When cruising from Seward to Vancouver, including the inside passage, is one side of the ship better from a sightseeing perspective? We'll have a balcony.

I have booked that cruise for August 24. 2003 on the Holland American Line ms Statendam. My TA says that the port side is the side to be on especially through the Inside Passage.

Generally the port (or left) side of the ship will be facing the mainland most of the time. However when you are going down the Inside Passage, there will be land on both sides anyways because there are lots of islands along the way. There will also be lots of chances to see wildlife on shore when the ship is cruising around Glacier Bay but again there will be lots of chances on both sides of the ship. So really don't sweat it if you can only get the starboard side. You will have lots to see either way.

My suggestion is Port side on Southbound, and Starboard on Northbound. <BR>We did the southbound on Sun Princess this past July and while in the inside passage almost all wildlife sightings were on the port side. In College Fiord and Glacier Bay it doesn't <BR>matter. The captain turns the ship around in front of the glaciers so that both sides get equal viewing time. We had a balcony and it was just fabulous. You are in for a fantastic experience!

I've been on two Alaska cruises, both in Sept, and I don't think it really matters. Sighting wildlife depends on luck and the season. On my first trip no whales were spotted. On the last trip I lost count of the sightings (along both sides). The ship rotates at the glaciers so again side does not matter. Enjoy..