Newbie to Alaska

[Djford75]

Good Morning.... Our 20th cruise will be to Alaska, what are your thoughts on departure ports?  California or Seattle?  We live in western NY, never been to either port, just wondering if there were many differences other than the obvious longer cruise from Cali.

[dbrucern]

2 minutes ago, Djford75 said:

Good Morning.... Our 20th cruise will be to Alaska, what are your thoughts on departure ports?  California or Seattle?  We live in western NY, never been to either port, just wondering if there were many differences other than the obvious longer cruise from Cali.

We have been 3 times and our 4th is next September on the 14day journey cruise. We perfer Seattle lots to see and do prior to cruise which we usually fly to (from NC) two days before. If you have any questions please just let me know.

[hapytobehr]

We did Alaska out of SF last year and spent 3 days after in San Francisco.  

 

It was wonderful seeing the sites in San Fran but I'm sure there is a lot to see in Seattle as well.

 

If you haven't been to either, it's a pick'em IMHO.  (or whichever is cheaper)

[ColeThornton]

17 minutes ago, Djford75 said:

Good Morning.... Our 20th cruise will be to Alaska, what are your thoughts on departure ports?  California or Seattle?  We live in western NY, never been to either port, just wondering if there were many differences other than the obvious longer cruise from Cali.

 

 

Which city in CA?

[hapytobehr]

10 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

 

 

Which city in CA?

I think they only sail from San Francisco to Alaska.  not 100% sure.

[Old Fart Cruisers]

3 hours ago, Djford75 said:

Good Morning.... Our 20th cruise will be to Alaska, what are your thoughts on departure ports?  California or Seattle?  We live in western NY, never been to either port, just wondering if there were many differences other than the obvious longer cruise from Cali.

 

One big consideration is sea days.  San Francisco will normally have about 4 more sea days for a similar cruise (2 extra days each way), since the cruise from there starts about 800 miles South.  A 14-day cruise from San Francisco would be a 10-day cruise from Seattle with fewer sea days, or you could do 14 days from Seattle with a few extra ports.

[Gardyloo]

Ships departing from Seattle  (and SF) travel on open ocean west of Vancouver Island.  This is more bumpy and far less scenic than the "Inside Passage" route on protected inland waters used by ships sailing from Vancouver BC.  

[auntmeg]

Choose a Vancouver departure instead of either of those.

[FastShip24]

11 hours ago, Djford75 said:

Good Morning.... Our 20th cruise will be to Alaska, what are your thoughts on departure ports?  California or Seattle?  We live in western NY, never been to either port, just wondering if there were many differences other than the obvious longer cruise from Cali.

Seattle without question

[FastShip24]

7 hours ago, Gardyloo said:

Ships departing from Seattle  (and SF) travel on open ocean west of Vancouver Island.  This is more bumpy and far less scenic than the "Inside Passage" route on protected inland waters used by ships sailing from Vancouver BC.  

Took Spirit out of Seattle. Inside passage

[Gardyloo]

23 minutes ago, FastShip24 said:

Took Spirit out of Seattle. Inside passage

The Canadian portion east of Vancouver Island? Unusual but it happens.

[oakridger]

Vancouver.  Inside passage is wonderful.

 

 

~Nancy

[Langoustine]

Vancouver.

[quack2]

On 6/27/2023 at 11:11 AM, Gardyloo said:

Ships departing from Seattle  (and SF) travel on open ocean west of Vancouver Island.  This is more bumpy and far less scenic than the "Inside Passage" route on protected inland waters used by ships sailing from Vancouver BC.  

Norwegian goes up the west coast of Vancouver Island from Vancouver.  Don't ask me why.  Inferior experience.

[jsglow]

Echo what is said above by some.  Vancouver, preferably one of the one-way cruises to or from one of the Anchorage ports (Whittier/Seward depending on the cruiseline).  You're going all the way to Alaska from NY. Do it 'right'.  Totally worth it.

 

On a later cruise a nice round trip from either Seattle/Vancouver is perfectly fine.