Your blog was great and very enticing as I too am not a great cruise ship fan. The ferry is the preferred method of transportation for anyone traveling through Southeast Alaska with a vehicle and can transport large vehicles such as motorhomes. Boarding the MV Matanuska in Prince Rupert. How long have you got to explore the Inside Passage? We work closely with operators all over Alaska to offer you a variety of activities and sights to suit your special interests. Numerous cruise ships ply the waters of the 314-mile (507-km) Inside Passage en route to Alaska. The State of Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System offers year-round ferry service from Bellingham, WA to the Inside Passage communities and Haines, AK, about 800 miles South East of Anchorage and Fairbanks, AK. Inside Passage Wilderness Circle Tour + Okanagan. Coming from Alaska, I don’t realize how strange the loading of cars onto a ferry and not having roads out must seem to people! We went in late August and there were still plenty of cabins available. Hi Anna, And you may not want or need a cabin as you’ll spend most of your time on deck anyway, and some crossings are only a few hours. Especially the Alaskan Inside Passage is probably one of the most popular routes on cruise-loving people’s bucket lists. In southeast Alaska, you’ve got even more options: from Ketchikan, Petersburg, Wrangell, Sitka, Juneau or Skagway, you’ve got decisions to make. Only the size of their … Or you could plan your route and then book it all online via the Alaska Marine Highway website. And many of those who … Thanks, John, I’m not sure Liz or Elizabeth will see your comment but I’ve just published a guide to Inside Passage stops that I’d love to return to. Thank you, Kati!!! cheers, Glad you found this useful. Sunset and ferry seen from Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. Book in advance to avoid lengthy waits as sailings are limited. I love traveling by boat. Updates from our President and CEO Mark Collins, ​Vehicles with U.S. license plates travelling on the Ferries. Our Alaska Ferry Packages focus on the best Alaska has to offer. The large cruise liners do stop at various ports along the Inside Passage. We opted for the latter on our Canadian road trip adventure, and took BC Ferries from Port Hardy, Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert. And maybe places like Gustavus but I’ll need to do a bit more research there. The Alaskan ferries are a fair bit older so you’re not going to be quite as comfy. We didn’t have to drive all the way to the Yukon from Vancouver and back again, and ended up doing a fantastic round trip in Western Canada; We got to relax, slowly plow north and experience the Inside Passage whilst taking our van with us! Embarkation was relatively straightforward. Might be helpful as you plan your travels. Transfer to your hotel. Really enjoyed my time on the ferry, even the old, creaking Matanuska (though our cabin was a bit noisy and sleeping was difficult) but it was such a relaxing way to travel up the coast!! There we switched to the Alaska ferries and travelled all the way to Haines, Alaska. As if a cruise vacation to Alaska isnt amazing enough, you can arrive or depart on an extra special route through glacier lined, wildlife-filled and smooth-sailing waterway of Alaskas Inside Passage. View from the stern of an Alaska Marine Highway Ferry as it sails from Juneau to Skagway along the Lynn Canal of the Inside. They even come armed with sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, tents (! This popular Alaska cruiseship route usually features stops at a handful of Alaska and British Columbia ports and is known for its calm waters, boundless history and spectacular scenery. Two … Would love to hear what you end up doing. Toggle navigation Viking Travel Inc. Our main goal is to go where the cruise ships are not. Free Ferry Information Quote (absolutely no obligation) Please complete the information request form below. there’s also a lot of hiking in the area and bear watching; again check cruise schedules! Still, it’s hardly without its charms: the slick brown harbor seals frolicking up the river, the eagles perched on the eves of historic Creek Street, the many narrow stairways cascading down the mountainside. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. That must have been quite an experience living in Juneau for five months! These communities include Haida Gwaii, Bella Bella, Klemtu, and Bella Coola. Wow! On the Alaskan ferry (Prince Rupert to Haines) we weren’t allowed to go down to our campervan unless the ferry was in port. Your session has expired. But yes, you could certainly take the ferry from Bellingham but it’d be a pretty long passage (like 24 hours?). Do you have a fever and breathing difficulty? Can you drive between ports or is the ferry the only way to reach settlements. We would be interested in knowing what you saw and what you wished you’d seen. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage. If you don’t have a car is it easy to get around in the port cities. It’s bewildering to think that these places cannot be accessed by road from the mainland, and that they rely entirely on sea or air transport with very limited services during winter. Plenty of locals and backpackers do. . by driving to Prince Rupert and taking the Alaskan ferries north. This morning you will have some free time to finish your exploration of Victoria. Yes, you could easily stop in each port city. At the end of the article, I’ve also got some tips to make your Inside Passage experience a little easier. Call Us: 800-327-2571. We went as far as Haines, which is still in southeast Alaska. If you require a wheelchair, request one at the terminal. It doesn’t matter which of the Alaska Marine Highway Mainline vessels you choose. Our priority is the health and safety of our customers and employees, and the company will strictly adhere to provincial and federal guidelines. The 16 hour ferry journey along the Inside Passage from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert starts at the ferry terminal located in Bear Cove. I don’t actually know, I’m just making an educated guess here. , you can organise to get on and off wherever you like, providing the ferry stops there, of course. You can keep a lot of the food in your vehicle and access it when ferry is in port as every time it docks, you can go down to the car deck, rummage around your vehicle, walk your dog or leave the ship for a quick look around the town. Travel with or without a vehicle weekly departures from Washington State or Prince Rupert BC Canada. If you’ve got time and aren’t on a fixed itinerary, you could also just book each leg as you get there. … Well, hop aboard the MV Matanuska, built in 1963 with a major refurb completed in the late 1970s. After it is received, one of our