CRUISE BRIEFS
Six West Coast picks for rookies
More than 25 million travelers worldwide are expected to take a cruise this year, according to Cruise Lines International Assn., and not all of them will be experienced sailors.
First-timers may want to consider a short and inexpensive cruise as an intro. Here are six West Coast sailings good for those who want to master Cruising 101.
Prices below are per person and based on two people sharing a cabin. Also, they don’t include port fees and taxes. $59 to $69
You can take Holland America’s Amsterdam on a May 14 overnight sailing from Vancouver, Canada, to Seattle. It’s a shortie — you’ll be in Washington by 7 a.m. You may want to splurge for a suite, $139 to $299. For more info: www.lat.ms/holland overnight
Princess also follows the same one-night itinerary with rooms starting at $69 and mini-suites for $10 more. The Ruby Princess sails May 5. Info: www.lat.ms/princess overnight Less than $200
Take a four-day cruise aboard the Carnival Imagination from Long Beach with a stop at Santa Catalina on the way to Ensenada, Mexico. Prices start at $184 for a sailing on Nov. 25, 2018. Info: www.lat.ms/carnival baja Less than $300 For a longer bargain cruise, spend three days sailing from Los Angeles to Vancouver aboard the Emerald Princess. The cruise leaves May 10, and prices start at $209. Info: www.lat.ms/ princess3day
You can sail on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas from Seattle to Victoria, British Columbia. It costs $277 for a three-night cruise leaving Sept. 14, 2018. The four-night cruise adds Nanaimo in British Columbia, and costs $303. Info: www.lat.ms/rccl3day