Views on a Pacific Coastal cruise

[Los Angeles Travel Bug]

I've booked a 4-day Pacific Coastal cruise on the Discovery Princess from LA to Vancouver at the end of April. One thing I'm excited about is the view of the California coast from the ship. It seems like it would be really beautiful.  (It's a northbound cruise and I booked the Starboard side.) I realize it might be rainy, but if the weather is clear, will I actually be able to see the coast from the ship? Or will we be too far out at sea?

[davekathy]

11 minutes ago, Los Angeles Travel Bug said:

I've booked a 4-day Pacific Coastal cruise on the Discovery Princess from LA to Vancouver at the end of April. One thing I'm excited about is the view of the California coast from the ship. It seems like it would be really beautiful.  (It's a northbound cruise and I booked the Starboard side.) I realize it might be rainy, but if the weather is clear, will I actually be able to see the coast from the ship? Or will we be too far out at sea?

You'll be to far out. 

[cr8tiv1]

You will see a lot of ocean on your trip up the coast to Canada.  The captain will take the ship out to international waters to avoid the whales and open the casino.  If you get up early enough, you will be able to see the ship travel through the San Juan Islands (both sides), Stanley Park, The Lions Gate Bridge, and dock at zero dark thirty.  

[Coral]

You will be too far out for beautiful coastal viewing.

[arizonaperson]

27 minutes ago, Los Angeles Travel Bug said:

I've booked a 4-day Pacific Coastal cruise on the Discovery Princess from LA to Vancouver at the end of April. One thing I'm excited about is the view of the California coast from the ship. It seems like it would be really beautiful.  (It's a northbound cruise and I booked the Starboard side.) I realize it might be rainy, but if the weather is clear, will I actually be able to see the coast from the ship? Or will we be too far out at sea?

Done a few of these,agree you will be too far out to see much,except when pulling into or out of port and you will be busy doing “fun stuff” inside and outdoors on your cruise to notice.

[memoak]

There will be coast view just relaxing seas.  Enjoy

[Blondilu]

I've never done a coastal but have sailed out of San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle either to Mexico or Alaska.  These cruises sail more or less the same route as the coastal cruises.  The only thing I've seen besides the ocean were the occaisional proverbial ship passing in the night.

 

 

[Los Angeles Travel Bug]

Ok thanks everyone!

[kiwimum]

A positive,  you will see whales.

[cr8tiv1]

1 hour ago, kiwimum said:

A positive,  you will see whales.

 

Gray whales migrate along the coastline.  Humpbacks are on a different migratory path.  No Orcas until you are closer to Seattle.  Maybe a Blue Whale.  Might see their cousins, the purpoises.  

[cruisingrob21]

If the weather is calm and clear, you MAY be able to barely see a silhouette of land between about Eureka and Port Orford OR.  There's really nothing to see until you turn into the Straight of Juan De Fuca on approach to Victoria and Vancouver.  That stretch is quite scenic with the Olympic mountains to the south, and Vancouver Island to the north.  If the weather is good, it can be very calm and beautiful as some of the area is in a rain shadow. 

 

However, depending on if you have a port call in Victoria arriving in the morning, it will be too dark to see anything.  The voyage from Victoria to Vancouver/Seattle is also very scenic, but often the ships sail this portion at night limiting what you can see.

 

[nini]

Bring a good pair of binoculars. We always do... you never know what you will see. Maybe a pod of whales?