I decided after taking a travel agent class at Community college to take a trip on the Alaska State Ferries. What fun that was from beginning to end. I gapped open mouthed at the stunning beauty, the whales who followed the ferry close up and personal, wildlife that I had never seen close up except in a zoo. I also had so much fun just stricking up conversations with other passengers, some from all over the world. I was alone but soon it did not feel that way as we got off and did things together on shore. I got off the ferry every other night. I had a room on the ferry the night I stayed on.
If I felt like it I ate in the restaurant but it was not exceptionally good food and high priced so I had a small hot pot and a small coffee pot in my suitcase. When I got off each time I went to the grocery bought a large salad, then went to a fishing boat and bought either fish or sea food of some kind which I kept in my cooler. I also bought things like dry soup mix and sandwich stuff. That way I had a choice of what to eat.
I brought my Kindle, my mp3 player, that way I could entertain myself by playing games on the internet, or reading, or listening to music. Not much goes on the ferry that is organized and you can only wild life watch, talk to people or nap so much so bring whatever entertains you. I love playing scrabble so I not only brought my kindle so I could play online but found several other avid scabble players on board and we had lots of fun playing with my travel scrabble set.
The ferries do not have the best tempature control. So be sure to dress in layers, bring a pillow or two and a sleeping bag. Bring something to carry your luggage as I got off one stop and it was about a half a mile in if I had not had a folding cart for my sleeping bags and luggable it could of been quite uncomfortable. But I never go anywhere without my little alumunum cart that folds up flat but can hold two suitcases, my overnight bag, my sleeping bag and pillows.
Staterooms are quite spendy on the Alaska Ferries but I found them really worth the cost. Maybe if I was younger and more adventurous I would of pitched a tent on deck as many of the student did. But I am not anymore and so I book a stateroom six months in advance. Don't worry if they tell you one is not available just ask to be put on the waiting list.
How long is a piece of string? This depends on what your interests are, and your budget. There are very many options available in each port from as simple as walking tours and hiking, to whale watching (Juneau & Icy Straight), Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau), White Pass & Yukon Rail (Skagway), Misty Fjord float plane, totem pole village (Ketchikan), float plane for bear viewing in remote regions, and, at the top of the budget scale, heli-flight with glacier landing and sled dog ride (several ports), and lots of things in between.
What are your options once you get off the ferry. Well it depends on the town you are in and your interests. I had a travel agent help plan my trip and I got lots of brochures on things to do. So I had a plan each place. Be sure and bring your binoculars and camera. If bear viewing is really an important part of your trip try and go during July or early August. That is when the salmon runs and the bear watching is greatest. Entry to most of the popular bear viewing areas is controlled by permits issued by National Parks. Usually you bear watch from a small plane or boat. You probably can see lots of other wild life while on a bear watching tour. If whale watching is a big activity on your list then you should Most folks identify Alaska with dog sledding. But since dog sledding is a winter activity, cruise ship visitors in the early days never had a chance to experience it. That all changed when helicopters became readily available to travelers. On this wildly popular tour with TEMSCO Helicopters, you travel to the Juneau Ice Field by helicopter and get a chance to travel by dog sled on a stretch of gorgeous glacier. Sure, it’s expensive—it’s also unforgettable.
Shopping is very tourist orientated if you think you are going to buy something from Alaska well it is from Alaska but not made in Alaska. So be very careful of the quality of what you are buying. Ask the locals where they buy their MUKLUKs then expect to pay a good $300. for them as they are handmade and hand beaded.
When eating out follow the advise above. Be sure on your day off the ferry you get a room that allows you to cook. Then go to the local grocery. Eat tons of fish off the boats if you love seafood and fish like I do you will be so glad you did. Well try and get to know a lot of locals and ask their advise that is what I did and I stay in Alaska a month and ate out some went on several tours, had a cabin on the ferry and off. I did all of this for about $1,200. If you want to try another approach to where to stay go to one place, one of the bigger towns, before you go look on Craig's list for that town and do a monthly short term rental or sublet. Then make that your home base. Plan every excursion and everything else from there.
