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.
29 April-4 May 2022 on Princess Cruises (Discovery Princess) from Los Angeles (San Pedro) to Vancouver: This 5-Day cruise with Princess Cruises departs from Los Angeles in the afternoon, has a full day at sea, a morning arrival into San Fransisco, another full day at sea, and then arrives in Victoria on the morning of 4 May. The cruise then departs Victoria that evening and arrives in Vancouver on the morning of 4 May. No land excusion will be organized in San Fransisco or Victoria. Cost is $460 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 $460 WINGS charge. Berth prices for this cruise start at only about $369 per person (interior shared cabin) plus tax, gratuity, and port charges based on double occupancy (about $125). Details on booking a berth with Princess Cruises can be found here.
26-30 April 2023 on Princess Cruises (Discovery Princess) from Los Angeles (San Pedro) to Vancouver: This 4-Day cruise with Princess Cruises departs from Los Angeles in the afternoon, has two full days at sea, and then arrives in Victoria on the morning of 29 April. The cruise then departs Victoria that evening and arrives in Vancouver on the morning of 30 April. No land excusion will be organized in Victoria. Cost is $460 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 $460 WINGS charge. Berth prices for this cruise start at only about $338 per person (interior shared cabin) plus tax, gratuity, and port charges based on double occupancy (about $125). Details on booking a berth with Princess Cruises can be found here.
Please note: In 2023 it’s possible to continue with the leader from Vancouver round trip into Southeastern Alaska, with a return to Vancouver. Details on this additional cruise can be found here. Please note that it requires a change of ship and an overnight in Vancouver to make this work.
Updated: 26 October 2021
Prices
- 2022 Tour Price* : $460
- 2023 Tour Price Not Yet Available
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.