What It’s Like To Cruise To Alaska In April

Cruising to Alaska in April: Introduction and Background

Those who follow me via my blog or on social media know that I cruise to Alaska frequently, both because Alaska owns significant real estate in my heart and also because I live within walking distance of the two cruise terminals in Seattle, so I regularly take advantage of last minute Alaska cruise deals. I’ve cruised there dozens and dozens of times (including from San Francisco for my honeymoon several years before moving to Seattle and from Vancouver a handful of times) on almost every line and itinerary and throughout the season. Speaking of which, I’ve watched over the past few years as the Seattle to Alaska cruise season has gradually gotten longer, now starting in early April and extending through late October. And, let me tell you, I’m HERE FOR IT! It’s always a sad day when the last cruise ship sails away for the season. I live in a high rise apartment in downtown Seattle, so I can literally see it sailing away and have been known to shed tears while drowning my sorrows in a chocolate martini (my favorite cruise drink).

Anyway, last year I decided to hop on the very last Alaska cruise of the season in late October to experience what it’s like to cruise to Alaska so late into the fall (my prior latest season cruise was in September) and then this year I decided to hop on the very first cruise of the season in April to experience what it’s like in early April. I also followed closely the other April Alaska cruises via social media and through several cruise friends who were sailing on different April itineraries. I had a good friend onboard the cruise just after mine and she provided me with a lot of detail about her experience.

So, based on both my own experience and extensive research, here are 12 things you can expect on a cruise to Alaska in April. I’ll start with 5 advantages to cruising in April before moving on to some (possibly) problematic things to consider before you decide to book an April itinerary.

10 Things you can Expect on a Cruise to Alaska in April

1: Prices will be lower than peak season

You can expect to pay 30-60% less for an Alaska cruise in April than peak season in July and August (prices will vary significantly depending on when you book – I’ve found last minute prices the cheapest). That’s a significant savings for the same ships, food, entertainment, and ports. Mind you, there are reasons April isn’t peak season, but if you’re mostly cruising for the ship and aren’t concerned about less ideal conditions at port, some fabulous deals can be found.

2: There will be fewer kids will be onboard

Are you one of those people who says, “I looooove kids, buuuuuuut I prefer vacationing without them? No shame, I hear you! Even though I have my own kid and cruise with him frequently, I relish my relaxing solo cruises, booked intentionally during times with few kids onboard (because the whole point of a solo cruise is to have a BREAK from kids).

So, what’s the kid situation on an Alaska cruise in April? Having grown up in Utah, the average family in my neighborhood had more children than the total under 18 population of my April Alaska cruise, and 90% of them were under five (still adorable and not running wild and painting the walls with ice cream).

3: You may see the Northern Lights

Seeing the Northern Lights was a bucket list item for me and I’ve been fortunate enough to see them on two cruises to Alaska. Your best shot at seeing the Northern Lights on an Alaska cruise is on the first cruises of the season in April and the last cruises of the season in late September and October (although they’ve been visible at other times over the past year due to rare geomagnetic storms). Be sure to download an app or join a Facebook group that tracks the aurora forecast and shares current information, so you know when you need to head outside (usually in the middle of the night) to look. Some ships will also have a sign-up at Guest Services where they will call you in the event of any activity. Be sure to also connect with the naturalist onboard your cruise ship (if you have one). They’ll be on the lookout too and will share any information they have with you. Good luck! Be sure to share pics with me if you’re lucky enough to catch them!

4: Ports will be far less crowded

No port visit to Skagway is complete without greeting some of the town’s many ghosts (and I mean many, it’s rumored that every building has at least one), the most famous being Lydia of the Red Onion Saloon. But normally during the peak of the cruise season, you’ll be visiting said ghosts with about 40,000 fellow cruise ship passengers. Ports, including Skagway, will be PACKED full of tourists during the peak of the cruise season. But not in April (or October). Upon disembarking your ship, you may find yourself saying, “man, this place is like a ghost town!” And not for the reason I stated earlier. You’ll almost feel like you have the towns all to yourself and will have a much less chaotic and more authentic Alaska experience (you’ll experience the port towns much more like the locals do in the off-season).

What downtown Juneau looked like in April with only one ship in port (normally there are at least three cruise ships in port and this quaint small town looks more like Times Square on New Year’s Eve):

5: Some shops and restaurants will be closed and fewer tours offered

Here’s where we’ll start getting into the potentially negative aspects of cruising to Alaska in April. First off, many shops and restaurants will not be open for the season yet and fewer tours will be offered. Why? Because many of them are staffed with seasonal employees who haven’t arrived yet (college students are still in school). I’d estimate about half of the shops and (touristy) restaurants were closed during my April sailing. The Mt Roberts Tram (a popular attraction in Juneau) also wasn’t operating yet.

