Guide101s

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Homeport cruising is where the heart is for value-conscious travelers

Guide

Homeport Cruising 101

Introduction
Cruising from the Northeast
Cruising from the Southeast with Florida
Cruising from the Gulf Coast
Cruising from California
Cruising from the Pacific Northwest with Alaska
Cruising from Hawaii
Our Favorite Homeport Cruises
Tips for Booking Homeport Cruises

Cruising from the Pacific Northwest with Alaska

Seattle and Vancouver boast the most abundant 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, Seward (Anchorage), or Juneau, in addition to the above-mentioned ports. For an alternative, Cruise West offers scenic inland river cruises to spots like the Columbia River Gorge and Washington Wine Country from Portland, Oregon.

What homeports can I sail from?

* Juneau
* Portland, OR
* Seattle
* Seward (Anchorage)
* Vancouver
* Whittier

What cruise destinations can I sail to?

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

* World (from Seattle, Vancouver)

Our favorite itineraries:

* Celebrity’s 7-night Alaska sailings from Seattle
Ports of call: Seattle, WA; Ketchikan, AK; Juneau, AK; Victoria, BC

* Cruise West’s 7-night Pacific Northwest river cruise from Portland
Ports of call: Portland, OR; Astoria, OR; Walla Walla, WA

PORT OVERVIEW: JUNEAU
Alaska’s capital and third largest city, this Alaskan gateway is marked by its picturesque Victorian downtown and the blue-tinged Mendenhall Glacier next door. Here, politicians hobnob alongside fishermen, and the omnipresent great outdoors infuses the city with an adventurous vibe. Tourist-clogged South Franklin Street connects downtown to the waterfront docks, and is lined by shops, galleries, and eateries.

Cruise Terminal: Port of Juneau

Destination	Cruise Line	Length of Sailing	Departures
Alaska	Cruise West	3 – 10 nts	May – Sept

PORT OVERVIEW: PORTLAND, OR
Always a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, Portland’s art, music, food, and brewpub scenes have exploded, making it a premiere destination for all kinds of travelers.

Cruise Terminal: Port of Portland

Destination	Cruise Line	Length of Sailing	Departures
Pacific Northwest	Cruise West	7 nts	Apr – Oct

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	Celebrity, Cruise West, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean	7 – 14 nts	Apr – Sept
Mexico & Central America (Repositioning)	Celebrity, Holland America	16 – 21 nts	Sept
Pacific Northwest	Celebrity, Cruise West, Holland America	3 – 7 nts	Apr – May, Sept – Oct
Panama Canal (Repositioning)	Celebrity, Holland America	16 – 21 nts	Sept
World	Holland America	15+ nts	Sept

Find cruise deals from Seattle on ShermansTravel.com or Orbitz.com.

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, Cruise West, Holland, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Silversea	7+ nts	May – Sept
Asia	Regent	14+ nts	Sept

Find cruise deals from Seward on ShermansTravel.com or Orbitz.com.

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, Cruise West, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Silversea	4+ nts	May – Sept
Asia	Holland America, Princess, Regent	16+ nts	Sept
Hawaii	Carnival, Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbea	10+ nts	Apr, Sept – Oct
Mexico & Central America (Repositioning)	Holland America, Norwegian, Princess	13+ nts	Sept
Pacific Northwest	Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean	4+ nts	May, Sept – Oct
Panama Canal	Fred Olsen, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess	18+ nts	Apr, Sept
World	Fred Olsen, Holland America, Regent	30+ nts	Apr, Sept

Find cruise deals from Vancouver on ShermansTravel.com or Orbitz.com.

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	Carnival, Cruise West, Norwegian, Princess	3 – 7 nts	May – Sept
Asia	Princess	15+ nts	Sept