A Cook’s Petrel arcs over the Pacific off Santa Barbara, California Photo: Tony Leukering
Recently West Coast birders have used these cruises as a comfortable platform to look for offshore species, including petrels, storm-petrels, and albatrosses. Our Spring cruises are during peak season for Murphy’s, Hawaiian and Cook’s Petrels, and have had success as well with Laysan Albatross. Our Fall cruises have increased chances for Buller’s, Flesh-footed and Short-tailed Shearwaters, Laysan Albatross, and South Polar Skua, plus the potential for mega-rarities like Short-tailed Albatross, Streaked Shearwater or Mottled Petrel.
22 –26 Oct 2024 on Holland America (Koningsdam) from Vancouver to San Diego: This 4-Day cruise with Holland American Cruises departs from Vancouver at 3pm on 22 October. We’ll enjoy two days at sea, with a stop in Avalon on the 25th. Then we’ll arrive in San Diego on the morning of the 26th. No land excursions will be organized. WINGS price (guiding while on ship) 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 WINGS charge. Berth prices for this cruise start at only about $219 per person (interior shared cabin) plus tax, gratuity, and port charges based on double occupancy (about $136). Details on booking a berth with Holland America Cruises can be found here.
26 Apr–2 May 2025 on Holland America (Eurodam) from San Diego to Vancouver: This 6-Day cruise with Holland American Cruises departs from San Diego at 4pm on 26 April. The first stop is on day 2 in Avalon, then one full day at sea, and then arrives in San Francisco on the afternoon of 29 April. The cruise then departs San Francisco that evening and followed by two full days at sea. The cruise arrives in Vancouver on the morning of 2 May. No land excursions will be organized. WINGS price (guiding while on ship) is $XXX, 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 WINGS charge. Berth prices for this cruise start at only about $609 per person (interior shared cabin) plus tax, gratuity, and port charges based on double occupancy (about $215). Details on booking a berth with Holland America Cruises can be found here.
3-7 May 2025 on Holland America (Zaandam) from San Diego to Vancouver: This 4-Day cruise with Holland American Cruises departs from San Diego in the afternoon. The first stop is on day 2 in Avalon, then two full days at sea. The cruise arrives in Vancouver on the morning of 7 May. WINGS price (guiding while on ship) is $XXX 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 WINGS charge. Berth prices for this cruise start at only about $259 per person (interior shared cabin) plus tax, gratuity, and port charges based on double occupancy (about $140 per person). Details on booking a berth with Holland America Cruises can be found here.
11–15 October 2025 on Princess Cruises (Sapphire Princess) from Vancouver to Los Angeles (San Pedro): This 4-Day cruise with Princess Cruises departs from Vancouver in the afternoon, has three full days at sea and arrives in Los Angeles on the morning of 15 October. WINGS price (guiding while on ship) is $XXX plus the cost of your berth which should be booked directly with Princess at the number below. Non-birders traveling with you are exempt from the WINGS charge. Berth prices for this cruise start at only about $347 per person (interior shared cabin) plus tax, gratuity, and port charges based on double occupancy (about $130 per person). Details on booking a berth with Princess Cruises can be found here.
Updated: 09 April 2024
Prices
- October 2024 Tour Price : $525
- April 2025 Tour Price (Holland) Not Yet Published
- May 2025 Tour Price (Holland) Not Yet Published
- October 2025 Tour Price (Princess) Not Yet Published
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 8 with one leader and 12 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.