June or July?

[ABQrobin]

We are booking soon for an Alaska cruise on Carnival. I had planned to book late July for better chance of seeing bears as that is when they say the salmon runs start.... but then we heard the other day that Alaska is having an early spring. Also we have heard that June is sunnier. For excursions we are planning to do a day of hiking and a day of whale watching/visit glacier tours for sure.

 

so which month do YOU think would be best for us???

[slider728]

For what it is worth, in my opinion, the only thing predictable about Alaska is that it is unpredictable. You can plan based on the statistics, but Mother Nature has no idea these statistics exist (or maybe she does and she throws a monkey wrench in things to make us angry).

 

I was born in SE Alaska and spent half my childhood there full time and the other half doing the summer thing (went to school in the midwest). I have seen entire summers filled with endless sunny days and I have been up there for summers where I could count on one hand the number of times I saw the sun in 3 months.

 

SE Alaska is temperate rain forest. In Juneau, you see about 60 inches of precipitation a year while in Ketchikan, the average is somewhere around 150 inches of precipitation. Statistically (at least in Juneau), you will see less rain in June than toward the end of July, but when you go anyplace that gets between 60 and 150 inches of precipitation a year, you better be prepared for rain. IMHO, you need to be prepared for rain and cool weather whenever you go and if you get a sunny, warm day, that is a bonus.

 

In terms of the salmon run, again this can be a bit unpredictable. I know in different ports, the run timing will be different. I can tell you mostly about Juneau. In Juneau, the bears tend to go for the sockeye run by the glacier. That typically starts the last two weeks of July. There is a second Coho/Silver run that occurs right around the end of August. There are others that can tell you about run timing in terms of bears for the other ports. Hopefully they'll chime in.

 

I can't tell you when the best time for you will be. I take my family to SE every year to see my family. Personally, I try to time my visits for July to August. I do not care if it rains or not. I go to try and get some fishing in, so I simply book my trip when the prices are cheapest between the first part of July and when school starts.

 

I hope this helps

[mapleleaves]

are you planning a bear viewing excursion ? or just hoping to come across a bear during your time in port?

 

I posted a couple of informational links in a bear viewing thread just down the page. The links have info about excursion locations out of Ketchikan (including peak times), plus a photojournal.

[diesel1973]

Am up near Anchorage right now. When I arrived 1 1/2 wks. ago it was 42 and raining. Just got back from ice fishing near North of Palmer and it was -27, not really spring like! In fact the Kenai Peninsula has a blizzard warning now. It is going to be 30's in Anchorage this week. Like everyone says, you can't predict the weather up here. It was a little cool this weekend but the fishing was good!!!!:):):)

[Budget Queen]

If bear viewing is a priority, then you need to book tours. There aren't any tours in June. In July, the winner tour is Anan, but you are already late getting permits. So, if interested, contact every floatplane vendor in Ketchikan.

 

If you aren't taking a bear tour, then don't count on seeing any bears. :) Always keep an eye out, and always have your binoculars with you. It will be all out being in the right place at the right time.

[ABQrobin]

thanks everybody!

We had originally planned to take a bear viewing excursion, but now we aren't sure. It would be really cool to see one when on a hiking excursion though. I will tell my hubby that chances of seeing one are slim.

 

As far as the $$$ excursions go, we think this may be our only trip to Alaska, so we are not going to scrimp. I am more interested in seeing a moose, hubby wants a bear. He has Dslr camera and telephoto lens, ready for anything.

[Budget Queen]

thanks everybody!

We had originally planned to take a bear viewing excursion, but now we aren't sure. It would be really cool to see one when on a hiking excursion though. I will tell my hubby that chances of seeing one are slim.

 

As far as the $$$ excursions go, we think this may be our only trip to Alaska, so we are not going to scrimp. I am more interested in seeing a moose, hubby wants a bear. He has Dslr camera and telephoto lens, ready for anything.

 

You have pretty close to a zero chance of seeing moose on the inside passage. Rare at best. In my about 50 trips- I've seen a moose- once. :) I always see them when I'm touring mainland Alaska.

[ABQrobin]

You have pretty close to a zero chance of seeing moose on the inside passage. Rare at best. In my about 50 trips- I've seen a moose- once. :) I always see them when I'm touring mainland Alaska.

 

So what type of excursions do you usually book? I see lots of photos on the cruise ships websites for excursions showing lots of wildlife. Are they padding them or can you see wildlife at all?

[lah3185]

I did a cruise tour and saw moose only in Denali National Park.

