Best time to cruise from west coast (Calif/ or Seattle) to Hawaii?

[sissys]

We are thinking about doing a cruise from west coast to Hawaii.  How is cruising on the Pacific Ocean and what time of the year is recommended?

Thanks.

 

[akeka]

We lived on the West coast for 40 plus years and I would say the Fall is best (September-November).  We cruised roundtrip to Hawaii from Long Beach in October before and it was wonderful weather and pretty calm seas (for the Pacific).

[Heidi13]

21 hours ago, sissys said:

We are thinking about doing a cruise from west coast to Hawaii.  How is cruising on the Pacific Ocean and what time of the year is recommended?

Thanks.

 

 

As for any ocean, weather is highly variable. S/California and Seattle are subject to different conditions, as L/A is at the northern edge of the trade winds, while Seattle is in the predominant SE/NW winds.

 

From Seattle, the SE'ly storms can hit as early as September, but generally the first one is October and they can continue through to March/April. By May the NW winds are more prevalent and are generally less intense than the SE'ly, although over the past 40 yrs of working on the coast, I have experienced a number of good NW'ly summer storms.

 

S/Cal departures have a higher probability of better weather year round, although in the winter months you can get frontal depressions that impact the normal NE Trade winds offshore. You can also experience Tropical Revolving Storms in the Pacific, which are a potential from about August to October.

[Bxc53]

Whenever the ships sail there 😎.
Seriously, the weather is always a variable. We did a Vancouver to Honolulu last Oct. and had shirtsleeve weather at departure, a couple days of rain and wind enroute, then typical good Hawaii weather when approaching the islands. Unlike Caribbean circle itineraries, the CaptaIn generally won’t divert for moderate bad weather. It costs time and fuel on a straight line journey. Pick a ship with good indoor and outdoor pools..

Edited June 27, 2023 by Bxc53

[Heidi13]

7 hours ago, Bxc53 said:

Unlike Caribbean circle itineraries, the CaptaIn generally won’t divert for moderate bad weather. It costs time and fuel on a straight line journey. 

 

Back in my days as Navigator, we were instructed to alter course to avoid squalls, so yes, some Masters do take action to avoid any weather.

 

Even without weather issues there is no guarantee the sailing will be a straight line, which is known as a Rhumb Line sailing. Although a Rhumb Line is a straight course from departure to arrival, it is NOT the shortest route crossing an ocean. The shortest route is a Great Circle sailing, which requires the course to change constantly.

 

When selecting the most economical route, the Master also factors currents and prevailing winds into the equation. As an example, on both voyages from Vancouver to Hawaii, I have cleared Juan de Fuca and steered SSW to SW, with the California Current pushing us, till we picked up the Trade Winds, then set a Rhumb Line for Hawaii, with the Trade Winds astern.