Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System (Ketchikan, Haines: to buy, middle school, taxi) - (AK) - City-Data Forum

NOTAM · 12-31-2011, 08:44 AM

was watching Alaska Magazine TV last nite, it featured Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System.
would love to hear yall share experiences about traveling on it...what it was like, places you have visited.
King Cove looked like an interesting stop.

AADAD · 12-31-2011, 08:50 AM

Here is my most recent trip South from Alaska.

//www.city-data.com/forum/alask...cent-trip.html

starlite9 · 12-31-2011, 09:05 AM

Been all over on the system, never have had a bad trip! Met lots of nice folks and saw lots of neat scenery!

Going into Sitka, the Captain was even nice enough to point out the only flock of Pink Famingos in Alaska! The are only on one island!

Metlakatla · 12-31-2011, 09:36 AM

Let's see---one of the last times I road on the ferry, some middle school class was going somewhere and although several teachers accompanied them, the kids were out of control and basically wrecked the trip. What they didn't wreck, their teachers did. This was an early morning trip over to Ketchikan and several of us had to eat our breakfasts standing up because the kids and their teachers refused to vacate their seats after they had eaten. There was plenty of seating available on the other parts of the ferry, but it was against regulations to take food there. The teachers just sat their like vapid lumps while the children ran wild. Complaints were of course made to the personnel on the vessel but because of coast guard regulations, they could not ask the teachers and the kids to move so that other people could have breakfast. I felt really bad for the people who worked there, especially the guy whose job it was to run breakfasts out to the people at tables. Every time he would go by, this one group of children would start shrieking at him for their food. The entire group has absolutely no manners.

Metlakatla · 12-31-2011, 10:28 AM

And then there was the time I was taking the ferry up from Washington to Ketch. and was comfortably settled into a chair reading a good book when I felt a presence hovering over me. I looked up and saw what was clearly an idjit of the first order. He wanted to buy me a cocktail in the ferry bar. I declined, and then he started yelling at me that the only reason he asked was that he "felt sorry for me" because I was sitting there all by myself. Next trip I flew.

bortstc37 · 12-31-2011, 11:14 AM

It's nice enough.
Though after one trip, my wife found some bizarre spot on her jeans that had an awful oceanic stench that wouldn't come out- we tried multiple washings, vinegar, oxi-clean, and so on. We ended up having to through them away. It's as if a whale stealthily shot a stream of urine at us while we were out on the deck. Either that or it came from the showers.

If you can afford it, go with your own room (I got an email from them this past week that they are cheap these days). If not, you can sleep on the floor with the majority of passengers- it's what we always do, but it's not for everyone (and not exactly restful, either). I think we'll go with a room next time.

naturesdreams · 12-31-2011, 12:49 PM

I believe the day will come I will want to visit Juneau again from the mainland and i would love to try the ferry. I would definitly get a room or Are you alowed to stay in your vehicle if you pay the fee to take the car?... just daydreaming now

stiffnecked · 12-31-2011, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturesdreams

I believe the day will come I will want to visit Juneau again from the mainland and i would love to try the ferry. I would definitly get a room or Are you alowed to stay in your vehicle if you pay the fee to take the car?... just daydreaming now

Sleeping in vehicles is prohibited by Coast Guard regulations.

nwcountrygal · 12-31-2011, 01:52 PM

I took it last summer both up and down Prince Rupert to Haines. I totally enjoyed it. Even with all the kids going to a track meet. I got a room. Don't think I would do it without a room. I wish I could have laid over for a couple of days vrs just up and down. Both times I did it hardly any tourists. Just us snow birds and locals- so it was nice. Tony in the bar both ways was a hoot and good stories living his entire life in SE. Tons of whales and I lucked out both times with good weather. Shared a taxi with the dog walkers when needed. I loved the break from the drive. I would like to take it up to Whitter maybe next year. All in all I really enjoyed it!

NOTAM · 12-31-2011, 05:27 PM

theres a bar on the ferry?

Quote:

Originally Posted by nwcountrygal

I took it last summer both up and down Prince Rupert to Haines. I totally enjoyed it. Even with all the kids going to a track meet. I got a room. Don't think I would do it without a room. I wish I could have laid over for a couple of days vrs just up and down. Both times I did it hardly any tourists. Just us snow birds and locals- so it was nice. Tony in the bar both ways was a hoot and good stories living his entire life in SE. Tons of whales and I lucked out both times with good weather. Shared a taxi with the dog walkers when needed. I loved the break from the drive. I would like to take it up to Whitter maybe next year. All in all I really enjoyed it!