The Alaska Ferry: A Trip of a Lifetime

Wayne and Arvila Corey boarded the Matanuska as it sat at the ferry dock in Bellingham, Washington waiting for its full compliment of passengers and crew on a Friday evening in April. Wayne Corey, retired from a career with the State Patrol, and his wife Arvila were about to realize a long cherished dream: to take a trip up the Inside Passage to Alaska. The big ship is one of the Alaska Marine Highway system’s first three ships to begin service in 1963. It is now part of a fleet of ten ferries. It travels between Bellingham, Washington and Skagway, Alaska stopping at several smaller towns along the way. Towns that cling to the Inside Passage like Haines, Sitka, Wrangell, Petersburg and Ketchikan welcome the ferry travelers with open arms. And some towns operate a tour bus that meets the ferry when it docks and escorts enthusiastic tourists through their community for a nominal fee. Arvila says it was only about a dollar at the time they went.

The ferries, including the Matanuska, are outfitted with inside and outside cabins that accommodate 2,3 or 4 passengers. The inside cabins are cheaper, the outside cabins have a window for viewing and cost a little more. The smaller cabins have bunk beds, but you can have a larger cabin with a set of bunk beds and a regular bed for those less adventurous. The larger cabins are also equipped with a desk and chair for writing postcards or making entries in your journal or diary, a closet and a bathroom. A bar is available for those looking for some refreshment.

Arvila says they particularly enjoyed the cafeteria style eating. You get your choice of 3 or 4 entrees with every meal. There is also an assortment of foods and beverages available in the snack bars and vending machines. The cost of food is extra on the ferry so count on paying for every meal. The cafeteria help are outstanding in accommodating the passengers, helping those with special needs to their tables, carrying their trays and seating them. While you can bring your own food and drink you should be aware no refrigeration is available but microwave ovens are available and free to use. And there are coin operated ice machines.

The Captain and crew of the Matanuska, and the whole ferry system, are friendly, talkative and eager to direct passengers’ attention to the variety of marine and animal wildlife and many natural wonders like the amazing glaciers, as the trip progresses. The lounge area of the ship is ample, supplied with comfortable seating and with full unobstructed viewing in three different directions. A small gift shop on the ship provides passengers with tourist oriented delights including a book called Alaska’s Inside Passage Traveler by Ellen Searby, a former U.S. Forest Service shipboard naturalist. A must have for the curious tourist, a valuable tour guide, it gives a vivid detailed explanation of most landmarks and views of interest the ship passes as well as brief overviews of the small towns where the ferry will dock.. A Forest Service Interpreter is available on many trips, especially the Inside Passage, to explain about the wildlife and natural history of Alaska. On the Matanuska there is a small theater for viewing feature films and documentaries about Alaska and the outdoors. They also have card rooms, small video arcades and reading rooms.

The Alaska Marine Highway System ferries don’t have cruise ship style entertainment per se, but occasionally entertainers can be found performing on the ships especially in the winter months. The ferry terminal may list upcoming performances. Storytellers, native dancers, clowns, etc. strive to entertain the passengers and children in the long hours between ports.

For those wanting to rough it, you can take a sleeping bag and crash at night in the solariums on deck. There are also reclining lounge chairs if you don’t want to rent a cabin but need sleeping accommodations. The ferries all have public restrooms and public showers available, the exception being the Lituya and Fairweather, which are without public showers.

Each of the Alaska ferries is different, and unique in its own way. At least one of the ferries, for instance, has a small hamburger stand and a restaurant style formal dining room as opposed to the Matanuska’s cafeteria. The ferries all travel unique routes to Alaska and the Inside Passage, each stopping at scheduled cities and towns along their route, allowing passengers to get off and explore the varied atmospheres and cultures. Each town has its own history and attractions, with unique shopping in the downtown areas and places to pause and sample the local cuisine. The time in many of the ports can be short however, so be sure to check with the crew before departing the ship, or plan your stay in one or more towns when you make your reservations.

For Wayne and Arvila Corey, one trip was not enough. They made the trip up the Inside Passage and back to the Fairhaven terminal in Bellingham, a round trip of seven delightful days, three separate times in as many years.

For more information, to make reservations, check fares, find the schedules, plan a trip, or a tour, or even to pay online go to www.akmhs.com .

Don’t wait for retirement to take advantage of this fabulous trip. Relocating, casual touring, traveling to visit relatives, work, school, whatever the reason is reason enough to explore the Inside Passage and the remarkable Alaska coast via the Alaska Marine Highway System.