Best time to cruise · No regular sailings
Alaska cruises in January
No cruises sail to Alaska in January. Southeast Alaska is dark, wet and quiet, with about seven hours of daylight in Juneau, and most tour operators and shops in Skagway and Ketchikan close for winter. It is, however, prime time to plan next summer, while the widest choice of cabins and Glacier Bay sailings remains.
- No regular sailings
- Avg high 36°F
- 8 hrs daylight
Photo: Pat W. Sanders, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Alaska in January: No regular sailings
No cruises sail to Alaska in January. Southeast Alaska is dark, wet and quiet, with about seven hours of daylight in Juneau, and most tour operators and shops in Skagway and Ketchikan close for winter. It is, however, prime time to plan next summer, while the widest choice of cabins and Glacier Bay sailings remains.
Across Alaska cruise ports, January brings average highs around 36°F (2°C) and lows near 29°F, with about 10.4 inches of rain over the month and roughly 8 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- No regular sailings
- Season
- Late April to early October; warmest and busiest June to August.
- Average high / low
- 36°F / 29°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 10.4 in
- Daylight
- About 8 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 7 nights; 10 to 14 days with a Denali land tour
How January compares with the rest of the year
- Jan: No regular sailings
- Feb: No regular sailings
- Mar: No regular sailings
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Good time to go
- Jun: Best time to go
- Jul: Best time to go
- Aug: Best time to go
- Sep: Good time to go
- Oct: Shoulder season
- Nov: No regular sailings
- Dec: No regular sailings
- No regular sailings
- Shoulder season
- Good time to go
- Best time to go
Alaska weather in January
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 362 | 362 | 405 | 468 | 5412 | 6016 | 6519 | 6518 | 5915 | 5010 | 405 | 373 |
| Low °F (°C) | 29-1 | 28-2 | 31-1 | 373 | 457 | 5111 | 5613 | 5613 | 5010 | 426 | 331 | 30-1 |
| Rain in (mm) | 10.4263 | 7.0178 | 6.4163 | 5.9149 | 5.1130 | 4.7120 | 5.2132 | 7.2183 | 9.0230 | 11.0280 | 10.6269 | 10.6270 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
January weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juneau | 31°F | 23°F | 13.8 in | 7 h |
| Ketchikan | 38°F | 31°F | 11.8 in | 8 h |
| Skagway | 28°F | 18°F | 6.7 in | 7 h |
| Glacier Bay National Park | 35°F | 31°F | 18.0 in | 7 h |
| Sitka | 40°F | 37°F | 9.9 in | 7 h |
| Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) | 35°F | 29°F | 9.6 in | 7 h |
| Hubbard Glacier | 30°F | 22°F | 7.0 in | 7 h |
| Tracy Arm & Endicott Arm | 33°F | 23°F | 11.6 in | 7 h |
| Seattle | 47°F | 37°F | 7.3 in | 9 h |
| Vancouver | 42°F | 34°F | 13.0 in | 9 h |
| Victoria | 46°F | 40°F | 5.9 in | 9 h |
| Seward (Anchorage) | 32°F | 26°F | 9.6 in | 7 h |
Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.
Other great cruise destinations in January
- Caribbean in January
- Eastern Caribbean in January
- Western Caribbean in January
- Southern Caribbean in January
- Hawaii in January
- Mexican Riviera & Baja in January
- Panama Canal & Central America in January
- South America in January
- Galápagos Islands in January
- Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles in January
See every destination for January, with a port weather map →
Alaska in January: FAQs
Is January a good time to cruise Alaska?
Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. No cruises sail to Alaska in January. Southeast Alaska is dark, wet and quiet, with about seven hours of daylight in Juneau, and most tour operators and shops in Skagway and Ketchikan close for winter. It is, however, prime time to plan next summer, while the widest choice of cabins and Glacier Bay sailings remains.
What is the weather like on a Alaska cruise in January?
Across Alaska cruise ports, January brings average highs around 36°F (2°C) and lows near 29°F, with about 10.4 inches of rain over the month and roughly 8 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.
When is the best time to cruise Alaska?
Late April to early October; warmest and busiest June to August.. The best months are usually June, July, August.
Where else can I cruise in January?
January is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Hawaii.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.