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Best weather for Pacific coastal - Vancouver to California


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What is the best time to cruise to Pacific Coast? I understand even if weather nice here in Vancouver, it can be cool/cold and rough on the cruise. Any suggestions to which is best cruise line/ship as well? Trying to decide.

Thanks Connie:confused:

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What is the best time to cruise to Pacific Coast? I understand even if weather nice here in Vancouver, it can be cool/cold and rough on the cruise. Any suggestions to which is best cruise line/ship as well? Trying to decide.

Thanks Connie:confused:

 

You don't have much choice. The Vancouver to California cruises are mostly to position ships into the Caribbean or South America after the Alaska cruise season. They are all going in that direction in the fall.

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For affordable-for-most fares, the window is usually late March to early June heading north and usually September to October heading south though there was a departure as late as December from Vancouver a few years ago. There are some cruises during the Alaska season that go down as far as San Francisco but I don't know the full itinerary (I get a view of Ogden Point and am surprised to see ships stopping here before heading to to the ocean as that's not the Seattle-Alaska routine). I seem to recall Princess doing some trips down to California before the Alaska season starts.

 

There are a few in the middle of the Alaska season but on very expensive lines (Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, Ponant, etc.)

 

I've headed north in late March/early April and in ~May and the seas were find (on larger Princess ships) and south in early October on a smaller HAL one.

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For affordable-for-most fares, the window is usually late March to early June heading north and usually September to October heading south though there was a departure as late as December from Vancouver a few years ago. There are some cruises during the Alaska season that go down as far as San Francisco but I don't know the full itinerary (I get a view of Ogden Point and am surprised to see ships stopping here before heading to to the ocean as that's not the Seattle-Alaska routine). I seem to recall Princess doing some trips down to California before the Alaska season starts.

 

There are a few in the middle of the Alaska season but on very expensive lines (Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, Ponant, etc.)

 

I've headed north in late March/early April and in ~May and the seas were find (on larger Princess ships) and south in early October on a smaller HAL one.

 

I agree with the too many ferry crossings, used to live in Nanaimo and family on main land. Thanks for your response. I think it will be a fall cruise now but not this year so still have time to plan.

Connie

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I agree with the too many ferry crossings, used to live in Nanaimo and family on main land. Thanks for your response. I think it will be a fall cruise now but not this year so still have time to plan.

Connie

 

Speaking of Nanaimo. The city has a new and pretty nice cruise ship terminal. However it did not catch on. A few of these re-positioning cruises do call in Nanaimo however the number is in sharp decline. Perhaps today it is one or two visits per season. I did it one on an NCL cruise from LA to Vancouver.

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Speaking of Nanaimo. The city has a new and pretty nice cruise ship terminal. However it did not catch on. A few of these re-positioning cruises do call in Nanaimo however the number is in sharp decline. Perhaps today it is one or two visits per season. I did it one on an NCL cruise from LA to Vancouver.

 

Now that you mention it, I do recall that, but haven't seen any of the cruises I have looked at in the last few months that go there on any of the cruise lines. Too bad it is a beautiful city and close to casino for those that wish.

 

Connie

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  • 4 weeks later...

It's true you're limited to Spring/Fall when they're moving ships to/from Alaska season......either way it's a crapshoot as to how cold it would be and obviously Vancouver should be coldest Los Angeles warmest. It will get warmer as you go South and cooler at sea, but San Francisco can be warm and beautiful one just never knows. We did one in October and absolutely LOVED IT......however San Francisco is as far North as we went from LA.......would do it again. Next year we're booked on one out of Seattle to Astoria down to SF and Monteray then Victoria........in September. We'll be up on the Explorer in two weeks for a four nighter to Victoria/Nanaimo......hoping for good weather.

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Speaking of Nanaimo. The city has a new and pretty nice cruise ship terminal. However it did not catch on. A few of these re-positioning cruises do call in Nanaimo however the number is in sharp decline. Perhaps today it is one or two visits per season. I did it one on an NCL cruise from LA to Vancouver.

RCL Explorer of the Seas is going to Nanaimo once in Sept. and Victoria 4 X. Then it isn't back from AU next year. Ovation of the Seas replaces it for Alaska season, coming from Australia.

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  • 3 weeks later...
Speaking of Nanaimo. The city has a new and pretty nice cruise ship terminal. However it did not catch on. A few of these re-positioning cruises do call in Nanaimo however the number is in sharp decline. Perhaps today it is one or two visits per season. I did it one on an NCL cruise from LA to Vancouver.
We stopped in Nanaimo as the first port last year in October. Was quite funny to my family as we took the ferry over to board the ship. Everyone we spoke to was impressed with Nanaimo & the tours.

 

 

Sent from my SM-T377W using Forums mobile app

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