Q&A: Anyone traveled the Alaska Marine Highway (Ferry) in winter?

Question by Denali Rose: Anyone traveled the Alaska Marine Highway (Ferry) in winter?
I’m hoping to go to Washington this winter from Alaska without flying. I know the summer ferry trips are gorgeous, but are the winter trips worth it? Or is it too dark and cold?

Best answer:

Answer by cyanne2ak
They’re cold as hell!!! But, you get what you pay for, so the more you spend the more comfort you’ll be in on the Ferry. I lived in Alaska for 16 years.

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Destination: Whittier via The Alaska Marine Highway

Recorded July 20, 2000. The video begins in Valdez, Alaska as I board the Alaska Marine Highway vessel, the MV Bartlett. The highlight of my seven hour crossing of Prince William Sound was the appearance of an orca whale. As we sailed into Whittier we saw thousands of seabirds gather in their nesting grounds at the kittiwake rookery just across Passage Canal from Whittier. The video concludes as I drive off the ferry and pass through North Americas longest vehicle tunnel the 2.5-mile Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. The World War II-era train tunnel had just been converted into a unique railroad and vehicle tunnel. From: timvp.com
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Travelling the Inside Passage on the Alaska Marine Highway; south to north or north to south?

Question by Vince: Travelling the Inside Passage on the Alaska Marine Highway; south to north or north to south?
Here’s what’s on our itenerary for August: Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, LeConte Glacier, Juneau, West Glacier Trail above Mendenhall, Tracy Arm, Skagway, Laughton Glacier via White Pass and Yukon Railroad. Thank you.

Best answer:

Answer by Steve
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Latest Alaska Marine Highway News

Sitka museum job suits new curator’s interests
SHANNON HAUGLAND Daily Sitka Sentinel SITKA, Alaska The new curator at the Sitka Historical Society Museum got her first look at Sitka three years ago, when she traveled through the Inside Passage on the ferry. “It was one of the most beautiful places I stopped at,” said Jackie Fernandez, who started work here in early February after a drive across country in her truck and another trip on the …
Read more on Washington Examiner

First Tsunami on Washington coast 1.7 feet at La Push
Vigorous waves similar to any stormy day on the coast were the only sign that a tsunami had arrived in Washington on Friday morning.
Read more on Seattle Times

EDNA J. BURNETT
JAMES “JIM” VIC ROY, JR. Mr. James “Jim” “Vic” Roy, Jr., 49, of Jacksonville, Fla., passed away on Wednesday, February 23, 2011. He was born on March 26, 1961 in Jacksonville, Fla., to James Victor and Mary Christine Roy, Sr. He worked in construction for many years as a form carpenter.
Read more on Clay Today

has anyone traveled the alaska marine highway? Any recommendations, we taking a cruise & visiting coast guard?

Question by Karen W: has anyone traveled the alaska marine highway? Any recommendations, we taking a cruise & visiting coast guard?
Son stationed in Alaska and we want to visit him & end with a cruise, investigating how to get around and the alaska highway(ships) looks like a fun way to extend out cruise. Any recommendations

Best answer:

Answer by littlemissknowitall
Unless you are traveling for the food and entertainment, the Alaska Marine Highway System (also known as the Alaska Ferry) is just as good as a cruise ship, more relaxed, and a lot cheaper. You can book a stateroom for comfortable sleep, bring snacks on board, and eat in the cafeteria. You will see the same scenery that is seen from the cruise ship, but a lot closer. If you want to take day trips (rafting, flightseeing, etc.) once you reach Juneau, Sitka or Ketchikan, you can do that with the same companies that the tour ship operators use. My suggestion would be to fly to wherever your son lives, have a nice visit, then take the ferries to some other towns. You can either do a round-trip boat ride, stopping in a few ports overnight if you want, and end up back in your son’s town, or you can do a one way and fly out of another town. I am guessing that your son is in Southeast Alaska. If so, don’t miss Sitka. If you can arrive there on a day when there are no cruise ships, it’s a bit less crowded, but it’s worth the visit anytime. Especially Sitka National Historical Park (aka Totem Park), the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Old Harbor Books, and the local tribal house. A great town to walk around in.

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Alaska Marine Highway System Trip

Alaska Marine Highway System Trip

The Alaska Marine Highway isn’t your ordinary ferry system. This video explains some of the amenities you’ll find onboard the vessels, from naturalists to heated solariums.

Latest Alaska Marine Highway News

Summer Vacations for Independent Travelers: Discover Alaska, Beyond a Cruise Itinerar
This is a discussion on Summer Vacations for Independent Travelers: Discover Alaska, Beyond a Cruise Itinerar within the Current Cruise & Travel News forums, part of the category; Aol Travel.
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Alaska Rep. Cissna Refuses Pat-Down at Sea-Tac Airport
Cissna refused the pat-down and according to her staff, she was given a choice: take the pat-down or find another way home.
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Q&A: How do I get from the Juneau airport to the alaska marine highway system terminal in juneau without a car?

Question by cavsarge1872: How do I get from the Juneau airport to the alaska marine highway system terminal in juneau without a car?
I am going to skagway for the summer and am trying to figure out how I get from The juneau airport to the alaska marine highway system terminal without a car.
Is there a bus or a shuttle that run between the two?

Best answer:

Answer by Widget Maker
Dogsled.

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Alaska Marine Highway System

Discover an adventure unlike any other when you travel on the ferries of the Alaska Marine Highway. You’ll find outstanding scenery, abundant wildlife, fascinating history and more than 30 ports of call. For more information on Alaska’s state ferries log on to FerryAlaska.com