Sources: The New York Times (2005, 2009), MSNBC (2005). Once the Senate confirms the nomination by an affirmative vote, the Secretary of the Senate attests to a resolution of confirmation and transmits it to the White House.
Answer: Winter, June, July, and August. That timeworn classic is only partially true--May and September can also be great summer months. Alaska weather and daylight varies wildly by region and season, from short-sleeves in summer to down jackets in winter; from 7 rainy days in May in Southcentral to 17 rainy days in the Inside Passage.
On May 16, 2016, Explorer of the Seas - the largest cruise ship on the US West Coast - arrived in Seattle. The ship's inaugural Alaskan cruise season had scheduled 7-night round-trip itineraries from Seattle to Alaska (Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord) and Canada (Victoria BC).