Alaska by Ship: When to Go and What to Pack

Alaska's cruise season runs May through September, with July and August the warmest and busiest. June offers the best balance of long daylight and fewer crowds, while September brings fall colors and better aurora odds. Layering is everything. Pack a waterproof shell, a fleece mid-layer, gloves and a warm hat. Even in summer, glacier decks are cold. Binoculars are essential for whale and wildlife watching. Book a balcony cabin. Watching glaciers calve from your own deck is the defining moment of an Alaska cruise.