More cruises than ever from Seattle

Get ready for the big white ships.

Seattle's cruise season begins later this month, and more ships and passengers than ever will set sail on weeklong, round-trip cruises to Alaska.

What began small — with just six Alaska-bound sailings in 1999 and about 3,300 passengers — has mushroomed this year to almost 200 departures and an estimated 370,000 passengers.

Five major lines will base nine ships at Seattle's two downtown cruise-ship docks: Holland America, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess and Royal Caribbean.

The Alaska cruises go from May 5 until late September, but the first big cruise liner to sail into Elliott Bay will be Holland America's Volendam on April 22, en route to Hawaii.

Cruises from Seattle and other United States ports have boomed, due to the ease of driving or flying to such ports and because of security concerns after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Want a taste of the big ships on shorter cruises? Seattle-based Holland America and Celebrity offer shorter spring and fall cruises, including Celebrity's three-night circumnavigation (from Seattle) of Vancouver Island and a Holland America two-night Vancouver, B.C.-to-Seattle cruise with stops in Victoria, B.C., and Astoria, Ore. ( a convoluted but scenic itinerary).

For ship schedules, see the Port of Seattle Web site, www.portseattle.org, (click on Cruise Seattle) or contact a travel agent.