Queen of the North vs. Alaska's MHS MV Columbia

[Flugel Horn]

I just did the Queen of the North route (for the first time !) a few weeks ago. In Prince Rupert, I picked up a brochure on the Alaska Marine Highway System, and it was good reading.

I'm wondering what a trip from Bellingham to Rupert would be like on the MV Columbia, mostly because I'd like to see the Georgia St. & Johnstone St. portions.

I'm also wondering how the Columbia compares to the Q-North, in terms of cost, amenities, ambiance, type-of-crowd, etc.

Has anyone taken both ships?

Please share your stories / thoughts.

ps: The Alaska MHS trip on the Aluetian Islands chain on the MV Tustemena sounds appealing......Dutch Harbour is calling me.

[Doug]

I was on the Queen of the North earlier this summer. I must say that my favourite part of the voyage was in the Queen Charlotte Sound, when we hit the swells.