If you’re taking an Alaska cruise, you don’t need to book a bunch of wildlife excursions to have amazing animal encounters. One of my favorite things about growing up in Southeast Alaska is that the wildlife is just a part of everyday life. You’ll often see bald eagles perched in the trees, seals bobbing in the harbor, and black bears wandering near the shoreline salmon streams. In fact, many of Alaska’s most iconic animals can be spotted right from the cruise ship! Just make sure to pack your binoculars, a warm hat, and gloves so you can comfortably stand out on deck and watch the magic happen as you cruise through.
If you’re planning your trip, don’t forget to read my post on What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise so you don’t forget anything!
When is the best time to see wildlife in Alaska?
The good news is that Alaska’s cruise season from May through September coincides with the best time to see Alaska wildlife. Whales migrate back to Alaska to feed, bears gather along salmon streams later in the summer when the salmon spawn, puffins nest on coastal islands, and mountain goats become easier to spot on snow-free cliffs. While wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, some animals have a very high likelihood of being spotted while you’re on your cruise.
Truth be told, every month of the cruise season offers incredible opportunities, but to increase your odds of seeing the most wildlife, I’d recommend booking an Alaska cruise sometime between late June and late August. This is when the salmon run happens and when the whales and bears start feasting. They’re also the months that have the most sunny days in Southeast Alaska.
Quick Snapshot:
| Animal | Best months to see them | Likelihood of seeing them |
| Humpback Whales | June – August | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| Orcas (Killer Whales) | May – September | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| Black Bear | July – August | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Tufted Puffins | May – August | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| Harbor Seals | June – July | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Sea Otters | May – September | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Moon Jellyfish | May – September | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Bald Eagle | Year round | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (guaranteed!) |
| Banana Slug | May – September | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
| Mountain Goat | May – September | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
Below is where you’re most likely to see Alaska’s incredible wildlife during your cruise, along with a few photography tips and fun facts just for fun 😉
1. Humpback Whales
One of Alaska’s most iconic animals, the humpback whale migrates over 3,000 miles every year from Hawaii and Mexico to Alaska’s waters to eat. There are an estimated 10,000–12,000 humpback whales during the summer feeding season, making Southeast Alaska one of the best places in the world to see them!
📅 Best months to see them:
- June – August (peak season)
📍Best places to see them:
- Auke Bay (Juneau)
- Stephens Passage
- Icy Strait
- Glacier Bay National Park
📸 Photography Tip:
- Keep your camera on burst mode while whale watching. You never know when a humpback will breach! Watch for signs like birds diving or sudden water movement. Whales often surface a few times in the same area, so don’t immediately look away after seeing one!
💡Fun Fact:
- Humpbacks work together to hunt using a technique called bubble-net feeding. The hunting members of the pod form a circle 10-100 feet across and about 50 feet under the water. The humbacks blow a wall of bubbles as they swim to the surface in a spiral path. The cylindrical wall of bubbles makes the trapped krill, plankton, and small fish move to the surface in a big concentrated mass. The humbacks then swim up with their mouths open to eat! Ketchikan, my hometown, had a viral video of this near the docks. Here’s a link if you wanna see the short clip!
Likelihood of seeing them: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
2. Orcas (aka Killer Whales)
Orcas aren’t actually whales; they’re the largest members of the dolphin family! Around 2,500 resident and transient orcas live in Alaska waters, though they travel great distances and aren’t seen as consistently as humpback whales.
📅 Best months to see them:
- May – September
📍 Best places to see them:
- Stephens Passage
- Sitka Sound
- Resurrection Bay (if doing Seward)
📸 Photography Tip:
- Same as the humpback whale, your camera should be on burst mode while whale watching so you can snap a picture quickly! Also, orcas travel in pods and usually surface predictably. Try shooting slightly ahead of their direction of travel rather than directly at them for the best action shots.
💡Fun Fact:
- There are two different types of orca whales: resident and transient. The populations are so different that they don’t socialize with each other, and their mitochondrial DNA is different. Scientists can tell that resident and transient orcas haven’t interbred for 10,000 years!
Likelihood of seeing them: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
3. Black Bear
Black bears have been recorded in every state but Hawaii! Alaska has roughly 100,000 black bears. Summer is the best time to see them feeding on salmon streams.
📅 Best months to see them:
- July – August (peak season). This is when the salmon start spawning in the rivers and creeks again.
📍 Best places to see them:
- Herring Cove (Ketchikan)
- Ward Creek (Ketchikan)
- Pack Creek (excursion in Juneau)
📸 Photography Tip:
- Bring a zoom lens and binoculars. Black bears are often seen from a distance along shorelines and salmon streams. Early morning and late evening light along the streams creates the most dramatic cinematic shots because they catch the reflections in the water.
💡Fun Fact:
- Despite the name, black bears can actually have black, brown, cinnamon, or even blonde colored fur.
Likelihood of seeing them: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
4. Tufted Puffins
These colorful seabirds spend most of their lives at sea and only return to land during breeding season. They can be spotted on St. Lazaria Island by Stika. The island was originally home to the Tlingit people, and in 1909, St. Lazaria was designated as a bird refuge for the puffins.
📅 Best months to see them:
- May – August. They return to their nesting colonies during the summer before heading back to sea.
📍 Best places to see them:
- St. Lazaria Island (Sitka boat tour – this is a protected breeding site)
📸 Photography Tip:
- Puffins are fast and unpredictable in flight. Set your camera to a fast shutter speed (1/1000 or higher) if possible, and focus on cliffs where they repeatedly return.
