Day 22 - August 14, 2013

The M/V Kennicott arriving in Whittier, AK

 Public sitting area of the M/V Kennicott

 Ship view of Yakutat as we approach.

Another view of photo # 3 - Fog in both photos.

August 13, 2013

Day twenty two.  All is well.  On board the M/V Kennicott.

Today I awoke on board the M/V Kennicott, having departed Whittier, Alaska, enroute to Bellingham, Washington.  We boarded at almost midnight last night and sailed all night and all day, docking at 7:30 p.m. in Yakutat, Alaska to pick up passengers, vehicles, and freight, while some others left the boat.

The photos included are of Yakutat, and were made from the ship.  Unless this was an intended destination leaving the ship was not allowed.  What you see in the included photos is what was to be seen.  Yakutat has a deep-water port to accommodate larger vessels, but I do not think there are any cruise ships stopping here….no tee shirt shops were spotted from the deck of the ship.

The service speed of the M/V Kennicott is 16.75 knots (19 miles per hour).  We were traveling the entire time, so if we averaged 19 mph, we traveled 370.5 miles on what is officially named the Alaska Marine Highway.

The M/V Kennicott was built in Gulf Port, Mississippi in 1998.  This is not a luxury cruise ship.  It is a transport ship, moving people, vehicles, boats, motor homes, and cargo up and down the Alaska coast.  There are “roomettes” available.  A 6’ x 9’ roomette is intended to accommodate one or two people, and is equipped with two single folding bunk beds.  There are larger roomettes available for groups of four.  Roomettes are not required for passage, and come at an extra cost.  Some passengers elect to find rest/sleep in one of the general sitting areas (see photo) or pitch a tent in one of the open areas on deck.

Food is available, at Alaska prices, and served during normal dining hours for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  During non-meal times the dining room is “closed for cleaning”.  Food served on board is typical Cisco variety, pre-packaged, with minimal preparation onboard the vessel.  Unfortunately this seems to be standard fare in most places across all of the USA.

There are men and women common bathroom facilities and showers available on the cabin levels.  Bed linen, a pillow, a towel, and a wash cloth, are available, in pre-packaged sets, from the purser’s office for $3.00 per set.

The floors of the vessel are covered with tile on the stairs, in the roomettes, dining facilities, and most areas, and all are kept very clean. 

Access to passenger vehicles, etc. on board the ship are limited to certain times of the day.  Today access was available at 9:00 a.m. and then again when we stopped at Yakutat.