Departure port guides
Six ports serve the Alaska cruise trade, and the choice between them is mostly a choice between flight cost and itinerary quality. Each guide covers terminals, parking, hotels, transfers and embarkation day.
Washington, United States
Seattle handles more Alaska cruise departures than any other port. Ships sail from Pier 91 in the Smith Cove area or Pier 66 downtown, and the two are about eight miles apart. Sea-Tac Airport is 12 to 15 miles from either terminal, taking 30 to 50 minutes. Every Seattle round trip must call at a Canadian port, usually Victoria, because of United States cabotage law.
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British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver sails from Canada Place, a terminal built into the downtown waterfront and walkable from most central hotels. It is the origin for one way Gulf of Alaska cruises to Whittier or Seward, and its round trips avoid the mandatory Victoria stop that Seattle sailings require. Vancouver International Airport is 30 to 45 minutes away and connected by the Canada Line train.
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Alaska, United States
Seward is a small port town on the Kenai Peninsula used as the northern turnaround for one way Gulf of Alaska cruises, mainly by Holland America and some other lines. It is about 125 miles from Anchorage, reachable in roughly three hours by coach or four and a half by the Alaska Railroad, which is itself one of the best rail journeys in North America.
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Alaska, United States
Whittier is a turnaround port on Prince William Sound about 60 miles southeast of Anchorage, used principally by Princess Cruises. Access is through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the longest combined rail and highway tunnel in North America, which is single lane and alternates direction roughly every half hour. Transfers to Anchorage take about 90 minutes.
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California, United States
San Francisco runs a limited number of Alaska cruises each season, usually ten to fourteen nights, sailing from the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27 on the Embarcadero. The extra length is due to roughly two additional sea days each way up the Pacific coast. It suits travellers based in California who prefer not to fly to Seattle or Vancouver.
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California, United States
Alaska cruises from Los Angeles are rare and largely seasonal, appearing as repositioning voyages in spring and autumn as ships move between winter and summer deployments. They typically run fourteen nights or longer from the World Cruise Center at San Pedro, with five or more sea days. They suit Southern California residents who want a long voyage without flying.
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