Post by Neil on Apr 8, 2008 10:22:09 GMT -8
A pretend journey I've been putting together in my spare time, which, apparently, I have too much of...
I've always been intrigued by the idea of taking Alaska State Ferries' MV Tustumena out to Dutch Harbour (Unalaska) in the Aleutian Islands. This is is remote as you can get by ferry on the Pacific Coast.
I was curious as to whether this could be combined into a continuous journey from Vancouver, all by ferry. Turns out, it can't quite be, because of ASF's schedules. The Tustumena only runs to the Aleutians once every four weeks in the warmer months, and the Kennicott, connecting the Alaska Panhandle to the Prince William Sound area, crossing the Gulf of Alaska, also only runs every four weeks. Plus, this year ASF is only running one boat a week from Bellingham. I've selected, at random, a journey begining mid July; options are limited, giving the limited schedule on the Kennicott-Tustumena leg of the trip.
Two air routes, Juneau to Anchorage, and Anchorage to Homer, are needed to fill in the gaps in Alaska, as well as the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Whittier.
Because of the length of this pretend epic adventure, I've opted for ferry accomodation at the higher end, with full bathroom facilities. As is pointed out at the end, a saving could be had by taking lesser options.
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Some perspective:
-Dutch Harbour/Unalaska is slightly farther from Vancouver than Chicago, or Sault Ste. Marie. It is almost as far as the southern tip of Baja California.
-Although people might think of the Aleutians as 'way up north', Dutch Harbour is on the same latitude as Edmonton, and is south of Prince Rupert.
-Dutch Harbour is west of Hawaii.
So, with that... here's my fantasy ferry adventure.
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1. Vancouver to Bellingham/ Greyhound Bus Lines
Amtrak's schedule unfortunately not an option.
Lv. Vancouver Friday, July 18, 10:50am
Ar. Bellingham 1:20pm
$17.00
2. Bellingham to Juneau/ Alaska State Ferries, MV ‘Columbia’
The Columbia goes through to Skagway, however, because of the need for air travel to Anchorage to connect to Homer and the Aleutians ferry, disembarkation on this leg of the trip is at Juneau.
Lv. Bellingham Friday July 18 6:00pm, (stopping at Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg)
Ar. Juneau Monday July 21 6:45am
$678.00 (inc. outside stateroom with facilities.)
3.Juneau to Anchorage/ Alaska Airlines
From Juneau, the trick is to get to Homer, at the entrance to Cook Inlet, from where the Tustumena departs for the Aleutians. It has to be done in two parts, neither of which is by land (although there is one bus a day from Anchorage to Homer, which does not suit our schedule).
Lv. Juneau Monday July 21 1:00pm
Ar Anchorage 2:45pm
$172.00
$100.00- Overnight Anchorage
4. Anchorage to Homer/ Era Aviation
Lv Anchorage Tuesday July 22 7:15pm
Ar Homer 7:55pm
$122.00
5. Homer to Dutch Harbour-Unalaska, return/ Alaska State Ferries, MV ‘ Tustumena’
This is the point of the whole trip. 3 ½ days from Homer to Dutch Harbour on Amaknak Island, connected to Unalaska on Unalaska Island. Population 4300. The Tustumena is very expensive; the fare for two adults, car, and outside stateroom, return to Dutch Harbour, is in excess of $4400. Part of the reason for that may be labour costs; although it carries less than 200 passengers, and some 35 cars, the boat has a summertime crew complement of 38.
Lv Homer Tuesday July 22, 10:00pm stopping at Port Lions, Kodiak, Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass, Akutan.
Ar Dutch Harbour Saturday July 26, 8:30am
Lv Dutch Harbour Saturday July 26, 4:00pm (via same waypoints)
Ar Homer Tuesday July 29, 4:00pm
$1828.00 (inc. outside stateroom, facilities)
6. Homer to Anchorage/ Era Aviation
Again, bus schedule not compatible.
Lv Homer Tuesday July 29, 8:15pm
Ar Anchorage 8:55pm
$122.00
$100.00 Overnight Anchorage
7. Anchorage to Whittier/ Alaska Railroad, ‘Glacier Discovery’
Whittier, on Prince William Sound, is terminus for a number of Alaska cruise ships, as well as the western most stop for ASF’s Kennicott, Aurora, and Chenega. It is connected to the Anchorage area by rail and road tunnel.
Lv Anchorage Wednesday July 30, 10:00am, stopping at Girdwood, and Portage.
Ar Whittier 12:20pm
$60.00
8. Whittier to Juneau/ Alaska State Ferries, MV ‘Kennicott’
Crossing the Gulf of Alaska. Outside, full facilities staterooms vastly more expensive than ‘roomettes’.
