Pacific Coastal cruises sail the West Coast between British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California. Most are short, often three to five nights, and many happen when ships move to or from their Alaska season. They suit first-time cruisers, travelers who want a long weekend at sea, and anyone looking to try a cruise line without a big time commitment.
When to go
The season follows Alaska. Ships head north in spring to start Alaska cruises and come back south in fall.
| When | What to expect | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| April to May | Northbound sailings from California to Seattle or Vancouver. Cool, changeable weather and longer days. | Short getaways, sampling a line before an Alaska trip |
| June to August | Few true coastal sailings. Most ships are in Alaska. Some longer round trips from California. | Pairing with an Alaska cruise |
| September to October | Southbound sailings back to California. Often calmer seas and clear days, though fog is common along the coast. | Wine country and city stops, fall getaways |
| November to March | Winter. Sailings are limited and the ocean can be rough. | Travelers comfortable with weather and swells |
Itinerary types compared
Short repositioning sailings
These are one-way trips of a few nights between Vancouver or Seattle and San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego. They are often all sea days with one or two port calls. Common stops include Victoria on Vancouver Island and Astoria, Oregon. Because they are one-way, you will need a flight or train at one end.
Longer coastal voyages
Some sailings run a week or more and add more California ports, such as Santa Barbara, Monterey, Catalina Island or San Francisco with an overnight. Others combine the coast with Alaska, Hawaii or the Mexican Riviera on one longer trip.
Why Canada or Mexico appears on the route
Most large cruise ships are registered outside the United States. US cabotage rules generally mean these ships cannot carry passengers only between US ports. That is why many coastal itineraries start in Vancouver, stop in Victoria, or include Ensenada, Mexico. Your advisor can explain how this affects a given itinerary.
Where cruises leave from
Northern departures and arrivals are usually Vancouver and Seattle. In California, look at San Francisco, Los Angeles (San Pedro and Long Beach) and San Diego. Many of the same ships sail Alaska cruises in summer.
Which cruise line?
Coastal sailings depend on which ships are moving between seasons, so the choice of lines changes from year to year.
- Princess Cruises has a strong West Coast presence and runs many coastal and repositioning sailings in spring and fall.
- Holland America Line bases ships in Seattle and Vancouver for Alaska and offers coastal trips at the start and end of the season.
- Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian and Carnival also schedule short West Coast sailings, often when ships reposition.
- Smaller-ship and luxury lines sometimes sail longer coastal voyages with more time in port.
Packing and travel documents
Many coastal sailings start, end or stop in Canada. A one-way sailing between Vancouver and a US port is not a round trip from the same US port, so plan on a valid passport. If you fly to or from Canada, a passport book is required for air travel. Check current entry requirements for Canada and Mexico, and see our US passport page for how to apply or renew.
- Layers. The Pacific coast is cool, windy and foggy even when inland California is warm.
- A waterproof jacket and a warm hat for open decks.
- Motion sickness remedies. Swells along the Oregon and Washington coast can be noticeable.
- Comfortable walking shoes for city stops like Victoria and San Francisco.
See current sailings on our Pacific Coastal cruises page, or request a quote and an advisor will match a sailing to your dates.