[Budget Queen]

So what type of excursions do you usually book? I see lots of photos on the cruise ships websites for excursions showing lots of wildlife. Are they padding them or can you see wildlife at all?

 

Most cruiseship ad photos are beautiful perfect photos, that are not reality based for what the normal sightings are. I had to laugh a few years ago when HAL, had spectacular McKinley photos out by Reflection Pond near Wonder Lake, when NONE Of their cruisetours went there. :)

 

Your biggest problem is you booked the wrong cruise. Round trip Seattle, is limited. With this route, you are missing going inside Vancouver Island, where I've been quite successful with seeing orcas. Your Tracy Arm day- has a good possibility of seeing humpbacks, with you being out viewing, for several hours before and after entering the Arm. Also several hours before and after Juneau. This is assuming you are on the Tracy Arm itinerary?

 

If you happen to be on a Glacier Bay itinerary- then wildlife is sometimes seen around the outer third and hours prior and after entering.

 

With the inside passage, a bear viewing priority, is specific to salmon runs, and need tours. Humpbacks are seen on 100% of the tours out of Juneau and Hoonah.

 

IF you want brown bears and moose, then you needed a one way cruise, and getting yourself to Denali Park- which is the jackpot bargain, of land wildlife. Varied wildlife, marine, birds, by boat tour is plentiful in Kenai Fjords. Varied marine wildlife and a puffin rookery are only toured in Sitka. Hoonah= is a good port for brown bear viewing, with a cheaper road tour.

[ABQrobin]

thanks!

we had thought about doing a one-way cruise, then flying back from Anchorage, but husband has a limited amount of vacation time from work and that would make it a 2 week trip instead of 8 days.

 

My husband dreams of moving to Alaska when he retires in 10 years and this cruise is my way of letting us check it out to see if it is realistic or not. I think it will be a fun place to visit in summer but not sure it is what we want for year round.

I will tell him what you said about the bear and moose sightings.

[ABQrobin]

okay.... now I am confused. I see in the Mendenhall glacier post that people have seen bear, and that isn't even a bear viewing excursion!

[sherryf]

okay.... now I am confused. I see in the Mendenhall glacier post that people have seen bear, and that isn't even a bear viewing excursion!

 

It is possible to see bears at Mendenhall, but it's only by chance. I've been to Mendenhall 5 times and have never seen a bear there. Once, as we were approaching the boardwalk area from the parking lot, people passing told us that we just missed seeing a mother bear and cubs.

 

I have seen a total of 5 bears in my 7 trips to Alaska, all chance sightings, and two of those very distant through binoculars. I see bears more often at home than I do in Alaska.

[donaldsc]

It is possible to see bears at Mendenhall, but it's only by chance. I've been to Mendenhall 5 times and have never seen a bear there. Once, as we were approaching the boardwalk area from the parking lot, people passing told us that we just missed seeing a mother bear and cubs.

 

I have seen a total of 5 bears in my 7 trips to Alaska, all chance sightings, and two of those very distant through binoculars. I see bears more often at home than I do in Alaska.

 

One of the times we were at Mendenhall, we saw a 1+ year old bear cub up in a tree near the parking lot. He attracted a crowd of people. Eventually a ranger came and told all of us to leave so that he could come down.

 

DON

[Budget Queen]

okay.... now I am confused. I see in the Mendenhall glacier post that people have seen bear, and that isn't even a bear viewing excursion!

 

Pure chance, with MOST people not seeing any. You also have a better chance with a salmon run.

 

You seem to have some very high priorities for wildlife. :)

 

Frankly, you are booking the wrong cruise, at the wrong time, for that priority.

 

A one way cruise, and you getting to Denali Park- which is the bargain of wildlife "tours", along with a Kenai fjords boat tour are the wildlife jackpots.

 

IF you want a round trip then you need to purchase a bear tour and go in July through early Sept.

[Saruman]

We have seen bears on two separate runs up the pass in Skagway aboard the train. Both times we were alerted by whoever is on the intercom up front. Two bears (both times) were munching on something happily as we moved by and didn't seem bothered by the train's presence. The joke was that they were employed by White Pass Rail company to give us a thrill! But we also saw one bear on the other side of the pass on a bus tour to the summit another year. No moose, I'm afraid, but don't give up on bears. Eagles all over the place and 100% chance of humpies on the whale watch. Have also seen a few just from the balcony, so if you don't spend the cruise days entirely in the casino, shops, dining rooms and bars, you might spot a few whales just on your own!! Good luck!!