03-30-2012, 06:43 AM
quote:
Originally posted by tada
OK you folk convinced me the ferry is the way to go for rugged individualist Alaskan wannabe like me. Though if u can't get lost in these towns maybe not worth going with a car? I am retiring later this year so might as still looking into maybe a housekeeping type job on the cruise for next year??
I don't think they hire US citizens for most ship positions. The ships are foreign flagged with foreign workers so the US labor laws don't apply to them. Also, at best the live aboards are stacked 6 each per tiny room, at worst they are 12 each per tiny room, but only 6 at a time as they sleep during alternate shifts, theres not even a little space to call "your own".
Wanted to add, taking your car on/off the ferry is expensive and time consuming. You would have to crunch the numbers (if for example, you were going to take ferries up, and then once you get to Haines or Skagway, drive back to the US through Canada) it might make sense but otherwise it is probably cheaper to leave the car behind and rent a vehicle at each place you want to drive.
Another option is to use a combination of ferries and puddle jumpers. For example, I think its about $60 to take the ferry from Juneau to Skagway, but it's only $80 to fly there on a puddle jumper, plus it saves you 1/2 a day and you get to see the glaciers etc from the air instead of sea.
If you are going to drive in Haines or Skagway (or from one to the other), remember passports for everybody because all of the roads out pass through Canada.