We want to take an Alaskan cruise next year. We can go in May or in Sept., but if we choose Sept. cannot leave until Sept. 17 or after. I wasn't sure if Alaskan cruises are still going that late in the year.

We have free airline tickets on SW Airlines and plan to fly to Seattle. I read that it is better to take a round trip cruise from Vancouver than Seattle. How far is it to Vancouver and are there any transportation options other than renting a car?

Can anyone suggest which cruise is best out of Vancouver? I also read that it may be better to book shore exursions after getting off the ship rather than in advance - do those who have done this agree? What shore excursions are best?

Thanks for any advice that anyone can give us.

In my opinion, however, it would be better to go in May. You have a better chance of good weather, for one thing. It can be pretty chilly in Alaska at the end of September, and it can be stormy, as well.

It is definitely preferable to sail from Vancouver than Seattle, as the cruises from Seattle don't go all the way to Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier. Sawyer Glacier and Icy Strait don't compare.

Renting a car is not an option for tansportation from Seattle to Vancouver, as the rental companies will not allow you to do a one-way drop off. Some cruise lines will offer to transfer you by bus,

I have sailed 3x at the end of May and love that time.

Absolutely go in May. After Sept 17 you are taking big chances with weather (even though last 2 years have been good), the averages are not. Temps 40-50's ave 3 days of rain and dusk by 7pm. Big sales can be the bonus however. These sailings used to be big discounts- no longer in my opinion. I have sailed at both these times.

There is a difference sailing out of Vancouver- mainly route which has more inside passage sailing, as mentioned also Glacier Bay or Hubbard. HAL gets my overall vote for a Vancouver round trip. I never recommend NOT having ports plans and reservations IN place before you leave. Time is too short once you get there and you will be very limited to what you can book. If your "plans" are for the bus tours etc- then wonderful- just don't get off the ship and then plan on deciding what you are going to do. As for "best" excursions- the list is long and vast- I go for the flights myself. Look over any shore excursion list and narrow down your interests- budget fully- you get only half a trip without them.

As for the transfer Seattle /Vancouver- you most certainly CAN rent a one way car and I have done it MANY times. I have used Avis, Budget and National. Hertz is also available. You need Seatac and DOWNTOWN Vancouver NOT Vancouver airport. Allow 4 hours and arrive the night before in Seattle. I like staying in Bellingham the night before cruising and then I can beat the delays that lengthen as the morning goes on. Also allows for some Vancouver sightseeing. Other transfer options- cruiseline bus, independent bus- Quick Shuttle, Amtrak- you will need to overnight downtown Seattle adding about $30++ for cabs. Only 1 train/day- rest are buses.

Thanks BudgetQueen for your great advice. I read on another post that you are the Alaska expert!

We definitely plan to fly to Seattle the day before the cruise leaves and fly back home from Seattle the day after the cruise ship arives, which will hopefully give us some time to see a little of Seattle and Vancouver.

Thanks for the information on the car rental. You mentioned that would return the car to downtown Vancouver. Is this close to the cruise ship terminal? What about when we return? We would need to rent a car for the return to Seattle. I will also look into the other transportation options that you have suggested and decide which one is best. You recommend staying in Bellingham - which city is that near?

What about crossing the border into Canada? I have not been out of the country since 9/11. When we cruised to the Caribbean we only needed a photo ID although we also had our birth certificates along as that was recommended by our travel agent. Will those documents be sufficient?

Thanks again for your suggestions.

I walk to Canada Place from any of those downtown Vancouver offices. Easy without luggage or mobility limitations. But shuttles are usually available although may be a long wait from Canada Place. Bellingham is the city. 2 hours north of Seattle, 1 hour from Vancouver. Have a good map of downtown Vancouver - no freeways and slow stop and go city driving. Do yourself a favor and get passports, easiest id for boarder crossing, but photo ID and raised seal Birth certificates are still accepted.

We were on the Sky last year...9/20-27. The last week of Alaskan cruising. Granted, it may have been a fluke or just luck, but the weather was perfect. We never needed more than a windbreaker and we only had two short periods of drizzle the whole week. One vendor in one of the ports said the
weather was as good that day as it had been all season!
To me, I'd rather hope the good weather will last a little longer rather than arrive early...and don't ask me why.

Our cruise left from Seattle but finished in Vancouver. We took the NCL bus transportation from VC back to the airport in Seattle. They got us off the ship first, our luggage went directly to the bus (which, by the way, was new and very comfortable) and we had a very nice and entertaining driver. He was just full of facts and info that he passed along to us enroute. I think the ride was a couple of hours (it was $50pp) and we got to the airport much earlier than I expected but it worked out well because we were able to switch to an earlier flight home.

