Camping on the Deck of a Cruise Ship

Jason · March 1, 2004

Alternative Travel of the Inside Passage!

What cruise line provides campers with deck space for their tents? Some may think it a stretch to refer to the ships of the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system as cruise liners, but in a very practical sense, they have evolved into just that. For the more adventurous ocean traveler, many of the AMH ferries offer open-air camping space at the rear of the cabin deck. This area is sought out by the more spirited passengers who want to gain the maximum experience from their travel through the Inside Passage, which offers some of the most picturesque scenery in North America. On deck, campers find shelter in a large, glass-covered, semicircular solarium that is open on the end facing towards the rear of the ship. These passengers cast their sleeping bags on one of the many plastic lounge chairs located in the solarium and call this unique deck space "home" for the duration of their cruise.

From their berth, passengers have an unobstructed view of the passing mountains, fishing vessels, cargo barges, towns and abandoned settlements, whales, and possibly a bear foraging along the shore. During the night hours (approximately 10:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.) in the summer, passengers can observe brilliant stars in the crystal-clear night sky while snuggled in their sleeping bags within their little community of like-minded campers. Alternatively, campers can pitch their tent on the open deck space immediately beyond the solarium. On a recent passage from Sitka, AK to Bellingham, WA, there was only a single two-person tent on the deck. However, it is not uncommon to have twenty such tents filling up this area. Talk about finding flat ground on which to pitch a tent!

In addition to providing its camper-passengers with radiant heat in the solarium and adequately comfortable plastic lounge chairs, the ship offers showers, airport-style lockers, and toilet facilities. These facilities are conveniently located inside the ship immediately behind the solarium. Many of the AMH campers bring their own groceries for snacks or meals. Others choose to enjoy the more traditional cruise ship amenities offered by the cash-based cafeteria.

Typical of any AMH passage is a wide variety of personal backgrounds among the campers. On this voyage, the solarium campers included a very adventurous mother traveling with her two adolescent boys, an ecologist, the president of a small import-export business, and a commercial fisherman. Ann Young, a doctor from Hampshire, England, summed up the attitude of many of the travelers: "I'll be back. I like Alaskans." The woman traveling with her two pre-teen boys found the solarium camping area a safe environment where the boys could burn off energy using their creative imaginations and an area in which they could entertain themselves with the passing scenery and water-born activity. A couple from New Zealand chose to sail on the AMH ferry because of its relatively small number of passengers (198) and because it offered a unique Alaskan travel experience. "The solarium community makes it so easy to meet and chat with people," stated Fran Schmechel.

Obviously, camping on deck saves the cost of renting a stateroom. Yet, another advantage of traveling on Alaska Marine Highway ferries is the bargain fares. The passage from Sitka to Bellingham costs $245. State rooms run between $260 and $330 depending on location and the number of berths. Transporting a kayak costs $57, and a bicycle is only $18!

Jason · March 1, 2004

Alternative Travel of the Inside Passage!

What cruise line provides campers with deck space for their tents? Some may think it a stretch to refer to the ships of the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system as cruise liners, but in a very practical sense, they have evolved into just that. For the more adventurous ocean traveler, many of the AMH ferries offer open-air camping space at the rear of the cabin deck. This area is sought out by the more spirited passengers who want to gain the maximum experience from their travel through the Inside Passage, which offers some of the most picturesque scenery in North America. On deck, campers find shelter in a large, glass-covered, semicircular solarium that is open on the end facing towards the rear of the ship. These passengers cast their sleeping bags on one of the many plastic lounge chairs located in the solarium and call this unique deck space "home" for the duration of their cruise.

From their berth, passengers have an unobstructed view of the passing mountains, fishing vessels, cargo barges, towns and abandoned settlements, whales, and possibly a bear foraging along the shore. During the night hours (approximately 10:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.) in the summer, passengers can observe brilliant stars in the crystal-clear night sky while snuggled in their sleeping bags within their little community of like-minded campers. Alternatively, campers can pitch their tent on the open deck space immediately beyond the solarium. On a recent passage from Sitka, AK to Bellingham, WA, there was only a single two-person tent on the deck. However, it is not uncommon to have twenty such tents filling up this area. Talk about finding flat ground on which to pitch a tent!

In addition to providing its camper-passengers with radiant heat in the solarium and adequately comfortable plastic lounge chairs, the ship offers showers, airport-style lockers, and toilet facilities. These facilities are conveniently located inside the ship immediately behind the solarium. Many of the AMH campers bring their own groceries for snacks or meals. Others choose to enjoy the more traditional cruise ship amenities offered by the cash-based cafeteria.

Typical of any AMH passage is a wide variety of personal backgrounds among the campers. On this voyage, the solarium campers included a very adventurous mother traveling with her two adolescent boys, an ecologist, the president of a small import-export business, and a commercial fisherman. Ann Young, a doctor from Hampshire, England, summed up the attitude of many of the travelers: "I'll be back. I like Alaskans." The woman traveling with her two pre-teen boys found the solarium camping area a safe environment where the boys could burn off energy using their creative imaginations and an area in which they could entertain themselves with the passing scenery and water-born activity. A couple from New Zealand chose to sail on the AMH ferry because of its relatively small number of passengers (198) and because it offered a unique Alaskan travel experience. "The solarium community makes it so easy to meet and chat with people," stated Fran Schmechel.

Obviously, camping on deck saves the cost of renting a stateroom. Yet, another advantage of traveling on Alaska Marine Highway ferries is the bargain fares. The passage from Sitka to Bellingham costs $245. State rooms run between $260 and $330 depending on location and the number of berths. Transporting a kayak costs $57, and a bicycle is only $18!