Inside Passage Day at Sea - Radiance Southbound - when is best viewing

[ruhbek]

We have a day cruising at sea through the Inside Passage southbound toward Vancouver.  With a full day at sea, we're looking to book some time in the spa.  But... don't want to miss out on the views.  When is the best viewing likely on this day at sea? 

[don't-use-real-name]

My experience has been the northern portion (Johnstone Strait) is done in pretty much in

daylight the narrow portion south of Campbell River arriving at Vancouver is at dusk/dark

of night.

The same for the northbound cruises - twilight to dusk dark of night in the Strait of

Georgia and morning daylight well after Campbell River.

YMMV with cruise line and schedule.

 

Google Map for reference:

 

Google Maps

 

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[Heidi13]

On 5/13/2022 at 1:18 PM, ruhbek said:

We have a day cruising at sea through the Inside Passage southbound toward Vancouver.  With a full day at sea, we're looking to book some time in the spa.  But... don't want to miss out on the views.  When is the best viewing likely on this day at sea? 

 

It's tough to provide specific times, as the ships must set a speed for slack water at Seymour Narrows. Normally the scenic cruising south of Alert Bay starts early afternoon.

 

If you want spa time, book it early in the morning and be prepared to be out on deck from about 12:00 - 13:00 for entering Queen Charlotte Strait. That will then provide you an estimate when they reach the narrow channels starting about Alert Bay/Blackfish Sound.

[lobsternight]

Yes definitely book your spa before lunch.  We have been through quite a few times, and seems that 1 to 4pm is quite common.  Get on deck and enjoy.  Depending on what month, keep an eye out for small sport fishing boats clustered around points, reefs, islands.  Often Orcas will be close by.  On a sunny day it is one of my favorite segments, but sad as its the last day