Lv Whittier Wednesday July 30, 7:00pm, stopping at Yakutat.
Ar Juneau Friday August 1, 11:30am
$575.00 (inc. outside stateroom, facilities)
9. Juneau to Prince Rupert/ Alaska State Ferries, MV ‘Taku’
A bonus; this sailing goes via Sitka, lengthening the voyage considerably.
Lv Juneau: Friday August 1, 4:15pm (via: Sitka, Kake, Petersburg, Wrangell, and Ketchikan.)
Ar Prince Rupert: Sunday August 3, 2:30pm
$285.00 (inc. outside stateroom, facilities)
$200.00 Two nights, Prince Rupert. Unfortunately, stay does not allow a quick trip to Skidegate.
10. Prince Rupert to Port Hardy[/u]/ BC Ferries, MV ‘Northern Adventure’
Lv Prince Rupert: Tuesday, August 5, 7:30am
Ar Port Hardy: 10:30pm
$125.00 (Fare only)
$100.00- Overnight Port Hardy
11. Port Hardy to Little River/ Greyhound Bus Lines, Comox Valley Transit
Lv Port Hardy: Wednesday August 6, 9:30am
Ar Courtenay: 2:00pm
Lv Courtenay: 2:30pm
Ar Little River BC Ferries terminal: 2:45pm
$49.00
12. Little River to Powell River/ BC Ferries, MV ‘Queen of Burnaby’
Lv Little River: Wednesday August 6, 3:15pm
Ar Powell River: 4:35pm
$11.15
$100.00- Overnight Powell River
13. Powell River to Vancouver/ Malaspina Coach Lines, BC Ferries, MV ‘Queen of Tsawwassen’, MV ‘Queen of Surrey’
Summer bus schedule not yet announced.
Lv Powell River: Thursday August 7: morning
Ar: Vancouver (Pacific Central Station): evening
$56.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total duration: 21 days.
Approximate cost, fares and accomodation: $4570.00
(Note: $766.00 could be saved by opting for least expensive ferry cabins on four ASF routes.)
Food, at $50.00 per day: $1050.00
Approx. total, not counting further optional spending: $5520.00
Verdict: It would be a great ferry adventure, but a cruise would be cheaper. Another option, probably cheaper as well, would to fly to Anchorage, bus or fly to Homer, and just do the one ferry to Dutch Harbour.
I've always been intrigued by the idea of taking Alaska State Ferries' MV Tustumena out to Dutch Harbour (Unalaska) in the Aleutian Islands. This is is remote as you can get by ferry on the Pacific Coast.
I was curious as to whether this could be combined into a continuous journey from Vancouver, all by ferry. Turns out, it can't quite be, because of ASF's schedules. The Tustumena only runs to the Aleutians once every four weeks in the warmer months, and the Kennicott, connecting the Alaska Panhandle to the Prince William Sound area, crossing the Gulf of Alaska, also only runs every four weeks. Plus, this year ASF is only running one boat a week from Bellingham. I've selected, at random, a journey begining mid July; options are limited, giving the limited schedule on the Kennicott-Tustumena leg of the trip.
Two air routes, Juneau to Anchorage, and Anchorage to Homer, are needed to fill in the gaps in Alaska, as well as the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Whittier.
Because of the length of this pretend epic adventure, I've opted for ferry accomodation at the higher end, with full bathroom facilities. As is pointed out at the end, a saving could be had by taking lesser options.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some perspective:
-Dutch Harbour/Unalaska is slightly farther from Vancouver than Chicago, or Sault Ste. Marie. It is almost as far as the southern tip of Baja California.
-Although people might think of the Aleutians as 'way up north', Dutch Harbour is on the same latitude as Edmonton, and is south of Prince Rupert.
-Dutch Harbour is west of Hawaii.
So, with that... here's my fantasy ferry adventure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Vancouver to Bellingham/ Greyhound Bus Lines
Amtrak's schedule unfortunately not an option.
Lv. Vancouver Friday, July 18, 10:50am
Ar. Bellingham 1:20pm
$17.00
2. Bellingham to Juneau/ Alaska State Ferries, MV ‘Columbia’
The Columbia goes through to Skagway, however, because of the need for air travel to Anchorage to connect to Homer and the Aleutians ferry, disembarkation on this leg of the trip is at Juneau.
Lv. Bellingham Friday July 18 6:00pm, (stopping at Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg)
Ar. Juneau Monday July 21 6:45am
$678.00 (inc. outside stateroom with facilities.)
