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Package Tours
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Camper & Car Rental
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Cruise Tours
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Custom Tours
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Winter Adventures
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General Information
Ferry travel to and within Alaska is provided by the state ferry system - the Alaska Marine Highway - which serves Bellingham, WA, Prince Rupert, BC, and 28 coastal Alaska communities from Ketchikan to Unalaska. The Inside Passage water route the ferries follow from Bellingham, WA, to Skagway, AK, is also referred to as the Alaska Marine Highway. The Inside Passage (or Alaska Marine Highway) follows the coast of British Columbia and uses the protected waterways between the islands and the mainland of southeastern Alaska. (Inside Passage is also commonly used to refer to Southeast Alaska and its communities.)
Food & Beverage Service
Hot meals, snacks, and beverages are available on all vessels. Some ferries are providing full-service dining areas. Vending machines make a variety of foods and beverages available around the clock. The cafeteria/restaurant menu includes Alaska seafood, hot meals, salads, sandwiches, yogurt, fruit, juices, and snacks. Lounges - serving alcoholic beverages - are available on most vessels. Alcohol may be consumed only in staterooms or cocktail lounges by persons 21 years of age or older. Alcohol may not be consumed in public areas of the ship, including the solarium.
Staterooms
2-Berth and 4-Berth cabins are available on most vessels and are sold as a unit/flat fee. Most cabins provide private bathroom facilities. Room service or daily makeup of cabins is not available. However, trash is collected daily and fresh linens are available upon request. You may bring your own sleeping bag or rent pillows and blankets. Passengers without cabins will find a limited number of recliner chairs and spaces to roll out sleeping pads/bags. Many adventurous travelers put up small tents on the decks. All vessels except the M/V Bartlett provide public showers.
Vehicles, Camper & Motorhomes
Advance reservation highly recommended. Any vehicle that may be driven legally on the highway is acceptable for transport on the vessels. Most vessels on the Southeast system can load vehicles up to 70 feet long with special arrangements. Vehicle fares are determined by the overall length and width of the vehicle. Vehicles from 8-1/2 to 9 feet wide are charged 125 percent of the fare listed for the vehicle length. Vehicles over 9 feet in width are charged 150 percent of the fare listed for vehicle length. On the vehicle deck, a crewmember will direct you to your parking location. Park, set your hand brake, lock your vehicle, take the personal possessions you need and go immediately to the passenger areas. RVs cannot be used as dining or sleeping facilities while on the ferries. Hazardous materials may not be transported on the ferries. The valves on propane or similar type tanks must be turned off and sealed by a ferry system employee. If this has not been done by the time you board, notify the purser when surrendering your ticket for boarding. Portable containers of fuel are permitted but must be stored with vessel personnel while en route. The State of Alaska assumes no responsibility for the loading and unloading of unattended vehicle. Passengers do not have access to the car deck while cruising. Accordingly, RVs may not be used for dining and sleeping on the trip. Electrical hookups for vehicle refrigeration units are not available, and bottled gas containers on the RV must be turned off and sealed by a Marine Highway employee at the time of boarding. Crew-escorted trips to the car deck may be provided during longer voyages. You have access to your vehicle while the vessel is in a port.
Waitlisted and Standby Travel
If the desired stateroom or car space is not available at the time of reservation we may offer to place your request on our waitlist. If a cancellation occurs, you will be notified of confirmation of space, at which time payment will be due. You may also sign up for staterooms on the purser's standby list on board. Once the sailing is underway, the purser assigns available staterooms to those on the standby list. If you arrive at a ferry terminal without confirmed vehicle space, you must sign up on the standby list at the terminal. The chance to get space during high season sailing dates is usually very low. If you intend to travel on stand-by be as early as possible at the ferry terminals.
Entertainment
Wildlife experts from the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are often on board to share information about the marine life, birds, plants, and other wildlife you encounter on your journey. On some vessels serving the Inside Passage route, artists, musicians, storytellers and performers are scheduled to entertain guests during the voyage. Many vessels have a theater area and show scheduled films and documentaries on Alaska and the outdoors. Our gift shops sell magazines, books, and Alaskan souvenirs. In addition, some of the vessels have a small video game arcade, reading and toddler playing areas.
