West Coast Escape – San Francisco & Los Angeles
About this cruise
If you want the classic cruise without a massive time commitment, this is a strong option. 6 nights from Vancouver on October 1, 2026, visiting Seattle, Astoria, San Francisco and Los Angeles. You wind up in Los Angeles, so it's worth planning a night or two there. The pace alternates neatly: port day, sea day, port day, sea day. 4 stops with a breather between each one. Rugged coastline, sea fog rolling in, and cities that feel relaxed even when they're busy. Roughly 8 hours per stop. More of a sampler than a deep dive. As for the ship itself, Norwegian Joy takes the food seriously, with 14 restaurants to choose from. 7 are included, and the rest are worth the splurge. If you like having options (restaurants, bars, activities, entertainment), a big ship delivers that. Pro tip: fly in the day before. Vancouver has plenty to offer, and you'll board relaxed instead of rushed. Being shoulder season helps: golden light, comfortable weather, and shorter queues at the popular spots. Hard to ask for much more than that, honestly.