Alaska travel specialists will contact you with your requested information. We ask that you travel with your own wheelchair assistant if required. Yay! In total comfort and style, our Inside Passages cruises will take you to Alaska’s remote capital Juneau, accessible only by sea or … Have never used “puddle jumping” aircrafts, that sounds seriously tiny! It was foggy when we departed from Port Hardy, so we … Hi, just wondered if anyone has done the inside passage by ferry and if so, how was it. BC Ferries must comply with Transport Canada regulations. View more details on Transport Canada’s announcement. We had no trouble with our dairy, meat or bread products but apparently some soft cheeses or fresh milk can be problematic. or to Bella Coola, but either way you’ll be leaving the Inside Passage. Alaska Inside Passage ferry map and (US) ports of call. Confirm you want to clear it and continue with your new booking. Weekends and statutory holidays: 9 am – 5 pm, For more information on travelling with BC Ferries during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Two sailings: One-way ferry between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, and one-way between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert for two adults and one vehicle, Grizzly bear tour in Prince Rupert (mid-May to late July), Whale-watching tour in Prince Rupert (early Aug to mid-Sept), Two sailings: One-way ferry between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, and one-way between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert for two adults and one vehicle, Return ferry between Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, and between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert for two adults and one vehicle, Whale-watching tour in Prince Rupert (early Aug to mid-Sept). Prior to entering a BC Ferries’ terminal, customers need to answer the following questions: If you answer yes to any of questions 1 to 4 and/or no to question 5 above, or refuse to answer any of the questions, BC Ferries will deny you boarding. The ferry docked for long enough for us to have a quick stroll through the town before it got dark. Take advantage of our latest onboard, sailing and vacation package promotions. to make themselves comfortable. Customers should inform themselves of local situations and remain committed to essential travel only. State of Alaska; myAlaska; Departments; State Employees; Statewide Links; ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM 1-800-642-0066 DOT&PF State of Alaska. Looking at heading there this year May 2018. Or you could do the trip in reverse, travelling down from Alaska to Prince Rupert, Port Hardy or even onto Bellingham, US. The route extends from southeastern Alaska in the United States, through western British Columbia in Canada, to northwestern Washington state in the United States. Hoping to get back there one day. BC Ferries has implemented measures in order to ensure that customers with serious medical conditions and a need for time sensitive treatments are able to continue to travel. We didn’t realise that we needed to go through border control outside the ferry terminal since we had a vehicle (the instructions we got upon check-in inside the terminal were extremely confusing to say the least) so we had to deal with a very, very cranky border control lady once we knew where to go. Oh, wonderful!! Visit us at the Vacations Centre, located at 1010 Canada Place in downtown Vancouver. We booked a cabin for both legs of our Inside Passage trip so had to cough up the extra dollars for that. For more information on our current Northern schedules, visit bcferries.com/schedules. As defined by the Public Health Agency of Canada, a mask should fit securely to the head with ties or ear loops, be made of at least two layers of tightly woven material fabric (such as cotton or linen) and be large enough to completely and comfortably cover the nose and mouth without gaping. BC Ferries provides a lifeline to remote and to coastal communities in British Columbia, and will continue to provide vital services, such as delivering medical supplies and groceries to support communities. You would just need to book each leg separately like you said. 2-5 day small ship explorations. The temporary flexibility Transport Canada granted ferry operators that allows passengers to remain in their vehicle on enclosed vehicle decks is being rescinded by the regulator on September 30th, 2020. You can’t drive between the ports, there are literally no roads that connect southeast Alaska. Welcome to Alaska’s Inside Passage. Calm and tranquil sunrise along ocean bay of inside passage … If you decide to leave from Prince Rupert (Canada) for Alaska, you’ll have to go through US border control and clear customs in Prince Rupert so be prepared for that and check in early. If I had figured that out beforehand, we would definitely have extended our ferry trip and hopped around the ports for a week or more. Tent camping aboard the ship provides a unique combination of both camping and cruising as the ferry travels through the Inside Passage. Aw, I’d love to head up that way again, though it’ll still be nice and cold when you’re going!! This is super helpful. The bigger the vehicle the more money you’re going to have to fork out. Privacy policy | Logo by my sister; kangaroo icon from the Noun Project, Sorry, you have Javascript Disabled! Save when you bundle your ferry travel with hand-picked hotels and activities. Up-to-date schedules, online reservations, fares, trip ideas and community information. by taking a flightseeing tour over Kluane National Park in the Yukon! Ok, I didn’t think about this one before we left but travelling like a local was an added bonus. See the famous Inside Passage, Glacier Bay, Denali, Katmai and the Kenai. Alaskas Inside Passage is a water route between the Gulf of Alaska and Puget Sound. Day 4 – Victoria Sightseeing. For more information on all the steps BC Ferries is taking during COVID-19, visit our COVID-19 response page. I’m bummed that we didn’t even get to go off the ferry at Juneau, it looked simply spectacular (though at least I got to enjoyed a ridiculously beautiful sunset over the bay). We estimated … Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and others in southeast Alaska can all be visited for the day but like with any cruise, you’ll be pressed for time, are on a fixed itinerary, and remain among the thronging crowds that swarm every port of call. The MV Matanuska (and fellow travellers) in port at Petersburg, Alaska, Compared to a cruise, taking the ferries is relatively affordable. Approaching Petersburg, Alaska, with the Leconte Glacier in the background. Incredible how bad a job the tourist agencies have done at having information like this out there. 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