Ferries to Alaska?
Dec 29th, 2007, 09:17 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ferries to Alaska?
We've lived in Seattle for 2 years and we don't know anything about Alaska yet, but we'd like to go to Alaska this summer. We'd like to go via water, but don't want a big cruise ship. And it would be good to have a car for exploring. A friend suggested that we plan a trip using the state ferry system, hopping from one place to another using the ferries, and take our car along. Does anyone have a reaction to that idea? I like that it would allow us to be flexible as we go. We'll be able to spend 2 weeks doing the trip.
Dec 29th, 2007, 10:09 AM
#2
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,798
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I rode the Alaska Ferry from Bellngham to Haines and I loved it. If I had to do over again I would get off and explore the ports more than I did, but even so I give that trip a huge thumbs up. The scenery was not to be believed and the trip on the ferry itself was a lot of fun.
Dec 29th, 2007, 10:37 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,518
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We used to live in Alaska and rode the ferry to Seattle a number of times. The trip is indeed beautiful.
But getting on and off with your car at all the various ports would be very difficult. You can't really be "flexible" because ferry passage, especially with a car, requires reservations made long in advance. (It is not like the Washington ferries where you wait in line and drive on). Plus, in many of the Alaska ports of call (Petersburg, Ketchikan) there really isn't anywhere to go with your car. Even in Juneau, I think there are only about 30 miles of road.
But you could board the ferry and ride up to Haines with your car, and drive from there up to the Alaska Highway and on into Alaska. You would use up a full week or more of your time just doing the round-trip by ferry with your car. Or you could drive the whole way back.
Or you could take the ferry up without a car, rent one when you get there, and fly back.
But getting on and off with your car at all the various ports would be very difficult. You can't really be "flexible" because ferry passage, especially with a car, requires reservations made long in advance. (It is not like the Washington ferries where you wait in line and drive on). Plus, in many of the Alaska ports of call (Petersburg, Ketchikan) there really isn't anywhere to go with your car. Even in Juneau, I think there are only about 30 miles of road.
But you could board the ferry and ride up to Haines with your car, and drive from there up to the Alaska Highway and on into Alaska. You would use up a full week or more of your time just doing the round-trip by ferry with your car. Or you could drive the whole way back.
Or you could take the ferry up without a car, rent one when you get there, and fly back.
Dec 31st, 2007, 08:57 AM
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We took the ferry from Bellingham WA to Skagway and then drove to the Anchorage area. It's about a 2 day drive. I think we got to Wasilla in the late afternoon. We overnighted in Tok. Since we had a car with us we only departed the ferry a couple of times for a quick look and did not take the car off.
We were very lucky to get both a cabin and car reservations in the spring for a late July trip. We were told that if you want a cabin and have a vehicle you should make reservations in December as soon as they start taking them. Cost will depend on the size of your vehicle. I agree that you would have far more flexibility if you did not bring the car with you. End your ferry trip at a town with an airport. Fly to Anchorage, rent a car for the remainder of your trip and fly home. My air ticket was home to Seattle then Anchorage to home.
I'm glad we did the drive from Skagway to Anchorage but it's a lot of driving with not much in between. The scenery is wonderful but we prefer not to drive so many miles in a day. The scenery between Anchorage and Seward, for example, is fantastic and there is a lot to do on a trip that is only 3 hours if you were driving straight thru. There's a Forest Service person on the ferry that does several lectures in day so the trip can be fascinating but keep in mind travel is a bit spartan with small cabins.
We were very lucky to get both a cabin and car reservations in the spring for a late July trip. We were told that if you want a cabin and have a vehicle you should make reservations in December as soon as they start taking them. Cost will depend on the size of your vehicle. I agree that you would have far more flexibility if you did not bring the car with you. End your ferry trip at a town with an airport. Fly to Anchorage, rent a car for the remainder of your trip and fly home. My air ticket was home to Seattle then Anchorage to home.
I'm glad we did the drive from Skagway to Anchorage but it's a lot of driving with not much in between. The scenery is wonderful but we prefer not to drive so many miles in a day. The scenery between Anchorage and Seward, for example, is fantastic and there is a lot to do on a trip that is only 3 hours if you were driving straight thru. There's a Forest Service person on the ferry that does several lectures in day so the trip can be fascinating but keep in mind travel is a bit spartan with small cabins.
Dec 31st, 2007, 09:32 AM
#5
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello Alice,
You can take a ferry one way to Haines or Skagway and then drive back to Seattle if you are going with your car. Traveling by ferries in Alaska is an expensive option. One should estimate to pay between $1200 and $1400 for a 37-hour transfer between Bellingham, WA and Ketchikan, AK for 2 passengers, cabin and car. Ferry is not a cruise line, it only provides transportation between ports. One problem is, you cannot be as flexible as you think if you want to visit a number of ports, especially if you have only two weeks. If you want to transfer your car you need to book far in advance and be prepared for a last minute changes or cancellations. The ferry to Ketchikan from Bellingham operated twice a week last summer.I heard this summer is going to operate only on Fridays. I do hope this won't be a case. From Juneau to Whittier it traveled only twice a month. The schedule for summer 2008 suppose to be out in the end February with less vessels included because of budget cuts. Many people use ferry regularly and enjoy this mode transportation but you need to know what to expect. There are small cruise ships for visiting Inside Passage.
You can take a ferry one way to Haines or Skagway and then drive back to Seattle if you are going with your car. Traveling by ferries in Alaska is an expensive option. One should estimate to pay between $1200 and $1400 for a 37-hour transfer between Bellingham, WA and Ketchikan, AK for 2 passengers, cabin and car. Ferry is not a cruise line, it only provides transportation between ports. One problem is, you cannot be as flexible as you think if you want to visit a number of ports, especially if you have only two weeks. If you want to transfer your car you need to book far in advance and be prepared for a last minute changes or cancellations. The ferry to Ketchikan from Bellingham operated twice a week last summer.I heard this summer is going to operate only on Fridays. I do hope this won't be a case. From Juneau to Whittier it traveled only twice a month. The schedule for summer 2008 suppose to be out in the end February with less vessels included because of budget cuts. Many people use ferry regularly and enjoy this mode transportation but you need to know what to expect. There are small cruise ships for visiting Inside Passage.
Jan 4th, 2008, 11:48 AM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you very much, all of you, for your comments. Based on this info, we've pretty much decided that the ferry/car thing isn't for us. I think we'll book an Inside Passage cruise on a small ship. Very helpful. Thanks again. Alice
