Pacific Coastals - can you see the shoreline?

[5:00_Somewhere]

This is gonna sound like a total noob question (I'm not) but, for anyone who has done a Pacific coastal cruise up the California and Oregon coast, can you see the coastline at all while sailing?  I've never considered one of these cruises because I grew up in Oregon and have visited most of the ports on these cruises (in CA, OR, WA and BC) many times during my life. But, it recently occurred to me that the Northern California, Oregon and Washington coast lines are some of my favorite places in the world, and it would be lovely to see them from the sea. My assumption is that the ship would be too far out to sea for the shoreline to be very visible much of the time. But, you know what they say about assuming. So, I thought I'd ask the question. Thanks in advance for any insights. 

[atobols]

I've sailed from Ensenada up to San Francisco on one cruise and San Francisco up to Alaska on another.  I don't recall ever being able to look over and see the coast on sea days.  I'm guessing it might have something to do with staying far enough away from the coast for the casino to be open.

[Coral]

I have done several Vancouver to LA or vice versa and don't remember seeing the coast except for when approaching and leaving the ports.

 

I have enjoyed the cruises.

Edited March 16, 2022 by Coral

[capriccio]

We did the LA to Vancouver wine country cruise a decade ago.  The ports were Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Astoria, Seattle, and Victoria if I remember correctly.  You didn’t see the coastline sailing between ports but the entries and sail always were very scenic and interesting: the Channel Islands and Santa Barbara; San Francisco Bay; the mouth of the Columbia River and Astoria; Puget Sound and Seattle; and Victoria and the Juan de Faluca Strait. It was one of our favorite cruises.

Edited March 16, 2022 by capriccio

[Bruin Steve]

We've done Vancouver to LA a few years back...and didn't see land except when pulling into port...

We're doing LA to Vancouver on Majestic Princess next month...and don't expect to see anything either...except pulling in and out of San Diego, San Francisco, Astoria and Victoria...

 

Now, I've lived in Southern California virtually all my life...used to have a beach house just north of San Diego, worked for a long time for a company HQ'd in the SF Bay area and have two daughters living in Portland...And we've cruised into Vancouver and visited Portland many times...So, I've always thought "Why on earth would I pick one of these cruises?"  However, now I've found a few good reasons:

 

1)  It works for us to visit our daughters in Portland either before or, this time, after the cruise.  Our cruise next month ends in Vancouver the day before Mother's Day...so, we're renting a car at the end and taking the relatively short ride down to Portland...

 

2)  It's really easy to just head down to San Pedro for the cruise...and only have a short plane ride home at the end...

 

3) We also cruise for the food, the shows, the relaxation, etc.

 

4)  Especially after a year and a half of zero cruises, it's great just to be able to be on a cruise to ANYWHERE...

[5:00_Somewhere]

 

Thank you all. That's exactly what I expected. 

 

51 minutes ago, atobols said:

I've sailed from Ensenada up to San Francisco on one cruise and San Francisco up to Alaska on another.  I don't recall ever being able to look over and see the coast on sea days.  I'm guessing it might have something to do with staying far enough away from the coast for the casino to be open.

 

And this explains the likely reason. I'm sure you're right: they'd have to stay outside the 12 mile limit in order to keep the casinos open. 

 

This just confirms why I've never done one of these cruises. I'm sure sailing under the Golden Gate would be spectacular, but I'm not inclined to book a cruise solely for that reason. As I said, I've been to every port on all these itineraries many, many times, and have even sailed under the GG, albeit not on a cruise ship.

 

Thank you again, everyone, your input has been very helpful. 

[cruzsnooze]

It's not just the Casino that needs to be open it's all the duty free shops and Bingo and alcohol sales. They can only be open when the ship is several miles out to sea in international waters.

[trbarton]

2 hours ago, 5:00_Somewhere said:

This is gonna sound like a total noob question (I'm not) but, for anyone who has done a Pacific coastal cruise up the California and Oregon coast, can you see the coastline at all while sailing?  I've never considered one of these cruises because I grew up in Oregon and have visited most of the ports on these cruises (in CA, OR, WA and BC) many times during my life. But, it recently occurred to me that the Northern California, Oregon and Washington coast lines are some of my favorite places in the world, and it would be lovely to see them from the sea. My assumption is that the ship would be too far out to sea for the shoreline to be very visible much of the time. But, you know what they say about assuming. So, I thought I'd ask the question. Thanks in advance for any insights. 

FYI…If they’re not far enough out to sea they can opened the shops or the casino so you’ll probably not see much land. 
 

Tom😀

[xlxo]

Another no vote...

