These are five reasons why you might want to consider starting your Alaskan cruise from the Bay Area rather than from ports further to the north.

1. The airfare can be much cheaper

Flying into San Francisco can be cheaper than flights into Vancouver, Anchorage, or even Seattle -- especially if you live on the West Coast. In fact, many people in California can save even more by driving and avoiding airfare altogether.

2. You get three more days of cruising

Cruises out of San Francisco are generally ten days long, as opposed to the seven day cruises out of Seattle and Vancouver. There is simply so much to do on a modern cruise ship that you can never fit even a fraction of it into a week-long cruise. The extra three days extends your vacation, allowing you to enjoy even more of the ship's facilities, activities, and entertainment.

3. You can add on some great side trips

There are simply dozens of great side trips to take from San Francisco, ranging from day trips to week-long excursions. You can choose from the towering redwoods, beautiful Napa Valley, picture-perfect Lake Tahoe, the coastline of Big Sur, Monterrey, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks, and the stunning Mendocino coastline - all within several hours of the San Francisco Bay Area. Slightly further afield (within a day's drive) are Los Angeles, San Diego, the Grand Canyon, and the casinos and excitement of Las Vegas. In fact, San Francisco is easily accessible to the greatest variety of attractions of any of the Alaska cruise ports.

4. You can see more of the coastline

When sailing from San Francisco, you get to view far more of the amazing Pacific coastline, starting with the Golden Gate Bridge, the stunning Northern California Coast, and coastal Oregon and Washington.

5. You can explore San Francisco

Of course maybe the best part of taking an Alaskan cruise from San Francisco is that you can visit the city of San Francisco itself. One of the most beautiful cities in North America -- or anywhere -- San Francisco is built on steep hills, allowing you breathtaking views from seemingly every block. The city has wonderful restaurants, hotels, nightlife, museums, and cultural life. If you've never been, you're in for a treat, and if you've visited before, you know just how special this city is. Of course, no trip to San Francisco is complete without a ride on the cable cars and a trip to Ghirardelli's chocolates at Fisherman's wharf. Throw in a tour of Alcatraz and an afternoon in Golden Gate Park, and you're sure to have a fantastic time.