BC/Alaska Ferries?

[MikeJinCO]

We would like to travel up to Prince Rupert then put our truck camper on the ferry and go up to Ketchikan, Sitka and possibly other stops ending in Skagway and then drive back the Cassier all without a definite schedule. Is this type of unscheduled travel on the ferries feasible or are they booked full all the time. Having to wait a few extra days in one spot or changing destinations is a well recognized aspect of our kind of travel. It is called wandering.

[older_fossil]

In 2012 we spent roughly the month of June exploring SE Alaska using the AMHS. Before the trip, I spent a bunch of time on the AMHS website reserving a series of independent, one day, ferry hops between the port towns where we then spent a few days exploring (class C RV towing a Jeep). The legs were booked to allow for easy daylight sailings.

Our itinerary:
Prince Rupert -> Ketchikan (5 nights)
Ketchikan -> Wrangell (7 nights)
Wrangell -> Petersberg (3 nights)
Petersberg -> Juneau (2 nights)
Juneau -> Sitka (fast ferry, 6 nights)
Sitka -> Juneau (fast ferry, 2 nights)
Juneau -> Gustavus (left RV in Juneau, 3 nights at Glacier Bay Lodge)
Gustavus -> Juneau (3 nights)
Juneau -> Haines (7 nights)

[AlaskaShooter]

Try the Wrangle Narrows some time between Petersburg and Wrangle in SE AK. When the large ferries transit the narrows it causes a tidal change due to the large displacement of the vessels hull under the water line. As they travel through the tide goes in to the bays and as the ferry passes the tide goes back out into the main channel. Really cool to observe during a day transit of the Narrows. I've done it several times on the AMHS and a few times on my own personal sailboat.

The channel you spoke of between JNU and Sitka is a fun transit. Especially on one of the AMHS's catamaran fast ferries. Flying through the narrow passage at 35-40 mph is a real blast. When the state first aquired the fast ferries I traveled over to Sitka and back on one just for fun. We left JNU and pooped along at 15 knots or so and I thought. "What's the big deal". Well it turns out they were killing time waiting for the tide to come in so the channel was deep enough for us to transit it. They didn't want to waste fuel just to get to the eastern entrance only to sit and wait for the tide to come in from the Pacific Ocean. We stopped in Sitka and the return ride began. Flying north out of Sitka we dodged into the channel and went flying through heading back to JNU. Once through we were passing the usual 100 plus foot yachts with their helicopters on their helipads and we were soon back approaching Auke Bay north of JNU. The USCG came out to meet us and escort us into the Auke Bay ferry terminal but due to sea conditions we left their vessel in our wake as they could not keep up with us at the speed we were traveling at. Made for a fun day trip on a nice day in S.E. Alaska.

[fanrgs]

The most thrilling ferry ride that we have ever taken is the one from Juneau to Sitka through Peril Strait. For me, watching that 408-ft ferry fishtail around the bends in the very narrow strait (cruise ships are too big to travel there) and passing smaller boats like they are standing still was more exciting than watching the Daytona 500!

And I agree that the AMHS ferry crews are incredibly well-trained, helpful, and just plain nice folks. As AlaskaShooter says, these ferries are old and break down occasionally. In 2000, we had had reservations on the Columbia for six months but it had an electrical fire a week before our reservation. It had to be towed into Juneau and was obviously out of service during our trip. The ferry office gave us an immediate refund for that portion of our trip and even made reservations for us on Alaska Airlines (at our expense), so we could get back to Juneau and continue the rest of our trip. Fortunately, the refund and the airfare evened out, so we didn't lose money on the trade.

But we still love the Alaska ferries and will take them every chance we get.

[EEWally]

We did exactly that in 2014. Left Prince Rupert in mid-May. Then:
--2 nights in Ketchikan
--3 nights on Prince of Wales Island (Got there via Inter-Island ferry.)
--2 more nights in Ketchikan
--4 nights in Sitka (Our favorite place in our 8 weeks in BC/Alaska.)
--1 night in Juneau (Got there from Sitka via the fast ferry. Ferry system was down by one boat so we had to leave earlier than we wanted.)
--Arrived in Haines. (Didn't go to Skagway. Save that for later.)

We played around a lot with the departure date and got civilized departure and arrival times. We needed a room only for the Ketchikan-Sitka leg. The other legs were in the daylight hours.

[CoastieSCPO]

One time in Alaska, we drove to Haines and spent the week of July 4th at the Oceanside CG which is right on the Lynn Canal. It was great! I was interested in the ferry so we drove to the nearby terminal one day and spoke to the the agent on duty. She was so very helpful. I had no prior reservations. She put together a really neat trip for us, a 34 foot class A coach and a saturn toad. One segment to Juneau with a three day stay. The fast ferry to Sitka with four day stay and a overnight trip to Ketchikan with another four day visit. The final leg was a quick trip to prince Rupert, BC.