One more thing. We booked that cruise in January '03! We weren't even thinking of an Alaskan cruise when I came across something on this very board that read something like 'what's wrong with the Sky?, icruise is posting very low rates for Sept'. So after checking the icruise site myself, I called my TA who booked it at those same rates...an aft BA balcony for right at $1550 total for the two of us.
I think that was very good considering the prices I saw after that. This is the first time I've ever posted and divulged a cruise fare...I agree with a posting I saw once that said no matter what you paid, someone probably paid less and in that case you really don't want to know! I just want to point out that I've always seen some very good fares in January and February (maybe someone reading this can confirm and tell us all why) so you might consider holding off till then which still gives you plenty of time. We are sailing on the Galaxy next month and I booked this one in February. Once again I saw a good rate on icruise but by then I knew about cruisequick and their quote was even less. I asked my TA, too, but her rate was $400pp more and so we booked it with cruisequick. I have been very pleased with them and this experience has taken away my fear of booking on the internet! We just got our e-documents from them yesterday and everything is in order!

Am I ever long-winded this morning!! One more thing..the sales in the port shops are great at the end of the season.

Happy planning...and cruising!!

Thanks Budgetqueen and esd - you have both given me much information to check into further.

I think I have decided on the May cruise. Planning to leave on May 21 or 22. The Holland America cruise sails on the 21st. BudgetQueen, you say you recommend Holland America. For what particular reason?

esd you sailed with Norwegian. Their cruise sails on the 22nd. Were you pleased with Norwegian? You also said you took a bus arranged by Norwegian back to Seattle. What time was your flight? There is a late afternoon flight on the 22nd that we could take if I felt sure we would be at the airport on time. I think this would be easier and probably no more expensive than renting a car. I think I'll do a one-way rental from Seattle to Vancouver. BudgetQueen said it could easily be done. Hope getting from the car rental agency downtown to the cruise port with all of our luggage won't be a problem.

I'm going to check with AAA and check cruisequick for pricing. I just read an article that said cruise discounts are disappearing so I'm not sure waiting will be an advantage. How far in advance of a May cruise should I book to ensure that we get an outside cabin - that is very important to us.

We liked the Sky. I've read some reviews with complaints regarding freestyle dining and having to wait a long time for a table. We never had that problem and always asked for, and got, a table for two. We loved that. And I thought the food on a whole was very good.
And the entertainment was excellent. Miss Jane L. Powell was fantastic, as was a magician whose name I forget. Overall, the trip was great. I'm sure the same can be said for other lines and ships, too.

I booked what I think I've heard referred to as the 'redeye' out of Seattle. I had no idea when I booked the flight of how we were going to get back to Seattle, much less how long it would take. As it turned out, we got to the airport about mid-day and switched to a flight that left shortly after. In fact, we made it home before our original schedule had us leaving Seattle! Everything just seemed to fall into place.
I hope your trip goes as smoothly!

NCL Sky no longer sails Alaska. I would not consider ANY Seattle departure before 3pm. With any bus allow 4 hours. Quick Shuttle as mentioned is also available. HAL is superior for deck viewing space, has a full time naturalist on board, greater passenger space ratio. The key to lower rates is to book something that looks good to you the KEEP TRACK of pricing trends YOURSELF. Immediately contact your booking agent if a price drop is noticed. Also mentioned and I can't stress enough- LATE Sept. historically has the potential for TERRIBLE weather- I am talking YEARS of statistics. But the last 2 seasons have been exceptional- no guarantees in my opinion, but lets hope.

Yes, no more Sky, but the Sun is doing RT's from Vancouver and the Star and Spirit are out of Seattle except for the first week for both when it begins or ends in Vancouver. But mlm59 asked about NCL not the Sky, which is on no list of ships cruising Alaska.

We spent a couple of days in Seattle before the cruise. We enjoyed that..it was a first and probably a last. I liked Alaska but there are a lot of other places I'd either like to cruise to or visit. New England, Bermuda and a bunch of the Caribbean ports we've yet to see are on our list. And next year we're doing a spring transatlantic which we are really looking forward to.

Yes, mid afternoon is a good departure time if you are docking in Vancouver and flying out of Seattle. And if you do make it there in record time you might be able to switch to an earlier flight as we did.

I believe you've already made your choice but I'd just also like to point out the difference between May and September. I worked on a cruiseship for two full Alaska seasons, so am quite aware of the differences between the two. In May, you see a lot more ice and snow - a cold beauty - versus September when you see more greenery - a more lush, green beauty. They are both equally beautiful in different ways. Weatherwise, September probably is a bit nicer. In the entire two seasons I was on the ship, I was only ever to sit on once by the pool in a bathing suit and that was September. As for an itinerary, make sure you pick one where you see Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm. Gorgeous.

How does Glacier Bay compare to Hubbard or Sawyer Glacier? Which one is the most spectacular or are they all spectacular in their own way? I am trying to narrow down our itinerary so I can keep an eye out for the specials and am having a heck of a time!!

The last 2 seasons sailing Sept have been expectional, but they weren't the norm. I have sailed several times in prior years and the weather was far from ideal and over all way worse than May. I have sailed all 3 of the Inside passage glaciers, and for me Glacier bay is always my preference. In May- both Hubbard and the Twin Sawyers can be iced out however.

Budget Queen, Thanks! I have been looking at only the Glacier Bay cruises and glad to know I am on the right track.