Departure port - Seattle vs Vancouver

[luvmygirlz]

Looking into booking a 7-day Alaskan Cruise.  Looking for recommendations, pros/cons of leaving out of Seattle versus Vancouver.  I have been trying to look at itineraries from each, but am a little overwhelmed.  They all start to look the same, but it seems like if you leave out of Vancouver you get a little more time seeing other sights as if you leave from Seattle, you have to stop in Vancouver for a short time.

 

Thanks!

[CruiserBruce]

If you look around, it is discussed frequently. First, sailing out of Vancouver, you get to sail east of Vancouver Island, what some call the "true" Inside Passage. Very scenic. Seattle sailings go to the open ocean west of Vancouver Island.

 

Second, with a couple rare exceptions, you can only sail roundtrip cruises out of Seattle. Out of Vancouver you can sail one way Vancouver to Seward or Whittier, (or back), which opens up more locations and scenery, plus more land options when you get off the ship in Seward or Whittier. 

[Ferry_Watcher]

You might look at the first of the season sailing. or the very last cruises of the season for embarking at one port, but disembarking at another.

For example, Celebrity Solstice has a 9 day cruise leaving Vancouver, BC Wed May 3, 2023 and returning to Seattle Friday May 12th - where it starts its round trip sailings.  Since you are sailing from Vancouver, BC you get the inside passage, but when you return to Seattle, you have the ease of getting on a domestic flight home.  Since you will be sailing out of Vancouver, BC you would need a passport.

[Mountaineer0313]

Option C- a one way Inside Passage either to or from Vancouver, ending or starting in Seward. Great port times, you can add land time on in alaska either before or after the cruise, great scenery on both sides of the ship nearly the whole cruise.

[Bostonjetset]

3 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

If you look around, it is discussed frequently. First, sailing out of Vancouver, you get to sail east of Vancouver Island, what some call the "true" Inside Passage. Very scenic. Seattle sailings go to the open ocean west of Vancouver Island.

 

Second, with a couple rare exceptions, you can only sail roundtrip cruises out of Seattle. Out of Vancouver you can sail one way Vancouver to Seward or Whittier, (or back), which opens up more locations and scenery, plus more land options when you get off the ship in Seward or Whittier. 

Holland America Line has numerous round trip sailings from Vancouver. 

[LeeW]

Cruise line matters - for example Royal products don't have access to Glacier Bay.  Princess/Carnival/Holland America do.  Both may go to Hubbard Glacier.

 

One way gets you farther north and more ports.

 

You need to consider what you want to see and if you want to do Alaska interior (train or bus options).  Interior is expensive but if you are only doing one trip.  

[Heidi13]

Another consideration is to review the times in port, as Seattle is further from Alaska and the ships must also visit Victoria, so less time in Alaska.

[potatopotato]

We chose Vancouver over Seattle mainly for the price. It was cheaper for us to fly to Vancouver and stay overnight than it was to go to Seattle. It was crazy, and the flights were almost the same length nonstop. Not sure if where you are flying out of will be a factor, but Vancouver is also generally cheaper to sail out of due to their port fees and whatnot that get baked into the price. This price difference alone will fund our excursions.