Roadtrippin’ 2024: Onboard the MV Aurora on the ferry system
The MV Aurora is named after the Aurora Glacier, located in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Covering 3,500 miles of coastline, the Alaska Marine Highway is a critical All-American route that serves Alaska and Washington.
It transports tourists, residents, and vehicles to their destination year-round, providing essential transportation to over 35 coastal communities in Alaska, many of which are not accessible by road.
Traveling a route on one of the nine ferries in the fleet typically takes anywhere from just a few hours to more than a full day or longer, depending on location.
Our Roadtrippin’ crew boarded the MV Aurora in Valdez for a roughly 5 1/2 hour trek across Prince William Sound. The name of the ferry is truly Alaskan, as it’s a tribute to the Aurora Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park which is, of course, named after the Aurora Borealis. For some members of our Roadtrippin’ crew, this trip was the first aboard a passenger ferry.
Ferries serve multiple purposes across the state, from transporting goods, to passenger services, and even marine rescues. In 2023, the MV Aurora assisted in rescuing 18 people who were stranded on a tour boat.
Another accolade the MV Aurora can tout is its ongoing contributions to gathering weather data. For four years, the Aurora was the world’s leading passenger ferry in marine weather observations.
Onboard the Aurora, travelers can easily make themselves at home with the numerous amenities onboard. There are plenty of viewing decks, sun chairs, a cafeteria, a mini movie theater, and historical displays which line the ferry’s hallways.
Prince William Sound also boasts plenty of scenic views, wildlife, and relaxation opportunities as you travel the open water at a top speed of 14.5 knots. On our trek across the sound, the weather was clear enough to take in breathtaking views of some of the glaciers that call the Chugach and Kenai Mountains home.
At 235 feet long, the MV Aurora is one of the smallest ferries in the Alaska Marine Highway System. It was constructed in 1977 at Peterson Builders, Inc. in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
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