Thanks, did that from 3 different airports and it was almost double every time. I thought I had found some better fares but when I clicked on the flight details, they were actually showing into Bellingham and not Vancouver so be careful if you chose Select Nearby Airports.
Thanks I have been. My wittle head is just spinning from all the checking
found some more little tid bits so thought I would post them along with the Seattle vs Vancouver in the first paragraph...
For an Alaskan cruise, would it be better to leave from Seattle or Vancouver? Why?
Both ports have their advantages (and disadvantages). Vancouver has perhaps the most spectacular setting of any city in North America (arguably even more beautiful than San Franciscos location). Seattle is also a beautiful city set against the backdrop of snow-capped Mt. Rainier, but for people flying from American cities, Seattles chief advantage is that you can avoid going through customs at the airport. While Vancouvers airport is beautiful and state-of the-art, the lines at customs can be somewhat long. For anyone flying in from Canada, however, it would probably make more sense to fly in or out of Vancouver for the same reason to avoid American customs at Seattle. Of course, a fairly large number of Alaska cruises travel using one-way north or southbound itineraries, so your trip will most likely include a flight in or out of Anchorage too.
here is some more info that might be helpful...
What are good side trips/land excursions for various ports?
Alaskan cruises usually offer a large variety of side trips/ land excursions. For example, in Ketchikan, a great shore excursion is the float plane trip to Misty Fjords National Monument, which is simply breathtaking. In Juneau, an excellent choice is the helicopter dog sled tour, which gives you an amazing aerial tour of glaciers, followed by a real Alaskan dog sled ride atop one of the glaciers. In Sitka, a really interesting underwater tour on Alaskas only semi-submersible ship is offered by Sealife Discovery Tours. Finally, in Skagway, a trip on the White Pass Railroad into Canadas Yukon Territory is a no-miss, with truly beautiful scenery along a track that dates back to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Of course, these are just some of the available options and a wonderful array of excursions is available in every Alaskan port.
What is the best pre or post cruise tour out of Vancouver?
One of the most popular inland tours from Vancouver is the Canadian Rockies tour, including stops at the amazing Lake Louise and Banff National Park. If any landscape in North America rivals that of Alaska, it is the landscape of the Canadian Rockies. The beautiful color of the lakes there defies description, and the peaks are about the most picturesque of anywhere outside of the Alps.
Where is the best place to view bald eagles in Alaska?
One of the things that you may be surprised is how many bald eagles youll see throughout the entire cruise route. You can literally spot them in most any port. But the very best place to spot large numbers of bald eagles is out of Skagway, on the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve rafting trip. Here you can see the eagles in their pristine natural environment, feeding in the clear river waters, perched in trees, or soaring high above. They are a truly majestic sight you will never forget.
Where is the best place to view bears on other wildlife in Alaska?
Again, bears and other wildlife are amazingly abundant along the Alaska cruise route. You are bound to see a black or brown (grizzly) bear feeding of salmon or other fish in a stream on any of a number of port excursions. The best place to spot Dall sheep is actually along the route between the airport in Anchorage and the port of Seward (or Whittier). Watch for them on the slopes that rise up on the opposite side of the road from the Turnagain Arm inlet. The long, narrow Turnagain Arm is also a great place to spot beluga whales, so look for them as your bus or train heads along the side of this inlet.
I dont have much extra in my budget for shore excursions (and some run over $300 per person!) What are some fun yet inexpensive things to do while in port?
You dont have to spend much at all to have a great time in each port. In Ketchikan, you can visit the stores along Creek Street for free, and you can stop by the Totem Heritage Center, which is about 15 minute walk from the docks. Admission is only $1 as of this writing. In Juneau, for about $10, you can catch a round trip bus trip to the visitor center at the base of the Mendenhall Glacier, where you can hike, view bears, and see the massive glacier up close. Then, in Skagway, stop by any of the many wonderful historical buildings in town, all just minutes from the dock. The Klondike Gold Rush history in this town is fascinating, and there is plenty to see and do on foot in the small but quaint town.
Is it true that not all cruise ships stop in Glacier Bay National Park? I heard that this was one of the most beautiful spots in Alaska and want to see it.
Yes, it is true that the U.S. Park Service has limited large cruise ship traffic in the parks waters to two a day. This has led many cruise lines to seek alternate locations for glacier viewing along the Inside Passage, including Tracy Arm and Misty Fjords National Monument. Princess and Norwegian currently have the most ships allowed to enter the park, so if you really want to see Glacier Bay, then check out the itineraries for these two cruise lines.
My favorite cruise line does not stop in glacier Bay. What is a good alternative destination?
The two most popular alternatives to Glacier Bay National Park are Tracy Arm and Misty Fjords. Both of them are amazingly beautiful and you will not be disappointed if your ship stops in either of those places.
What about icebergs? Arent they dangerous? Will we see any?
Indeed, you will see many, many icebergs in the narrow fjords, as huge chunks of ice break off or calve from the glaciers. However, thanks to modern sonar and excellent piloting skills, the ships navigate safely through these icy waters. The ships go very slowly through the icy sections of the fjords, and it is actually quite safe.
and I live in SanDiego.....for each of us to fly it is $550 and look how close we are. Not just that but it will take us 6 hrs to get there. When on a one way that is like way so much more 2.5 hrs.
T&T Supermarket is a chain of asian grocery stores. In addition to both western and asian grocery items, it has an excellent selection of inexpensive take-out food including dim sum (chinese dumplings), sushi, BBQ (duck, pork, sausage), vietnamese sandwiches, bento boxes... Locals including myself shop here when we don't want to cook. 
I agree about whistler. If you go to my cruise meet there is a link on there for Whistler and all the fun things you can do there and places to stay. 
