|
Post by alaskanmohican on Aug 17, 2010 13:54:42 GMT -8
Regarding the Kennicott's cabins, really it is a matter of opinion as to how they compare to the other ships.
Only Kennicott's 4 berth cabins have "full facilities" meaning a shower and tiolet are a part of the stateroom. For her 2 berth cabins, the "facilities" are down the hall. Her 4 berth cabins have a bunk bed, and a couch that folds out to become another lower bunk, while the upper bunk folds down from the wall above the couch.
Kennicott has many 4 berth cabins, and not as many 2 berths as it might seem at first. Many of the 2 berth cabins are actually Roomets ( I probably spelled that wrong).
A roomet is different from a normal 2 berth in that a typical 2 berth has a sink and a bunk bed. A roomet is much smaller, and has an upper bunk that folds down from wall, while the lower bunk is the table and seats folded down. These roomets are smaller and cheaper than a normal two berth.
Back to the comment made about the Kennicott, the lack of facilities in many cabins doesn't appear to be much of a deterant to travel on her, as the Cross Gulfs regularly sell out northbound, and does quite well southbound.
It is interesting with the Kennicott as most complaints about her tend to come from a few southest communities, while the southwest communities like her alot. In fact many travelers in the southwest will change sailing dates so they can ride the Kennicott instead of the Tustumena, which normally serves that area.
A side note, all but a few of the Tusty's cabins do not have facilities in them either.
Really it seems, and I mean no offense to anyone, but I think that the Kennicotts preferance in southwest comes from the fact that there are not many other ferries serving that area, the Kennicott offers something different, is larger, and handles the gulf waters better than the Tusty. While down in southeast, there are more ferries serving the area, so it is almost like southeast might be a little spoiled for choices when it comes to ferry travel.
I have lived in both areas, and having grown up in the southwest/southcentral area, I think this has influenced my fondness for the Kennicott, the floating brick that she is.
|
|
|
Post by alaskanmohican on Oct 7, 2010 13:47:48 GMT -8
AMHS has released their Summer 2011 schedules. They are available online, there is not a printed schedule yet. A printed schedule will likely not be available for another few months. The sailing pattern for the fleet is pretty much what was proposed a few months back. From the proposal: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposed Vessel Deployment • Kennicott to operate Bellingham cross the Gulf to Southwest • Columbia to remain on the Friday Bellingham Route • Matanuska to sail from Prince Rupert to Skagway and from Prince Rupert to Juneau once per week • Malaspina to sail in North Lynn Canal on a daily schedule • Taku to sail from Prince Rupert to Juneau twice per week • Lituya to sail 5 days per week between Metlakatla and Ketchikan • LeConte to sail a Northern Panhandle Route • Tustumena to sail the Southwest Route with two Aleutian chain trips per month • Aurora to sail in Prince William Sound • Fairweather to sail: May 1-26, Sitka 2 days/Lynn Canal 2days. May 27-June 30: Sitka 3 days, Petersburg 1 day. July 1-Sept 30: Sitka 5 days, Petersburg 2 days • Chenega to sail in Prince William Sound Adjustments to the schedule: • Kennicott to sail Bellingham cross gulf vs Prince Rupert • LeConte to service Gustavus on Mondays and Wednesdays every other week ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ An article about the schedules from the Juneau Empire: juneauempire.com/stories/100710/sta_717052812.shtmlAnd what would an announcement about the new schedules be without a link to the actual schedules: www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/schedules.shtml
|
|
|
Post by SS Shasta on Oct 13, 2010 12:14:22 GMT -8
This seems to be a wonderful improvement over past practices. AMHS had too long a tradition of posting schedules late rather than early with a sharp drop in riders/vehicles being the result.
|
|
|
Post by SS Shasta on May 9, 2011 10:00:58 GMT -8
The public comment period is open at AMHS for the 2011-2112 Fall, Winter and Spring schedule. Looks like AMHS continues its policy to make schedules available asap rather than waiting to the very last minute to release schedules.. Here in Alaska, we call that "progress."
|
|
|
Post by Name Omitted on May 9, 2011 23:24:48 GMT -8
Just a added comment.......... I believe that very few of the passenger cabins on MV Kennicott have full facilities. All of the cabins on the Blue Canoes and MV Columbia are fully equipped. A longer voyage from Bellingham to Whittier would likely be uncomfortable at best. For this reason, I have never been on MV Kennicott and I do not know about the quality level of her dining facilities and public rooms. She has fully equipped cabins. The smaller cabins are just fine, if your alternative is a sleeping bag on the solarium. I rather enjoy them, if you can avoid the inside cabins near the stack. Those get rather hot.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,175
|
Post by Neil on Jun 17, 2011 16:00:28 GMT -8
Question: When I look at the south-east schedule for AMH, at the bottom of the page it has all the ship names highlighted in different colours. Interspersed with Malaspina, Taku, etc., are Allen Marine, MV Glacier, MV Lite Weight, and MV St Aquilina.
