If you’re looking for some of the world’s most fun and exotic vacations, you need travel no further than the West Coast of North America. With cruises departing from Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, and port cities in northern and southern Canada and Mexico, you’ll never run out of ocean vacation options here. Everything from icebreakers to the Arctic Circle to tropical excursions to the Mexican Riviera is available here and every port of departure has an international airport just minutes from the port.
If you like it cold and want to see some truly impressive mountains, try an Alaska wilderness cruise. The territory is technically a US state, but the wildlife far outnumbers the human population. Moose, moose, bears, and other fur-covered creatures roam the woods and hills without fear of the two-legged predators they rarely see. While you’re there, be sure to visit Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America.
South of Alaska is Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest, unanimously considered one of nature’s greatest works by anyone who has had the privilege of traveling there. The cities in this part of the continent are some of the cleanest you will see and the people are environmentally conscious. Even after crossing the border into the United States and docking in Portland or Seattle, you’ll notice a population that is more in tune with its natural surroundings than in other parts of the world.
Your next stop is San Francisco, the most beautiful city in any of the three North American countries. The steep hills, classic cable cars, and planned green spaces of this metropolis make it a unique place to visit on your way up the West Coast. If you go to Los Angeles on the same trip, you will see an incredible difference between the two. LA is big and loud, SF is quiet and relaxing.
San Diego is a port city where you can ship to almost anywhere in the world. This huge port sees regular traffic from Asia and hosts a good portion of the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet when in port. It’s also your most likely destination if you book a cruise to the Mexican Riviera, that stretch of white-sand beaches just below Baja and before you reach Central America. The rest of the coast is great, but this is where your cruise vacation meets paradise and pure relaxation.