One-way Northbound from Seattle to Alaska

Yes! We could totally fly into Alaska and take a "boutique" cruise from there. And more nature-based sounds great to me. I will definitely check out those links, thank you!

@Coral: So I just looked into these, there are a few where the dates would work but you weren't kidding these boutique cruises are significantly more expensive than the big ships'. That said their itineraries and and stops and what one does and experiences on them really seems unique and very different from the big ships, I guess b/c they are smaller and can get to places the big ships can't?

For example this Juneau roundtrip cruise looks amazing:

https://www.un-cruise.com/destinations/alaska-cruises/discoverers-glacier-country

And the dates would work out for us, but it starts at $7795 pp.

@Coral: So I just looked into these, there are a few where the dates would work but you weren't kidding these boutique cruises are significantly more expensive than the big ships'. That said their itineraries and and stops and what one does and experiences on them really seems unique and very different from the big ships, I guess b/c they are smaller and can get to places the big ships can't?

 

For example this Juneau roundtrip cruise looks amazing:

 

https://www.un-cruise.com/destinations/alaska-cruises/discoverers-glacier-country

 

And the dates would work out for us, but it starts at $7795 pp.

I haven't been but the reviews are amazing. I will find the review I read. It would be a dream for me. Let me find the review. But you are right - it wouldn't fit into my budget. You can actually kayak up to Glacier Bay. Once in a lifetime experience.

Found the link:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2234240&highlight=un-cruise

They did land before hand.

There was a post recently by Glaciers who lives in Alaska who said that was their best cruise ever.

She's lived in the US for 18 years and she's here legally, but she's still a citizen of Mexico. And we were thinking to go the last week of June, not July. Not much time unfortunately...

 

What do you mean, like a roundtrip cruise from Whittier? I searched for this and I did not find anything ??

a one-way, Whittier to Vancouver. She would meet you in Anchorage after your hiking trip then you would cruise together to Vancouver.

I'm a permanent resident so I have a green card. I only need to show my passport and green card. My citiizenship isn't mexico though, so you'll need to check the Canada and US requirements for citizens of Mexico. Maybe she won't need anything more than her green card and passport.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/ivc-rnc-eng.html#a1a

My opinion of a great adventure along the coast of Alaska would be a ship trip on the Alaska Marine Highway system.

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/

Not cheap at all, but flexibility and less traveled ports are very appealing. I think they'll send you a DVD for the asking.

She's lived in the US for 18 years and she's here legally, but she's still a citizen of Mexico. And we were thinking to go the last week of June, not July. Not much time unfortunately...

 

What do you mean, like a roundtrip cruise from Whittier? I searched for this and I did not find anything ??

Well that's good news - if she's a Mexican citizen with a US Green Card, no visa is required to visit Canada. The eTA program for people flying in is also currently NOT required until September, so she literally would need zero additional paperwork filed to enable a cruise to or from Vancouver.*

Your original plans therefore work - although since undoubtedly you will both love it here and want to come back (or perhaps move here after the next election;)), there's no harm in applying for eTA now so you have it for future trips - it's a whopping CAD$7pp and available via the link I posted above which sends you to the appropriate official application after you enter relevant citizenship/green card info.

*There's always the possibility that she's done something naughty in the US, but not naughty enough to be deported, that would however prevent her entering Canada - e.g. a DUI charge. Barring a specific criminal-in-Canada-but-not-in-the-US charge on her record though, she's good to go.

There's also the ferry from Washington or between the Alaskan ports...

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/map.shtml

She's lived in the US for 18 years and she's here legally, but she's still a citizen of Mexico. And we were thinking to go the last week of June, not July. Not much time unfortunately...

 

What do you mean, like a roundtrip cruise from Whittier? I searched for this and I did not find anything ??

Citizens of Mexico are allowed into Canada & onto cruises. (I would make sure that her Mexican passport is up to date - but I travel on an American passport & many others don't, so YMMV.)

As Always verify with official sources. Like this one from the Canadian Government http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=874&top=16

Here is some close to official information: https://www.alaskacruises.com/cruises/pre-cruise-immigration-information.html

Cruise critic is like going to pubmed.com instead of a dr. ok for a cold remedy, no so much for surgery.

My opinion of a great adventure along the coast of Alaska would be a ship trip on the Alaska Marine Highway system.

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/sample/07_bel_anc.shtml

This actually looks really interesting, and it clearly says "No Passport Required!" I'm still not clear on how it works though... we have our own car, and these are ferries? Where do we sleep overnight? I think I have to research this some more.

@martincath and TheCalicoCat: Great info, we are looking into it now. Thanks!

I have just done a 12 night one way cruise from Seattle to Juneau with Un-Cruise (Safari Endeavour) but they only do this once a year when they move it north from Baja. They do the reverse at the end of the season.

An alternative would be to use the Alaskan Marine Highway from Bellingham via Juneau to Whittier. It's a ferry but you'll see the same stuff but without extras.

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/sample/07_bel_anc.shtml

 

This actually looks really interesting, and it clearly says "No Passport Required!" I'm still not clear on how it works though... we have our own car, and these are ferries? Where do we sleep overnight? I think I have to research this some more.

US flagged ships don't have to stop in Canada. All the main stream lines such as Princess, Carnival, RCCL, Celebrity, HAL are flagged outside of the US.

The ferries and the small boutique lines (uncruise, American Cruise line, etc..) can sail all around Alaska all day with out stopping in Canada.

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/sample/07_bel_anc.shtml

 

This actually looks really interesting, and it clearly says "No Passport Required!" I'm still not clear on how it works though... we have our own car, and these are ferries? Where do we sleep overnight? I think I have to research this some more.

Dig a little deeper. There are cabins (very spartan) available or you can do the roughing it adventure and sleep on deck.

Definitely check out their facebook page.

http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/sample/07_bel_anc.shtml

 

This actually looks really interesting, and it clearly says "No Passport Required!" I'm still not clear on how it works though... we have our own car, and these are ferries? Where do we sleep overnight? I think I have to research this some more.

Taking a car is very expensive, and most of the towns the ferry stops in don't have road connections to anywhere else (and those that do only to Canada.)

The ferries are fun and useful for residents and for people taking their vehicles to Alaska (those that don't want to drive a great distance.) However they can easily end up being more expensive than comparable cruises once you add the fare, cabin, and meals - everything's a la carte. You need to be fairly self-reliant; there are no midnight buffets, floor shows, casinos or Baked Alaska ceremonies. Look at the view, eat a burger and read a book is about it.

The cabins book up very early, so they're not a good option for last-minute bookings, particularly in the summer.

I really like winter travel on the ferries. The scenery is marvelous, and you can spend some fine days watching the snowy forest and occasional snowy mountains slide by silently.