Inside Passage voyages -

[travelteam]

does RCCL Radiance of the Seas actually sail the inside passage? From the maps I have been looking at, it seems the larger ships sail outside the passage and enter when heading to a specific port. Can any past cruiser advise of their route when doing the "Inside Passage."

[NancyIL]

Ships that leave from Seattle generally sail on the west side of Vancouver Island. Ships that leave from Vancouver generally sail on the east side of Vancouver Island.

 

The description of Radiance's northbound and southbound cruises says "inside passage sailing" as it goes between Vancouver and Ketchikan. Here's the map of Radiance's southbound cruise:

 

[Twinkd]

Hi there - we sailed on Radiance of the Seas in August and left from Vancouver Northbound. Yes we did sail the Inside Passage.

[Yukon]

There is no formal definition of the Inside Passage - it's come to mean any of the sheltered channels. All ships sail some sections of it, no ships sail entirely in it, and Vancouver sailings go through much more of it than Seattle sailings.

[Budget Queen]

Expanding on what Murray mentions, people seem to think there are "fixed" routes, absolutely NOT true. Ships can and do sail a BIG variety. Inside Passage is something ALL Alaska cruises can claim, you can NOT get to Skagway or Juneau, without sailing the ALASKA inside Passage. Inside Vancouver Island is another "inside passage" general description.

 

You can look at a general route and that's about all. I once sailed on the same ship twice during the same season, and had totally different routes. Decisions can and do change for a number of reasons.

[travelteam]

Thank you all for clarifing the Inside Passage question. I can't wait till next September to board the Radiance for the last cruise - we leave from Vancouver and end in San Diego - 14 days at sea. Happy New Year all, and just to let you know I enjoy all the responses from our Alaska Cruise experts that I read on this board.