Vancouver cruising, Alaska cruising, cruise planning, cruise ships, Alaska ports, glaciers, itineraries
Vancouver Cruise Watch - Welcome Aboard > Vancouver for Cruise Passengers
> All About Alaska Cruising
> Ship Photos
> Voyage Reports & Articles
>Site Index    >About   >Contact
>Back to Susan Milne.com
Off to Alaska - Volendam sails from Vancouver

The Latest... In 2009, 30 cruise ships will sail to Alaska from West Coast ports and several expedition ships will also call. Most visitors to Alaska arrive by cruise ship with more than a million disembarking each year. 2009 Vancouver cruise schedule.

Reasons to sail to Alaska:

  • The dramatic mountains and fjords of the Inside Passage and Alaska provide one of the most scenic cruising areas in the world.
  • Since many towns can only be reached by boat or plane, cruising is the ideal way to reach these remote spots.
  • They also provide the perfect jumping off point for adventures into the great Alaskan wilderness.
  • Alaska is one of the few places in the world where you can cruise close to spectacular, tidewater glaciers.
  • The peace and silence of Alaska makes it a relaxing and rejuvenating experience.
  • Embarking in Vancouver gives you the best cruising experience as you have a better chance of sailing the Inside Passage both north and south, surrounded by scenic beauty.

Good news for 2009 is the inauguration of shore power at Canada Place cruse terminal in Vancouver.  Coral Princess, Diamond Princess, Island, Princess, Sapphire Princess and Zuideram will hook up to shore power, or local electricity, while in port enabling them to turn off their engines and reduce air emissions. More ships will be fitted out to take advantage of the new facility.  Shore power is also available in Juneau and Seattle. It’s another enviro-friendly commitment made by the cruise lines sailing Alaskan waters.

Olympic Clock & Construction: Walk up Hornby Street from Canada Place to see the Olympic count down clock outside the Art Gallery at Gerogia Street.

You'll see many construction sites around Vancouver in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games:

  • Next to Canada Place, the new convention centre is now complete. It will serve as the media centre for the Games. It features the largest green roof in Canada.
  • Robson Square, beside the Art Gallery at Robson and Howe St. is under major renovation.
  • The Canada Line light rail to the airport has caused disruption on Granville Street and in Yaletown as well as down Cambie Street across False Creek. The new line will open officially on Labour Day weekend, September 5-7, 2009.

  • Cruise Watch is gradually being updated for 2009. Should you have any specific questions,

    • VANCOUVER CRUISE WATCH SITE INDEX

  • All About Alaska Cruising

  • Vancouver for Cruise Passengers

  • Photos Index

  • Travel-Write Reports and Articles Index

  • Links to Cruise Related Sites
  • About Cruise Watch
  • Contact Cruise Watch
  • SusanMilne.com Home Page

    • Copyright © Susan Milne, 1999-2009
    Additional photos Copyright © Julian Egelstaff, 2001.