6: Weather will be a crapshoot

Weather at port in Alaska even during the peak of the cruise season can vary greatly and be unpredictable, especially over the last several years (which have trended warmer). However, it’s useful to look at average high and low temperatures and rainfall totals by port to get a sense of what you’re more likely to experience. Here’s what those look like for April:

Average Temperature and Rainfall by Alaska Port for April

Average High	Average Low	Average Rain	City/Area
46 °F	33 °F		Glacier Bay
49 °F	33 °F	3.5″	Juneau
50 °F	37 °F	10.3″	Ketchikan
48 °F	37 °F	4.3″	Sitka
49 °F	35 °F	1.2″	Skagway
57 °F	45 °F	2.4″	Victoria, BC

As for my April cruise, I experienced mostly overcast skies (with some unexpected and welcome sun in Juneau) and drizzly rain (in Seattle we call this “walking rain”). The temperature was chilly to cold in port and on sea days and there was still snow at high elevations. Overall, the weather wasn’t great, but was slightly better than I expected for that time of year and I was able to hike at every port (but note that I did encounter significant snow near the top of Mt. Juneau if anyone is planning to hike up to the tram). See, a crapshoot!

7: Rough seas are a possibility

Just like the weather, sea conditions are also unpredictable in April. Again, I lucked out on my sailing with calm waters, but another April cruise experienced swells of up to 20 feet (and a friend of mine reported that even crew members were sick).

8: You’ll have fewer cruise lines and ships to choose from

You’ll have fewer cruise lines, ships, and itineraries in April than other months of the Alaska season. Here are the ships with dedicated April 2025 Alaska cruises (this list does not include a few additional repositioning cruises that include ports of call in Alaska):

• Carnival Spirit (begins mid April, roundtrip from Seattle)
• Norwegian Bliss (begins early April, roundtrip from Seattle)
• Norwegian Encore (begins mid April, roundtrip from Seattle)
• Norwegian Jade (begins late April, one way from Anchorage to Vancouver)
• Norwegian Joy (begins late April, roundtrip from Seattle)
• Holland America Koningsdam (begins late April, roundtrip from Vancouver )
• Holland America Westerdam (begins late April, roundtrip from Seattle)

9: There may be scaled back Alaska programming onboard

The most disappointing aspect of my April cruise was the lack of Alaska-specific programming on the ship. Because it was the first cruise of the season, there was no naturalist or Alaska experts onboard yet to offer commentary during our scenic cruising (glacier viewing) day, educate us on the unique landscapes and wildlife we’d be encountering, and offer engaging Alaska-themed lectures. If your itinerary includes Glacier Bay National Park, you may also miss out on having park rangers onboard (as your cruise may take place before their season starts).

10: Fewer opportunities for wildlife viewing

Hoping to see whales on your cruise to Alaska? An Alaska cruise is one of the best places to see humpback whales (the type you’re most likely to see on an Alaskan cruise) as over 500 of them feed in the rich waters of the inside passage. They begin arriving back in southeast Alaska in April from their winter homes in Mexico, Hawaii, and Asia and stay through most of the cruise season.  Because they’re just starting to arrive, if you cruise in April you’ll see far fewer humpbacks than later in the season.

What about salmon and bears? The best time to see salmon spawning on an Alaskan cruise is typically between mid-July and mid-September.  However, the unusual heat over the past few seasons moved that timeline up some. In April you won’t see any salmon. It should also come as no surprise that the best time to see bears at port in Alaska coincides with the salmon run as they feed on salmon near the mouths of streams and rivers. It’s possible you’ll still see them in April (as evidenced by the sign I saw displayed on this forest trail about 10 feet from my cruise ship in April), but far less likely.

Would I Cruise to Alaska in April Again?

I cruise to Alaska so many times every year that I’ve started telling people I summer there. Well, after the experience I had on my first April cruise, I might starting “spring-ing” there too. However, if Alaska is a one-time bucket list itinerary for you, I’d avoid April. And, if I’m being totally candid, I’d avoid NCL. If I only had one shot at Alaska, I’d go in July or August on either Holland America or Princess on an itinerary that includes Glacier Bay. I love NCL and have cruised more days on the line than any other (including many cruises to Alaska on the Bliss, Encore, Spirit, and Sun), but the line remains my least favorite for Alaska (terrible docking location in Ketchikan, short times at port for the 7-night itineraries, and no special Alaska-themed meals or beverages onboard).

Who should cruise to Alaska in April? I think these April cruises are perfect for someone (like me) located on the West Coast looking for a cheap cruise in April with low expectations regarding the weather and ports. If that sounds like you, maybe I’ll catch you onboard (because I plan on doing it every year from now on)! And with that…

Class Dismissed!

Be sure to check out some of my additional Alaska and Seattle cruise content here:

Homework (10 points): Share any questions you may still have about cruising to Alaska in April to the comments. Or if you’ve cruised to Alaska in April, please share your experience and tips so we can learn from each other.

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