A Pacific coast repositioning cruise makes a wonderful, early fall getaway, especially if you live on the west coast yourself. Once the weather in Alaska becomes too rough for cruising, the ships head south to sail in the Caribbean, Mexico, or Panama Canal.

For residents of California, Washington, or Oregon, these repositioning cruises are a terrific value and a hassle-free way to enjoy everything that cruising has to offer – good food, entertainment, cool amenities, and a complete escape from the same old routine.

Victoria’s Inner Harbor

This September, there are five Holland American ships sailing down the Pacific coast from Vancouver to California. Known for their classic-style cruise ships, impressive art collections, and excellent service, Holland America also has innovative new programs and amenities that will make your days at sea stimulating and enjoyable.

The flagship of the line, Rotterdam VI, features one of the most exciting additions to Holland America ships in recent years – the Culinary Arts Center. This state-of-the-art exhibition kitchen is where you’ll go for cooking classes, wine tastings, demonstrations, and more. It’s a great facility that’s been a big hit with passengers. And it’s now available on all Holland America cruise ships.

Rotterdam VI leaves Vancouver on Sunday, September 19 and spends two days at sea before arriving in San Diego on Wednesday morning, September 22. Which means that you can have a relaxing mini-vacation and still be back at work by Thursday. At press time, Southern California residents could fly one-way to Vancouver for less than $200, and cruise fares were as low as $199 per person. So it’s very affordable.

Their Ryndam adds an extra day to the voyage, so if sea days are your thing, it’s a great choice. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the two pools, one of which is under a retractable glass dome, tennis, the spa, sauna, and steam bath. Like Rotterdam VI, she sails from Vancouver on September 19, but she doesn’t arrive in San Diego until Thursday, September 23 – giving you an extra night to enjoy a Broadway-style show in the Vermeer Show Lounge.

Bay Area residents can board Zuiderdam in Vancouver on Saturday, September 25 and disembark in San Francisco on Tuesday, September 28. With one of the highest space-per-guest ratios in the Holland America fleet, Zuiderdam is a delight. The huge spa has a hydrotherapy pool, aroma therapy rooms, a sauna, steam room, and eleven treatment rooms. You can arrange to be pampered to your heart’s content. A variety of dining options make it possible eat in a different restaurant every night of your cruise.

Holland America’s Ryndam

On Sunday, September 26, Statendam sails from Vancouver bound for Victoria, British Columbia. Victoria is a charming town, that’s very British in feel. Passengers can explore the Provincial Museum with it’s impressive totem poles and coastal art, visit the beautiful Empress Hotel on the Inner Harbor, or go for an optional tour of Butchart Gardens. She arrives in San Diego on September 30, following two days at sea.

Like Zuiderdam, Osterdam has lots of extra room and extensive spa facilities. And with two port calls and two sea days, her fall repositioning cruise offers a good balance of sightseeing and relaxing. Osterdam sails from Vancouver on Monday, September 27, so consider spending the weekend there before boarding the ship. She calls at Astoria, Oregon the next day. From there, you can take a side trip to Cannon Beach or Seaside. Passengers will have two days to enjoy the ship’s amenities before calling at Catalina Island. There’s plenty to do on Catalina, and in the surrounding water. Go for a snorkeling trip, take a glass-bottom boat ride, or do some shopping in Avalon. Osterdam arrives in San Diego on Saturday morning, October 2.

Victoria’s Inner Harbor Image Flickr: dbaron
Holland America’s Ryndam Image Flickr: wch14

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Around the middle of September, the Gulf of Alaska becomes pretty inhospitable and the ships that have spent the summer there head south for the winter.

Because of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, cruises that originate in U.S. ports cannot end in U.S. ports unless another country is visited.  As a result, Alaska cruises that begin in the U.S. usually end in Canada, and vice versa.

Vancouver is the departure port for most cruises that end in Alaska.  And it’s the city of departure for most repositioning cruises leaving Alaska at the end of the season.

Many Vancouver repositioning cruises can be taken for different lengths of time.  You can take a 3-night cruise aboard the Coral Princess from Vancouver to Los Angeles,  with no stops in between.  Or, you could stay on board, transit the Panama Canal, and disembark 18 nights later in Fort Lauderdale.

Perhaps the least expensive cruise ever is the three-night cruise aboard the Sapphire Princess from Vancouver to Los Angeles.  Inside cabins for this late September sailing are going for as little as $99.  And you can upgrade to a balcony stateroom for  $100 more.

Princess also offers a 17-night cruise from Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale aboard the Island Princess.  This relatively small ship — 1,900 passengers — offers 24-hour buffet, bistro, and room service.  Three restaurants serve steaks, Italian, and Cajun food.  And the Sanctuary Spa provides a relaxing retreat.

The ship calls at San Francisco, and several ports in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, and Aruba, before arriving in Fort Lauderdale.

Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas goes north to Alaska before heading down the coast for San Diego.

After visiting Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan, the Serenade calls at Seattle, Astoria, Oregon, and San Francisco before arriving in San Diego two weeks later.  Fares start around $100 per night.

Those who want to try cruising without spending much money can put their toe in the water on Norwegian’s 7-night cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles.   One of the least expensive repositioning cruises out there, fares aboard the Norwegian Star start at just $349.

Guests aboard the Norwegian Pearl can sail from Vancouver to Los Angeles in five nights, or  travel down the Mexican coast and through the Panama Canal to Miami in nineteen nights.  Because of the popularity of Panama Canal cruises, this voyage isn’t the bargain that many others are.

The Big Daddy of all repositioning cruises from Alaska is aboard Holland America Line’s Volendam.  The ships leaves Vancouver in late September and arrives in Hong Kong 46 days later.  En route, you’ll call at six ports in Japan, South Korea, seven ports in China, and three in Viet Nam.  What’s more, the ship overnights in Tokyo, Beijing, and Shanghai.

With  twenty sea days, there’s plenty of time to relax and enjoy the amenities aboard the ship. If you have the time, this is a great itinerary.  And fares are currently about 50% off the rack rate.

Find out about Panama Canal cruises here.

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