When Should Reservations For Alaska Ferry Open For May 2019?

[Wallowa]

So far the calendar for the ferries into or out of Bellingham stops 5-3-19 with Columbia arrives from Ketch.

About know when will the date that reservations from Bellingham to Haines in May ['19] will open?

Thanks...I am tired of checking it everyday..

Phil

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

I also tried searching. Didn't get anything past 3 May 2019.
I think the ferry schedule changes around the beginning of May to the summer one.
Try again Dec or Jan.
Frank

 

[kmcintyre]

Do they have a number you can call? I would suspect that they might be waiting to see about budgets, maint, etc.? Didn't they put a few of the ferries out of service a few years ago for maint?

 

[Wallowa]

Do they have a number you can call? I would suspect that they might be waiting to see about budgets, maint, etc.? Didn't they put a few of the ferries out of service a few years ago for maint?

Update: I have made contact with the AMH office and they are waiting for the Alaskan budget to be decided before taking reservations beyond May 3. Best guess they had was Nov/Dec.

X-Factor for us will be the ice break-up and when the other river ferries we will need to use start operation...hey, it is an adventure!

Phil

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

It always seems like the Alaskan Gov keeps the ferry system hostage by the budget.
In 16 when we were there they just finished getting their act together on money for the system.
IMO as much as the state needs the system it's a no-brainer to come up with a budget.
It's not like there is another solution to the ferry system.
Oh well at least by the new year you should be able to make your plans.
Frank

 

[Wallowa]

Yup...while patience is not my strong suit..in my old age I refuse to be "held hostage' by circumstances beyond my control...there are always options! If ferry can't be scheduled then we go with Willie N.'s recommendation: "On the road again".

Phil

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Phil I think you need to give it at least Dec/Jan.
Our 2016 trip we made ferry reservations for the whole trip to
and from Bellingham around Feb. North on the Kennicott
south on the Columbia.All worked out for us no problem.
Frank.

 

[Wallowa]

Thanks...but we only plan going North on ferry and then driving back through BC...it will be about $3,100 on the ferry just getting there...plus we want to kick around coming South...now have expanded our trip to 6 weeks...

Phil

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Thanks...but we only plan going North on ferry and then driving back through BC...it will be about $3,100 on the ferry just getting there...plus we want to kick around coming South...now have expanded our trip to 6 weeks...

Phil

6 weeks is a good amount of time to have fun.Have you driven the Cassiar? If not going south from the Alcan near Watson Lk.
it's a great shortcut and some fantastic scenery.Also Stewart/Hyder area.
Frank

 

[Wallowa]

6 weeks is a good amount of time to have fun.Have you driven the Cassiar? If not going south from the Alcan near Watson Lk.
it's a great shortcut and some fantastic scenery.Also Stewart/Hyder area.
Frank

[SIZE=10.5pt]No, on having been 'inland'....'67 King Salmon to Port Moller [AK peninsula] on the 38 foot RV Sockeye doing salmon research and then '89 solo sea kayaking down from Juneau to the glaciers at the end of Tracy Arm and then on to Petersburg..plus a short week in Desolation Sound from Lund in the sea kayak in '88.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt][/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]We plan to land in Haines working our way through Tok, TOW Hwy, Tombstone TP, some if not all of Dempster and then back down the Cassiar..Hwy 37 to 97… with all the side trips including Bella Coola if we have the time..for scale our home is almost 900 miles South of Hope BC. Only limiter is how long our neighbors are willing to take care of our cats..we rescue cats and have a bunch![/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt][/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]Phil[/SIZE]

 

[smlobx]

Sounds like a fun trip.
We were going to go in '19 but our younger son decided to get married next year so we're now planning on 2020 as the year for the big adventure!

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Phil that sounds nice.
We enjoyed the Cassiar,first time 1990 from Stewart/Hyder area south
probably the route you will take.At Pr George south through the Fraser river valley
crossing the border around Sumas.
Second trip in 2009 ferry to Skagway then headed homeward through the Cassiar
to Pr Rupert to Port Hardy.
In 2011 we tried the Cassiar but got turned around at Deese Lake due to landslides
over the road south in several places.Decided to head back to Skagway and ferry south
from there.
The Cassiar is a very scenic drive with several camp areas.
Frank

 

[clikrf8]

We live in Bellingham so if you need a place to camp for free about 5 miles from the ferry, you can camp here. We used to have a camp ground but the neighbors complained so the county shut us down. But, we can have friends camp here. We still have a campsite for people we know. It is rustic but we do have a porta potty and it is quiet at night. Just PM us and we can let you know if we are home. There are trails nearby and you can stock up at the many stores in town: REI, Trader Joe’s, etc.

I fished commercially in SE Alaska back in the late 1970s. I got a free tour of the Inside Passage from Bellingham to Skagway. Beautiful area.