Smaller-scale sailing through the Northwest and Alaska

There's more to Seattle cruising than heading to Alaska on big ships. Smaller ships sail to and within Alaska, and Pacific Northwest cruises also are offered. Here's a sampling (fares don't include tax and fees):

Big ship, local sights

• For a big-ship experience on a short, local itinerary, Celebrity Cruises offers a half-dozen three- and four-night cruises in late September and early October round-trip from Seattle with stops at Victoria and Nanaimo, B.C. Fares begin at $349 a person: www.celebritycruises.com.

• Holland America offers some short cruises in fall from Vancouver, B.C., to California ports as the ships leave Alaska after the summer season. From Seattle, there's a three-night Northwest cruise Sept. 27 that loops from Seattle to Victoria, B.C.; Astoria, Ore.; and ends in Vancouver, B.C. Or for a very short voyage, there's a one-night cruise in mid-May from Vancouver to Seattle and another in the fall, with fares beginning at around $193 per person. www.hollandamerica.com.

• The 130-foot MV Island Spirit offers six-night summertime cruises around the San Juan Islands and the B.C. coast: www.sanjuanislandcruises.com.

Other small-ship cruise lines include Lindblad Expeditions, www.expeditions.com, with an "Islands and Wildlife of the Northwest" six-night cruise in September.

Short on money and/or time? Clipper Navigation offers day trips on its high-speed passenger ferries or overnight packages with hotel stays from Seattle to Victoria, B.C., and the San Juan Islands: www.clippervacations.com.

Or for a no-frills coastal voyage, take the Alaska ferry (www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/) from Bellingham to Southeast Alaska. Or take B.C. Ferries' (www.bcferries.com) long and scenic day trip from Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert, B.C., then ferry-hop to Southeast Alaska.