My 3-star is strictly for the on-board food, because this is Yelp. I should say that the ferry was on-time, well-maintained, and overall a wonderful local Alaskan experience and great way to see some of the inside passage. That said, both the snack bar and dining room had decidedly underwhelming food. At the snack bar, while the grilled cheese had above-average bread and perfectly average American cheese, the clam chowder was pretty sloppy (albeit very Alaskan). At the dining room, the halibut was overseasoned and overcooked, with a dry texture and lacking flavor--hardly a good way to showcase Alaska's signature fish. To their credit, though, the accompanying green beans were fresh. read more

Everyone working on the ferry (MV Columbia) was so friendly & accommodating. The route was gorgeous! Food was fairly priced, but expect a wait they're the only option so they're busy. I noticed some people get upset over the wait time, but I just enjoyed my view & appreciated my surrounding while waiting. I would not hesitate to ride again next time I come to Sitka from WA. read more

Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System - Ferries Near Me - Juneau, Alaska

Just cruised with my sister from Juneau 3-days to Bellingham Washington. The cabin with 2 bunks was perfect. We had a sink in our cabin & large bathroom with showers just across the hall. Food was surprisingly good for the middle of the sea - had the clam chowder daily. The onboard chefs turn out 3 hot meals a day. Big breakfasts, burgers and salads and fish for lunch and a dinner menu that changed daily. After Juneau sticker price shock we couldn't believe coffee was $1.59! The pies are good too. The ferry is clean and there was always a chair available on deck to whale watch. We plan to do it next year and ferry both ways, the time went too fast!! read more

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I took the Alaska Marine Highway System Ferry from Skagway to Juneau, Alaska. The trip was 6 hours long. And...we did make a brief 45 minute stop in Haines, AK to drop off passengers and then load some more onto the boat, being the M?V LeConte ship vessel. I paid $217 for the first leg of my trip to Juneau. But, in fact, I paid $275 for my return voyage back to Skagway. So...prices do fluctuate. Also, excursions aren't scheduled every day. Sometimes a ferry may not do a specific route for a few days at a time. I booked my ticket on the Alaska Marine Highway website, which was easy and accommodative to use. And...lol, I almost forgot to mention...I had my car with me. That's why it was so expensive...over $500 roundtrip. Had it been just myself without my car, the fare would have been reduced by almost 2/3's! One note...if you want to visit Juneau, Alaska...there are no roads to lead here. It's either taking a ferry or flying. The 2 towns, Skagway and Juneau, are located within the Inside Passage section of Alaska, basically in the southeast inlet of the state. The ferry ride was enjoyable. I rode it back in the middle of August, 2022 and the weather was perfect outside. It was so nice...passengers were sitting in lounge chairs on the Solarum Deck and tanning! This LeConte vessel had pretty much everything. There's an upper and lower deck to observe and appreciate the surroundings while capturing fresh air. Included on the boat was a cafeteria, a movie lounge with comfortable seats, and plenty of room and space to sit down and relax. Plus, along a decent portion of the trip, I actually had cell phone reception. It was just in the remote, middle portion of the journey where there was no signal. I'd say for the most part of the 6 hour voyage, the time went by quickly. Although it's not like taking a luxurious cruise or a sightseeing boat tour, it still had a casualness and laidback atmosphere for the passengers. I departed from Skagway around 2:15pm and arrived in Juneau about 9:30pm and that included the stopover in Haines. Btw...I was able to check-in for my departure 2 hours ahead of time at 12:15pm. Overall, I liked my time on this Alaska Marine Ferry. It gave me an opportunity to explore around not just Juneau...but then gave me access to a flight out to Gustavus and Glacier Bay National Park, which had been on my To-Do List for quite some time. read more

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A couple tour and guidebooks I read in preparation for my Alaska trip referred to the Alaska Marine Highway as the "poor man's cruise." I mean, call it what you want - it's incredible! Truly, it's like what the majority of the population would consider a highway but it's on water, thus requiring a ferry... Anyway, I decided to opt for the ferry from Juneau to Gustavus, the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park as my Dad and I had been on something like 6-8 planes during our 5-week Alaska trip visiting all eight of the National Parks in Alaska. For $110 each (roundtrip) we were able to take the ferry to Gustavus via the MV Leconte and then a taxi to Glacier Bay National Park and eventually the ferry back to Juneau. The ferry rides were about four hours in length and super smoothy, incredibly scenic, and really relaxing. We were able to snag a table/booth on both trips to/from Juneau which allowed us the ability to spread out and also catch some zzz's. The MV Leconte is really nice. There is an area where they show movies, a dining area with a cafeteria of sorts (galley?), and my favorite part was the solarium on the top deck. If you take a longer trip, you can actually set up a tent on the solarium which is really awesome. We just took advantage of the lounge chairs and got some fresh air while taking in the incredible views. I would absolutely recommend taking the ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway. While some people did ferry their cars, etc., we were just two passengers without a vehicle. Sure, we could've flown to Gustavus but I'm so glad we opted for the ferry. I hope to return to Alaska someday for many reasons, one of which is to use the ferry system for a longer trip! read more

