Uh Oh!

With the help of many posters, I had my heart set on an Alaska Cruise with NCL in late July, from Seattle. Neither of the ships cruise the Inside Passage. Am I missing out if we skip that? Are there other options? For the record, this will be our first cruise.

With the help of many posters, I had my heart set on an Alaska Cruise with NCL in late July, from Seattle. Neither of the ships cruise the Inside Passage. Am I missing out if we skip that? Are there other options? For the record, this will be our first cruise.

Have you checked other cruislines? There are several that go to Alaska, and use the inside passage.

:)

The only ones I could find left from Vancouver. Maybe I am confused about the Inside Passage. I was thinking about the area inside of Vancouver Island. Different cruises show the inside passage in a different area. Am I just way off base?

The only ones I could find left from Vancouver. Maybe I am confused about the Inside Passage. I was thinking about the area inside of Vancouver Island. Different cruises show the inside passage in a different area. Am I just way off base?

This confusion has been discussed several times on these boards. The confusion stems from the much abused phrase "Inside Passage". As far as I can tell, it has at least three different meanings:

(1) any passage through the Alexander Archipelago, ie. Southeast Alaska, from Dixon Entrance to Cross Sound;

(2) passage to east of Vancouver Island;

(3) the route of maritime highway in Canada, that winds in between the islands of coast of BC; and

any combination of the above.

All of the “Alaska Cruises” cruise ships do the Alexander Archipelago, (1) above.

No “Alaska Cruises” cruise ships do the route of the marine highway in Canada (3).

As far as (2) goes, the only “Alaska Cruises” cruise ships that do the passage to the east of Vancouver Island are those that depart from Vancouver in the late afternoon. Those ships that depart Seattle do not cruise east of Vancouver Island, because they would not be able to make it by midnight to the Seymour Narrows.

Does it matter what route you go ? Alaska is Just Gorgeous !!

With the help of many posters, I had my heart set on an Alaska Cruise with NCL in late July, from Seattle. Neither of the ships cruise the Inside Passage. Am I missing out if we skip that? Are there other options? For the record, this will be our first cruise.

You will be missing out on some very scenic cruising going out of Seattle rather than out of Vancouver. However, it doesn't mean you will have a lousy cruise. It does mean you will see less scenery from your cruise ship. I prefer Vancouver sailings, but everyone has their reasons for choosing the cruise they do.

Does it matter what route you go ? Alaska is Just Gorgeous !!

Yes. Or at least somewhat.

The reason why it is better to do the Inside Passage is because in the early morning of the next day the ship will be going through Johnstone Strait, which is suppose to be the best Orca whale watching area. But it is very early in the morning.

Is it worth it? If there are no other difference between two cruises, one that does the Inside Passage, and other that does not, I’d go for the former one. But considering what you’ll see in Alaska, the experience of the Inside Passage is relatively minor. There are bigger things to weigh when considering an Alaska cruise.

I searched for the definition of “inside passage” and most said it stretched from Seattle/Puget Sound to Skagway. All cruises that travel through southeast Alaska do at least some part of the inside passage. Being able to travel east of Vancouver Island is certainly a treat although only a small portion of the passage. I prefer sailing out of Vancouver although can’t say it’s ever been a highlight of the 3 trips through that area.

My research says there are two main inside passages - the Canadian and the Alaskan. So technically when you travel into Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and other cities you are using the Alaskan Inside Passage.

10 yrs ago our cruise ship left Seattle around 4 PM and did indeed go on the inside of Vancouver Island - we woke up the next morning - around 7 or 8:00 and we were near the tip of the island about to go into the open ocean - so we missed the Seymor Narrows and Johnstone Strait. I have seen photos of ships in the Strait during the daylight so I know they go there. Getting through Seymor Narrows is a one ship at a time kind of thing - also the currents there at high and low tides are extreme - so with so many ships plying the waters to AK (cruise and cargo) getting through there is a real crap shoot so the Seattle based ships of NCL, HAL, Princess and RCCL all go around the outside of Vancouver Island and arrive at either Juneau on day 3 or Ketchikan on day 2.

I have not priced flights into Vancouver vs Seattle - there are several ways to get from Seattle to Vancouver - train, automobile, and bus - any of them will take about 4hrs and the train only runs twice a day. You will still need a cab to the pier - then you will need to reverse the process after the cruise (unless you do a one way).

