| The cruising season in the Gulf of Alaska is a short | | | | Huatulco, and Costa Rica before transiting the Panama |
| one. And by mid-September, most of the cruise ships | | | | Canal. It also calls at Aruba en route to Fort |
| that have spent the summer sailing there head for | | | | Lauderdale. |
| sunnier climates. | | | | With a capacity of 1,900 passengers, the Island |
| The Jones Act, which was passed in 1920 as the | | | | Princess has all the amenities, including a steakhouse |
| Merchant Marine Act to protect the interests of U.S. | | | | and Italian and Cajun restaurants. |
| cargo vessels, requires cruises that begin in the U.S. to | | | | If you want to see some of Alaska before going |
| end outside the U.S., unless another country is visited. | | | | down the Pacific Coast, Royal Caribbean's Serenade |
| For instance, Alaska cruises can't begin in Seattle and | | | | of the Seas calls at Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, and |
| end in an Alaska port, unless they call in a Canadian | | | | Ketchikan before visiting Seattle, Astoria, and San |
| port en route. | | | | Francisco. Passengers disembark 14 days later in San |
| That's why many Alaska cruises and Alaska | | | | Diego. With fares starting at around $100 per person, |
| Repositioning cruises begin in Vancouver, BC. If you | | | | per night, this is a good cruise value. |
| haven't been, Vancouver is a spectacular city, well | | | | Norwegian's 7-night cruise from Vancouver to Los |
| worth an overnight stay before joining your cruise. | | | | Angeles aboard the Norwegian Star is one of the |
| One of the advantages of repositioning cruises is their | | | | least expensive repositioning cruises, with fares starting |
| flexibility. You can often disembark in more than one | | | | at $50 per person, per night. The ship does this |
| port, meaning you can tailor your cruise to suit your | | | | itinerary in reverse in May of 2010. |
| schedule. If you board the Coral Princess in | | | | The Norwegian Pearl sails from Vancouver to Los |
| Vancouver, you can disembark three days later in Los | | | | Angeles in five nights and stops in Astoria and San |
| Angeles, or stay on board and disembark 18 nights | | | | Francisco along the way. This is a good choice if you |
| later in Fort Lauderdale after transiting the Panama | | | | like days at sea and plenty of time to enjoy the |
| Canal. | | | | shipboard amenities. |
| Those who want to see how they like cruising can | | | | If you have the time -- and the money -- the 46-night |
| take a 3-night cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles | | | | trans-Pacific sailing aboard Holland America's |
| for as little as $99 for an inside cabin. A balcony is only | | | | Volendam is an unbelievable cruise bargain. The ship |
| $100 more. This is a terrific cruise bargain for potential | | | | calls at ports in Japan, Korea, China, and Vietnam |
| cruisers who want to test the waters. | | | | before arriving in Hong Kong. Best of all, the Volendam |
| For a nice, leisurely voyage, consider the 17-night | | | | overnights in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong so you |
| Vancouver to Fort Lauderdale cruise aboard the Island | | | | can experience those cities at night. |
| Princess. The ship visits San Francisco, Acapulco, | | | | |