Baggage
Foot passengers may take hand luggage only, with weight up to 100 pounds total. To assist passengers get their hand luggage on board - baggage carts are driven from the terminal to the car deck. Passengers are responsible for the handling and safety of their luggage. Baggage handling is not provided and the State of Alaska is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged baggage. There is no weight limit on general luggage carried in/on the vehicle. Some Coin-operated storage lockers are available aboard most ships for storage of small hand-carried items. Unaccompanied baggage is not allowed on board Alaska Marine Highway vessels. It is considered freight and must be shipped via commercial carrier or U.S. mail.
Pets
Pets are allowed on-board, but there are restrictions. The animal's owner or attendant must possess a current health certificate for the animal (issued within 30 days of travel) in order to transport it through Canada or into Alaska. The transportation of birds is regulated. Contact U.S. and Canadian Customs for requirements. Dogs, cats, and other household pets are charged $25 to/from Bellingham, and $10 to/from Prince Rupert. There is no charge for a certified service animal traveling with a disabled person. Animals not in vehicles must be in suitable containers (not provided by the State), must be cared for by the owner, and must remain on the car deck (except certified service animals). Owners may attend to their pets needs on the car deck only while vessels are in port. Due to U.S. Coast Guard regulations, passengers are not allowed on the car deck while vessels are underway unless accompanied by a Marine Highway employee. Accompanied pet calls are announced approximately three times a day by the purser between Bellingham and Ketchikan.
Motorcycles
All motorcycles must be fully secured on the car deck using the appropriate tie-downs. It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure this is completed properly. Rope may be obtained from car deck personnel for lashing purposes. Motorcycles without sidecars or trailers will be charged at the 5 ft. motorcycle rate. Otherwise, the overall length vehicle rate applies.
Bicycles, Kayaks, and Inflatable
Bicycles, kayaks, and very small boats (under 100 lbs), will be charged at the "Alternate Means of Conveyance" rate. If the boat exceeds 100 pounds, it will be charged at the "Vehicles to 10 feet" rate. Larger boats must be on a trailer and will be charged the appropriate vehicle rate by length.
Check-in
During the summer, reserved vehicles are required to check in at the terminal prior to posted vessel departures as follows:
Bellingham and Prince Rupert: 3 Hours
Skagway, Haines, Juneau, and Ketchikan: 2 Hours
Petersburg 1.5 Hours
Homer, Seward and Kodiak: 2 Hours
Sitka: 1 Hour
Lengthy check-in times are needed so that the vehicles can be arranged in the boarding lanes for safe and efficient loading. Passengers with vehicles who do not arrive on time may find that their reserved space has been given to someone waiting on the standby list. It is suggested that passengers without vehicles check in early. Marine Highways suggests the following: Bellingham two hours prior to departure, and 1 hour before departure at all other ports. Local knowledge has shown that ticketed walk-ons boarding 15 minutes before departure rarely have problems.
Border Crossing
Using the Alaska Ferry System sometimes involves crossing international borders between the U.S. and Canada. Passengers boarding ferries to or from Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada require U.S. or Canadian Customs clearance before entering the country. Passengers traveling north of Skagway will encounter an International borders as will travelers on the Haines Highway. If you have had a DWI (DUI) or other legal problem it may prevent you from entering Canada from the US, we suggest that you obtain permission to enter Canada prior to your arrival. We suggest that you contact the Canada Immigration Service to obtain a Visa to enter Canada in advance of your arrival at the border. You will need to apply for the Visa at the nearest Canadian Consulate Office to your home. The final authority for granting admission into Canada is Canadian Customs. Should you have any questions regarding your status, please contact Canadian Customs in Prince Rupert British Columbia (PST) by calling 250-6273003. The alternatives are probably limited to flying to/from Anchorage or departing to/from Bellingham for access to the Inside Passage If you live in the U.S. and will be traveling through Canada in connection with your ferry trip you will not need a passport or visa. Foreign visitors to the U.S./Canada should be aware of the visa requirements pertaining to your home country. Should you have any doubt, feel free to e-mail us with particulars describing your situation
Note: Individual Ferry Reservation Fee $20.00
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