Originally Posted by
alphaeagle
My parents are also wanting to take a cruise around the Alaska area. I was thinking about them taking either instead of, or in addition to a normal cruise, one of the ferries around the Aleutians or elsewhere. They aren't meant to be a scenic tour but I thought it would still be pretty neat thing to do. Can anyone comment on taking a ferry, not really for transportation but for the ride itself?
That is a really adventurous thing to do. Just be sure you understand the distances involved. Dutch Harbor is almost 800 miles (as the crow flies; longer by ship, of course) from Southcentral Alaska (as far as Ketchikan--just the other way). It's slow going and a long trip--64 hours from Homer, longer from Seward and Whittier and not including stops and/or layovers--and the seas are rough.
Having said that, it's something I've always wanted to do. If your parents are into that sort of thing, then by all means! Fares aren't cheap, though (cruises can almost be had for less). Summer fares haven't been posted yet, but winter fares are $351 one-way from Homer to Dutch--that's just the fare for a single passenger not including cabin accomodations. I'd imagine summer fares are even steeper. (R/T prices are about the same, I believe, on the airlines, so there appears to be no cheap way to get down there!)
Main ferry site:
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/
Routes:
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/Trav...tes/index.html
Running times:
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/Trav...mes/index.html
Fares:
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/Plan/Fares/index.html