Inside Passage Route from Prince Rupert to Juneau, Alaska

Costs (I spent):

Transportation: $141 (US)

Food: $30, food on board is somewhat reasonable, I brought some snacks on board. There is also opportunity to buy food in Ketchikan as the boat stops along the way.

Accomidation: $0 !! None required, plenty of good sleeping spots on board at no cost.

This is a route that passes through spectacular views of the coastal mountains in Alaska. The mountains seem to get bigger the further north you travel. Its a long trip 28-36 hours depending on the ship and scheduled stops. Unlinke the BC Ferries the Alaska ferry allows passengers to get off the boat whenever it stops, so you will have 20-90 minutes to explore a couple towns along the way.

The ferries are perfectly suited for backpackers, showers are free (on most boats, some will cost $2). There are a variety of free sleeping options on board. Sleeping outside in the solarium or pitching a tent on the back deck is permitted and very comfortable. I recommend sleeping on the long beach chairs available in the solarium. Its out of the wind and there are radiant heaters covering the entire ceiling of the solarium, they will keep you perfectly warm and comfortable in your sleeping bag. Pitching a tent on deck will expose the tent to a lot of wind, bring duct tape. Also a tent will take up space other passengers would use to walk around or relax outside. It is also possible to sleep in a seat inside, or find a quiet corner inside to sleep. Apparently in the summer months the ships can get busy and space will be at a premium, I was there in late June and there was only a handful of other backpackers sleeping in the solarium with me. Lockers are also available on board for 25 or 50 cents.

There is a cafeteria on board, food is slightly more expensive than on land but still fairly reasonable, try the pizza. You can bring food on board but keep in mind you are crossing a border and certain fruits and meats are not allowed to cross. You can also buy food at towns as you stop along the way, although Ketchikan will be the only place with a grocery store and expect to pay a bit more than you would at a grocery store closer to civilisation.

Expect to meet some really interesting people on board. Humpback Whales and porpoises are also fairly common especially as you get closer to Juneau, best viewing is on back deck or the forward observation deck; seals and Orcas are also a possibility.