Alaska Marine Highway?

“Hi guys!

I'm getting married next year and Kathy and I were trying to figure out what kind of adventure we'd like to have for our honeymoon.

So, this idea crossed my mind - taking the Alaska Marine Highway up and back from Bellingham.

I have zero experience with this, but we're interested in people's experience with this system.

Specific questions: What are the cabins like? How close to the cities/towns does the boat dock? How much in-town time does a passenger have at each of the stops? Reservation tips?

Anyway, this is still in the formative stages. Thanks for your help.”

“Man, don't do it!
Get married, I mean. ;-)”

“Hey, yeah, I'm thinking of taking the ferry up the inside passage this fall. Any experience passed on would be well appreciated!”

“I really wish I could give you this info, because it would mean I had been there. Envious.”

“I haven't done this, but we did look into it as an option for this summer.

I think the best way to do this is to do it in shorter sections. Take the boat to a town, get off the boat, get on the next boat the next day, float for a day, then get off for a day, etc. If you want to stay on the same boat all the way, you will miss a lot and have very little time for onshore excursions. You'd probably be better off taking a cruise. The advantage of the ferry is you create your own schedule - with a day or two in each town so you can take local tours or just soak up the atmosphere. If you stay on the ferry, it's a little like taking a long train or bus ride -- you may see a lot of beautiful country in passing, but you're so sick of travel by the end that you really don't care.”

“I took it about 10 years ago. I don't remember too much about it except boarding in Victoria and off loading in Skagway. We made stops Ketchican and Haines and somewhere else. The stops were just long enough to off load cars and passengers and then off again. I could get off the ship but but didn't have time to really go beyond the dock. As for the cabin, mine was TINY and it was shared with a co-worker. So small that we decided sleep at different times. It was good for transportation but that was about it.

I leave for Alaska again in 10 days. This time it's a pampered cruise on Princess Cruise Lines.”

“I don't plan on getting a cabin (Rockman). I was going to take the bike and a sleeping bag and sleep on deck. I'll be coming back to the lower 48 on a fishing trawler. But I like your idea, Ginny! thanks!”

“Moving To Fairbanks

Some pics of moving to AK on the Marine Highway from Bellingham to Haines and driving Haines to Fairbanks.

It was great, better than Princess Cruise for my taste.”

“If you stay on the ferry, it's a little like taking a long train or bus ride -- you may see a lot of beautiful country in passing, but you're so sick of travel by the end that you really don't care." It's not that bad! I think it was 36 hours to Bellingham to Ketchikan. The funniest thing was the dogs. There were periodic times when you could take the out on a lower deck to do their thing. By the time we approached Ketchikan, I don't think a single dog had take care of business on that cold, hard, steel deck.”

“This gives new meaning to the term "marine highway."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/04/24/russia.alaska.tunnel.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories”

“Sure. Sounds great to me... if They want to pay for it (but I sense someone reaching into my pocket. ;-)    )

That project would make the Big Dig look like a sandcastle.”