Question : Inside Passage

What exactly is the inside passage for Alaskan cruises? And why is it
important, or not important? Can it only be done from Vancouver, or can
it also be done from Seattle?

"Jeff Gersten" wrote in message
...
What exactly is the inside passage for Alaskan cruises? And why
is it
important, or not important? Can it only be done from Vancouver,
or can
it also be done from Seattle?


Jeff, the hallways of a ship can be on the inside or the outside.
In Alaskan waters, waves and storms can be fierce, and an outside
passage(way) can be hideously dangerous. Only the inside passages
are safe during those transits. Poor Mrs. Nonny and I had an
outside passage cabin once during an Alaskan cruise. The poor
thing was on her scooter when a huge wave came crashing down the
passage, sweeping her and the bottle she was carrying for me out
into the Gulf of Alaska.

Fortunately, a pod of killer whales was swimming by and spotted
her. They tossed her about for almost an hour before depositing
her back onto the cruise ship, unharmed. My bottle of booze was
lost, but at least my dear wife was saved. To this very day,
whenever we go to Alaska, killer whales follow us, hoping for a
repeat performance and another bottle of tequila.

My most sincere advice is to tell your travel agent that you want
a cabin with an INSIDE passage and not one with an outside
passage.

--
Nonny

ELOQUIDIOT (n) A highly educated, sophisticated,
and articulate person who has absolutely no clue
concerning what they are talking about.
The person is typically a media commentator or politician.

On Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:06:54 -0500, (Jeff Gersten)
wrote:

What exactly is the inside passage for Alaskan cruises? And why is it
important, or not important? Can it only be done from Vancouver, or can
it also be done from Seattle?

It's when you sail between the coast and the islands off the coast,
rather than in the ocean out past the islands.

It can be done from either port, either northbound or southbound.

The Intracoastal Waterway on the east coast of the US serves a similar
purpose.

The most sickening sea movement I've ever encountered was in the inside
passage, even worse than those 30 foot waves and 100mph winds on the
Atlantic in December (which had more physical movement).

On Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:06:54 -0500, (Jeff
Gersten) wrote:

What exactly is the inside passage for Alaskan cruises? And why is it
important, or not important? Can it only be done from Vancouver, or can
it also be done from Seattle?

AS noted the inside passage is the narrow waterway between Vancouver
and other islands and the mainland coast. one will normally get a one
way ticket on theinside passage as sailing outside the islands is
actually faster and without the "fun" of an occassional knockdown
breeze experienced when the ship comes out from the wind shadow of an
island gets a full on side wind which it can't cmpensate for by
turning as there is no room in the channel for maneuvers. I have seen
a lot of glasses and plates go down in the inside passage. (it is
otherwise a very smooth and scenic trip with land on both sides and
opportunities to see animals occasssionally in the water and on land.
Joseph Coulter
Joseph Coulter Cruises and Vacations
www.josephcoulter.com

"Jeff Gersten" wrote in message
...
What exactly is the inside passage for Alaskan cruises? And why is it
important, or not important? Can it only be done from Vancouver, or can
it also be done from Seattle?


Hi Jeff

The "Inside Passage" referred to in Alaska sailings is that stretch of water
from Vancouver, BC, heading North between the mainland and Vancouver Island.
It is often sailed mostly at night, and is usually more calm water than the
open Pacific.

As a matter of interest, there has been much discussion between the powers
that be regarding changing the name of the entire inland waterway back to
the original native name of "The Salish Sea". This includes the Strait of
Juan de Fuca, the Strait of Georgia and the entire "Inside Passage". I'm
not sure if that is official yet, but it is almost a "done deal".

Most cruises that sail to Alaska out of Vancouver City go up, and back down
the inside passage (being the shortest route to Alaska). Most cruises out
of Seattle take the route up the West coast of Vancouver Island (in the open
Pacific Ocean), again because that is the shortest route (from Seattle to
Alaska).

The open Pacific can, at times, be much rougher than the Inside Passage,
however, in the two times we have sailed outside Vancouver Island, the seas
have been relatively calm. BTW, most cruises out of Seattle make a stop in
Victoria (the Capital city of British Columbia), which is located on the
Southern tip of Vancouver Island (our "Island in the Pacific"). :-)

Tobieon an Island in the Pacific

On 2/16/2010 10:53 PM, Nonny wrote:
Jeff, the hallways of a ship can be on the inside or the outside. In
Alaskan waters, waves and storms can be fierce, and an outside
passage(way) can be hideously dangerous. Only the inside passages are
safe during those transits. Poor Mrs. Nonny and I had an outside passage
cabin once during an Alaskan cruise. The poor thing was on her scooter
when a huge wave came crashing down the passage, sweeping her and the
bottle she was carrying for me out into the Gulf of Alaska.

Fortunately, a pod of killer whales was swimming by and spotted her.
They tossed her about for almost an hour before depositing her back onto
the cruise ship, unharmed. My bottle of booze was lost, but at least my
dear wife was saved. To this very day, whenever we go to Alaska, killer
whales follow us, hoping for a repeat performance and another bottle of
tequila.

My most sincere advice is to tell your travel agent that you want a
cabin with an INSIDE passage and not one with an outside passage.


I MUST meet you and your family some day....

