I took an overnight ferry in Alaska instead of a big cruise. It was a cheaper, no-frills way to see the same beautiful scenery I would on a mega ship.

Brendan SainsburyJul 30, 2022, 16:35 IST

Alaska's public ferries navigate the Inside Passage, an area frequented by cruise ships.Brendan Sainsbury

On a recent trip to Alaska, I booked a cabin on an overnight ferry to see the Inside Passage.
Unlike cruise ships on the same route, it's far cheaper, is no frills, and serves mostly locals.

On a recent trip to Alaska, I booked a cabin on a state overnight ferry to navigate the Inside Passage rather than board a traditional cruise.

I boarded a public overnight ferry in Alaska to see the Inside Passage, a route favored by cruise ships.Brendan Sainsbury

Rather than serving solely leisure travel, the ferry is part of the Alaska Marine Highway, which is the state's main public transportation system.

Without interconnecting roads in remote Alaska, the ferry serves as a vital commuting option for locals.Brendan Sainsbury

Launched in 1962, the MV Matanuska is one of nine public ferries operating on the Alaska Marine Highway System.

The MV Matanuska is a passenger and car ferry operating a 19-hour overnight route between Juneau and Ketchikan, with stops in Petersburg and Wrangell, Alaska.Brendon Sainsbury

I started my journey in Juneau, the state capital of Alaska. It's a city with no road connections to the rest of North America.

My ferry departed from a smaller terminal in Juneau than cruise ships are able to use.Brendan Sainsbury

I was immediately struck by the vast size difference between the MV Matanuska and traditional cruise ships.

The Matanuska can carry up to 450 passengers while cruise ships can accommodate several thousand.Brendan Sainsbury

Unlike a cruise ship, the Matanuska's cabins were small and utilitarian, but I thought they had all the necessities for a comfortable night's sleep.

My two-berth cabin was no frills and utilitarian, but comfortable.Brendan Sainsbury

I awoke at 7:30 a.m. ready to explore the ship. I found the cafeteria to be practically deserted.

A cafeteria was the main dining option onboard the Matanuska.Brendan Sainsbury

Unlike large cruises, meals were not included with my ticket.

The menu was basic but cheaply priced.Brendan Sainsbury

After breakfast, I spent the next half-hour exploring the ship and its various facilities, which were scattered over three levels.

A dining area accompanies the cafeteria.Brendan Sainsbury

The observation lounge, one of two communal seating areas on the Matanuska, seemed to be the most popular place for passengers to relax during the day.

Most passengers onboard the Matanuska congregated in the observation lounge.Brendan Sainsbury

The other recliner lounge doubled up as a place to sleep for those who didn't pay extra for a cabin.

A recliner lounge offered comfortable seating to those who did not purchase a private cabin to sleep in.Brendan Sainsbury

Midship was a modest bar with purple lighting and an upright piano that I thought looked like it had been salvaged from a Skagway saloon.

The only recreation onboard was music playing in a bar area.Brendan Sainsbury

Outside, I found a sundeck, a helipad, and a covered solarium with overhead heaters for inclement weather.

Outdoor areas included a sundeck, solarium, and helipad where passengers may pitch tents.Brendan Sainsbury

With no onboard Wi-Fi or organized entertainment, I came ready with Alaska-themed literature.

I passed the time by reading and watching the scenery.Brendan Sainsbury

At 9 a.m., the ferry docked briefly at the small fishing community of Petersburg, the first of two scheduled stops on the way to Ketchikan.

I had about a half hour to explore in our first port stop.Brendan Sainsbury

Leaving Petersburg, the Matanuska navigated its way through the Wrangell Narrows, a sinuous channel between Mitkof and Kupreanof Islands that, at times, was not much wider than a river.

While we sailed, I observed isolated cabins and lighthouses, glacier-encrusted mountains, boats and seaplanes, and wildlife.Brendan Sainsbury

Leaving Petersburg, the Matanuska navigated its way through the Wrangell Narrows, a sinuous channel between Mitkof and Kupreanof Islands that, at times, was not much wider than a river.

Our second stop was Wrangell, Alaska.

Our second stop en route to Ketchikan was Wrangell, Alaska.Brendan Sainsbury

South of Wrangell, the ferry continued to weave its way through the Alexander Archipelago, a cluster of over 1,100 islands speckling the jagged coast of the Alaskan panhandle.

I enjoyed time on the deck to observe the passing scenery.Brendan Sainsbury

South of Wrangell, the ferry continued to weave its way through the Alexander Archipelago, a cluster of over 1,100 islands speckling the jagged coast of the Alaskan panhandle.

Scanning the shoreline, I got a true sense of the scale of Alaska's wilderness. I thought I might sail for hours without seeing any sign of human life on land.

Many islands we passed appeared to be uninhabited.Brendan Sainsbury

We sailed into our final stop, Ketchikan on Revillagigedo Island at 7:15 p.m., right on schedule.

After 19 hours, we arrived in Ketchikan, right next to cruise ships full of tourists.Brendan Sainsbury

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I took an overnight ferry in Alaska instead of a big cruise. It was a cheaper, no-frills way to see the same beautiful scenery I would on a mega ship.

On a recent trip to Alaska, I booked a cabin on a state overnight ferry to navigate the Inside Passage rather than board a traditional cruise.

Rather than serving solely leisure travel, the ferry is part of the Alaska Marine Highway, which is the state's main public transportation system.

Launched in 1962, the MV Matanuska is one of nine public ferries operating on the Alaska Marine Highway System.

I started my journey in Juneau, the state capital of Alaska. It's a city with no road connections to the rest of North America.

I was immediately struck by the vast size difference between the MV Matanuska and traditional cruise ships.

Unlike a cruise ship, the Matanuska's cabins were small and utilitarian, but I thought they had all the necessities for a comfortable night's sleep.

I awoke at 7:30 a.m. ready to explore the ship. I found the cafeteria to be practically deserted.

Unlike large cruises, meals were not included with my ticket.

After breakfast, I spent the next half-hour exploring the ship and its various facilities, which were scattered over three levels.

The observation lounge, one of two communal seating areas on the Matanuska, seemed to be the most popular place for passengers to relax during the day.

The other recliner lounge doubled up as a place to sleep for those who didn't pay extra for a cabin.

Midship was a modest bar with purple lighting and an upright piano that I thought looked like it had been salvaged from a Skagway saloon.

Outside, I found a sundeck, a helipad, and a covered solarium with overhead heaters for inclement weather.

With no onboard Wi-Fi or organized entertainment, I came ready with Alaska-themed literature.

At 9 a.m., the ferry docked briefly at the small fishing community of Petersburg, the first of two scheduled stops on the way to Ketchikan.

Leaving Petersburg, the Matanuska navigated its way through the Wrangell Narrows, a sinuous channel between Mitkof and Kupreanof Islands that, at times, was not much wider than a river.

Our second stop was Wrangell, Alaska.

South of Wrangell, the ferry continued to weave its way through the Alexander Archipelago, a cluster of over 1,100 islands speckling the jagged coast of the Alaskan panhandle.

Scanning the shoreline, I got a true sense of the scale of Alaska's wilderness. I thought I might sail for hours without seeing any sign of human life on land.

We sailed into our final stop, Ketchikan on Revillagigedo Island at 7:15 p.m., right on schedule.