Is it necessary to reserve a cabin on the Queen of the North to Prince Rupert. is there comfortable semi reclining seats? How about secure area for luggage that I don't want to pack around? We will be traveling this month.
Also, is there any problem with long term parking near the ferry?
Thanks for your help.

If at all possible reserve a cabin.
While they are tiny units they do allow you to lay down and close your eyes for a bit in privacy something the seats don't.
As well a private toilet is a godsend.
It's a long, long day you'll be catching a shuttle in Port Hardy before 0600 hrs and not seeing your bed that night in Prince Rupert much before midnight.
A cabin also solves the luggage issue.
It's easier to park at your Port Hardy accommodation and catch the shuttle as mentioned-people do this all the time.

I would recommend to do a day trip for the ferry trip on the inside passage. We never booked a cabin.

I recommend to leave luggage in your car. There some luggage boxes to rent(for small luggage on the upper flour of the ferry). You need coins, if you want to store something within the box.

I did the trip from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy in the summer of 2004. It is about a 15 hour trip once the ship leaves the mooring.

We drove to Prince Rupert from Jasper and found the trip to be relatively boring as well. The scenery while pleasant was somewhat the same all the way. Patches of farm land and trees with a few towns.

On the ferry ship itself, we had a cabin that featured double deck bunks. My wife and I managed to fit into the lower bunk and both of us snoozed. I am not quite sure how two tall people were able to do it, but we found a way.

After about the first 5 hours I had explored the whole ferry, watched the fir trees go by, looked at the wake of the ferry, and watched the artist paint.

By then I was ready to do something else, but there was not much I could but ride the ferry. I think this is a euphamistic way of saying I was bored stiff except for eating times.

As I recall there are 3 types of seating. There is general seating in the public areas. There is a segregated area with reclining seats at an extra price. I did not/could not go in bue the seats looked like they would be comfortable. We had the cabin with the folding bunks that gave us the advantages described above.

I think one key question is this: Would I do it again. No.

You said you are travelling this month, I hope it wasn't on the 21st because the ferry hit a rock and sank. B.C. ferries hope to have a new ship running soon but the route is closed for possibly a week. By the way,everyone was rescued from the ship with the help of local 1st nations fishermen.