Alaska's Inside Passage is one of the most popular cruise and ferry routes. It stretches from the state of Washington to Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The Inside Passage connects cities like Skagway, Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan and Metlakatla. The passage drastically shortens the traveling distance between these towns; Haines and Skagway are 350-highway miles apart, but only 14-ocean miles apart. You can choose to tour the entire passage, or disembark at one of the ports to enjoy an inland adventure. Tours through the Inside Passage often come with a package option to include visits to some of Alaska's most popular parks. In a 12-day tour that starts in Bellingham, Washington, passengers disembark at Whittier, transfer to the Alaska Railroad and travel to Denali National Park. Passengers can also explore Glacier Bay National Park by choosing a tour that disembarks at scenic Skagway.
The Southcentral Alaska ferry service will take you through Prince William Sound, the Gulf of Alaska and Lower Cook Inlet. Southcentral Alaska is where most of the state's population goes to enjoy spectacular scenery and experience outdoor adventure. Passengers onboard a ferry tour through Southcentral Alaska can expect to see glaciers, fjords, dense forests and some of Alaska's most spectacular wildlife. The southcentral route can connect to the southwest route through services from Homer and Whittier to Kodiak Island. Tours of this region set off from Bellingham, Washington, and Whittier, Alaska, and can be reserved through the Alaska Marine Highway System. Ferry tours in the winter months are not frequent, so you will want to book your trip ahead of time if planning a tour in this season.
The Aleutian Islands are a chain of over 300 small islands in the northern Pacific Ocean. The Aleutian Chain is a popular destination because it is remote and mysterious. Geographical diversity is the number one draw for ferry tourists in this region, with features ranging from grasslands to volcanoes. Ports of call throughout the chain include Chignik, King Cove, False Pass, Akutan and Dutch Harbor, the number one fishing port in the United States. Passengers have the opportunity to tour national wildlife refuges, where they are likely to spot sea birds, humpback whales, fur seals and walruses. Winters in the Aleutian Chain can be treacherous; glaciers and frozen waterways make access to the chain limited, especially in the winter months.
