Just a heads up (Haines, Metlakatla: lease, bankrupt, high school)

[ASpilot2be]

Chilkat Cruises went bankrupt, so as of now there is no boats between Haines and Skagway. This also puts a halt on glacier point tours because the boat isnt running to GP.

Just something to keep in mind if you were going to try and make it over to Haines. Hopefully a few local buisnesses will lease boats and crews from Four Seasons Marine.

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by ASpilot2be

Chilkat Cruises went bankrupt, so as of now there is no boats between Haines and Skagway. This also puts a halt on glacier point tours because the boat isnt running to GP.

Just something to keep in mind if you were going to try and make it over to Haines. Hopefully a few local buisnesses will lease boats and crews from Four Seasons Marine.

Chilkat Cruises ran the ferry between Skag and Haines, right? AMHS services that but not at any normal frequency, is that correct? I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to do the Golden Circle drive now or even get to and from Haines and Skag.

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by cobolt

Chilkat Cruises ran the ferry between Skag and Haines, right? AMHS services that but not at any normal frequency, is that correct? I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to do the Golden Circle drive now or even get to and from Haines and Skag.

Chilkat Cruises ran passenger ferries between the two towns. The AMHS has a day boat this summer that leaves Skagway at 7AM for Haines, then Juneau, then returns north in the evening. I am gonna miss the Fairweather

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by ASpilot2be

Chilkat Cruises ran passenger ferries between the two towns. The AMHS has a day boat this summer that leaves Skagway at 7AM for Haines, then Juneau, then returns north in the evening. I am gonna miss the Fairweather

That sucks. It just puts more restrictions on my travel.

[Metlakatla]

I like the Fairweather.

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

I like the Fairweather.

It is the true people hauler of the fleet

[rotorhead]

Those multiple-times-per-day Skagway to Haines runs are so crucial to the economy here in Haines that there's essentially NO possibility that they'll disappear. There may be fewer runs on some days, and it looks very likely that the first and last runs of the day will be by a Skagway-based crew due to the fuel costs of repositioning, but you can bet the bank that the core portion of that schedule WILL be covered. It's almost certain that the exact same boats will be used, they'll just be leased and operated by another company.

The "golden circle" drive will be unaffected, the boats we're talking about here are passenger-only, and have never transported any vehicles other than the occasional bicycle or kayak. You shouldn't confuse them with the AMHS ferry that DOES carry vehicles, and will also be making daily runs between Skagway, Haines, and Juneau.

And yes, many people in town prefer the Fairweather over the conventional boats since it's so much faster..at least in the summer. I'm pretty sure that the AMHS prefers whichever of the fleet is the most fuel-efficient these days, those high-speed cats burn a LOT of fuel at speed.

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by rotorhead

Those multiple-times-per-day Skagway to Haines runs are so crucial to the economy here in Haines that there's essentially NO possibility that they'll disappear. There may be fewer runs on some days, and it looks very likely that the first and last runs of the day will be by a Skagway-based crew due to the fuel costs of repositioning, but you can bet the bank that the core portion of that schedule WILL be covered. It's almost certain that the exact same boats will be used, they'll just be leased and operated by another company.


And yes, many people in town prefer the Fairweather over the conventional boats since it's so much faster..at least in the summer. I'm pretty sure that the AMHS prefers whichever of the fleet is the most fuel-efficient these days, those high-speed cats burn a LOT of fuel at speed.

I heard a couple buisnesses are in talks with Four Seasons marine to keep operating atleast two of the boats.

The Fairweather burns no more fuel in a typical day in the northern Lynn Canal. It can go to Haines, back to Juneau, up to Skagway and back and burn the same amount of fuel that the Taku would going Juneau-Haines-Skagway-Haines-Juneau.

[seastar311]

That's sad news about Chilcat Cruises. I took them to Haines last summer for a day at the SE AK State Fair...lots of fun! I really liked how the staff taught us a bit about their native culture on the way over.

[garyberang]

How u all doing Merry Christmass up there i lived on the part of where the USCG housing use to be. The Chilkat first came there during the winter of 1975 or something i know cuz i played the drums in the Metlakatla High School Band Marty was the trombiness and Terri was a saxahoniest and melody was the clarinet and so and so on I miss u all take care god bless