Trips to Alaska from Seattle

Alaska Marine Highway System

• The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) spans 3,500 miles from the southern port of Bellingham, Washington to the northern reaches of the Aleutian Islands to the Bering Sea, according to AMHS's website. From Seattle, travelers may drive or take a shuttle to Bellingham to board a ferry bound for Alaska. Vehicles are permitted on the ferry and children receive discounted fares. Cabins with bunk beds are available for a fee, or sleeping bags may be rolled out on an outdoor deck or in a covered solarium. From Bellingham, the ferry travels 38 hours to Ketchikan in Alaska's southeast region. Once arriving in Ketchikan, travelers may choose to depart the ferry for local activities such as kayaking, fishing or a seaplane tour, or continue on to other destinations by ferry such as Sitka, Juneau, Homer or Kodiak.

  Alaska Marine Highway System

  6858 Glacier Highway

  Juneau, AK 99811

  800-642-0066

  dot.state.ak.us/amhs

Cruises

• Board one of 11 cruise ships departing regularly from Seattle's downtown ports for a journey to Alaska with luxury amenities. Cruises depart regularly from Seattle from May through September, although some ships may operate in the off-season months. Carnival features seven-day cruises on the Carnival Spirit to Alaska from Smith Cove Cruise Terminal in Seattle, with stops in historic Skagway, the capital city of Juneau and the island city of Ketchikan. Holland America has extended 14-day trips aboard the 1,380-passenger MS Amsterdam, which features views from the 10th level Sky Deck with a pool and lounge areas and a Sports Deck on the ninth level with basketball and tennis courts. Ports of call include Sitka, Anchorage, Homer and Kodiak and sightseeing tours are available at each destination.

  Port of Seattle

  2711 Alaskan Way

  Seattle, WA 98121

  206-787-3000

  portseattle.org

Air Travel

• Air travel to Alaska from Seattle is a popular way to quickly cover the 2,000 miles between the two states. Alaska Airlines is a Seattle-based airline featuring regular flights to Ketchikan, Juneau, Anchorage and Fairbanks, with available connections to smaller cities from those major hubs. Flights to Anchorage from Seattle are approximately three hours and travel by plane to Ketchikan is a little over two hours. Upon arrival in Alaska, travelers may rent a car to explore Alaska, explore the city or continue by air to destinations such as Sitka, King Salmon or Dutch Harbor. Other airlines with flights from Seattle to Alaska, as of 2010, include United, Continental and Delta.

  Alaska Airlines Corporate Office

  P.O. Box 68900

  Seattle, WA 98168

  206-433-3200

  alaskaair.com