• you will not get a land cell signal
• ship sails smoother in deep water, especially when near the Columbia River discharge
• You are like 30 miles from shore, I occasionally some some tall peaks, but nothing to get excited about

[skynight]

Did not see shore on our coastal. Plus most travel at night

 

[voljeep]

10 hours ago, cruzsnooze said:

It's not just the Casino that needs to be open it's all the duty free shops and Bingo and alcohol sales. They can only be open when the ship is several miles out to sea in international waters.

alcohol sales not allowed in port - is that a CA thing ?

[skynight]

33 minutes ago, voljeep said:

alcohol sales not allowed in port - is that a CA thing ?

Bars are open in San Pedro when boarding. That's CA.

[Ombud]

13 hours ago, capriccio said:

... ; the mouth of the Columbia River and Astoria; ...

I'm cruising up to Astoria in a little over a month. What was your favorite thing there?

[capriccio]

Without a doubt one of our favorite excursions anywhere was the full day tour to Mt. St. Helens. It is a long ride but our tour guide on the Princess excursion was excellent.  The scenery is other worldly and the stories fascinating and, in many cases, heartbreaking especially if you are old enough to remember the eruption.  Make sure you watch the movie in the visitors center and stay until the very end!

[chengkp75]

11 hours ago, cruzsnooze said:

It's not just the Casino that needs to be open it's all the duty free shops and Bingo and alcohol sales. They can only be open when the ship is several miles out to sea in international waters.

Ah, no.  While the duty free shops are only open outside 12 miles, I don't know of any federal law against Bingo, so that is allowed, and there is no federal law against selling alcohol, either.  They may have to withhold Bingo until outside state waters, but that is only 3 miles, and I don't know of any state that prohibits alcohol sales on cruise ships, even when in port.  Now, they may charge tax on those sales, but they don't prohibit them.

[Coral]

32 minutes ago, Ombud said:

I'm cruising up to Astoria in a little over a month. What was your favorite thing there?

You were not asking me but thought I would chime in - I like visiting Seaside and Canon Beach. Though probably not different than what you have in your area.

Edited March 16, 2022 by Coral

[julia]

On one coastal cruise, not only could you NOT see the coastline, but you couldn't even see the balcony railing due to four straight days of dense fog!  It was very eerie!

[victory2020]

As I remember, we were able to see distant land & use our cell phones with a land signal a couple of times. Don't remember what part of the trip it was. we've done this trip several times - and going under the Golden Gate Bridge is something everyone should do at least once in their life. I'm in awe every single time I do it. Cruising in to SF is also a great way to see the city, you don't have to worry about where you are going to park your car (or if it's going to be broken into!)

[cujosmom]

On 3/16/2022 at 11:14 AM, Ombud said:

I'm cruising up to Astoria in a little over a month. What was your favorite thing there?

 

When we ported in Astoria, we rented a car and drove to Canon Beach and explored Haystack Rock. It was low tide and we could walk all the way out to the rock and see some of the marine life on the rock.  Then we drove down the coast further south, found a beautiful park and ate a picnic lunch we brought from the ship.  Fabulous day.

[mpk]

2 hours ago, victory2020 said:

 going under the Golden Gate Bridge is something everyone should do at least once in their life. I'm in awe every single time I do it.

 

Is that best done from the balcony, or up on the top deck?

[victory2020]

1 hour ago, mpk said:

 

Is that best done from the balcony, or up on the top deck?

Top deck. It looks like you're going to run into the bridge & it's the coolest when it goes right over your head. I've done it in daylight & at night.

[brisalta]

On 3/16/2022 at 8:36 AM, voljeep said:

alcohol sales not allowed in port - is that a CA thing ?

 

Bars are open on board in San Francisco but you have to pay sales tax on any drinks you buy.

Edited March 18, 2022 by brisalta

[sunviking90]

On 3/16/2022 at 9:23 AM, capriccio said:

Without a doubt one of our favorite excursions anywhere was the full day tour to Mt. St. Helens. It is a long ride but our tour guide on the Princess excursion was excellent.  The scenery is other worldly and the stories fascinating and, in many cases, heartbreaking especially if you are old enough to remember the eruption.  Make sure you watch the movie in the visitors center and stay until the very end!

I remember it well. I was 15 at the time and we heard the boom early in the morning all the way from our home in Vancouver, BC!  That summer my cheerleading group went down to Portland for a camp, and there was ash all along the side of the highway. Very eerie. 

[caribill]

5 hours ago, brisalta said:

 

Bars are open on board in San Francisco but you have to pay sales tax on any drinks you buy.

 

Unless you have pre-purchased the beverage package in which case there is no sales tax charged while in port.

[brisalta]

10 hours ago, caribill said:

 

Unless you have pre-purchased the beverage package in which case there is no sales tax charged while in port.

 

Which is true because you did not actually buy a drink in San Francisco.