3.Juneau to Anchorage/ Alaska Airlines
From Juneau, the trick is to get to Homer, at the entrance to Cook Inlet, from where the Tustumena departs for the Aleutians. It has to be done in two parts, neither of which is by land (although there is one bus a day from Anchorage to Homer, which does not suit our schedule).
Lv. Juneau Monday July 21 1:00pm
Ar Anchorage 2:45pm
$172.00
$100.00- Overnight Anchorage
4. Anchorage to Homer/ Era Aviation
Lv Anchorage Tuesday July 22 7:15pm
Ar Homer 7:55pm
$122.00
5. Homer to Dutch Harbour-Unalaska, return/ Alaska State Ferries, MV ‘ Tustumena’
This is the point of the whole trip. 3 ½ days from Homer to Dutch Harbour on Amaknak Island, connected to Unalaska on Unalaska Island. Population 4300. The Tustumena is very expensive; the fare for two adults, car, and outside stateroom, return to Dutch Harbour, is in excess of $4400. Part of the reason for that may be labour costs; although it carries less than 200 passengers, and some 35 cars, the boat has a summertime crew complement of 38.
Lv Homer Tuesday July 22, 10:00pm stopping at Port Lions, Kodiak, Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass, Akutan.
Ar Dutch Harbour Saturday July 26, 8:30am
Lv Dutch Harbour Saturday July 26, 4:00pm (via same waypoints)
Ar Homer Tuesday July 29, 4:00pm
$1828.00 (inc. outside stateroom, facilities)
6. Homer to Anchorage/ Era Aviation
Again, bus schedule not compatible.
Lv Homer Tuesday July 29, 8:15pm
Ar Anchorage 8:55pm
$122.00
$100.00 Overnight Anchorage
7. Anchorage to Whittier/ Alaska Railroad, ‘Glacier Discovery’
Whittier, on Prince William Sound, is terminus for a number of Alaska cruise ships, as well as the western most stop for ASF’s Kennicott, Aurora, and Chenega. It is connected to the Anchorage area by rail and road tunnel.
Lv Anchorage Wednesday July 30, 10:00am, stopping at Girdwood, and Portage.
Ar Whittier 12:20pm
$60.00
8. Whittier to Juneau/ Alaska State Ferries, MV ‘Kennicott’
Crossing the Gulf of Alaska. Outside, full facilities staterooms vastly more expensive than ‘roomettes’.
Lv Whittier Wednesday July 30, 7:00pm, stopping at Yakutat.
Ar Juneau Friday August 1, 11:30am
$575.00 (inc. outside stateroom, facilities)
9. Juneau to Prince Rupert/ Alaska State Ferries, MV ‘Taku’
A bonus; this sailing goes via Sitka, lengthening the voyage considerably.
Lv Juneau: Friday August 1, 4:15pm (via: Sitka, Kake, Petersburg, Wrangell, and Ketchikan.)
Ar Prince Rupert: Sunday August 3, 2:30pm
$285.00 (inc. outside stateroom, facilities)
$200.00 Two nights, Prince Rupert. Unfortunately, stay does not allow a quick trip to Skidegate.
10. Prince Rupert to Port Hardy[/u]/ BC Ferries, MV ‘Northern Adventure’
Lv Prince Rupert: Tuesday, August 5, 7:30am
Ar Port Hardy: 10:30pm
$125.00 (Fare only)
$100.00- Overnight Port Hardy
11. Port Hardy to Little River/ Greyhound Bus Lines, Comox Valley Transit
Lv Port Hardy: Wednesday August 6, 9:30am
Ar Courtenay: 2:00pm
Lv Courtenay: 2:30pm
Ar Little River BC Ferries terminal: 2:45pm
$49.00
12. Little River to Powell River/ BC Ferries, MV ‘Queen of Burnaby’
Lv Little River: Wednesday August 6, 3:15pm
Ar Powell River: 4:35pm
$11.15
$100.00- Overnight Powell River
13. Powell River to Vancouver/ Malaspina Coach Lines, BC Ferries, MV ‘Queen of Tsawwassen’, MV ‘Queen of Surrey’
Summer bus schedule not yet announced.
Lv Powell River: Thursday August 7: morning
Ar: Vancouver (Pacific Central Station): evening
$56.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total duration: 21 days.
Approximate cost, fares and accomodation: $4570.00
(Note: $766.00 could be saved by opting for least expensive ferry cabins on four ASF routes.)
Food, at $50.00 per day: $1050.00
Approx. total, not counting further optional spending: $5520.00
Verdict: It would be a great ferry adventure, but a cruise would be cheaper. Another option, probably cheaper as well, would to fly to Anchorage, bus or fly to Homer, and just do the one ferry to Dutch Harbour.