Others have mentioned Orcas - you can also see them around the San Juan Islands - we saw some the afternoon we left Seattle this year. You can also take a tour boat out of Victoria that will take you out to the areas where the Orca Pods feed - Seattle based cruises do port in Victoria all the time - some spend more time there than others - we did an Orca tour in the afternoon and had a great time - however a ship that ports around 6:00 PM may not really see much.

I you have your heart set on doing the Inside Passage -- great views - then you need to sail from Vancouver.

But considering what you’ll see in Alaska, the experience of the Inside Passage is relatively minor. There are bigger things to weigh when considering an Alaska cruise.

Totally disagree and the difference can be huge if the first port of call is Juneau. I made the mistake of sailing from Seattle once on HAL's Oosterdam and land was barely visible on the first full day at sea. And the arrival into Juneau was in the early morning so unless you stayed up all night you missed most of the scenic views in the area. So, depending on your first port sailing time in the outside passage can be extended. It really is very easy to get back and forth to Vancouver so I recommend you consider it and if not at least take a good look at the itinerary.

I you have your heart set on doing the Inside Passage -- great views - then you need to sail from Vancouver.

Absolutely agree! The views make this a totally different experience :D

I agree with a Vancouver sailing. But at least one of the NCL RT out of Seattle does Glacier Bay which I've heard is better than the inside passage.

My HAL Amsterdam cruise from Seattle (in August 2011) sailed east of Vancouver Island on the way north, and west of the island on the return. We didn't get to Seymour Narrows until about 11 a.m. the next day. Our CC Meet & Mingle was meeting at 11, and I cut short my time there to go outside and watch the scenery. I was asleep on two previous sailings through Seymour Narrows, so I was happy to see it during the daytime.

My HAL Amsterdam cruise from Seattle (in August 2011) sailed east of Vancouver Island on the way north, and west of the island on the return. We didn't get to Seymour Narrows until about 11 a.m. the next day. Our CC Meet & Mingle was meeting at 11, and I cut short my time there to go outside and watch the scenery. I was asleep on two previous sailings through Seymour Narrows, so I was happy to see it during the daytime.

Wow, that would be great to pass through the area in the morning. One trip I did get to view it under a full moon so that was nice :D

Wow, that would be great to pass through the area in the morning. One trip I did get to view it under a full moon so that was nice :D

I was on the same cruise as Nancy in 2011 and yes, it was absolutely amazing!!! I was so sad when HAL decided to forgo sailing to the east of Vancouver Island this year on the Amsterdam, their final year with this itinerary. Many just did not realize what they missed.

Me too on that sailing (Hi ladies:D!). And both Nancy and vbmom are absolutely right, it was spectacular!

In fact it was the three of us and our respective groups who left the Meet and Greet in order to brave the wind and cold on deck to take in the amazing scenery. Despite the nip in the air, we all remained outside on deck for the entire sailing of Seymour Narrows (and then some!). It was worth every minute;).

How do you find out what time your ship is expected to get to the Seymour Narrows? Is this announced ahead of time, so that we know how late to stay up? Our cruise will depart Vancouver at 4:00pm (next July). Thanks!

How do you find out what time your ship is expected to get to the Seymour Narrows? Is this announced ahead of time, so that we know how late to stay up? Our cruise will depart Vancouver at 4:00pm (next July). Thanks!

It's based on the tides. High slack tide I would assume. Putterdude from Vancouver is one of the folks who will know as he's sailed through there many times. On our trip last July we went through about 3:30am and it was pretty anticlimactic. We went through 2 years ago during the day and it was a nice treat. You might look for a tidetable for that area and the date you sail, that will help.

We left Vancouver at 4:30 PM and I believe it was about 11:30 PM when we got there? There was no announcement on the Island Princess so most passengers missed it. I was very lucky to find out about it in time. My cabinmate had gone to the casino and I decided to open up my cruise companion book that was sold in the gift shop and just get comfortable for the night. I got to the section in the book about the Narrows and went to the balcony just in time to see our approach. Thankfully I didn't go to the casino that night - saved money no doubt and witnessed it all under a bright and full moon :D

I will have to pay attention when we sail north next year and hopefully it will be light enough out to enjoy it again!

How do you find out what time your ship is expected to get to the Seymour Narrows? Is this announced ahead of time, so that we know how late to stay up? Our cruise will depart Vancouver at 4:00pm (next July). Thanks!

Some cpts do announce this. I have seen it several times, including two of the last three trips. I also never hesistate to call the purser and request the information from the bridge. Sometimes I'm on hold while they find out, or they call me back. I ALWAYS get this information easily, along with other areas of my interests.

