The car deck is closed off when the ferry is underway, thus you cannot sleep in your vehicle. For more information on sleeping on the ferry see our FAQ's and General Sailing Information.
People Also Ask
For passengers who opt to travel without a cabin, the recliner lounges also serve as sleeping areas with space to roll out a sleeping bag. Covered solariums located on the upper decks of each vessel are also popular sleeping areas and for those traveling with small tents, they are allowed on the upper decks.
U.S. Coast Guard regulations prohibit access to the car deck while a vessel is underway; therefore, RVs and motorhomes may not be used for dining and sleeping while on an AMHS ferry.
Camping on the Alaska FerryYes, you read that right, you can bring a tent and camp on the deck of the ferry. This is super common and probably one of the neatest things I've seen. Each ship is different so the location of where you can set up your tent can vary.
The Alaska Marine Highway does allow vehicles to sail unaccompanied. However, depending on the port there is a unaccompanied fee attached. Many people ask about shipping their car on the ferry.
Passenger discounts will apply to full priced Adult, Senior and Child fares. The discount cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotional fares, such as youth group discounts, passes or specials. Travelers are advised to figure the relative advantage of one discount over another.
When your ferry stops in a port, you can either get off and walk around for a few hours or drive off and spend a few days. You can get back on the ferry to head elsewhere or keep driving to your own destinations.
You can't stay in your car for safety reasons. In case of an emergency, like a fire or a collision, you need to be able to evacuate the ship quickly. Most of the time, you need to join rafts located above the car deck.
Additionally, be cautious of wildlife, such as bears, and store food and scented items securely. You can find some suitable locations for car camping in Alaska on Hipcamp, such as Safety Cove, Sealion Cove, and Sunny Cove.
When traveling by sea during the night hours it is possible to sleep with an assigned seat, in an armchair or in a berth, or perhaps in an exclusive cabin depending on the type of accommodation on board selected during the booking phase.
If a vehicle is broken down onboard, the responsibility ultimately is with the owner of the vehicle. The ferry crew is under no obligation to re-start vehicles that have broken down.
Park Your Car on the FerryYou don't want to run the risk that a large wave will make your car roll into other vehicles. Lock all of your doors before leaving the vehicle. Do not, however, turn on your car's alarm system.
Ferry from Bellingham WA to Whittier AKThe ferry from Bellingham to Ketchikan deprts every week, year -round and takes approximately 36 hours. In the summer season from May through September, there are are 2 ferries travelilng from Bellingham to Ketchikan.