ferry question (Seattle, Mukilteo: cabins, moving, ferries)

[LMB]

I know dogs aren't allowed in the passenger cabins of ferries, but where do walk-on passengers with dogs ride? Is there a sheltered area on the ferry for a foot passenger traveling with a dog, or do they just have to brave the elements on the outside decks--or else stand inside somewhere on the car decks? I've seen walk-on passengers in line for the ferry with dogs, but I've never noticed where they go once they board. I've seen small dogs in carriers inside the passenger cabins, but I'm interested in taking a larger dog on the ferry as a walk-on.

Thanks!

Lynn

[pw72]

Pet Policy

[LMB]

Thanks PW72--I thought there may be another area to ride, some place more sheltered, but evidently it's either the outside decks or the car holding area for the big dogs & their people. I have seen small dogs on leash and in carriers inside the cabins several times, so I don't think the pet policy is followed strictly. If you stay in the car area with your dog during crossing, does anyone know where you exit the ferry? Do you just walk off with the cars? Or do they let walkers go first, along with the bike riders? I've never seen anyone do that, but we've rarely been parked that close to the exit ramp.

Lynn

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by LMB

If you stay in the car area with your dog during crossing, does anyone know where you exit the ferry? Do you just walk off with the cars? Or do they let walkers go first, along with the bike riders? I've never seen anyone do that, but we've rarely been parked that close to the exit ramp.

Lynn:

"Walk-ons" generally enter and exit from the main deck via the pedestrian ramps. On the car deck, bicyclists and motorcyclists are first on/first off, followed by the trucks and cars. I'd suppose if you stood on the car deck with your leashed dog as a walk-on, that you would simply walk off along along with the bicyclists after the ramp was lowered and secured.

As mentioned, I think it's generally low key. I see leashed dogs up on the top "observation" deck fairly frequently even though strictly speaking it's against policy. In my experience, western "Washatonians" and Canadian "B.C.'ers" tend to be very accepting of dogs in most public places.

[LMB]

Thanks for the info, Dendrite. I have also seen leashed dogs on the outside decks, so I assumed I could do that--and there are somewhat sheltered areas on the upper deck, which would probably be more comfortable than the car decks. At least it wouldn't be as windy and there are benches. Even though the pet policy rules don't allow dogs, even leashed, in the terminals, I don't know of any other way to board the Bainbridge ferry from the Seattle side since tickets are required from that direction. I have seen a few passengers with large dogs on leash go through the turnstiles there, so it must be an "unenforced" rule. It's been my experience as well that the Northwest in general is more dog-friendly than many places.

Thanks again!

Lynn

[psprague]

I always wondered what the actual pet policy was. I ride the BI to downtown ferry alot as a walk on and most mornings, there is a lady with a big black dog. She sits inside the terminal before boarding and walks right into the cabin with it. It has no markings as a service dog but most of the regulars seem to know her and give it a scratch. Its not unusual to see someone with a lapmutt under their arm either. On the other hand, some people are deathly afraid of dogs, and just about any dog too.

[Ira500]

I was on the upper deck on the Mukilteo ferry with my dog a couple of years ago, and told by a ferry employee to move, so went back to the car area. when the boats' moving, theres lots of places on the car deck to walk around in, but I don't know about how if you don't have a car.

[LMB]

Originally Posted by Ira500

I was on the upper deck on the Mukilteo ferry with my dog a couple of years ago, and told by a ferry employee to move, so went back to the car area. when the boats' moving, theres lots of places on the car deck to walk around in, but I don't know about how if you don't have a car.

The link above (by pw72) states that the official ferry pet policy is that you can't have pets in the terminal or above the car deck level unless they are in a carrier. However, it sounds like it depends on the ferry staff's discretion at the time because I've often seen dogs on leash inside and outside on the decks--and others evidently have too.

I'm still not clear about how a passenger can board the boat from the downtown dock as a walk-on with a leashed dog without going through the terminal (and therefore violating the rules). Must be one of those "gray" areas. I'll ask the next time I'm on the ferry.

Thanks again everyone.

Lynn