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People in the lower 48 don't understand the importance of the ferry. Took the Columbia (the nicer ship that occasionally breaks down)like from Juneau to Bellingham. We got a 4 berth room with a window. Small, but all the essentials. It's nice that they have movies, but some of the schedule is repeated over several days. We were running a little behind schedule, so we couldn't stop at Wrangell and Petersburg (which may pose a problem for the 4 legged ones). The dining hall was more like a sit down restaurant, with waiters and table service (you can't top them as they are employees of the state). Reindeer sausage hash, bacon cheeseburgers, pizza, biscuits and gravy, French toast. One issue with this was that the last two days, a buffet was provided for lunch and dinner (we were told that we could only order certain things off the regular menu, while another table got full access to the menu but we still got our reindeer dogs). Service was a little slow most nights, but staff was friendly otherwise. One recommendation for AMHS is to provide WiFi for purchase (not that we millennials are attached to our phones or anything). read more

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Literally imagine this form of transportation as a highway for Alaskans. As soon as you stroll on the boat you'll realize a majority of the riders are locals. Beyond that, about 25-30% of the riders sleep on the floor. You can tell this isn't there first rendezvous. I purchased our tickets online- very easy and straightforward process. Note that the pick up location in Juneau is 11 miles from town and will cost you around $30 by taxi. - we were fortunate to have several whale sightings during our four hour trip from Juneau to Sitka -the cost? $57 for a one way ticket read more

Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System - Several whale sightings during our four hour trip from Juneau to Sitka - Ferries Near Me - Juneau, Alaska

A truly unique experience, and one you should consider doing once in your life... WHO SHOULD GO: Adventurers, open minded people, nature lovers. WHO SHOULDN'T GO: Anyone who expects a 'cruise ship' experience; the easily bored. THE ROSES: Our ship, the M/V 'Columbia', was well-maintained and solid. In spite of being 45 years old (!), I was impressed with how well the ship ran. Crew is very pleasant. It is clear that the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System is a good employer. Cabins, while spartan, are very clean and comfortable. We sailed from Bellingham to Juneau, and the scenery was amazing! THE THORNS: Rather expensive for what you're getting. The total bill for two people sharing a cabin was about $1300, and you still had to buy your own meals. Compared to cruise ships, this is not an especially good value. That said, cruise ships do not cruise in the inside passages either, so you miss out on a lot if you go that route. The Columbia has two dining options: a very forgettable coffee shop, and a formal dining room which is 'hit-and-miss' (sadly, more miss than hit). That said, the biscuits and gravy at breakfast and the Scallops Mornay at dinner are must-try options! TOP TIP (to AMHFS): at $400+ for a cabin for 3 nights, do you think it would bust your budget to leave some travel-sized shampoos? A niggardly little bar of soap alone just doesn't cut it when one is trying to attend to one's morning ablutions. Even the cheapest-ass motel will give you frikken' shampoo! THE VERDICT: Definitely not for everyone, but there is a market out there for this kind of experience. Highly recommend, if you're one of those people. read more

Well very smooth check in and parked car and waited for boarding. Crew was very professional. My review is about the cafeteria. When u have that many passengers on board why have breakfast times them close then lunch times then close then dinner times? The only things to purchase in between is apples oranges and cereal. REALLY? That many people on ferry and you close? Very limited between the hot foods...make your customer service scores go up people. Having food available the entire trip is the best for good customer service. read more