What do those names refer to?
|
|
|
Post by alaskanmohican on Jun 17, 2011 16:29:20 GMT -8
The names MV Glacier, Lite Weight, and Aqualina refer to vessels that belong to a Tour/Charter/ Boat building company called Allen Marine. Here is a link to part of their website: www.allenmarineboatlease.com/vesselsAMHS uses Allen Marine at times to charter their boats to cover some routes when our ships are in drydock or layup. Typically they are based out of Juneau sailing for Angoon, Tenakee and Hoonah. Usually AMHS does not use them in the summer as we have all our vessels deployed and Allen Marine is busy with the tourists from the cruise ships. Why they are still listed on the schedule? Someone probably just left them on the schedule template from last winter.
|
|
|
Post by alaskanmohican on Aug 1, 2011 16:01:23 GMT -8
AMHS has recently updated their website. It is a new layout compared to what they have used the last few years.
One new feature to the site is a map that shows the current location of each of the ferries and whether they are underway or not. I know that Washington State has had a map like this on their site for a while, I honestly haven't looked to see if BC Ferries has a similar feature but I am guessing they do.
|
|
|
Post by Scott on Aug 1, 2011 19:02:42 GMT -8
BC Ferries has some current locations for some routes. I really do like the new Alaska website, although I can't speak for it's functionality for making reservations and things like that. Looks good though.
|
|
|
Post by Elwha on the Rocks on Oct 15, 2014 16:11:51 GMT -8
Does anyone know when Alaska Marine Highway will release their 2015 summer schedule? Or when they released their 2014 summer schedule? (I wasn't paying attention last year.) I'm hoping to make it up to Alaska next summer, and it would be really helpful to know when they'll release the schedule. I don't need an exact date, just around the time they'll release the schedule would be great. Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by WettCoast on Oct 15, 2014 20:34:57 GMT -8
Does anyone know when Alaska Marine Highway will release their 2015 summer schedule? There is considerable variation from year to year in when AMHS releases schedules for the next summer. For 2015, they might be released next week, or maybe not until January or even later. Your best bet is to check their website frequently to look for updates re next year's summer schedule.
|
|
|
Post by Elwha on the Rocks on Oct 16, 2014 16:14:07 GMT -8
Does anyone know when Alaska Marine Highway will release their 2015 summer schedule? There is considerable variation from year to year in when AMHS releases schedules for the next summer. For 2015, they might be released next week, or maybe not until January or even later. Your best bet is to check their website frequently to look for updates re next year's summer schedule. Thank you. I have been doing that, and will continue to check on their website frequently.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2014 9:28:20 GMT -8
Does anyone know when Alaska Marine Highway will release their 2015 summer schedule? Or when they released their 2014 summer schedule? (I wasn't paying attention last year.) I'm hoping to make it up to Alaska next summer, and it would be really helpful to know when they'll release the schedule. I don't need an exact date, just around the time they'll release the schedule would be great. Thanks! I have a feeling it will be released in December or January?? I have been on the lookout for it too as I took a trip on the Columbia from Juneau to Bellingham in August and it was amazing! Now I want to explore other routes in Alaska. In the meantime, I found this link that is proposed schedules for 2015: www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/share/schedule/considerations.pdfI hope this helps a little.
|
|
|
Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 27, 2014 17:48:25 GMT -8
...here is the 2015 schedule: HEREClick on the "Ferry Alaska" link, and then choose the "Schedules" pull-down menu, choose "Sailing Calendar" and pick a summer 2015 month.
|
|
Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,175
|
Post by Neil on Oct 27, 2014 19:58:22 GMT -8
...here is the 2015 schedule: HEREClick on the "Ferry Alaska" link, and then choose the "Schedules" pull-down menu, choose "Sailing Calendar" and pick a summer 2015 month. ...and I see that some of the cabin accommodations on some sailings to Dutch Harbor out in the Aleutians are already sold out. $1800 round trip, for one person and a full facility stateroom. Call me crazy, but I really want to do that one day. I know, Karl will say you could get a cruise for a lot less, and he's right... but there's just something about six nights on a small ferry in Alaska that appeals to me. I would stock up on Dramamine though, as I don't know what kind of reputation the Tustumena has for handling the north Pacific.
Definitely on my bucket list, cost be damned.
|
|
|
Post by ancflyer on Oct 16, 2019 17:48:16 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Starsteward on Oct 17, 2019 6:03:23 GMT -8
I haven't travelled via Sidney to Anacortes nor have I travelled on the 'M.V. Coho. That said, what are the operational agreements vis a vie border security personnel handled on these two routes? These routes have been operating for many years now and have obviously had these services running smoothly so why is the Prince Rupert situation so difficult to sort out? For what it's worth, I am horrified by the Governor of Alaska's handling of the state budget which obviously includes the total mess at AMHS and the on-going security personnel problem at Prince Rupert!
|
|