Glaciers, whales and the Inside Passage, starting right here in our home port. We help you choose the ship, route and cabin that suit the people you’re travelling with, then take care of the details around it.
Ships leave from Canada Place, right on the downtown waterfront, and the Inside Passage begins almost as soon as you sail. Vancouver is also where most one-way Alaska cruises begin or end, and where many smaller, more refined ships depart. Because we’re here, we know the terminal, the hotels and what a busy sailing day looks like, and that shows up in the details: the right hotel, a realistic arrival time and a calm start to your trip.
Round trip from Vancouver. Usually seven nights through the Inside Passage, with stops such as Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway or Sitka and a day of glacier scenery. It’s the simplest choice: one flight in and out, and an easy fit for families and first-time cruisers.
One way to or from Alaska. Also usually seven nights, sailing between Vancouver and Seward or Whittier, near Anchorage. You’ll see glaciers the round trips can’t reach, such as Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord, then fly home or add a few days on land, like Denali.
The same glaciers feel very different from a large ship with a climbing wall and a small ship with a naturalist on deck. Here’s how we think about it.
For families and multigenerational groups. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises offer kids’ clubs, plenty of dining choice and room for everyone to do their own thing.
For Alaska specialists. Holland America and Princess have sailed Alaska for decades, with strong glacier days and land tours. Princess sails seven-night cruises from Vancouver that include Glacier Bay National Park.
For more included in the fare. Regent Seven Seas, Viking and Azamara include extras such as drinks, excursions or gratuities, depending on the line.
For small ships and a quieter pace. Seabourn and Windstar carry fewer guests and reach smaller ports and narrower fjords.
In Alaska, a balcony is worth it for many travellers, and we’ll help you choose the right side of the ship for scenic days.
May and early June. Quieter ports, snow still on the mountains and often better prices. Days are cooler, so pack layers.
Late June to August. The warmest weather and the longest days, and the easiest time for families on school holidays. It’s also the busiest, so the best cabins go first.
September. Fewer crowds, autumn colour and good value. Expect more rain, and on a clear night you may even see the northern lights.
Whatever month you choose, booking 9 to 12 months ahead gives you the best choice of ships and cabins, especially for summer.
Arrive a day early. We always suggest at least one night in Vancouver before you sail, so a delayed flight costs you an evening, not your cruise. The Pan Pacific Vancouver sits right above the cruise terminal, and the Fairmont Waterfront and Fairmont Pacific Rim are steps away. With a spare day, we can plan Stanley Park, Granville Island, a seaplane over the coast or a day trip to Whistler.
Add the Rockies. Many travellers pair their cruise with Rocky Mountaineer, a two-day daylight train journey between Vancouver and Banff or Jasper, with an overnight stop in Kamloops. A few nights in Banff and Lake Louise, the train west to Vancouver, then your Alaska cruise: glaciers by sea, mountains by train.
Summer is busy in Vancouver, so hotels and the train are best booked together with your cruise.
A real conversation about you, not just dates and budgets. Fifteen minutes, no obligation.
A considered recommendation with real options, refined with you until it fits.
Everything booked and gathered in one itinerary you can pull up on your phone.
Your itinerary includes the contact details to use if something urgent comes up outside office hours.
Written by our knowledgeable travellers — people who’ve actually been.
Travel worth knowing about, in your inbox. New resorts and ships worth a look, seasonal windows before they close, and the trips we’re excited about.
Tell us who’s travelling and what you’d love to see, and we’ll suggest the ships and dates that fit.
The season runs from May to September. July and August are warmest and busiest; May, June and September are quieter and often better value.
Nine to twelve months ahead gives you the best choice, especially for summer, balcony cabins and family rooms.
A round trip from Vancouver is simpler and suits most first-timers. A one-way cruise to Seward or Whittier reaches more glaciers and pairs well with time in Alaska, but needs a one-way flight.
Yes. Alaska cruises from Vancouver visit US ports, so every traveller needs a valid passport, plus any visa that applies to their nationality.
Most of the Inside Passage is sheltered water, so it’s usually calm. One-way cruises cross the open Gulf of Alaska, which can be rougher. We can suggest cabins in the steadiest part of the ship.
Absolutely. We work with travellers wherever they live, by phone, email, and video call, in English, Spanish, or Hebrew. If you’re based outside Canada, contact us so we can confirm which services are available for your trip.
Very. Scenic days need no walking, and family-friendly lines have kids’ clubs and connecting cabins. We plan excursions around every age and pace.
Most cruise bookings carry no planning fee. If your trip is more complex, we’ll explain any fee before we begin.
Yes. We can put together the whole trip, from your flight to Vancouver to the train through the mountains.
