INTERSEA FOUNDATION Alaska Whale Cruises Travel Plans

The Intersea Foundation
Alaska Whale Cruises - Travel Plans

DEPARTURE SCHEDULES
The vessel's schedule is coordinated with the airlines to provide time and cost-saving connections with Alaska departure ports and give you more time on the boat.
HOW DO I GET TO ALASKA?
Several flights leave Seattle and Anchorage, Alaska daily for Sitka and Juneau. If your cruise starts in one city and ends in another, there is generally no extra charge. Alaska Airlines is the only major airline that flies to all of Southeast Alaska.
WHAT ABOUT THE FERRY?
In the coastal waters of Alaska, the state of Alaska runs the largest marine ferry system in the world. The ferry system runs between all the major cities in Southeast Alaska and connects Washington state to Southeast Alaska. The trip is a fantastic way to see the Inside Passage. Travel time from Washington state to Juneau is about three days, but ferries leave only twice a week from Bellingham, WA. Cabins are available for an additional cost, or you can rough it by camping out in the heated, covered salon. Contact the Alaska Marine Highway System (800.642.0066) if you are interested in taking the ferry to Southeast Alaska. The ferry system is also a relaxing way to travel between towns in Southeast. The schedules follow the tides, resulting in some inconvenient docking times. The vessels are only in port long enough to unload and load so the "shore time" is very limited unless you layover and catch a later ferry.
HOW DO I GET BACK FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA?
The Ketchikan to Port McNeill trip starts in Ketchikan, AK and ends in Port McNeill, B.C. You can fly from Seattle to Ketchikan and return from Port Hardy (reached by van from Port McNeill) via Vancouver, B.C. to Seattle by scheduled service.
CONCERNS ABOUT TRAVELING BY BOAT?
The waters of Southeast Alaska and the Inside Passage are surprisingly calm. Large islands protect the passage from the open ocean and rough weather. The area has hundreds of protected bays that offer calm anchorages.