Alaska with a cargo ship return option

[gypsydad]

I got the quote back on shipping the 28' AS and F250 back from Anchorage to Takoma, WA; $4,914.51. They said no passengers allowed so would have to add in airfare and hotels plus transportation from Seattle to Tacoma to pick up, I guess...think I will drive round trip now, unless "someone" can get a "real special price" for AS!

Origin: Anchorage, AK - Terminal Destination: Tacoma, WA - Terminal Cargo Description: 60B2 Item 2959B: SB Ford F250
Charge type 21' 8" 8' 6" 7' 15 Ocean Charge $1,127.00 Ocean Fuel Surcharge* 29.00% $326.83 Port Charge $123.00 Personal Effects** $0.78 $0.00
No more than 1/4 tank of fuel is allowed.
Total for F250: $1,576.83
4 to 6 days
2917: 28’ Travel Trailers and Modules (Airstream)
Charge type 28 8.50 legal Ocean Charge $89 $2,492.00 Ocean Fuel Surcharge* 29.00% $722.68 Port Charge $123.00
Total for Airstream 28': $3,337.68
Grand Total for Airstream and F250TV= $4,914.51

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by pjshier

My contact contacted TOTE with the general idea and has asked for special pricing. I will report back when known.

For me, northbound, it went like this:
Drop off at dockside through a well thought out process of presenting a bill of lading number at the Port security shack, they tell you how to get to the TOTE scale. Arrive TOTE scale and receiving building, where they weigh and measure, as a few questions about propane shut off, etc., then you pays your money and get a cab or Uber to your hotel or airport. I walked out to the main gate and took a bus from Tacoma to SeaTac. They load and secure the vehicle(s). If you are just shipping the trailer and decide to take the TV on the Alaska Marine Highway - off you go to Haines or Skagway by road.

I tracked the vessel on their web site for fun. I got a call from the Anchorage dock the morning after the ship arrived. On this side, I showed the security gate the bill of lading, they pointed to the correct turn-off and I was quickly in the TOTE yard following signs to the pick up area. Checked in at the dispatcher's building, we did a walk around and I signed off. They gave me plenty of time to fuss around with the new hitch, as it was the first tow with my truck.

Prepare yourself for a lot of trucks and forklifts stopping by as you are hitching - drivers all with big smiles admiring an AS up close.

So for timing - if you ship all and fly to meet the arrival - it should be pretty easy to figure out.

Missed this update earlier; thanks for the info. Look at my post above on the cost estimate; does that look close to what you paid for your AS?

[1970 Safari]

Ditto on all the info, cabins sound interesting...How about dogs on board too?

[EarStreaming]

Bookmarking and thank you for this info!

[tevake]

At those prices. It doesn't sound like the shippers are trying to fill otherwise empty space.

For comparison the last time I shipped a truck from L A to Hawaii, twice the distance as the trip from Anchorige to Seattle the cost was $1,100, same price for the reverse route too.

Granted the cubic size of an RV is larger than a truck. But for roll on roll off I think its the footprint that they measure.

Will be interesting to see if they come up with a better rate to encourage RV traffic.

Cheers Richard

[pjshier]

Still holding out for a better rate based on my colleague's inquiry. Will report when I hear more. I may run by the Port office and see if I can scare up any info, but am pretty sure Rich has to work this through the home office in Tacoma.

I checked my records and see I paid $5500 for the International Serenity 27FB AS northbound. Looks like your southbound number is better, but they need to sharpen their pencil. The southbound rate for the truck looks within a $100 of my last northbound rate for the F350 I shipped here last spring... seems like it ought to be much less, south.

Al to say: stand by, one. I suspect auto shippers consolidate vehicles on TOTE - I saw two auto transport trailers at the dock, full of vehicles. Hoping Rich can find a "bulk" deal. I'll report back in either case.

[capt_ron777]

aren't there other companies that do similar routes- actually ithink more alaska drop-offs-that will take your TV, AS and book you a cabin for the trip, so as to make it a site seeing trip, plus a way to get up there or back?

[Steamy1]

I remember reading about a cruise ship that could accommodate RV vehicles. A search revealed the following:

South Florida Sun Sentinel
February 19, 1989

If you would like to enjoy Alaska by sea on a cruise ship, and by land in your own recreational vehicle or car, don't despair.
Admiral Cruises' Stardancer may be the ticket for you.
A 27,000-ton vessel, it is the only cruise ship on the Alaska run that combines 10 passenger decks with two vehicle-carrying decks.
It's really easy to cruise with your car or RV, says Admiral Cruises' spokeswoman Laura P. Bennett of Miami. "You literally drive in and park your car, then take the elevator to your cabin."
The feature is very popular, Bennett adds, with the vehicle-carrying decks filled to capacity on most sailings. It is particularly appealing to pet owners who travel in RVs.
"If you have a dog, you can bring it and keep it in the RV; that's one of the big bonuses if you like to travel with your pet."
Stardancer sails on seven-night Inside Passage cruises from Vancouver to Ketchikan with calls at Juneau, Skagway and Haines along the way. Passengers can disembark with their vehicles at the ports of their choosing, explore and re-board.
Fares for the cruise range from $1,300 to $3,000. Fees ranging from $10 to $18 per linear foot are charged for cars and RVs.
Admiral Cruises, whose ship Emerald Seas sails from Miami, is at 1220 Biscayne Blvd., Miami 33101, phone 1-800-327-0271.

I do not know how long this service lasted. Too bad it is not an option any longer, that I know of.

[nryn]

This information is pretty easy to find—look up the Alaskan Marine Highway System and enter starting and ending locations, the parameters for your rig, and the number of passengers (for cabins).

I looked into this briefly as an option for our summer 2019 trip. Our trip would have been 5 days from Washington (Bellingham) to around Anchorage (Whittier I believe) or vice versa and with the cabins (we would need two) it made no sense financially. I seem to recall the one-way trip for a 27’ trailer, an F-250, and a family of four was around 10k but I didn’t take notes.

[Steamy1]

Certainly aware of the Alaskan Marine Highway Ferry system but was interested in a more cost effective option.

I priced a trip from Bellingham to Homer for our TV & AS and it was almost $9K, without a cabin.

Also, the restrictions on access to take care of the dog was problematic.

my preferred travel is to drive up and return via ferry/ship.

[JP Patches]

Also have wanted to plan this return but agree cost MUST be more inviting. Thanks for effort. Will stay turned

[pjshier]

"Pinged" the folks with the pencils again, shared some of your pertinent concerns. Will report back when more I known!

[Photobum]

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[awrpete]

Interested in the details; having traveled in Alaska by boat and plane, now eager to explore by land.
Peter and Liz
SF Bay Area

[Jim Pete]

Great Information, I'm planning a 2 - 3 unit trip to Alaska in '20. will keep this info.
thanks

[Life is a Highway]

Were interested with the rest?

A question is can you ride on the ship and leave your TV attached to the trailer?

[4seasons]

I think we’re gonna need a bigger boat.

[dugster]

Interested

[caronair]

Thanks for the info- following

[jaodco71]

Very interested in more information!