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Alaska Marine Highway System

MV Malaspina

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Reviewed by: Sean C. McDermott
# previous cruises: 5
Date of Trip: October 25, 1997
Itinerary: Alaska

The M/V MALASPINA is not so much a cruise ship as a ferry. She is operated by the Alaska Marine Highway System, based in Juneau, Alaska, and is an enjoyable, inexpensive way to see Southeast Alaska.

The MALASPINA has nice public rooms. I remember traveling on this ship back in June 1992, when several areas on the ship were refurbished. Unlike many of the blue-and-white ferries in the Alaska Marine Highway System, the Malaspina has a small lounge called "Lil's Room," which has a sea view and is great for reading, writing, meetings, etc. There is no pool but there is a solarium (glass-covered area) on the top deck.

The cafeteria, as on the other ships, serves good old-fashioned American fare. Occasionally, Alaskan specials are served. There is no sit-down dining room but the food is great and reasonably priced.

On my most recent trip I didn't have a cabin (many people sleep on deck--a fun and cheaper way to travel these "blue canoes"), but I have stayed in several of the Malaspina's 84 cabins on various occasions. All are fairly nice. Most outside cabins have four beds and most inside cabins have two beds (one upper and one lower). Although a bit smaller than many cruise ship cabins, the cabins on this ship still have enough room for two to four people. The Malaspina also features eleven four-bed cabins with an additional sitting area.

Quite often, naturalists from the United States Forest Service are onboard, who offer various lectures on Southeast Alaska. Occasionally, a few musicians may play on board, but there are no Broadway-type shows onboard.

In 1998 the Malaspina will operate part of the summer between Bellingham, Washington, and Skagway, Alaska, calling at Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka (northbound only), Juneau, Haines, and Skagway, and visiting these same ports on the southbound run. She will also, once the new ferry KENNICOTT enters service, offer daily service from Juneau, Alaska, to Haines and Skagway.

Many passengers are from Alaska, although during the summer, there are many people from the "Lower 48" (the rest of the United States), Canada, and other parts of the world who use the Alaska Marine Highway System. There are passengers of all ages on board.