Marsha

"MAS" wrote in message
...
On 2/16/2010 10:53 PM, Nonny wrote:
Jeff, the hallways of a ship can be on the inside or the
outside. In
Alaskan waters, waves and storms can be fierce, and an outside
passage(way) can be hideously dangerous. Only the inside
passages are
safe during those transits. Poor Mrs. Nonny and I had an
outside passage
cabin once during an Alaskan cruise. The poor thing was on her
scooter
when a huge wave came crashing down the passage, sweeping her
and the
bottle she was carrying for me out into the Gulf of Alaska.

Fortunately, a pod of killer whales was swimming by and spotted
her.
They tossed her about for almost an hour before depositing her
back onto
the cruise ship, unharmed. My bottle of booze was lost, but at
least my
dear wife was saved. To this very day, whenever we go to
Alaska, killer
whales follow us, hoping for a repeat performance and another
bottle of
tequila.

My most sincere advice is to tell your travel agent that you
want a
cabin with an INSIDE passage and not one with an outside
passage.


I MUST meet you and your family some day....

Marsha

Marsha, you seem to be a nice, sensible person. Meeting me can
best be described as "disturbing," to normal folk. While Mrs.
Nonny, the kids and the grandkids are best described as just
"memorable." grin

--
Nonny

ELOQUIDIOT (n) A highly educated, sophisticated,
and articulate person who has absolutely no clue
concerning what they are talking about.
The person is typically a media commentator or politician.

"MAS" wrote in message ...
: On 2/16/2010 10:53 PM, Nonny wrote:
: Jeff, the hallways of a ship can be on the inside or the outside. In
: Alaskan waters, waves and storms can be fierce, and an outside
: passage(way) can be hideously dangerous. Only the inside passages are
: safe during those transits. Poor Mrs. Nonny and I had an outside passage
: cabin once during an Alaskan cruise. The poor thing was on her scooter
: when a huge wave came crashing down the passage, sweeping her and the
: bottle she was carrying for me out into the Gulf of Alaska.
:
: Fortunately, a pod of killer whales was swimming by and spotted her.
: They tossed her about for almost an hour before depositing her back onto
: the cruise ship, unharmed. My bottle of booze was lost, but at least my
: dear wife was saved. To this very day, whenever we go to Alaska, killer
: whales follow us, hoping for a repeat performance and another bottle of
: tequila.
:
: My most sincere advice is to tell your travel agent that you want a
: cabin with an INSIDE passage and not one with an outside passage.
:
:
: I MUST meet you and your family some day....
:
: Marsha

Bring your own lifeboat...and a good bottle of tequila!

"*muz*" wrote in message
abs...

"MAS" wrote in message
...
: On 2/16/2010 10:53 PM, Nonny wrote:
: Jeff, the hallways of a ship can be on the inside or the
outside. In
: Alaskan waters, waves and storms can be fierce, and an
outside
: passage(way) can be hideously dangerous. Only the inside
passages are
: safe during those transits. Poor Mrs. Nonny and I had an
outside passage
: cabin once during an Alaskan cruise. The poor thing was on
her scooter
: when a huge wave came crashing down the passage, sweeping
her and the
: bottle she was carrying for me out into the Gulf of Alaska.
:
: Fortunately, a pod of killer whales was swimming by and
spotted her.
: They tossed her about for almost an hour before depositing
her back onto
: the cruise ship, unharmed. My bottle of booze was lost, but
at least my
: dear wife was saved. To this very day, whenever we go to
Alaska, killer
: whales follow us, hoping for a repeat performance and
another bottle of
: tequila.
:
: My most sincere advice is to tell your travel agent that you
want a
: cabin with an INSIDE passage and not one with an outside
passage.
:
:
: I MUST meet you and your family some day....
:
: Marsha

Bring your own lifeboat...and a good bottle of tequila!

Jose Cuervo Gold is preferred.


--
Nonny

ELOQUIDIOT (n) A highly educated, sophisticated,
and articulate person who has absolutely no clue
concerning what they are talking about.
The person is typically a media commentator or politician.

Nonny plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger and said On 2/16/2010 10:53 PM:

"Jeff Gersten" wrote in message
...
What exactly is the inside passage for Alaskan cruises? And why is it
important, or not important? Can it only be done from Vancouver, or can
it also be done from Seattle?


Jeff, the hallways of a ship can be on the inside or the outside. In
Alaskan waters, waves and storms can be fierce, and an outside
passage(way) can be hideously dangerous. Only the inside passages are
safe during those transits. Poor Mrs. Nonny and I had an outside
passage cabin once during an Alaskan cruise. The poor thing was on
her scooter when a huge wave came crashing down the passage, sweeping
her and the bottle she was carrying for me out into the Gulf of Alaska.

Fortunately, a pod of killer whales was swimming by and spotted her.
They tossed her about for almost an hour before depositing her back
onto the cruise ship, unharmed. My bottle of booze was lost, but at
least my dear wife was saved. To this very day, whenever we go to
Alaska, killer whales follow us, hoping for a repeat performance and
another bottle of tequila.

My most sincere advice is to tell your travel agent that you want a
cabin with an INSIDE passage and not one with an outside passage.

Nonny you'll have to do better then that to be more believable. Had the
event happened for real, Mrs. Nonny would have suffered several broken
bones, internal injuries from being tossed about. Additionally, she
probably would have died from hypothermia before the whales ate her.

--
________
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Brian M. Kochera
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