Travel from Valdez to Seward
 

Any suggestions on how to do this as directly and painlessly as possible without a car?  We were looking at the ferry, but it seems that the direct service has been discontinued - is there a direct ferry/boat/cruise that we're missing? Many thanks!

how to do this as directly and painlessly as possible without a car?
It won't happen. First, how are you getting to Valdez?

No ferry, no cruise, no boat, no plane between these two destinations.
You cannot rent a car one way in Valdez and return it in Seward or Anchorage. If you are flying in to Valdez then fly back from there to Anchorage.

Better, rent a car in Anchorage, drive to Valdez, take the ferry to Whittier, drive to Seward.

Without a car take the ferry from Valdez to Whittier, from there hire a shuttle to Seward. Without a car in Valdez you won't see Keystone Canyon.