Ive taken the ferry a few times but this is something else! Our ferry ride from Juneau to Skagway, I honestly don't remember much of it. I literally knocked out after our long day of flying from SFO to SEA then SEA to JNU. Protip - get a booth so you can fall asleep comfortably. I saw lots of people doing it. Thankfully I can fall asleep almost anywhere. We had a 7hr ride an thanks to my uncanny super power of being able to fall asleep it felt more like an hour. Unfortunately I woke up for our stop at Haines which was actually I whole lot longer that I would have expected. The ride was smooth and the views were breathtaking. Lots of people on the railings taking pictures and taking the sights in. I wish we got to see some wildlife but that most exciting it got was something floating in the water. We also took the ferry on the way back but this one was an over nighter and we had a cabin to sleep in. There were of course people doing what I had mentioned earlier, sleeping in booths, some people were straight up unpacked their gear on the floor and camped out. I think tents were allowed in some places but I didn't see any of that. Again I knocked out for most of it but this time in the comforts of the top bunk in our bunked bed room. The room was tiny but it had a sink, a bathroom, shower and the the bunked beds and a small space to store and hang your stuff. I guess that more for the people who are taking the longer trip. Before I knew it, somebody was knocking on our door reminding us that were almost at our stop. read more

WOW, this is by far the best way to get either up to Alaska or go from place to place in Alaska. I payed for the lowest ticket price and slept outside, at first i thought this would be a bad thing, but it was quite a ride! everyone gets together and it ends up being a little community out there! it was great! The scenic beauty of the inland passage is something that you cant find anywhere else on earth. You can go for days and days and its just wilderness on both sides of the boat, there are wales, eagles, dolphins, etc... it is really something you should try and do some time in your life. read more

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As part of last summers travels I took the ferry from Whittier to Juneau. As we were preparing to drive onto the ferry the van in front of me backed into my car. The driver was following directions of the crew, to back up, but there was not enough room. Loading was stopped, the Chief Officer spoke to everyone and review the situation, accepted responsibility for the shore teams poor directions, accepted responsibility for the minor damage, provided me the claim process details in writing. As you likely can tell, the State of Alaska denied the claim completely. So travel at your own risk. Regardless of the instructions don't park too close to the car in front of you. Don't assume the crew is providing any safe or useful instructions, check it yourself. read more

Fabulous! Fantastic! Loved it! This is a marvelous way to get from one place to another traveling along the Inside Passage. It's not a cruise ship but we thought it better. To begin with you don't have to share space with thousands of people. We thought the staff was excellent. We also loved the food. The fresh salmon was amazing. Breakfast was excellent. Our room was super. I think you get the point. We loved the experience traveling from Juneau to Skagway and then again from Haines to Ketchikan. We're looking forward to our next adventure. read more

We did a round-trip on April 20, 2023 on the LeConte (the name of our boat) ferry from Juneau to Gustavus and back. This is a day-long trip with a short stop in Gustavus - just long enough to take a short walk along the water. We did this as a sightseeing trip and absolutely loved it. We got lucky with the weather - it was a beautiful sunny day. There are no narrow fjords on this route; instead, you see wide open water, white mountain tops, and small islands. There is a very short stop in Hoonah, which is a cute little spot. Gustavus is amazing - this is a place we definitely want to return to. The crew was friendly and helpful. Since we were traveling before the start of the tourist season, the boat was not full and we could wonder around and sit in different places. The outside deck was really cool: it has a covered section with heaters mounted overhead. The deck has plastic chairs and chaise lounges (yup) that you can move around as you wish. The food service deserves a special mention. When we were buying tickets, the man in the ticket booth told us the food is good and reasonably priced in his opinion. We totally agree. In fact, we thought the food was great! 3 meals are served with short breaks in between: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is a pretty big dining area with big windows. We had the breakfast and dinner, and enjoyed both. The omelet in the morning was excellent - cooked to order! There are two chefs taking turns. We had a chance to chat with both - good people. Beautiful views, friendly crew, nice meals - very relaxing and enjoyable. One point on Gustavus - if you decide to get off and take a walk, do let the crew know and listen to the horn to know when to go (or run :-) back. read more

Simply put, if you are in Alaska for some sort of vacation, you should take the Alaska Marine Highway at some point. Whether it's the long haul up from Bellingham, Washington (the AMHS' southern-most terminal) or a short jump from Juneau to Skagway or Haines, it is a way to experience part the beauty of the largest state in the Union. If you book well in advance you will secure yourself a cabin, which will be clean and all to yourself. If you do not manage to get a cabin on an overnight journey, you will be able to pitch a tent, grab a deckchair in the heated solarium or crash in one of the lounges. Food exists, but is really not fantastic. Stock up on things you really like if you're in for a multi-day voyage. If you don't have a cabin, bring quarters so you can stuff things in a locker. Step outside onto the deck frequently, as the scenery will consistently be amazing. If you're there during summer go out during sunset, which lasts for hours. The crew on my voyages were friendly. The Purser was always willing to talk with passengers about weather, scheduling and any problems that had arisen. After traveling on the Kennicott across the Gulf of Alaska to Whittier I headed back to Juneau on the same vessel and the crew recognized me and asked what I'd been up to. In six weeks of travel on trains and in hotels no one was as welcoming as the AMHS. read more

