Alaska Cruise Seattle or Vancouver?

[Cruiser58]

A friend is about to reserve an Alaskan Cruise for 2027. They're trying to decide between a round trip on either a Quantum class or Voyager from Seattle, or a round trip from Vancouver. The Vancouver cruises take the Inside Passage and stop at more ports. Comments? Also, if you don't take the Inside Passage cruises, are the Seattle ones rougher sailing?

[Ryan79]

My vote is for more ports. You can view Alaska from the ship and land, but you can only truly experience it from the ports….either walking through town or excisions. 

[OCSC Mike]

4 minutes ago, Ryan79 said:

My vote is for more ports.

Seconded.

My actual advice is one-way with as long of a land portion as possible but I understand there are cost, time, & other factors that may cause some to go with a round trip itinerary… so more ports is even more desirable, IMO.

[mworkman]

We’re doing the inside passage next year because of the ports, it departs from Vancouver. With that being said, we’ve elected to take the train from Vancouver to Seattle, just for the coastline view, as we’ve never done it and had heard it was a worthy experience. 

[steverk]

I recommend a one way between Seward and Vancouver.  You'll see more of Alaska.

[AshleyDillo]

5 minutes ago, mworkman said:

had heard it was a worthy experience.

It is a very scenic ride!

[smokeybandit]

Another vote for the one-way.

[fireclan]

Inside passage,  one way.

[Southern Dan]

1 hour ago, steverk said:

I recommend a one way between Seward and Vancouver.  You'll see more of Alaska.

Agreed 100%, we did Seward Southbound to Vancouver last summer and it was truly amazing.

[Pattycruise]

Sadly the one way does not include the inside passage-which I thought was an awesome part of the one way sailing.

 Anthem is now doing the one way and personally I love the show We will rock you on the ship but having to get on and off the ship with that many people is a huge negative for me (in addition to the non inside passage)

 sorry I can’t give a concrete answer and I imagine done off the answers you are getting are based off the smaller ships doing the one way.

 

[ChessE4]

We sailed Vancouver inside passage round trip and loved Vancouver. Serenade Master was outstanding. My advice is to go later, not Memorial Day, which was rainy this year. Our TA got a group rate for balcony, which we enjoyed. I can't say anything about 1 way trips other than to consider total cost and your budget.

[WAAAYTOOO]

4 hours ago, ChessE4 said:

 loved Vancouver.

I so agree.  I was immediately in love with Vancouver when we were there in September.  The harbor is so amazing.  Sea plans and helicopters flying this way and that...taking off and landing in the water (not the helicopters, of course ) .  It's just a magical place.  I loved it there.  Staying in the beautiful PanPacific didn't hurt, either.  

[Brando95]

I would take Vancouver every time. Stayed there 2 nights following my 9 night cruise from Hawaii and if I didn't have to get back for work would've gladly stayed longer. My next Alaska cruise or any Pacific Coastal or whatever will include Vancouver if I have any say at all. I'd recommend going a day, or even two if you can, early and take in the sights. 

[sleepy425]

Another vote for Vancouver.  We stayed 3 nights before our Brilliance round trip in 2024 and absolutely loved it.  There was so much to do that we were talking if we did another Alaskan cruise and had to leave out of Seattle we would still spend a few days in Vancouver because it was so nice.  We went 4th of July week and lucked out with great weather, except for the fog the day we were supposed to head close to the glacier.  That was a bummer to wake up early, have breakfast delivered... and just wait and wait for the curtain of fog to lift (it never did - or at least it didn't in time for us to be able to proceed).  But everything else about the cruise was fantastic.

[whitsmom]

Back in 2018 (July) we did Vancouver to Seward then added a 3 night cruise extension.  We flew home from Anchorage. It was fantastic and we want to go back again!

[FOB]

Tide must be wrong for Anthem getting under the bridge early for the 3rd September sailing from Vancouver to Seward as check in time doesn’t start until 5:30 pm and sailaway is in the middle of the night

but it does mean we should get to watch her coming in before we board for the north and south sailings

Also Vancouver is a very walkable, affordable city so we will just leave our bags at a hotel and get lunch somewhere (probably the brewery in the Park) and then get bags, get on the ship and work out how main dining is going to work when EVERYONE is on my time dining on the first night

[TXcruiser33]

We've done 3 Alaska cruises (and one land vacation!). Sailed out of both Seattle and Vancouver and I think either one is a great place to visit pre or post cruise! i love Vancouver, but Seattle has a lot to see as well so you can't go wrong with either! (Our 1st Alaska cruise was in 2017, on a Carnival ship that sailed from Vancouver and ended in Seattle!! That was a great experience to be able to visit both cities, but i haven't seen anybody doing that lately).

Honestly can't remember having rough seas in or out of the inside passage so I wouldn't let that be a factor (at least it wasn't for us). You can always luck into great weather OR have bad luck and rough seas anywhere you go.

My opinion about Alaska is: everywhere you look it's beautiful, so you can't go wrong with a mix of ports and sea days!! Whatever the route is, every time you look outside there's something beautiful to witness!! We enjoy all the ports. We'll continue to go back because there's just so much to see in that whole region!

 

[GatorCruiser]

On 10/25/2025 at 10:12 AM, WAAAYTOOO said:

I so agree.  I was immediately in love with Vancouver when we were there in September.  The harbor is so amazing.  Sea plans and helicopters flying this way and that...taking off and landing in the water (not the helicopters, of course ) .  It's just a magical place.  I loved it there.  Staying in the beautiful PanPacific didn't hurt, either.  

We are doing one way from Vancouver to Seward in may. Staying at pan pacific as well. Excited as hell about it too. 3 days post doing land based to anchorage and fly home.