Set Sail on a Pacific Coastal Cruise

Spring is slowly crawling its way out from underneath winter, and that means one of my favorite cruise seasons is just around the bend: the spring Pacific Coastal cruises.

Visiting Canon Beach, Oregon during Oosterdam’s call in Astoria in 2005 as part of a 3-night Pacific Coastal voyage. Photo © Aaron Saunders

Back in 2005, I boarded Holland America Line’s vibrant Oosterdam for the very first time, setting out on a three-day voyage from Vancouver to Seattle, Washington. In the process, I discovered these spectacular mini-cruises that are typically offered every spring and fall as cruise ships reposition to and from their summer seasons in Alaska.

Best of all, these voyages range in length from just a single day (the overnight “party cruise”) to four, five and even six-day voyages that run from Southern California ports like San Diego and Los Angeles up to Vancouver, British Columbia. Some of these include stops in popular destinations like San Francisco or Astoria, Oregon, while others spend two or even three days sailing the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

No visit to Victoria, British Columbia is complete without a trip to the world-renowned Butchart Gardens. Photo © Aaron Saunders

But the biggest reason I like to recommend these mini-cruises is that they’re a fantastic way to try out a new cruise ship or line. Sure, you’re not going to get the full weeklong experience in a two or three day sailing, and occupancy rates tend to be at or near capacity, but it’s tough to beat $100 per person for a single-night sailing or less.

Out of all of the available Pacific Coastal cruises this spring, my personal favorite is the 3-night voyage aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel. A relative newcomer to the West Coast, this attractive 2005-built cruise ship is sailing from Vancouver to Seattle on May 15, 2013, calling on Nanaimo and Victoria, British Columbia in the process.

Evening falls onboardHolland America’s Rotterdam off the coast of Vancouver Island. Photo © Aaron Saunders

But there’s an astonishing amount of sailings on other ships available this year – have a peek at the full list of sailings from our friends at Cruise Experts Travel.

Which one will you be on?

From the Deck Chair will return tomorrow! For a look at one of the most unique short West Coast voyages you can take, have a peek at our Live Voyage Report from onboard the Schooner Zodiac in Washington State’s San Juan Islands!