💡Fun Fact:
- Puffins can carry 10–20 fish in their beaks at one time thanks to their tiny backward facing spines on their tongues.
Likelihood of seeing them: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
5. Harbor Seals
Harbor seals love resting on floating chunks of glacial ice and can often be spotted lounging with their pups during summer. Alaska is home to roughly 90,000 harbor seals, with a worldwide population of about 500,000.
📅 Best months to see them:
- June – July are especially great because you can spot their pups floating on ice near glaciers
📍 Best places to see them:
- Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau)
- Tracy Arm Fjord
- Glacier Bay
📸 Photography Tip:
- Look for seals resting on ice near the glaciers. Use the ice as a natural framing for your shots. I think these look better than trying to zoom in on their faces.
💡 Fun Fact:
- Unlike humans, harbor seals breathe out before diving. They use oxygen already in their blood and muscles while they are underwater, and their heartbeat slows from about 100 bpm to 10 bpm. Harbor seals can dive down to 600 feet for around 30 minutes.
Likelihood of seeing them: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
6. Sea Otters
Sea otters nearly disappeared due to the fur trade, but have made an impressive recovery in many parts of coastal Alaska. These cuties are one of the few mammals known to use tools, such as using rocks to open clams and sea urchins.
📅 Best months to see them:
- May – September. They don’t migrate, but summer is when the water is calmer, which increases visibility.
📍 Best places to see them:
- Sitka Sound
- Resurrection Bay
📸 Photography Tip:
- Otters are constantly rolling, eating, and grooming, so don’t wait for a “perfect pose.” Instead, shoot a short burst of photos.
💡Fun Fact:
- Sea otters hold hands while they’re sleeping so they don’t drift apart. (isn’t this so adorable?!)
Likelihood of seeing them: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
7. Moon Jellyfish
Moon jellyfish are harmless-looking drifters that thrive in Alaska’s cold coastal waters. They have a large population and can also be found all along the Western coast of the United States.
📅 Best months to see them:
- June – August. The warm summer waters bring lots of them into the harbors.
📍 Best places to see them:
- Ketchikan Harbors
- Sitka Harbors
📸 Photography Tip:
- These jellies are best captured in low light or shaded harbor water. Shoot slightly downward into the water and look for contrast between the jellyfish and the darker water behind them.
💡 Fun Fact:
- Their bodies are about 95% water, making them almost transparent. A group of jellyfish is also called a “smack”.
Likelihood of seeing them: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
8. Bald Eagle
In the early 1900’s, the salmon fishing industry had been catching record low numbers. Thinking it was because of the bald eagles eating them, the Alaska Territorial Legislature created a bounty on bald eagles. Even though the claims were discredited, the bounty lasted for 36 years! In 1953, the bounty was finally removed. Alaska has about half of the world’s population of bald eagles, an estimated 30,000! They thrive here due to the salmon. Alaska now has half the world’s population of bald eagles, with an estimated 30,000 population.
📅 Best months to see them:
- Year-round.
📍 Best places to see them:
- Pretty much everywhere!
📸 Photography Tip:
- Bald eagles are best photographed early in the morning when they’re perched in trees.
💡Fun Fact:
- Eagles have incredible vision. They have up to 8x better resolution than humans and may be able to see prey up to 2 miles away!
Likelihood of seeing them: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (guaranteed)
9. Banana Slug
These bright yellow slugs thrive in the damp forests of Southeast Alaska.
📅 Best months to see them:
- May – September. They love cool, damp forests (so Southeast Alaska is perfect for them!) and are easiest to spot after it rains.
📍 Best places
- Sitka National Historical Park
- Ward Cove (Ketchikan)
📸 Photography Tip:
- Get low to the ground and shoot at eye level with the forest floor. After rain, the banana slugs’ color pops more, especially against the mossy green background.
💡 Fun Fact:
- Banana slugs are one of the largest slugs in the world and can grow nearly 10 inches long. If you’re in Ketchikan for the Fourth of July, look for the banana slug race. Every year, dozens of kids capture banana slugs and have them race downtown for a prize.
Likelihood of seeing them: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
10. Mountain Goat
Mountain goats spend most of their lives on steep cliffs where predators struggle to follow them. Alaska has approximately 15,000–20,000 mountain goats.
📅 Best months to see them:
- May – September. Summer is when the cliffs are snow-free, making them easier to spot.
📍 Best places
- Lynn Canal
- White Pass Railway
- White Pass Highway
📸 Photography Tip:
- Shoot them from a distance and use the cliffs as scale. The mountain goats look more impressive when you include the steep terrain in the frame.
💡 Fun Fact:
- Just like trees, you can tell the exact age of a mountain goat by counting the distinct rings on its horns.
Likelihood of seeing them: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
I hope this guide helps you spot some of Alaska’s incredible wildlife during your cruise! Every cruise experience is different, but keeping your camera ready and spending time out on deck can lead to some unforgettable sightings.
Plan Your Alaska Cruise
If you’re still in the planning phase for your cruise, check out these guides to help you get everything ready:
- Best Alaska Cruise Excursions – all the tours you’ll be talking about for years to come.
- What to Eat on an Alaska Cruise – 8 must-try Alaska foods and exactly where to order them!
- What to Pack for an Alaska Cruise – advice from me, a girl who grew up in Ketchikan!
If you’re stopping in Ketchikan, my Ketchikan Cruise Port Guide is packed with local tips (I grew up there!) to help you make the most of your vacation.
Have you spotted any amazing wildlife on an Alaska cruise? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
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