In response to my previous contribution:

... But considering what you’ll see in Alaska, the experience of the Inside Passage is relatively minor. There are bigger things to weigh when considering an Alaska cruise.

user LEtue wrote:

Totally disagree and the difference can be huge if the first port of call is Juneau. I made the mistake of sailing from Seattle once on HAL's Oosterdam and land was barely visible on the first full day at sea. And the arrival into Juneau was in the early morning so unless you stayed up all night you missed most of the scenic views in the area. ...

I stand by my statement. Here is why:

The ship doing the “Inside Passage” northbound leaves Vancouver at 16:30 to 16:58 or so, and arrives at the Seymour Narrows around 23:30 or 23:45, as you have stated. It then takes about 8 hours to go through the Johnstone Strait, until it emerges into the Queen Charlotte Sound around 7:30 or 8:30. Once it enters the Sound, it will stay away from land until it exits the Dixon Entrance into the Alexander Archipelago.

LEtue, you saw the Narrows at midnight, and I saw the Strait from about 4:00 to 8:00. You enjoyed the Inside Passage, and I enjoyed the Inside Passage. But we are among very few people to see that. A few lucky ones who get up at 7:00 will see a handful of islands in God’s Pocket park. But the vast majority of people will sleep through the Inside Passage, or will not take it in. They will miss seeing the Inside Passage.

So, unless a person is willing to forego the typical sleeping hours, there is very little that choosing the NB “Inside Passage” will do for the person.

 

I stand by my statement. Here is why:

The ship doing the “Inside Passage” northbound leaves Vancouver at 16:30 to 16:58 or so, and arrives at the Seymour Narrows around 23:30 or 23:45, as you have stated. It then takes about 8 hours to go through the Johnstone Strait, until it emerges into the Queen Charlotte Sound around 7:30 or 8:30. Once it enters the Sound, it will stay away from land until it exits the Dixon Entrance into the Alexander Archipelago.

LEtue, you saw the Narrows at midnight, and I saw the Strait from about 4:00 to 8:00. You enjoyed the Inside Passage, and I enjoyed the Inside Passage. But we are among very few people to see that. A few lucky ones who get up at 7:00 will see a handful of islands in God’s Pocket park. But the vast majority of people will sleep through the Inside Passage, or will not take it in. They will miss seeing the Inside Passage.

So, unless a person is willing to forego the typical sleeping hours, there is very little that choosing the NB “Inside Passage” will do for the person.

I agree with you. Until I passed through the Seymour Narrows in broad daylight on day 2 (see previous page) - I had NO idea what I was missing on a previous cruise out of Vancouver while I slept. On that cruise - we woke up to the tail end of land on both sides.

I

LEtue, you saw the Narrows at midnight, and I saw the Strait from about 4:00 to 8:00. You enjoyed the Inside Passage, and I enjoyed the Inside Passage. But we are among very few people to see that. A few lucky ones who get up at 7:00 will see a handful of islands in God’s Pocket park. But the vast majority of people will sleep through the Inside Passage, or will not take it in. They will miss seeing the Inside Passage.

So, unless a person is willing to forego the typical sleeping hours, there is very little that choosing the NB “Inside Passage” will do for the person.

We left extremely late (probably 4 hours late) on our last cruise out of Vancouver which proved to be very beneficial for our viewing :)

I will speculate there aren't a lot of trips involved here?? There are MANY different routes within the "inside passage". VARIOUS times for transits etc. I have been all the way back to Vancouver at dusk, compared to it being dark before Campbell River on a southbound, and I have had, scenic sailing northbound of the upper Vancover Island/Queen Charlotte Islands into the afternoon.

I did three cruises this year. All had their scenic highlights and none were any "disappointment". I spend a significant amount of time out on deck, clearly much more than most. Both directions are loaded with highlights.

I have to disagree that you don't see anything the first sea day sailing out of Seattle. We followed the coast line the day we sailed and for at least half the next day. We had a starboard side aft corner suite on the Westerdam and we spent most of our 1st sea day on our balcony. We enjoyed views of the coast for at least half the day. Then we went exploring the ship, so I don't know when we lost sight of land.

Both of these pics were taken on our sea day heading from Seattle to Juneau

100 some of the rugged coast line by Rescue-Diver, on Flickr

[/url]

101 rugged coast line by Rescue-Diver, on Flickr