Sarah Forth asked:
The cruising season in the Gulf of Alaska is a short one. And by mid-September, most of the cruise ships that have spent the summer sailing there head for sunnier climates.
The Jones Act, which was passed in 1920 as the Merchant Marine Act to protect the interests of U.S. cargo vessels, requires cruises that begin in the U.S. to end outside the U.S., unless another country is visited. For instance, Alaska cruises can’t begin in Seattle and end in an Alaska port, unless they call in a Canadian port en route.
That’s why many Alaska cruises and Alaska Repositioning cruises begin in Vancouver, BC. If you haven’t been, Vancouver is a spectacular city, well worth an overnight stay before joining your cruise.
One of the advantages of repositioning cruises is their flexibility. You can often disembark in more than one port, meaning you can tailor your cruise to suit your schedule. If you board the Coral Princess in Vancouver, you can disembark three days later in Los Angeles, or stay on board and disembark 18 nights later in Fort Lauderdale after transiting the Panama Canal.
Those who want to see how they like cruising can take a 3-night cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles for as little as $99 for an inside cabin. A balcony is only $100 more. This is a terrific cruise bargain for potential cruisers who want to test the waters.
For a nice, leisurely voyage, consider the 17-night Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale cruise aboard the Island Princess. The ship visits San Francisco, Acapulco, Huatulco, and Costa Rica before transiting the Panama Canal. It also calls at Aruba en route to Fort Lauderdale.
With a capacity of 1,900 passengers, the Island Princess has all the amenities, including a steakhouse and Italian and Cajun restaurants.
If you want to see some of Alaska before going down the Pacific Coast, Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas calls at Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan before visiting Seattle, Astoria, and San Francisco. Passengers disembark 14 days later in San Diego. With fares starting at around $100 per person, per night, this is a good cruise value.
Norwegian’s 7-night cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles aboard the Norwegian Star is one of the least expensive repositioning cruises, with fares starting at $50 per person, per night. The ship does this itinerary in reverse in May of 2010.
The Norwegian Pearl sails from Vancouver to Los Angeles in five nights and stops in Astoria and San Francisco along the way. This is a good choice if you like days at sea and plenty of time to enjoy the shipboard amenities.
If you have the time — and the money — the 46-night trans-Pacific sailing aboard Holland America’s Volendam is an unbelievable cruise bargain. The ship calls at ports in Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam before arriving in Hong Kong. Best of all, the Volendam overnights in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong so you can experience those cities at night.