Judi Singleton is the owner operator of Bejewelu.com where the whole family can dress for less
I decided after taking a travel agent class at Community college to take a trip on the Alaska State Ferries. What fun that was from beginning to end. I gapped open mouthed at the stunning beauty, the whales who followed the ferry close up and personal, wildlife that I had never seen close up except in a zoo. I also had so much fun just stricking up conversations with other passengers, some from all over the world. I was alone but soon it did not feel that way as we got off and did things together on shore. I got off the ferry every other night. I had a room on the ferry the night I stayed on.
If I felt like it I ate in the restaurant but it was not exceptionally good food and high priced so I had a small hot pot and a small coffee pot in my suitcase. When I got off each time I went to the grocery bought a large salad, then went to a fishing boat and bought either fish or sea food of some kind which I kept in my cooler. I also bought things like dry soup mix and sandwich stuff. That way I had a choice of what to eat.
I brought my Kindle, my mp3 player, that way I could entertain myself by playing games on the internet, or reading, or listening to music. Not much goes on the ferry that is organized and you can only wild life watch, talk to people or nap so much so bring whatever entertains you. I love playing scrabble so I not only brought my kindle so I could play online but found several other avid scabble players on board and we had lots of fun playing with my travel scrabble set.
The ferries do not have the best tempature control. So be sure to dress in layers, bring a pillow or two and a sleeping bag. Bring something to carry your luggage as I got off one stop and it was about a half a mile in if I had not had a folding cart for my sleeping bags and luggable it could of been quite uncomfortable. But I never go anywhere without my little alumunum cart that folds up flat but can hold two suitcases, my overnight bag, my sleeping bag and pillows.
Staterooms are quite spendy on the Alaska Ferries but I found them really worth the cost. Maybe if I was younger and more adventurous I would of pitched a tent on deck as many of the student did. But I am not anymore and so I book a stateroom six months in advance. Don't worry if they tell you one is not available just ask to be put on the waiting list.
How long is a piece of string? This depends on what your interests are, and your budget. There are very many options available in each port from as simple as walking tours and hiking, to whale watching (Juneau & Icy Straight), Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau), White Pass & Yukon Rail (Skagway), Misty Fjord float plane, totem pole village (Ketchikan), float plane for bear viewing in remote regions, and, at the top of the budget scale, heli-flight with glacier landing and sled dog ride (several ports), and lots of things in between.
What are your options once you get off the ferry. Well it depends on the town you are in and your interests. I had a travel agent help plan my trip and I got lots of brochures on things to do. So I had a plan each place. Be sure and bring your binoculars and camera. If bear viewing is really an important part of your trip try and go during July or early August. That is when the salmon runs and the bear watching is greatest. Entry to most of the popular bear viewing areas is controlled by permits issued by National Parks. Usually you bear watch from a small plane or boat. You probably can see lots of other wild life while on a bear watching tour. If whale watching is a big activity on your list then you should Most folks identify Alaska with dog sledding. But since dog sledding is a winter activity, cruise ship visitors in the early days never had a chance to experience it. That all changed when helicopters became readily available to travelers. On this wildly popular tour with TEMSCO Helicopters, you travel to the Juneau Ice Field by helicopter and get a chance to travel by dog sled on a stretch of gorgeous glacier. Sure, it’s expensive—it’s also unforgettable.
Shopping is very tourist orientated if you think you are going to buy something from Alaska well it is from Alaska but not made in Alaska. So be very careful of the quality of what you are buying. Ask the locals where they buy their MUKLUKs then expect to pay a good $300. for them as they are handmade and hand beaded.
When eating out follow the advise above. Be sure on your day off the ferry you get a room that allows you to cook. Then go to the local grocery. Eat tons of fish off the boats if you love seafood and fish like I do you will be so glad you did. Well try and get to know a lot of locals and ask their advise that is what I did and I stay in Alaska a month and ate out some went on several tours, had a cabin on the ferry and off. I did all of this for about $1,200. If you want to try another approach to where to stay go to one place, one of the bigger towns, before you go look on Craig's list for that town and do a monthly short term rental or sublet. Then make that your home base. Plan every excursion and everything else from there.
Judi Singleton is the owner operator of Bejewelu.com where the whole family can dress for less
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