We had our dog with us and he was required to stay in the coach on the car deck. It was not really a problem and during the overnight trip out of Sitka, when the ferry was stopped at Petersburg and Wrangell we could take the dog off the ship for a walk. I learned a lot about following directions when driving onto and off the ship as well as backing my rv long distances in the car deck. The employees of the AK ferries are great and the four ferries that we took sailing south through the inside passage was high point of our journey to Canada and Alaska.

[PA12DRVR]

AlaskaShooter nailed it.

I think the trip is worthwhile but essentially you have two options: Work with AMHS and get a locked in reserved schedule (and be at the dock in plenty of time for loading) or do the waitlist thing and be flexible. The waitlist approach is OK but doesn't allow too much freedom to do other activities in whichever town you're at.

It's entirely possible to get an itinerary wherein one rolls on at PR, does a change in Juneau, and rolls off in Valdez or Whitter just a relatively few days later...but that means stops of only a few hours (up to 12 max IIRC) at various places. I'd suggest outlining a rough idea of where you want to stop for how many days and working with AMHS to book that itinerary.

As noted above, cabins add $$ to the cost of the trip...but would be more than worth it IMNSHO during a summer trip.

[AlaskaShooter]

Having lived in SE Alaska for 25 years I have had my share of time on the Alaska Marine Hwy System. I would never try this in the summer. However the smaller your vehicle the greater your chance of being able to pull this off but expect delays. Each departure you're required to check in by a specific time at the departure terminal. If you fail to check in by that time you are pulled off the voyage manifest and placed on a wait list and someone ahead of you who is at the terminal above you on the wait list will get your deck space if their vehicle will fit. They do a lot of picking and choosing.

Summer of 2016 we hopped from Skagway to Haines with our full size F-550 and a 31 foot 5th wheel trailer. We had reservations. Vehicles were plucked out of the waiting area (lines by destination) and the deck crews direct them onto the vehicle deck. The final spot was across the bow. The ferries load from the front right of the hull except in Bellingham. The last vehicle was a 45' Class A coach which had to back down the steep loading ramp (tide was out) and when parked was sitting bow door to bow door cross ways but the vessel was full when we departed Skagway.

To disembark we had to back the length of the vessel as we were loaded front in near the stern. The deck crew was very helpful with one crew member standing outside the drivers window directing me on the manuver. With his help I was able to back the length of the ship and then jack knife the trailer to the port side of the vessel then exit out the starbard side up the ramp to the Haines terminal and beyond. That is only a one hour voyage but takes 4-5 hrs by the time you check in on time, wait, vessel is unloaded, you load, travel then are systematically unloaded at the destination port. Vehicles are all loaded depending on their destination port of call.

I have never traveled on the BC inner coastal ferry system so I can't speak to that.

I can report that the Alaska Marine Hwy Ferry crews are very well trained. I have been aboard sailings a hand full of times when rescues were made or a passenger was e-vac'ed off for medical reasons to a higher level of care. They run regular muster drills for the crews as required by the USCG to stay proficient with fire drills, high speed rescue boat (hard bottom inflatable) operations so when duty calls they are ready to answer the call.

Most of the vessels in their fleet are getting OLD. So breakdowns do occur or additional problems are discovered during their major yearly maintenance lay ups which muckers up and delays the ships working their sailing schedules which can be a real pain if you are traveling on any type of time line to or from Alaska.

[MikeJinCO]

I have looked at typical rates and looked at a few places to visit, so if it has been done recently its worth looking at further. Thanks for the replys..

[PghBob]

We traveled the Alaskan Ferry from Haines to Juneau, and Juneau to Bellingham Washington in 2015. We enjoyed this trip very much and it clearly added to our Alaskan experience. How long you may have to wait for a spot to open up on the ferry (without reservations) may depend significantly on the length of your RV and tow vehicle (if any). The cost of the ferry is also dependent on the length of your rig (they will measure at the dock most times), so don't fib on this when asked.

You might also want to decide before you call on whether or not you want a cabin during your trip. Of course, this adds to the expense of the trip.

Best wishes for safe travel and a good time.

[enblethen]

Check out the Alaska Marine Highway

[garyhaupt]

Here is an info link...with schedules.

https://www.ferrytravel.com/princerupert.htm


Gary Haupt

[rv2go]

I did this a few years back with a 3 or 4 day layover at each stop. I talked with a clerk at the reservation center, told him what I wanted to do. I wanted to travel during the day. He called back the next day and gave me a great itinerary.

This might work for you.