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The FerryTraveller Site is Focused On Ferry & Barge Tansportation
www.ferrytravel.com is not about where to stay, what to do, or the tours available in ones destination of choice.
For the most helpful information on that area of travel planning, ones local AAA or BCAA office is better informed, and can be the most insightful.
This site, "The FerryTraveller" was created to help anyone planning to use the ferries operating in Alaska, Washington and in Northern BC to quickly, easily and securely get the transportation information that will get them them into, out of and around Alaska, BC & Washington State, by sea.
While the site provides details on each port stop, that information is included mainly to help 1st time travellers taking a ferry or using a barge, decide which ports may be of interest.
The very best information on the tours, accommodations and things to see throughout Alaska can be found in a detailed book called "The Milepost."
The book covers Alaska ...mile by mile.. gas stations, restaurants, campgrounds, shops, galleries .. in short, everything mile by mile, that a visitor to the State might want to know. It's popularity as a worthwhile "travelling companion" is absolutely justified.
Trouble Continues for the Alaska Ferry System
An aging fleet coupled with a shortage of crew, has seen the Alaska ferry service continue to offer diminishing service & higher fares.
The most recent news for the beleaguered Alaska Marine system is that the MV Columbia, the largest ferry in the Alaska fleet, has again been pulled from service due to mechanical issues.
The MV Columbia historically plies the Inside Passage waters heading north from Bellingham to Skagway and south from Skagway to Bellingham.
Travelling north, the Bellingham ferry makes weekly stops year-round at Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau & Haines before reversing to head back from Skagway to Bellingham.
The MV Kennicott is being readied to replace the MV Columbia - but hundreds of not only holiday travellers & seasonal workers, but military personnel trying to PCS to & from one of the 5 military bases in Alaska, will now be inconvenienced as schedules are changed mid-season and staff try to rebook the already booked Columbia passengers, onto the smaller MV Kennicott.
A shortage of crew has seen the Alaska Marine ferry system cancel routes both across the Gulf (Bellingham to Whittier) and between Prince Rupert & Ketchikan for the whole of 2024.
The result of those cancellations means that to get a vehicle into Alaska travelling through Canada is unavoidable - unless sending a vehicle/s from Seattle by barge & then flying to the desired destination.
(When ferry service from Washington returns, passengers disembarking in Haines Alaska and driving to central Alaska, Denali etc on the ALCan Hwy will dip into Canada for a short time before returning to Alaska).
This means that not only are passports necessary for anyone over 18 yrs, but no one with a DUI, felony or carrying any type of prohibited weapons, can pass through Canada.
The bright side of this dark cloud is that those moving to, or from Alaska, can make use of a weekly vehicle barge between Seattle and Alaska.
Barges provided transportation to Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, Haines & Skagway as well as to Whittier, Anchorage & Fairbanks
Alaskabarge.com Bargealaska.com FerryTravel.com
Rudder Issues Cause Cancellations on the Queen of New Westminster
Several Vancouver - Victoria ferry departures scheduled for the Queen of New Westminster have now been cancelled.
The following sailings have been removed until the mechanical issue is fixed.
Thursday, Feb. 22 the following sailings are cancelled
From Tsawwassen 4:00pm & From Swartz Bay 6:00pm
Friday, Feb. 23 the following sailings are cancelled
From Tsawwassen 12:00pm & 4:00pm : From Swartz Bay 2:00pm & 6:00pm
Sunday, Feb. 25 the following sailings are cancelled
From Tsawwassen 12:00 PM & 4:00pm : From Swartz Bay 2:00 PM & 6:00pm