Ferry facts

Information: Alaska Marine Highway System: www.alaska.gov/ferry, 800-642-0066.

Fare: Cost varies according to where you board and how far you go. (We boarded at Bellingham, but you can board at Prince Rupert, B.C., for example, for about half the fare. We got off at Juneau, but the ferries continue to Haines and Skagway. A single adult passenger fare from Bellingham to Juneau this summer will be $266; children 2-12 are half price, under 2 are free. Cabin costs vary by size and number of berths. This summer, prices will range from $250 (inside cabin with two berths) to $437 (four berths with window and sitting room, though only a few of those are available).

Vehicle charges vary by size ($571 for vehicles up to 15 feet, for example).

You can make stops at towns, then pick up the ferry again at a later time, for no additional charges.

Reservations: If you want a cabin, or if you're taking a car, it's safest to reserve at least six months in advance. But don't get totally discouraged if you haven't planned that far ahead; we were on a waiting list for a cabin about 1-1/2 months before departure and got an outside cabin. People sometimes hold onto reservations and then cancel before the deadline for refunds.

Finding a spot to sleep: If you're not getting a berth, board as early as you can. Check-in time is noon to 3 p.m., with loading soon after 3 o'clock. Head straight for the deck to claim a spot for your tent or to the solarium to put your sleeping bag on a deck chair. If you're tenting, bring duct tape to secure the tent to the deck.

Food: You may want to bring at least some of your own nonperishable food and drink. The cafeteria is adequate and moderately priced. When we went, dinners mostly were about $9. Typical meals included baked rockfish, carrots and potatoes and shrimp curry. Our son liked the cheeseburgers and fries. And the views from the cafeteria are unbeatable.

What to bring:

• Binoculars for wildlife viewing, and lots of good books, of course. But also:

• Your own lounge chair. If it looks like the weather is going to be good and you like lounging outside, consider bringing a cheap one you can ditch once you get there.

• Seasickness medicine. Mostly you're in protected waters, and the trip is smooth. Twice it got bumpy — especially through open waters off the Queen Charlotte Islands. Take your medicines ahead of time accordingly.

When to go: Consider that, while August usually means fair weather in Seattle, later in the month is basically the beginning of fall in Alaska. Rains start falling heavily in September. June, often crummy in Seattle, actually can be drier in Alaska.

Getting to Bellingham: If you're taking the ferry up and flying back to Seattle, you might consider taking the train to Bellingham. Amtrak's Bellingham station is located only a short walk from the ferry, and a short walk as well to the quaint and historic Fairhaven shopping district. Remember that the train arrives about 10 a.m. and the ferry doesn't board for another five hours and you'll be stuck with your luggage — there's nowhere to store it.

Which ferry to take? There are two ferries from Bellingham to Juneau — one leaving Tuesday, one Friday. They have somewhat different port stops.

This summer, the ships operating will be the MV Malaspina and the MV Columbia (the ferry we took, the Matanuska, will be on a different run). The Malaspina leaves Tuesday night and arrives in Juneau on Friday night, stopping in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg and Sitka. After leaving Juneau, it goes on to Haines and Skagway.

The Columbia leaves Friday and stops at Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau, Haines and Skagway; it stops at Sitka on the way back.

Consider flying back from Juneau, rather than ferrying both ways. We paid $240 per person to fly back — actually cheaper than our ferry passage. Look for Internet specials.