Longer West Coast cruises
At the start and end of the Alaska cruising season, ships sail along the West Coast as they reposition and offer short cruises (often three or four nights) between Vancouver, B.C., and California ports such as Los Angeles and San Diego. Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Holland America Line are among those offering such cruises; Celebrity Cruises offers longer wine-themed cruises.Ask a travel agent or look on cruise lines' websites for Pacific coastal cruises (or "coastals").
Big or small? Luxury cruise ship or plucky coastal freight boat?
The choice is yours for cruising around the Pacific Northwest.
Sail away for a night this fall or next spring between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., on a world-class cruise ship. Or clamber onto a little coastal freighter, with just a few dozen passengers, to cruise the wild west side of Vancouver Island. A roundup:
Seattle-Vancouver cruises
If you're tight on time or money, or a first-timer wanting to check out cruising, take a one-night cruise between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Such sailings are offered in fall and spring before or after the Alaska cruise season.
Think of a one-night cruise as a floating hotel — or a very pleasant, slow-going way between Seattle and Vancouver. You're only aboard from midafternoon until early the next morning. But you can belly up to the buffet and bars; stroll the deck to enjoy the scenery; watch big-screen movies or other entertainment; or loll in the hot tub and pool.
Seattle-based Holland America offers a Seattle-Vancouver cruise Sept. 24 aboard the 1,916-passenger Westerdam. Get a stateroom with your own private veranda starting at $99 per person, based on double occupancy, including meals (taxes and fees raise the price to about $131 per person). Or sleep for less in an inside stateroom or splurge on a fancier suite (prices can change depending on availability).
Princess Cruises and Holland America Line have one-night cruises between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, this fall. The Star Princess (above) has sailed the route in past years. Into the mist: The MV Uchuck III travels along inlets and

Then, with the horrific killing by Somali pirates of four Americans, two of whom had built their dream yacht and were sailing around the world ["And now on to: Angkor Wat! And Burma!" they had written to friends], the United States Navy,
He recalled an arrival at Bermuda years ago after a stormy, mostly cloudy sailing trip. The sun had been elusive. It was night as the yacht approached the narrow entrance channel and its tumbling sea buoy. The navigator, without global positioning
The water taxi can carry 45 people per sailing and takes 18 to 20 minutes to make the trip, about six minutes faster than the MV Quinsam on its regular route between Descanso Bay and downtown Nanaimo. Marshall added both contingency routes are running
Sailing aboard the MV Britannia, Foot of Denman St. . Aug. 27 . $25, www.SalsaCruises. com " " Terra Venezuelan/Afro-Cuban Jazz quintet. . Silk Purse Arts Centre, 1570 Argyle Ave., West Vancouver . Aug. 27, 7: 30 pm . $18/$20, www.silkpurse.ca " " Ben