Northern BC cruises offer dramatic scenery, Aboriginal culture and plentiful wildlife viewing along three iconic waterways: the Inside Passage, the Haida Gwaii area and Khutzeymateen Inlet. Frommer's travel guides named the Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska one of the "Top 10 Iconic Cruise Itineraries in the World" (2010).
Discover the Inside Passage's stunning beauty on a charter boat or via BC Ferries Inside Passage route. At its narrowest, the Inside Passage channel is a mere 0.5km/0.3mi wide, which is perfect for viewing grizzly bears, abandoned fishing canneries and lighthouses along the shoreline.
Northern BC cruises range from multi-day sailing trips with nights spent onboard (accommodations vary from ship to ship) to single day excursions and harbour cruises. Groups are usually under ten guests. Prince Rupert, Port Hardy, Bella Bella and Bella Coola are popular ports of departure for cruise companies.
Inside Passage Cruises
The Inside Passage stretches 507-km/315-mi from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert, and is punctuated with quiet fjords and inlets, secluded bays, lush rainforests and waterfalls.
Bluewater Adventures offers flexible tours that can include stops at an Aboriginal Big House, the Great Bear Rainforest for a chance to see the rare Kermode (Spirit) bears, and at oceanside hot springs. Ocean Adventures Charter Co. can accommodate up to 6 guests, meaning tours are uncrowded. Inspect marine life (onboard naturalists often don a wet suit and bring creatures briefly to the surface) and see aging totem poles, among other excursions.
BC Ferries Inside Passage Route
BC Ferries' 15-hour Inside Passage route (Port Hardy to Prince Rupert) gives passengers a glimpse of one of BC's most spectacularly scenic areas. BC Ferries MV Northern Expedition is one of the largest vessels to travel the narrow Inside Passage channel.
Observe wildlife from the deck, savour west coast cuisine, or peruse hand-carved North Coast Aboriginal jewellery in the gift shop. The Inside Passage ferry features many of the amenities of a cruise ship in a casual environment. BC Ferries also service Haida Gwaii from Prince Rupert. Reservations are recommended for all northern routes.
Inside Passage Tugboat Cruise
Experience the Inside Passage onboard Westwind Tugboat Adventures' heritage tugboat. Scan the waters for breaching humpback whales, set a crab trap, wander the beach digging for clams, or relax by the fireplace with a glass of BC wine.
Cruises near Haida Gwaii
Many cruise companies that travel the Inside Passage also cruise the waters off Haida Gwaii. Tours here aren't just ocean-going: discover Haida culture, first-class museums and heritage centres, and diverse wildlife onshore.
Award-winning cruises navigate Haida Gwaii's waters: Bluewater Adventures' tour was selected by National Geographic Travelermagazine as "One of the World's 50 Best Trips" (2009), and Maple Leaf Adventures' charters were named "Trip of a Lifetime" for ten consecutive years by Frommer's travel guide.
As part of cruising tours, peer into intertidal pools, stretch legs on a naturalist-guided hike, or kayak in estuaries. On trips to stunning Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, see ancient Haida villages, examine crumbling mortuary poles, and soak in rocky, natural hot springs.
Other ways to cruise waters around Haida Gwaii are with Moresby Explorers and Queen Charlotte Adventures. Experience the culture and area first-hand from local guides. Additional operators that run tours here include Ocean Light II Adventures and Ocean Adventures Charter Co.
Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary Cruises
Cruise to Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary and witness bears in their natural habitat; the sanctuary is Canada's only natural, protected area for these animals.
Ocean Light II Adventures and Sunchaser Charters are the only two licensed operators allowed within the park, but visitors can also see grizzlies in their natural habitat, in the Khutzeymateen Inlet, with Bluewater Adventures, and on day trips with Prince Rupert Adventure Tours and Seashore Charters.
Prince Rupert Harbour Cruises
Quick harbour cruises from Prince Rupert pack in plenty of views. Join Prince Rupert Adventure Tours to navigate reversing tidal rapids and observe fishermen unloading the day's catch, or sail these waters as they were hundreds of years ago onboard Seashore Charters' 8m/29ft Aboriginal canoe.
Cruises to Alaska
Many Alaskan-bound cruises leave from Vancouver but travel northern sections of British Columbia's Inside Passage. A few dock in Prince Rupert, BC's most northern cruise terminal, where the Museum of Northern BC and quaint Cow Bay area are two nearby highlights.
Practical Points
- The peak season for cruising is from March to October, but some tours are offered year-round.
- Most multi-day cruises require reservations, while some harbour and day cruises can be booked on the spot. It's best to check in advance.
- Most cruise operators provide all food, beverage, equipment and some outdoor clothing, but remember to bring warm, layered clothing as ship decks can be breezy.
- Seasickness is generally not an issue in sheltered passages but for trips on open waters (like the route to Haida Gwaii), be prepared for some motion.
- Visit local Visitor Centres for help with trip ideas, planning and transportation.
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