I’m thinking of taking the family on an Alaska cruise this August or September and need help deciding on a departure port and route. Seattle seems like the obvious choice since it’s a round trip from the same port, but I’m wondering if a cruise that departs from Vancouver and ends in Whittier might offer something extra.
We live on the east coast, so it’s an 11-hour flight from Anchorage home, while Seattle is just over 5 hours. Unless the one-way cruise offers something amazing, this might be a big factor in our choice.
Here’s the original post, just keeping track of the discussion.
Thinking of taking the family on an Alaska cruise in August/September and deciding between departure ports and routes. Seattle looks like a good fit because it’s a round trip, but I’m wondering if we might miss something if we choose a cruise departing from Vancouver and ending in Whittier.
We live on the east coast, so the flight from Anchorage to home is around 11 hours, while Seattle is only a little over 5 hours. Unless the one-way cruise offers something extraordinary, this will likely be a deciding factor.
I love sailing out of Seattle. Puget Sound is stunning, especially in summer when the sun sets late. It’s always a party on the top deck as you set sail. I wouldn’t miss that.
You should get there a day early and check out Seattle, especially the Space Needle. It might sound cliché, but the view is incredible because of Seattle’s amazing geography.
@Sparrow
I did that in June and had a great time. Just a heads up though, the Seattle airport can be a nightmare, especially when three cruises are arriving at the same time.
Round trips (Seattle, Vancouver, or a Seattle to Vancouver return)
One-way trips (Alaska to Vancouver)
Seattle tends to be the cheapest option, especially when you factor in cruise fares, airfare, and hotels. Alaska cruises are the most expensive, while Vancouver is somewhere in between.
Round trips spend more time sailing, while one-way cruises offer more time in port. Some people prefer one-way trips because they can spend extra time in Alaska before or after the cruise, like doing some hiking before heading back home.
Just a reminder, when you narrow down your choices, double-check the time in port. Some cruises have short stopovers, like Victoria where the stop is only from 5 PM to 9 PM or Ketchikan where it’s just 8 AM to noon.
After getting on and off the ship in Whittier, I don’t think I’d do that again. The bus ride to/from the airport takes up to two hours. Both Vancouver and Seattle are great departure ports. The cruise company offers shuttle buses from the airport, and Vancouver has plenty of hotel options if you want to stay a night or two before your cruise. It’s also connected to the waterfront by the SkyTrain, so it’s easy to get around. If you want a longer trip, San Francisco is another option with shuttle service to the pier.
Alaska cruises usually stop at four ports: Vancouver or Victoria, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. Port stops can change, like Sitka instead of Ketchikan. Most cruises include a scenic glacier day, and the most popular ones visit Glacier Bay National Park.
If you want more time in Alaska, try a one-way itinerary leaving from Vancouver or Seward/Whittier in Alaska. That way, you can add some extra time in Alaska before or after your cruise. You’ll also get a full day in Ketchikan. Cruises from Seattle tend to leave Ketchikan earlier in the afternoon, around 1 PM. Seattle is generally cheaper to fly to, though.