Ferry Costs

paulj wrote:

AKSuperDually wrote:
I was participating in the other thread about taking the ferry from Whittier to Bellingham, and didn't want to derail the thread.......
The big turnoff for me is the animal policy. They must be in a crate, and can only be let out of it 3 times a day ...

In other words, which would you rather take, your guns or your pets.

I took a small terrier on a 20 hr BC ferry run (Port Hardy to Prince Rupert). While the dog had done fine on shorter (2hr) ferry rides, on this one he choose to go into a quasi-hibernation after the first 4 hrs (the second deck visit). He was ok, though, on the 6hr rides to and from Haida Gwaii. I con't imagine taking a dog on a 5 day run, unless he was happy spending all day by himself in the RV. Alaska also seems to have more regulations regarding dogs than BC.

It's worth keeping in mind that the Whittier run is much longer than the usual BC or SE Alaska runs. A Prince Rupert to Skagway ride can be broken up into segments less than a day long. I suspect the real alternative to the Whittier boat is flying, and shipping the vehicle by barge.

I have a belgian malinois. I'd never do it to my dog.

I'd consider it if I had a place to leave him, and wasn't towing a trailer.

If I attend training or competitions, I'll fly. Mostly, after this trip we're hoping to not have to leave Alaska again for at least 5 years. The cost of this trip is derailing our summer, and I don't even like Oregon. Still, closing up our businesses in Oregon so we can be completely free of that state, is a priority. Especially since they audited me this year. I had to pay a lawyer to prove them wrong, which they did....and now I wait 90 days while they hold my money hostage. I can't be free of that state soon enough. I love camping in my camper, and I don't mind the drive...but I'm ready to be done with this trip...and I haven't even left yet.