A Cook’s Petrel arcs over the Pacific off Santa Barbara, California Photo: Tony Leukering
When major cruise companies reposition their boats from winter to summer cruising schedules, the cost of these staging cruises are often remarkably reasonable. Recently West Coast birders have used these cruises as a comfortable platform to look for offshore species, including several pterodroma petrels, albatrosses, and storm-petrels. On this cruise we have a reasonable chance of encountering Hawaiian, Murphy’s and Cook’s Petrels among many others.
23 - 28 April 2024 on Holland America (Nieuw Amsterdam) from San Diego to Vancouver: This 5-Day cruise with Holland American Cruises departs from San Diego at 4pm on 23 April. The first stop is one day 2 in Santa Barbara, then two full days at sea, and then arrives in Victoria on the afternoon of 27 April. The cruise then departs Victoria that evening and arrives in Vancouver on the morning of 28 April. No land excursion will be organized in Victoria. Cost for leader’s time on board is $525, plus the cost of your berth which should be booked directly with Holland America at the number below. Non-birders traveling with you are exempt from the $525 WINGS charge. Berth prices for this cruise start at only about $350 per person (interior shared cabin) plus tax, gratuity, and port charges based on double occupancy (about $110). Details on booking a berth with Holland America Cruises can be found here.
Created: 09 March 2023
Prices
- 2023 Tour Price* : $525
- 2024 Tour Price* : $525
Notes
Questions? Tour Manager: Kim Dean. Call 1-866-547-9868 (US or Canada) or (01) 520-320-9868 or click here to email.
The Tour Information tab at the top of this page links to details on booking cabins, deposit and payment dates and other relevant information.
* The WINGS tour price covers the leaders’ guiding and time on board ship.
** The maximum number of birders for these cruises is 10 with one leader and 16 with two leaders.
*** Note that a WINGS deposit or payment is not required of non-birding companions who should not expect to join the daytime birding activities. Non-birding companions must of course book their cruise berth with the cruise line.