| For Alaskans and Alaska visitors who yearn for a | | | | picturesquetiny community of Pelican, fares will run |
| different kind of day cruise in Southcentral or | | | | $34 for adults and $24 for seniors from |
| Southeast Alaska there's good news this spring, | | | | May 1 through September 30. (Please note: The |
| summer, and fall from the folks at the Alaska Marine | | | | Bartlett Cove and Pelican trips willbe aboard either |
| Highway System. And we're talking fast ferries here | | | | the traditional ferry vessel LaConte or the Aurora.not |
| -- sleek, spiffy double-hull catamarans that can | | | | the Fairweather.) |
| transport passengers from Cordova to Valdez or | | | | Chenega's Spring Schedule in Southeast |
| from Juneau to Skagway faster than you can say | | | | At present the Fairweather is laid up for engine |
| "Beam me up, Scotty." | | | | repairs. In themeantime, until mid-April when the |
| Well, maybe not that fast. But fast. As in 36 knots | | | | Fairweather returns to Southeast Alaska serviceand |
| (41 miles per hour)fast. | | | | the Chenega heads to Southcentral Alaska and its |
| Two high speed ferries will offer this kind of service: | | | | Cordova summertimehomeport, the Chenega is |
| the M/V Chenegawill home port in Cordova and the | | | | providing fast ferry service between Juneau and |
| M/V Fairweather will be based in | | | | Sitka on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and |
| Juneau. | | | | between Juneau and Haines/ |
| Each ship is barely a year old and can accommodate | | | | Skagway on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. |
| up to 150 passengers. | | | | The Juneau-Sitka trips depart at 8 a.m. for an |
| Each boasts a comfortable observation lounge that | | | | approximately four and a halfhour journey to Sitka |
| can accommodate all 150travelers. Or, for a change | | | | (depending on tides in Sergius Narrows), then a |
| of perspective, 109 of these passengers may also | | | | departurefrom Sitka at 1:30 p.m. with arrival back in |
| travelin either vessel's mid-ship area. The interior | | | | Juneau around 6 p.m. - again dependingon tides. |
| space features a combination ofreclining airliner-type | | | | Chenega's Juneau departures for Haines/Skagway |
| seats and table arrangements with some zones | | | | are at 8 a.m.,arriving in Haines in two hours and 45 |
| dedicated towork and study. Additional seating is | | | | minutes. The vessel will then execute a 30-minute |
| available in the ship's exterior solarium,located aft. | | | | shuttle Haines-Skagway-Haines for a southbound |
| There are no passenger cabins. Each ship offers a | | | | departure to Juneau at |
| full-service snack barand can carry up to 35 cars. | | | | 12:15 p.m. Arrival in the capital city will be at 4:45 p.m. |
| From Cordova, the Chenega will offer daily service | | | | Fairweather's Summer Schedule in Southeast |
| through Prince | | | | May 1 through September 30, 2006 the fast ferry |
| William Sound to Valdez and Whittier, both connected | | | | Fairweather will again sail thepopular routings that |
| by road to Anchorage and | | | | garnered the vessel high praise in summer '05: Juneau |
| Southcentral Alaska. | | | | non-stop trips to and from Sitka, Haines, and |
| From Juneau the Fairweather will offer non-stop | | | | Skagway. The schedule is especiallyattractive for |
| sailings to Sitka, Haines, and | | | | both Alaskans and visitors from Outside who are |
| Skagway, the latter two connected by highways to | | | | looking for a one-daycruising excursion or a two-day |
| the main body of Alaska via | | | | (or longer) overnighter. Here's how it allshapes up: |
| Canada's Yukon Territory. | | | | On Mondays and Wednesdays, ship will depart |
| 30% Discounts on Selected Routes | | | | Juneau's ferry terminal atnearby Auke Bay at 8 a.m. |
| More good news: Starting May 1 passengers will get | | | | for a 12:30 p.m. arrival in Sitka. Departing from Sitka |
| a new 30 percent discounton one-way and roundtrip | | | | at |
| Chenega travel between Cordova and Valdezand | | | | 1:30 p.m., the vessel will arrive back in Juneau at 6 |
| between Cordova and Whittier. The discounted fares | | | | p.m. |
| will be valid May 1 through | | | | Tuesdays, the vessel will leave Juneau at 8 a.m., |
| September 30. | | | | arrive in Skagway at 10:30a.m., depart at 11 a.m. and |
| This translates into one-way fares of $34 for adults | | | | be back in Juneau at 1:30 p.m. |
| 64 years and younger and | | | | Thursdays through Sundays Fairweather will provide |
| $24 for seniors 65 years and older on the Valdez run. | | | | two round trips,one to and from Haines and the |
| Between Cordova and Whittierthe fares are $60 and | | | | other to and from Skagway. The first will be an 8a.m. |
| $43, respectively. The 30 percent discount also | | | | departure from Juneau with a 10:15 a.m. docking at |
| applies tochildren's fares, cars, bikes, and kayaks. | | | | Haines; departure from |
| In Southeast Alaska the same discount - 30 percent | | | | Haines at 10:45 a.m. and arrival back in Juneau at 1 |
| - applies to trips between | | | | p.m. After a half-hourturnaround, the vessel will leave |
| Juneau and Bartlett Cove in Glacier Bay National Park, | | | | Juneau at 1:30 p.m., arrive in Skagway at 4 p.m.then |
| May 1- August 16. Fares willbe priced $28 for adults | | | | depart Skagway at 4:30 p.m. for an arrival back in |
| and $20 for seniors. Between Juneau and the | | | | Juneau at 7 p.m. |