By Kim Windyka
Want to set sail on an amazing cruise vacation? Planning it may be much easier than you think. Forget about taking an expensive flight to the port and stressing about making it to the ship on time – some of the best cruise deals can often be found right in your backyard … or at least within driving distance! With 21 U.S. ports to choose from, your dream getaway might very well be right around the corner. Plus, you can snag great extras like dining deals, free onboard spending and more when you book now during our Fall & Holiday Sale! Check out the cruise options from your area as well as some handpicked itineraries that are unique to your region.
Cruise from the West Coast
Seward and Whittier, Alaska, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Honolulu: The West Coast offers the widest range of itinerary and destination options for cruisers. With sailings along the Pacific Coast as well as to Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, the South Pacific, and even Japan, you’ll have your pick — from tropical sailings to more exotic escapes.
7-Night Alaska & Sawyer Glacier: Sail from Seattle aboard Norwegian Cruise Line through the stunning Inside Passage of America’s Last Frontier. Spend the next day kayaking in the fishing town of Ketchikan before gliding through majestic Sawyer Glacier and on to the pedestrian-friendly state capital of Juneau. Get a feel for the Gold Rush days with a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad in Skagway, and embark on a whale watch in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Finish your adventure in lively Vancouver.4-Night Pacific Coastal: After setting out from San Francisco on this Princess cruise, you’ll get to explore the exciting history of Astoria, Oregon – including memorials, state parks and museums. Continue on to vibrant Victoria, British Columbia, where fabulous food, quaint cityscapes and boutiques abound before ending the trip in Vancouver.
Cruise from the East Coast
Boston, New York City, Bayonne NJ, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami: With the majority of the country’s cruise ports located on the East Coast, and ships sailing to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Panama Canal, it shouldn’t be hard to find a relaxing, sun and sand-filled voyage to fit both your interests and schedule.
7-Night Bermuda: Who says you have to visit multiple ports to have a great vacation? Head straight from Boston to Bermuda on Norwegian Cruise Line to spend 3 days in beautiful King’s Wharf, Bermuda, where pink sands, duty-free shopping and world-class golf await. 8-Night Exotic Eastern Caribbean: Sail away from New York with Carnival to not 1, not 2, but 3 tropical paradises. First stop, Grand Turk Island to try your hand at scuba diving. The next day, enjoy the calm and quiet of Half Moon Cay, your own private island. Finish up your vacation enjoying the sights and sounds of Nassau, Bahamas, including the man-made island of Arawak Cay.
Cruise from the Gulf Coast
Galveston, New Orleans, Mobile, Tampa: Offering abundant Eastern and Western Caribbean options as well as Panama Canal itineraries, cruisers living near the Gulf Coast can choose from an exciting mix of traditional and more unusual trips.
7-Night Western Caribbean: You’ll depart from Galveston on this Carnival cruise to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Explore the area’s rich history with a house tour before chowing down on some traditional Jamaican fare nearby. Sail on to George Town, Grand Cayman, to see marine life at Stingray City and the Cayman Turtle Farm. Shop ‘til you drop and don’t forget to pick up a souvenir in Cozumel’s bustling town of San Miguel.
Kim Windyka is a travel brands copywriter, bona fide Twitter addict and freelance feature writer whose work has appeared in Metro Boston, the New Hampshire Visitors Guide and the Nashua Telegraph. Despite being a Northeast native, she dreams of palm trees daily.