for your help.

 

Our first cruise was in September of 2011. It was an Alaskan cruise and was, according to my wife, the very last one of the season. Oddly enough we had wonderful weather. People in the ports said they hadn't seen the sun for weeks. We were walking around under beautiful sunny skies. It was great! It was cool enough for a flannel shirt but definitely not cold.

 

We live in northern California. We get a week or more of 110 degree weather every summer and only a couple of freezes each winter so we are not inured to cold weather. It really WAS nice weather when we were there. :p

 

Edit: Reading the post above by Sailingpeace makes me think we may have been on the same cruise. I was forgetting the first night out of SF and the first day at sea. The ship was really rocking and rolling. However, the weather after that was great.

Edited May 12, 2014 by Thrak

[Countrygirl44]

Thanks so much for all the replies. For those of you that traveled the last cruise of the season, share with me about the "hours of sunlight". On one of our late May cruises, I don't think we actually saw complete darkness. Of course, we were off to bed fairly early.

[Donder1]

We sailed last Sept. on Grand out of SF for the last Alaska cruise of the season. The weather was perfect. We watched the America's Cup right out on our balcony for a few hours before we embarked. Be sure to be on deck when, and if, you leave from SF as you go under the Golden Gate Bridge. All I can say is WOW!

 

We got very close to the glacier in Tracy Arm. That is the only area that was cold (but sunny). I suggest bringing layers, gloves or mittens and a warm hat. I was really glad I had them!

 

Overall, we had comfortable, sunny days the entire time.

 

At the ports, most towns were beginning to roll up the sidewalks and there were a lot of bargains to be found in the shops.

 

And, while we sailed on the Grand in her early days, I had some concerns about the condition of the ship (the oldest in her class). Let me say that she was as gorgeous as I remembered. Clean, in good repair, and great service and food, too!

[kylea_s]

Weather has always been a hit or miss thing. I think this is especially true in the past few years whether you want to believe in climate change or not. My opinion that this trip for you would be a true vacation with so little stress that you should do it. I think that even if you had the worst weather ever you would still have a nice time cruising with friends and enjoying the boat! Don't think twice, just do it!

PS We have been to Alaska four times but never in September, the weather has been mostly fine each time.

[BigWI]

I have no experience, so take my comments for what they are worth.

 

 

GO FOR IT!

 

What is the worse that will happen, you have a little less fun than you had hoped for? Maybe at the end f September you will get a glimpse of the Northern Lights (may be too early).

[dfields1814]

We took the last cruise out of San Francisco a couple of years ago. The weather was a bit chilly and some rain drizzles but that was expected. Actually considering it was late Sept the weather was good for the most part. We had some snow on the famous train ride. The people who took the bus up to the pass got stranded for a while but they made it back.

 

At the last port the captain announced that he was canceling the Tracy Arm cruise because of a big storm. He said he was going to "try" to outrun it. So we went down the strait between Vancouver Island and the mainland instead . They had to bring on a special pilot to do this. Not as good as Tracy Arm but we did see a lot of sea animals. (A lot of passenger were not happy about messing Tracy Arm. The captain posted the weather map. To me the storm looked about the size of Alaska It was huge.) But the captain did outrun it and we had no problems with the storm.)

 

The huge pro is if you are a shopper. The merchants gave very deep discounts because this was the last cruise of the season. I got a jacket for $20 that I bet cost well over a $100 normally. I bought my wife jewelry for Christmas also at a deep discount. (don't tell my wife that!!!). I had a great time shopping and I hate to shop.

 

There were no kids aboard. To some that is a positive. It is not to me I prefer having children around especially on an Alaskan cruise. The seem to get a big kick out of seeing the animals.

 

I would not hesitate to take the last cruise of the season again knowing what the risks are.

Edited May 12, 2014 by dfields1814

[Loonbeam]

We did last out in 2009..

 

Pros - No crowds in ports, great deals in shops, amazing amount of wildlife on land.

 

Cons - Could not get as far in to Glacier Bay due to ice, less glacier calving, some of the restaurants in the lodges were out of some items, minimal sea life.

 

Neither pro nor con - a little cooler, easily handled with layers. Shorter days (a plus for me but not for everyone) - a few tours not offered.

[PescadoAmarillo]

I agree there is no way to predict this. We have the same climate here in Colorado. One minute its sunny and clear and snow and cold within hours.

Snow? What's snow? :p

[ar1950]

We went on the inside passage cruise 7 years ago in the second week of September. It was a little drizzly and cool to cold. We went with friends and had adjoining balcony cabins. We had the room stewart open the balcony divider and sat on the balcony while cruising Tracy Arm. We just bundled up and were able to stay nice and dry while the folks topside got rained on. Also, as others have said, there were some really good prices if you go shopping (I made the mistake of buying an Alaska hat from someone on the gangway for $5.00 because it seemed so cheap only to find the same hat in a shop in Skagway for $1.75). :cool:

 

All in all we had a terrific time and would do it again if we have the chance.

[OldSeaDog]

Last fall DW and I took the last cruise of the season. It was fun being the actual last ship of the season. The day after we hit the ports, the people in town had tickets out to their winter homes. All the shops had had 30% off sales, and were easily talked down from there.

 

Weather was fine...cool and occasional drizzle.

 

All in all, we loved it, and will do it again. On the other hand, I don't believe there's ever a bad time to cruise Alaska. :)

[Ship's Wake]

We took the Celebrity Millenium a couple of years ago in September from Vancouver to San Diego at the end of the Alaska season. The ship was very dirty in some areas (exterior windows, balcony, carpeting, grimy deck chairs).

 

This was because there are strict governmental limitations on what can be done in the Alaskan ports to keep the ships clean.

 

Don't expect a gleaming immaculate ship. Shouldn't affect your enjoyment, but be aware that towards the end of the Alaska season the ship will look dirtier.

Edited May 12, 2014 by oysterdam

[Colo Cruiser]

We also found some stores already closed for the season in each port.

Edited May 12, 2014 by Colo Cruiser

[Coral]

I don't remember if it was last year or the year before. The weather was really bad on one of the last sailings. The wind was so bad, the ship stayed in Whittier for at least another day or two. Weather mid-September and after can get very fowl.

[MCC retired]

As previously posted ,the last cruise of the Alaska season :

Shorter daylight hours.

Less children

Rain drops may be snow flakes

Stores/attractions may be closed for season.

Weather totally unpredictable as usual.

 

On the plus side

Cruise prices lower

Ship stores discount Alaska logo items .

[PescadoAmarillo]

I don't remember if it was last year or the year before. The weather was really bad on one of the last sailings. The wind was so bad, the ship stayed in Whittier for at least another day or two. Weather mid-September and after can get very fowl.

It was September 2012. It was the cruise after ours, and we wore shorts most of the time and got pink from the sun. Which just goes to show that you never know.

[we3peas]

We went on the Island last year the 2nd week of Sept 2013, inside passage.

 

Weather was colder than it had been all season (up to 2 weeks before we left they were having heat waves for Alaska). We did not get rained on in any port but came prepared for it and colder weather with layers. Stores are starting to close and there are some discounts given. some tours may not be offered anymore (prime season might be over). We had our 15 yo dd with us. There were 3 kids on board and none her age (we homeschool so the schedule was better for us). Our ship wasn't completely full so not crowded on the open decks. Nobody ever in the hot tub except us. Never waited in line to eat, etc. in fact the most crowded I felt on the ship was looking at the $10 sale!

[ggprincess2004]

Snow? What's snow? :p

 

One of the four letter S words that should not be mentioned in polite company.:eek: