Frank, my bad on the having to change ships in Juneau. Appears they changed that and run from Kodiak, to Chenega Bay, to Whittier, to Yakutat, to Juneau and on south putting in at Ketchikan and then Bellingham, so the guns should not be a problem as it doesn't stop at any Canadian ports.
This past summer, according to the schedule, they only made one run south in September, leaving Kodiak on Sept 8 and arriving in Bellingham on the 14th in the AM. In August they ran two runs north bound and three south. They shut the route down after the run in September and don't start up till May of the following year.
Giving the AMHS a call would sure be the best way to get current information and their enployees are really good and easy to work with so far as I have seen. We did the Prince Rupert to Skagway northbound in 2011 and back in 2004, we did the Skagway to Bellingham south bound. The section from Prince Rupert to Bellingham is not one of my favorite parts as they get away from shore a bit..
You will be able to leave your trailer attached most likely. They charge by the total length so they like it connected. Many people pulling a toad, will drive them on separately to cut down the total length and the cost a bit. We found the food to be good and reasonable in cost, the cabin to be plain but clean and all we needed. I have done a few day trips on the ferry system as well.
I think you guys will really enjoy the ferry ride. Most everyone does it seems. Some feel it is too expensive for their budget and we all have to do what we have to do.
As I mentioned before, I have been so broke on some of my trips, to Alaska, when I was young and single, I have had to stop and get work to pay for food and fuel to get to where I was going. I have eaten at more than a few Salvation Army soup kitchens, in my younger days also. Since then, anytime I have a job or now my retirement income, the SA gets a monthly donations, as I remember what they did for me and many others.
According to last summer's schedule in the back of The Milepost, the charges are for Whittier to Bellingham,
Passengers - $547 each
cabin - varies between $493 to $838
vehicles - over 21 ft in length - $105 per foot from front bumper to real bumper.
Now the do show a few two berth cabins as well that are a bit cheaper. This would be on the Ferry Kennicott which I believe due to the federal Jones Naval act, can only dock at US ports, except in emergences.
