Inside Passage Alaskan cruises departing from Seattle, Washington
Taking an Alaska cruise from Seattle (or an Alaskan cruise ending in Seattle) is an increasingly popular option.
In the past, most all Alaska cruise either departed from or concluded at the Port of Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
Seattle is a beautiful city that is one of my favorite to visit, and there are many incredible things to see in the Seattle area before or after your Alaska cruise.
Most Seattle cruises depart from either Pier 66 or at the Terminal 30 Cruise Facility, both in downtown Seattle.
One of the advantages for U.S. residents booking an Alaska cruise from Seattle is that you avoid the need to go through airport customs upon arriving, as is necessary in Vancouver.
Passport requirement update
As of the 2009 cruising season, passports will be REQUIRED for all passengers on Seattle to Alaska cruises, including U.S. and Canadian citizens - even if you will not be arriving by air.
Flights into Seattle can often be less expensive from other U.S. cities than those into Vancouver, so this can be another reason to look into booking a cruise out of Seattle.
Pre and post cruise tours from Seattle
There are many wonderful things to see and do in the Seattle area, and there are also many pre and post cruise tours offered from Seattle.
Pre and post cruise tours from Seattle are available both through the cruise lines and through third party tour operators.
The offerings include tours of the magnificent Canadian Rockies, Washington State's incredible Olympic Peninsula, and the Cascade range.
Cruise the Pacific Coast
For those looking to explore on their own, a wonderful option is to take a drive along the magnificent Pacific Coast.
To learn more about all the things you can see and do along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, visit my friends at Pacific Coast Highway Travel.
So if your trip will be originating in the U.S., consider looking into an Alaska cruise out of Seattle. Doing so could save you both time and money.
