
Photo: An Alaska cruise is an affordable option filled with adventure. / Image courtesy of Princess Cruises
Direct and inexpensive flights
Most Inside Passage cruises depart out of — and return — to Seattle or San Francisco. Since Seattle’s a hub for Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines (while San Francisco is a hub for United Airlines), snagging an affordable flight with no more than one stop is easy, no matter where you live in the country. You can also fly nonstop to Vancouver from many U.S. cities; however, these fares tend to be pricier due to international taxes. Also, those who opt for a non-Inside Passage sailing will need to buy two one-way tickets using different cities since it's not a roundtrip itinerary. (In other words, it won’t be cheap.)