Alaska State Ferry

[BradKajukenbo]

Me and my son are gearing up for a train hop to Seattle. Though I have a distant cousin who lives in Kenai Alaska who wants us to go up for a visit. They own a brewing company there. I was seriously thinking about getting on the Alaska State Ferry.

Would like to hear about anyones experience about the Ferry. They say you can pitch a tent on the deck?

 

[iamwhatiam]

I've ridden it many times. You can pitch a tent on the deck. They also have a covered section outside with heat lamps on the ceiling, where you can sleep on lounge chairs. Still warmer yet, you can sleep inside on one of the benches/floor somewhere.

I haven't ridden it in several years, but used to be they only really search cars loading on to the ferry. If you were a foot passenger, you'd rarely get your bags looked at. Used to bring plenty of weed for the trip and never got hasseled as long as you were discreet about it.

Bring your own alcohol and food if possible. It's expensive on board.

Also, bring stuff to keep you entertained. Instrument, book, whatever. It can get boring after a couple days. They do (or used to anyways) show a movie here and there in the little theatre on board.

Hope you have super warm clothing, rain gear, and boots for this trip! Lol

 

[BradKajukenbo]

I'm probably going to wait and go to Kenai in the Spring. I mean Seattle is cold enough in the winter but I've camped on the Camano Island in the winter. I'm thinking Spring would be better when I decide to go to Kenai

 

[BobDole]

Sorry for the necropost, but this thread has me curious. Are there cheaper ways of using the ferry or a ferry aside from paying for the main one? Cuz that's $466 one way from Bellingham to Juneau. Cheaper to fly round trip from GEG to FAI via Alaska Airlines than that.

 

[TheDesertMouse]

Not really. If you can get into canada you can hitchhike to prince George and get on a Ketchikan/Juneau bound ferry there. I believe its around 200$? But you gotta factor in the money you’ll spend getting to the terminal.

Honestly if you wanted to go to the SE on the cheap I would go to the fisherman's terminal in seattle or bellingham in the spring. Talk to seiners and tenders going north for salmon and see if you can hitch a ride. Big bonus if you have any experience driving boats like that (its not hard) because that journey takes 4-5 days, and their not allowed to dock in Canadian waters except in an emergency. So the crew will take turns driving so the boat can move 24/7. Another person who can drive is less boring ass wheel watches for everyone. Besides that offering to work for passage is always cool, and thats one maritime community where you can still actually do that.