Don't expect anything like a cruise ship... But, if you go on board expecting a typical ferry - you will be pleasantly surprised!!! Lots of room to move around, great food and even park rangers on board!! read more

Review for the Juneau terminal: Clean, updated remodel looks nice. Love the fish tank by the door, it's soothing. There is an ATM, vending machine with drinks & food. Also have courtesy phone for hotels & taxis. Most of the time there is taxis waiting when the boat comes in. read more

Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System - Love the fish tank on the left! - Ferries Near Me - Juneau, Alaska

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We took the ferry from Bellingham, WA to Juneau, AK this past week on the M/V Kennicott. It was a three day trip through the Inside Passage with one stop for about three hours in Ketchikan. We had four people in our party so we splurged and got the four berth cabin. The room was surprisingly spacious with a stand up shower and sink. Plenty of storage places for our luggage and not too bad for four people. The bunk style beds were comfortable and cozy and we all slept great. The scenery on the way up was incredible. We saw seals, sea lions, otters, dolphins and humpback whales as well as some incredible forested land along the way! It was truly an incredible experience. As far as cell phone service, I was surprised at how much service we had. We left Saturday evening at 6pm and we had cell service all evening on Saturday and almost all day on Sunday although it was through Canadian cell providers. Since we have AT&T it was no problem and we weren't charged any roaming fees. After leaving Ketchikan on Monday morning we had no cell service until we arrived at Juneau on Tuesday morning. The staff on board were all extremely nice and helpful. The sailing was calm for the most part except for a few stretches where we were in the open sea and not protected from ocean swells in the inside passage. None of us got sick, so that was nice. We brought some food with us but we did eat on the ship a few times. The food was decent overall but I did have some of the best halibut I've ever had one night on the ship. Overall, we had a great time and we would definitely do it again, however we weren't transporting any vehicles and we did have a stateroom. My wife was able to check out one of the two berth cabins and she said it was tiny. The other thing to consider is that since there are bunk beds, someone is going to have to climb into the top bunk on a ladder. Something to consider if you have mobility issues. They do have places on the ship to set up tents and someone on board set up a hammock to sleep in on the voyage. Another thing that was interesting is that in Alaska along the coast, you get immediate "street cred" when locals find out you took the ferry to their town. They immediately ask you what ship you were on and many start telling stories of all their childhood memories taking the ferry along the coast. This is their "highway" and although most locals seemed to have disdain for all the cruise ship passengers, they really open up when they find out you took the ferry to town. Something I would have never considered unless I experienced it myself. read more

Have been on the ferry for over 2 days now, from Bellingham WA to Haines AK and I most say it has been pretty amazing to be able to take this adventure with my family!! We are staying in a cabin so makes it very comfortable to sleep and to just hang out on down time, the food isn't bad and prices for the good isn't bad either, for been on a boat and been the only option that is... The amount of food you get is huge! If u have little ones you can def share a plate .. The first day we spent almost $90 for three meals but learned after that no need to buy that must food lol we also bought drinks and snacks on the boat so that was nice to have our own options as well.. All the staff has been so nice and friendly!! They had movies Playing everyday in the theatre, some kid movies, nature movies and some more adult action ones. They also have a nice small gift ship you should stop in and get some post cards to send to family :) . And some vending machines that are prices better then any I have seen.... $1 sodas and &1 candy machine .. I would def take that the ferry again!!! Has been an amazing experience :) read more

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An update -- when I submitted customer comments to the ferry system via email, I received back from them a canned response explaining why they had to switch out the fast ferry for the slow ferry. The rest of my comments on customer service were not addressed. I get the feeling that the ferry system is much like the U.S. Post Office -- they kinda sorta suck and they just don't care. read more

Great way to see the inside passage. Ticket prices are great considering the alternatives. Took the ferry from Juneau to Haines.

