Best time to cruise · No regular sailings
Alaska cruises in March
Ships are still in the Caribbean, Mexico or dry dock. In Alaska, days lengthen quickly, gaining more than five minutes of daylight a day around the equinox, and the Iditarod sled-dog race starts from Anchorage in early March. Use the month to secure flights, since nonstop seats into Seattle, Vancouver and Anchorage for peak summer weeks fill early.
- No regular sailings
- Avg high 40°F
- 12 hrs daylight
Photo: Pat W. Sanders, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Alaska in March: No regular sailings
Ships are still in the Caribbean, Mexico or dry dock. In Alaska, days lengthen quickly, gaining more than five minutes of daylight a day around the equinox, and the Iditarod sled-dog race starts from Anchorage in early March. Use the month to secure flights, since nonstop seats into Seattle, Vancouver and Anchorage for peak summer weeks fill early.
Across Alaska cruise ports, March brings average highs around 40°F (5°C) and lows near 31°F, with about 6.4 inches of rain over the month and roughly 12 hours of daylight.
- Verdict
- No regular sailings
- Season
- Late April to early October; warmest and busiest June to August.
- Average high / low
- 40°F / 31°F
- Rainfall (month)
- 6.4 in
- Daylight
- About 12 hours
- Typical cruise length
- 7 nights; 10 to 14 days with a Denali land tour
How March 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 March
| 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 |
March weather port by port
| Port | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juneau | 35°F | 26°F | 8.2 in | 12 h |
| Ketchikan | 43°F | 33°F | 7.5 in | 12 h |
| Skagway | 35°F | 21°F | 4.4 in | 12 h |
| Glacier Bay National Park | 38°F | 32°F | 11.1 in | 12 h |
| Sitka | 41°F | 37°F | 5.7 in | 12 h |
| Icy Strait Point (Hoonah) | 39°F | 31°F | 5.5 in | 12 h |
| Hubbard Glacier | 33°F | 22°F | 5.0 in | 12 h |
| Tracy Arm & Endicott Arm | 38°F | 25°F | 7.0 in | 12 h |
| Seattle | 53°F | 39°F | 4.6 in | 12 h |
| Vancouver | 47°F | 37°F | 7.8 in | 12 h |
| Victoria | 50°F | 42°F | 3.5 in | 12 h |
| Seward (Anchorage) | 35°F | 26°F | 6.7 in | 12 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 March
Alaska in March: FAQs
Is March a good time to cruise Alaska?
Generally not: there are few or no regular sailings. Ships are still in the Caribbean, Mexico or dry dock. In Alaska, days lengthen quickly, gaining more than five minutes of daylight a day around the equinox, and the Iditarod sled-dog race starts from Anchorage in early March. Use the month to secure flights, since nonstop seats into Seattle, Vancouver and Anchorage for peak summer weeks fill early.
What is the weather like on a Alaska cruise in March?
Across Alaska cruise ports, March brings average highs around 40°F (5°C) and lows near 31°F, with about 6.4 inches of rain over the month and roughly 12 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 March?
March is also a top month for Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, Bahamas.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: NASA POWER climate data.