Inside Passage by boat
 

We are two adults interested in seeing BC's famed inside passage in June. Would prefer something other than the usual cruise lines. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

www.bcferries.bc.ca does a summer route of the inside passage. It's the provincial ferry service, so don't expect a pool, casino, or games room, but there is good basic accomodation. Tha Alaska Marine Highway system will also take you through the passage, but I don't think it docks in as many places on the BC coast.

I've done the whole of the Inside by one conveyance or other.<BR><BR>As mentioned BC Ferries does part of the route, from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert and return about 16 hours in total.<BR><BR>Both Port Hardy and Prince Rupert have nothing to recommend to visitors at all-they are literally 'the end of the line on the way to nowhere'.<BR><BR>There are no stops of any kind, the Ferry just steams by the few tiny settlements on the way-there is nothing of note in any case.<BR><BR>At risk of being accused of dissing "BC's famed inside passage"-parts of it are beautiful and parts are just views of rocky islands covered with small twisted trees-hour after hour after hour.<BR><BR>I'd suggest driving to Bella Coola and then taking the Discovery Coast Ferry to Port Hardy and then exploring Vancouver Island.<BR><BR>The DC Ferry covers the most scenic part of the Coast and the drive to Bella Coola passes thru a very unique and scenic part of the province.<BR><BR>www.bcferries.com<BR><BR>www.bcad venture.com<BR><BR>www.vancouverisland.com

Jen & Carl, am still researching but your info is going to really help so thanks a bunch.

I agree with the last person. There is nothing to see in the inside passage in BC and I wasn't over excited about Vancouver Island either. If you really want to see wonderful scenery then you have to go further up into Alaska and then the inside passage becomes wonderful. Try the Marine Highway from Ketchican or better still fly into Anchorage and get the boats down the coast.