Seattle and Vancouver boast the most abundant homeport cruise offerings of the region, including plenty of the predictable Alaskan-bound itineraries, as well as sampler cruises of the Pacific Northwest, and, for those with more time to spare, lengthier excursions to Hawaii or even Asia. Travelers from around the country (and world) come to the region from May through September to embark on stellar sailings to Alaska, with its scenic fjords and abundant wildlife – itineraries can start within the state itself at Whittier or Seward (Anchorage), in addition to the above-mentioned ports. Note that with the folding of Cruise West in September 2010, the futures of former homeports that they serviced, like Juneau and Portland, remain in flux, as they do not currently serve as embarkation points for any other cruise line's itineraries.

 What homeports can I sail from?

* Seattle
* Seward (Anchorage)
* Vancouver
* Whittier

What cruise destinations can I sail to?

* Alaska (from Seattle, Seward, Vancouver, Whittier)
* Asia (from Seward, Vancouver, Whittier)
* Hawaii (from Vancouver)
* Mexico & Central America (from Seattle, Vancouver)
* Pacific Northwest (from Seattle, Vancouver)

 
PORT OVERVIEW: SEATTLE
Contrary to popular belief, Seattle is not the rainiest U.S. city (it ranks a lowly 44th in terms of rainfall). And while it may be home to Starbucks and Microsoft, it’s more than coffee and computer bytes too – the city is also rich in arts, recreation, shopping, and restaurants.

Cruise Terminal: Port of Seattle

Destination	Cruise Line	Length of Sailing	Departures
Alaska	Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean	7 – 14 nts	Apr – Sept
Mexico & Central America (Repositioning)	Celebrity, Holland America	16+ nts	Sept
Pacific Northwest	Holland America, Princess	1 – 7 nts	Apr – May, Sept – Oct

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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PORT OVERVIEW: SEWARD (ANCHORAGE)

In the state's only true metropolis, that’s home to nearly half of its population, food, nightlife, shopping, and culture options abound. Most visitors use Anchorage merely as a transit hub, but the city warrants a few days’ exploration. Alaska’s commercial and financial center is hardly disconnected from the surrounding wilderness; don’t be surprised to spy moose loitering on city streets or anglers hauling 40-pound salmon from Ship Creek, right in the middle of downtown. The photogenic fishing town of Seward, at the head of magnificent Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula, serves as the cruise port for the city.

Cruise Terminal: Seward Cruise Port

Destination	Cruise Line	Length of Sailing	Departures
Alaska	Celebrity, Holland, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Silversea	7+ nts	May – Sept
Asia	Regent, Silversea	14+ nts	Sept

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PORT OVERVIEW: VANCOUVER
If you’re looking for a city with spectacular natural surroundings, look no further than Vancouver, British Columbia. Surrounded by water on three sides and boasting more than 190 parks, the city is, besides being ideally suited for lovers of the great outdoors, filled with the cultural opportunities one would expect of a city of this caliber. Nestled beneath the dramatic, jagged Coast Mountains, it’s no surprise that it was chosen to host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Cruise Terminal: Port of Vancouver

Destination	Cruise Line	Length of Sailing	Departures
Alaska	Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Silversea	4+ nts	May – Sept
Asia	Princess, Regent, Silversea	16+ nts	Sept
Hawaii	Carnival, Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean	10+ nts	Apr, Sept – Oct
Mexico & Central America (Repositioning)	Holland America	12+ nts	Sept
Pacific Northwest	Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian	4+ nts	May, Sept – Oct

 
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PORT OVERVIEW: WHITTIER
Tiny Whittier, Alaska, with a population of just under 200 residents, makes up for the small size of its town with the sheer grandeur of its beautiful natural surroundings, and its setting as a jumping off point for kayaking and fishing excursions, as well as glacier and pleasure cruises. Access is via a 90-minute drive from Anchorage, which includes a pass through a 2.5-mile-long tunnel that’s considered to be a feat of engineering.

Cruise Terminal: Whittier Cruise Port

Destination	Cruise Line	Length of Sailing	Departures
Alaska	Princess	3 – 7 nts	May – Sept
Asia	Princess	15+ nts	Sept

 

 

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