Traveled from Skagway, AK to Prince Rupert, BC via the ferry. Absolutely amazing. We camped out in the solarium on the deck.

Just the name gives me a thrill. It sounds like a secret route known only to a few :)

I marked this one “worth doing” because it’s so beautiful there. We went through here on a cruise on our honeymoon many years ago. My most significant memory of the Inside Passage is that this is where a stabilizer went out on our ship during a period of choppy waters. That’s when I learned how great Dramamine is.

I took a small ship [50+ people] cruise around Glacier Bay and we got to see some amazing wildlife in just a few days. Glaciers and whales and starfish and otters and sea lions and puffins and bear and goats and…

Unless the only way you can get to Alaska is to go on a big cruise, I would avoid them at all costs. Those boats dwarf the small towns that they visit, and I don’t know how you can really see anything from eight stories up. The small cruises are more expensive, but the Alaska Marine Highway is a great deal if you’re just looking to get around, and we saw whales up close off the ferry too…

wow what a trip.
i took the ferry and it was amazing. i pitched my tent on deck. yes, you can camp on the actual ferry and they even give you duct tape to secure your tent as it gets quite windy.
that was one of the most amazing adventures ever!!

during my Alaska Cruise. I would like to go back for a more leisurely visit.

Do NOT take a cruise! Take the ferry around instead! It stops in most cities along the inside passage. I do warn you though that unless you want to sleep under the heat lamps out on the back of the boat or pitch your own tent on the back of the boat (and bring LOTS and LOTS of duct tape!!! It is WINDY!!!!) then you best book a room VERY early! We made our June reservations in October of the year before. A man we met on the ferry said he tried to book a room on the ferry we were on in February but it was full. So plan ahead!
Other than that it is very fun and for those that are worried about motion sickness it doesn’t go out onto “open water” with waves too often and when it did while we were on it, it was rather smooth. My mom took dramimine but I relied on one of those pressure point wristbands and was just fine. (But I wouldn’t recommend walking upstairs or downstairs when on open water!)

I don’t think I’m a cranky person but the idea of getting on a boat with 2,000 other tourists being catered by another 2,000 employees and floating multi-stories above the water just isn’t my idea of a vacation. I don’t want to be buffed, fluffed, puffed, or stuffed and the idea of not meeting the locals just closes the door on this travel option for me.

I guess you have to ask the question, “Why do I travel and what do I value from those experiences?” If you ask yourself these same questions, then there is another way to see the real Alaska in a more personal way on the Alaska Marine Highway.

We opted to fly into Juneau ending our travels in Ketchikan with a flight home. Our goals are always to support the local economy whenever possible which means:
#1- eat and drink in family run establishments
#2- charter with small local operators (you won’t believe how many tour companies don’t live in Alaska and have branches across the world.)
#3- Buy products that are made in Alaska. No souvenirs from China until we visit there!
#4- Take care that accommodations are Alaska companies, not world wide chains.

I was horrified to learn that cruise ship operators take what is called a “kick-back” on any shore activity. They also contract with many larger tour operators that serve other cruise locations across the world. This means that the money they make is taken elsewhere while the environment is adversely affected locally.

Your first step in organizing a trip is to research a few guide books and decide which towns you want to visit. Then check the Alaskan Marine Ferry Schedule to link them together. http://www.akferry.org/
The final task is to reserve your accommodations. There are some people who choose to reserve as they go, but you take a chance in summer that the bookings are full.

The advantage of the ferry is that local people travel on it too. We met an archeologist who was in the process of excavating a Stone Age site funded by National Geographic and got to hear about his finds first hand in the dark on deck at 3 a.m. On other boats we met one of the Reindeer Queen’s granddaughters and learned from her first what it means to be a Native in Alaska and a man descended from the Wrangell Island Chief who has retired “from outside” to a life of traditional sustenance living and what it means to live in a community that thrives this way. If you gauge your richest travel moments by the people you meet, this trip was a diamond mine!

We went to Haines, Skagway, Sitka, Wrangall, and Ketchikan, but am sorry that we didn’t visit Glacier Bay.

My “best list” for the inside Passage:
#1) Haines—visit the native Arts center and watch them carve totem poles. There’s a great gift shop for local artists there too. Also don’t miss the Chilkat Dance Troupe. The story-telling by dance was wonderful and the masks are awesome.

2) Skagway—we did the whitepass railroad for the amazing scenery and history, but I’ve heard that the Eagle center raft trip was great at certain times of the year.

3) Juneau—can’t miss the Medenthall glacier or Goldbelt’s tours to Tracy Arm Fjord. If you have time go to the Alaska State Museum if you like Native American culture.

4) Sitka—breeze on by the Bishops house and the church heading to the Sheldon Jackson Museum (the largest collection of priceless Native art that will blow your socks off) and to the totem pole park. In summer, there are artists who sell items from the gift shops in both places. The Tlinget dancers perform at the Native Community House and it was wonderful. Where can I get one of those beautiful ceremonial robes with all the appliqué and beadwork? The Raptor center is a place to get up close and personal with the local big birds.

5) Wrangell—(oh! what a gem little Wrangell is!) The BEST accommodation in Alaska was at Rooney’s Roost. Becky cooks up a full breakfast and I suggest you talk her into making those baked apple pancakes! We enjoyed the Petroglyph beach (go at low tide) and the totem clan house but the BEST tour in all of Alaska was with Eric from Breakaway adventures to LeConte Glacier. The best lunches in Wrangell are from the 4th of July Queen Contestants who sell lunch tickets to raise money for the city. The girl who sells the most raffle and food tickets is the winner! They set up the booths in the downtown area and offer the freshest and best food.

6) Ketchikan—just take a walk around the historic district at Creek Street. The best king Salmon fishing trip was with the boat Fish-N-Sea (Patrick Simmons) and the best lunch was the pizza delivery boat that will come and find you so you don’t have to stop fishing!

A cruise is the only way to go!!1