Ice breakers leading the way to reach the fuel-starved people of Nome, on the far west coast of Alaska. Elsewhere in the state, there are snowbanks towering 15 to 18 feet high. Good time to think about an Alaskan cruise?
The answer is yes.
It is now that cruise companies start promoting this year’s cruises to Alaska, so if you want to pick the optimum time for going, this is the time to start looking.
Optimum time?
This is always problematic with Alaska. Also unpredictable. Preparing cruisers for the uniqueness of booking an Alaska cruise is the job of cruise agents, and we came across one — Vacations To Go — that has done an excellent job of the “five key factors” when planning a cruise to Alaska.
Here they are, in capsule form:
Price
Discounts are available right now on virtually every departure from May to September. Shipboard credits and other free amenities are also available on many sailings and you’ll find the lowest rates on departures early and late in the season. If for some reason you must sail on a specific ship on a specific date, or you require special cabin needs, you should lock in your rate while there are still cabins that will accommodate you on nearly every ship. However, if you are flexible rates for many cabins are likely to be reduced about 90 days before departure.
Itinerary
There are two types: Inside Passage cruises that sail round-trip from Vancouver, Seattle or San Francisco; and Gulf of Alaska cruises that sail one way between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier. The round-trips offer two advantages: 1) you can book closer to departure because there are many flights and 2) airfare is less because no flights to/from Anchorage or Fairbanks are required, and flights to those cities is limited and fill early with cruise and cruise tour passengers, which makes it more risky to wait for a last-minute deal on a one-way, where there’s the opportunity to explore the interior on a land tour. Keep in mind that tour buses, rail cars and lodges can sell out early and booking no later than the end of February is recommended.
Weather
It’s unpredictable, but the warmest temperatures are generally in July and August, when average highs are in the low- to mid-60s. Precipitation can rise a bit in late August and early September, but don’t avoid that time for that reason. Weather is part of the experience in Alaska.
Wildlife
Different species of wildlife are active at different times.
• Humpback and killer whales: summer in large sounds and straits along the coast.
• Brown and black bears: grassy tidal flats starting in May and near salmon streams and 
berry patches in July and August.
• Moose and caribou: calving in May and cow moose and their young near thickets along roadsides and rivers in May and June.
• Bald eagles: plentiful and spotted at the water’s edge in the summer, particularly near salmon-spawning streams.
• Tufted puffins and other seabirds: nesting colonies on coastal islands in May. Shorebird watching is popular in August and September, as species begin migrations south.
• Harbor seals: visible throughout the season and with their pups on and around the icebergs of Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay during June.
• Sea lions: start becoming visible in September.
• King salmon: runs from May through August; late May through June best for saltwater king salmon fishing, and July-August for freshwater.
• Sockeye (red) salmon: fill freshwater streams and rivers on spawning runs from late June through July.
• Chum and pink salmon: saltwater fishing best in July and August, and freshwater fishing peaks in August.
• Coho (silver) salmon: in saltwater areas from late July through early September, and in freshwater areas during September and October.
• Halibut: most abundant in salt water from late June through August.
Passports
Passports are required for all travelers who enter or re-enter the U.S. by air from any other country, which means U.S. citizens and residents who fly back to the U.S. from Canada are required to have a valid passport. It is also required for anyone who enters or re-enters the U.S. by land or by sea. There are a few exceptions but passports are always recommended.
DAILY DEAL:
Carnival Conquest
7 nights
March 4, 2012
New Orleans (return): Key West, Freeport, Nassau
Inside $489
www.carnival.com