Best and beautiful way to see the scenery! Cabins and ship were clean and organized. Food was fine and staff was friendly and informative. Four stars only because elevator was broken in ship and boarding line was slower than it should have been. We were walk-On passsengers and arrived an hour early. Luckily it was good weather, otherwise you stand in the elements for an hour. Otherwise, a lovely way to travel. read more

The ferry personnel do not care about your dogs. They only do car deck checks ( which is what they call checking on your pets) when ever they want and do not keep a schedule. They charge you for everything and the staterooms are lacking in comfort or amenities. We paid $5000 to take our RV and family on the ferry and I would never do it again. You could have a really nice cruise or vacation for that price. I would not recommend this ferry trip to anyone. We went from Bellingham, WA to Haines, AK. read more

You can not count on the ferry to leave on time. They are frequently late and cancelled. If you ferry is late, sometimes as much as 3 days, they WILL NOT reimburse you for lodging or cancelled flights if you miss your connections. read more

Don't waste your time & money. We booked an outside cabin 3 months ago & when we arrived in Bellingham we were told they arbitrarily changed us to an inside cabin. When I complained I was told "tough". No refund, no apology, just "tough". They true pity is they could care less, the Alaska Ferry people are as bad as DC politicians. Tell you one thing, do another & expect you to enjoy it!! TERRIBLE!!! read more

New experience. We were instructed to wait in line with our Altima coupe vehicle at Prince Rupert port 3 hours for 6:30 am departure on June 27 to Juneau arrival on June 29 at about 5:00-ish am. Got to Prince Rupert port (shabby painted overhead sign) at 1:00 am because we were afraid we might oversleep. It was dark but many large trucks, many campers and cars were already in line. After checking in was told to go to line 7. It was dark, could not see any lane lines on gravel lot, forget locating lane number 7. Just how much does a can of spray paint cost? Assumed lane 7 might be on rightmost side of lot behind 5 huge detached trailers. Stopped next to edge of lot and waited. No attendant directing. Then I was squeezed 3 inches away from semi in front of me on the vehicle deck 5. The ferry stops at several town stops along the way, but never directly in town. Otherwise cabin clean, food good, scenery beautiful, some sea critters, and the people absolutely great. Left vehicle in Juneau and flew home from Juneau on great Alaska Air. Wonderful peaceful experience. read more

We ferried out camper truck from Bellingham, WA to Whittier, AK this summer. Our 'roomette' (with porthole!) on the MV Kennicott cost about $10 a night. What fun! We did our drinking and eating largely from our ice chest, and watched the beautiful northwest slip past for five days. A few nice stops and many nice people. Ship was clean, smooth and efficient. Ready to do it again! As others have said, it's not a cruise ship . . .but we've little interest in cruise ships! read more

My husband and I traveled the Alaska Marine Highway System twice in June on the MV Columbia and had an excellent experience both times to and from Juneau. The staff is friendly and goes out of their way to make sure you have a great experience aboard ship;. We met people from all over and would definitely use the same mode of travel going to Alaska again. read more

Trip of a Lifetime, ruined! I made reservations with Alaska Marine Highway System in March for a trip from Bellingham to Haines the end of May. Reservations were for my truck, a cabin, and myself. My plan was to drive across the country from my home in PA, take the ferry from Bellingham to Haines and drive to Fairbanks. From there travel to the Arctic Ocean via Arctic Circle Adventure, return to Fairbanks and drive the Alcan Highway toward home. That's always been a dream of mine and I was finally able to get all the pieces in place, or so I thought. When I called to confirm my ferry reservation I was told that the original ship was still in dry dock and they had to use a smaller ship. Yes, they had room for me, and my truck, but there was no cabin available. I would have to sleep on the deck!!! I'm a senior, and there is no way that I was willing/able to spend three nights sleeping on a deck chair or in the solarium. They did mention that I "should have been contacted some time ago" (ya think?) but they were sorry that no one had done that...I wouldn't have started from PA if I had known.....I got a full refund but my trip of a lifetime was totally ruined. read more

Our recent trip north to the Yukon (Whitehorse and then Dawson City) was marred only by our return to Juneau on the MV LeConte. The car deck personnel forced us to park our Subaru Forester in a narrow space so that the passenger-side doors would not open, even though we were displaying an Alaska-issued handicapped parking tag. They told us they'd allow us to pull forward slightly to allow entry, but when it came time to disembark, they forgot about this. As long-time Alaskans and frequent travelers on the Alaska Marine Highway System, we were disappointed by the unprofessional attitudes of several of the car deck employees. We will avoid traveling on the LeConte in the future, and we'll advise our friends to do the same. read more