Q: We want to take an Inside Passage cruise—and we want to see the whales! When is the best time to book an itinerary specifically for the whales? Thank you. --Donna
A: Donna, if you want to see whales, the good news is that, in general, you can’t go wrong with a summer Inside Passage cruise. While the population of humpback whales—the main species of whale you’ll see in Southeast Alaska—usually peaks in August, they start arriving in droves from Hawaii by June and, just like the tourists, stick around all summer. The upside of booking your itinerary closer to June is drier weather (May is actually the driest) and longer daylight hours.
