Alaska Marine Highway
Photo: Christoph Strässler from Oberdorf BL, Schweiz, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Alaska Marine Highway (AMH) or the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) are a network of ferry lines connecting destinations along the southern coast of Alaska and going all the way down to Bellingham, Washington. It provides a connection to many island and island-like communities, including the Alaskan state capital Juneau which is accessible only by boat or plane despite being located on the mainland. The AMH is also an alternative to the long drive through Canada for overland travel between the lower 48 states and Alaska, and can be a more affordable (if decidedly less luxurious) way to witness some of the same rugged coastal scenery that Alaskan cruises take in.
UnderstandThe Alaska Marine Highway (System) is operated by the State of Alaska and comprises 3,500 miles or almost 6,000 km of ferry lines.
PrepareCurrent schedules are available here, both as a sailing calendar showing arrivals and departures on a current day, and as a colored grid showing routes.
Get inMany of the communities on the Highway are served by plane, and some (but by no means all) are served by road.
SailThe information below is derived from the AMH schedule as of September 2017 and is just a general overview and might change over time. Check the current schedules for current routes, frequencies and ships.
See and doEnjoy the Alaskan scenery from the observation lounges. Other than that, the ships often have a movie theater and a solarium.
EatEating options are not exactly comparable to cruise ships, but there are cafeterias on board the AMH ferries. You can also bring your own food, there are coin-operated microwave ovens available for heating.S.
SleepCabins are available on the larger "mainline ferries" Columbia, Kennicott, Malaspina, Matanuska and Tustumena. There are in general two- and four berth cabins to choose from.
Stay safeAlaska enjoys a low crime rate, and onboard the ships it's probably even safer than on land. Sea sickness may become an issue on segments crossing the open sea.
Go nextFor most stops, your choices of places to go next to are very limited; you can either continue with the AMH or fly out on a small plane.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Alaska Marine Highway" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Christoph Strässler from Oberdorf BL, Schweiz, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons