How Cold Is It Really? Alaska Cruise Temperature Guide by Port
Alaska in summer is cool, not cold, until you stand on deck in front of a glacier. Port towns feel like a damp late-spring day back home, while the glacier viewing deck can feel like November. Here is what to expect at each stop.
Typical highs and lows by port
These are rough long-term averages for daytime highs and overnight lows. Any single week can run several degrees warmer or colder, so treat them as a guide for packing, not a forecast.
| Port | May high | July high | September high | July low | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 17°C | 22°C | 19°C | 14°C | Mild; often dry in July |
| Seattle | 18°C | 25°C | 21°C | 14°C | Warmest start or finish |
| Victoria | 16°C | 20°C | 18°C | 11°C | Mild evening calls |
| Ketchikan | 13°C | 18°C | 14°C | 11°C | Very wet year-round |
| Juneau | 13°C | 18°C | 13°C | 10°C | Wet, often overcast |
| Skagway | 14°C | 19°C | 14°C | 10°C | Drier, sunnier, windy |
| Sitka | 12°C | 16°C | 14°C | 11°C | Cool, wet, ocean-facing |
| Icy Strait Point | 12°C | 17°C | 13°C | 10°C | Similar to Juneau |
| Seward and Whittier | 12°C | 17°C | 13°C | 10°C | Whittier is famously rainy |
| Anchorage | 13°C | 18°C | 13°C | 11°C | Mild, drier than the coast |
| Denali area | 14°C | 20°C | 11°C | 7°C | Bigger swings; snow possible any month at height |
The interior is the outlier. Denali and Fairbanks can reach the mid-to-high 20s on a summer afternoon and drop to near freezing at night, so a cruisetour needs a wider range of clothing. Alaska cruisetours with Denali by rail covers that leg.
What the numbers feel like
For Canadians, the easiest comparison is home:
- July in Juneau or Ketchikan feels roughly like late May in Vancouver or early June in Calgary, but damper and greyer.
- May or September in the ports feels like a cool April day in Toronto or Montreal: fine walking weather in a fleece and shell.
- Rain changes everything. At 13°C and drizzle, you will want the same layers you would wear on a wet fall day in Winnipeg or Edmonton.
Why the glacier deck is so much colder
Three things stack up. The air near large ice fields is chilled, cold air often slides down off the glacier toward the water, and the ship's own speed adds a breeze across the bow. You may spend one to three hours outside at the face.
The best spot on the ship for glacier viewing includes sheltered options if you feel the cold.
Rain matters more than temperature
Ketchikan receives several metres of rain a year, among the most of any town in North America. Juneau and Sitka are also wet. Skagway, tucked behind mountains, gets a fraction of that. That is why a waterproof shell is the single most useful thing in your case, more than an extra sweater. For the month-by-month rain and daylight picture, see Alaska cruise weather month by month.
Practical takeaways
- Pack for 8–19°C plus rain as the baseline for every Southeast port.
- Add a toque, gloves and your warmest layer for glacier days.
- If your trip includes Denali, add a light warm-weather outfit and something for near-freezing nights.
- The full packing list, by month, is in what to pack for May vs September.
Have a question about this? A licensed cruise expert can answer it for free — no booking required, no pressure.
Ask a cruise expert →Checking your actual week
About ten days before sailing, look at forecasts for each port in order, plus Vancouver or Seattle. If one glacier day looks clear and calm, plan to be outside for it. If the week looks wet, waterproof trousers will earn their space.
Want this priced up for your dates? Speak to a licensed cruise expert — same price as booking direct, plus perks like onboard credit and prepaid gratuities the websites don't show. No fee, no obligation, and you can book online if you'd rather.
Get a quote or book online →Frequently asked questions
What's the average temperature in Ketchikan during cruise season?
Typical daytime highs run around 13°C in May, 17–18°C in July and 14°C in September. Ketchikan is also one of the wettest towns in North America, with several metres of rain a year, so a waterproof shell matters more than extra warmth.
Is it colder in Skagway than Juneau?
Not usually. Skagway sits in a drier, more sheltered valley and often feels a degree or two warmer and sunnier than Juneau on a summer afternoon, though it can be windy. Juneau and Ketchikan are cooler and much wetter.
How cold is it at Hubbard Glacier or in Glacier Bay?
Air temperatures near the ice are often in single digits even in July, and cold air flowing off the glacier plus the ship's own motion creates real wind chill. Plan on a toque, gloves and your warmest jacket for the hours at the face.
More questions you might have
- Alaska Independent vs Package Shore Tour Cost ComparisonRunning the actual numbers on ship-booked versus independent Alaska excursions — where the savings genuinely materialize.
- Best Spot on a Cruise Ship for Glacier Viewing: Deck by DeckBow, top deck, promenade or balcony? Where to stand for the approach, the rotation and the calving — and how early to get there on glacier day.
- Round-Trip Vancouver vs One-Way to Anchorage: Pros and ConsSame ships, two shapes of holiday — the flight math, the glacier math, and the Denali question that settles it for most people.
- Alaska Cruise Dress Code: What People Actually WearFormal night in a fleece state — how dressy Alaska sailings really are, line by line vibe, and the one-outfit answer to evening rules.
- Cruise Ship Tenders Explained: What First-Timers Should KnowWhen the ship can't dock, small boats take over — how tendering actually works, the queue system, and mobility considerations worth knowing.
- Silver or Golden Anniversary Cruise: Inviting Family AlongMarking 25 or 50 years with the whole family aboard — group booking mechanics for a milestone that naturally wants an audience.
Booking essentials: Is It Cheaper to Book a Cruise Through a Travel Agent · What Are Expedia Extras on a Cruise Booking · Onboard Credit Explained and How to Get More · Cruise Line Policies Compared: 8 Lines Side by Side (2026)