Frequently Asked Questions

In an effort to continue to keep our passengers & crews safe, beginning July 15th, 2020 the Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA) will require passengers to complete a Passenger Wellness Screening Form before allowed to board our vessel.

The form has a series of questions that outline the IFA’s current conditions of service:

• Questions 1-5 address if you are Covid-19 positive or have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19; you will not be allowed to travel under these circumstances.
• Questions 6 & 7 identify passengers that either have results pending for a COVID-19 test or are in transit to a quarantine location; passengers with these circumstances will be allowed to travel but will be required to wear face covering, practice social distancing and limit social interaction.

The IFA’s top priority is to keep customers, employees and the community safe, and we appreciate your cooperation in adhering to our protocols.

Use this handy Flow Chart released by the Dept of Health & Social Services to know what you need to do if you are traveling from out of state! No tests are required to ride the IFA ferry.

Yes. As the novel COVID-19 coronavirus continues to impact all of us, the IFA’s priority is the health and safety of anyone boarding our vessels and entering our terminals.

Ketchikan Terminal is Closed to the Public & there is No Waiting Area for Travelers

Please be advised the Ketchikan Terminal is closed to the public. If you or someone you  know will be traveling with us, please have other arrangements in place for waiting until the 2:30pm boarding begins.

Agents will be available on sailing days for ticket pick-up and reservations.

The IFA has reduced ferry service, please call for up-to-date information 866-308-4848.  We have capped our normal passenger capacity to allow for proper social distancing, so space is more limited and reservations are recommended.  Check-in early to allow for additional check-in measures. Our Crews and Terminal Agents are using proven sanitation measures recommended by the CDC to prevent the spread of the virus. Your cooperation in following Crew and Agent directions at all times is greatly appreciated.

Yes, and you can also make a reservation online. The toll-free phone number to reach one of our friendly agents is 866-308-4848.  We depart Hollis at 8:00am and arrive in Ketchikan at 11:00am, then we depart Ketchikan at 3:30pm and arrive at Hollis at 6:30pm. The holidays we do not sail are New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Yes. The IFA contracts out the galley space, and “OUR T.E.A.M.” serves delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

Yes. Walk-on passengers must check the unloaded firearm in with a uniformed crew member; ammunition must be stored separately. Unloaded firearms may be securely locked in your vehicle.

Yes. Animals must remain on the vehicle deck in owner provided carrier or in the owner’s vehicle. No additional fees or paperwork are needed to travel on our ferry.

No. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority is a public, non-profit corporation, organized under Alaska’s Municipal Port Authority Act and governed by a Board of Directors. One director is appointed from each of the following communities: Craig, Klawock, Hydaburg, Thorne Bay, Coffman Cove, Wrangell, and one “At-Large.”

Yes. In Ketchikan, there are regularly scheduled Gateway Borough buses which travel north to WalMart and the Ward Cove industrial site area, and south from downtown Ketchikan to Saxman Village and the Fawn Mountain School. Call 907-225-8726 for more information. Ketchikan has many taxi operators and vehicle rental companies listed in the local phone directory, and some Ketchikan hotels offer free shuttle service!

On Prince of Wales island, the Craig Tribal Association runs a bus service and connects with our ferry arrivals and departures. Call 907-826-3996 or email [email protected] or go to www.craigtribe.org for more information!

Yes. Call 866-308-4848 for reservations and information 7 days a week from 8 a.m. through 7 p.m. Alaska time.

Yes. To help ensure there is space available and to speed up the check-in process, the IFA recommends making reservations.

One year from the purchase date. You must provide your reservation number and who paid when using your open credit.

One year from the first day of travel of the original reservation date.

Yes. There is no fee for refunds. Depending on the method of payment, an agent can advise you how it will be refunded (refunded back to the original credit card used, or a check mailed to you from the accounting department).

Yes. The IFA has a check-in counter located in the lobby of the Alaska Marine Highway Terminal in Ketchikan, and the IFA has a Terminal in Hollis on Prince of Wales Island. You can also book online, and there is a 6% online convenience fee for reservations booked online.

The vehicle height limit is 13′, and the overall length limit of a double unit is 55′ and of a single unit is 40′.  Longer vehicles can sometimes be accommodated by contacting us and providing additional information. The width limit is 9′ but up to 12′ wide can sometimes be accommodated by calling the IFA Operations Manager; additional charges will apply. The vehicle weight limit is 60,000 lbs, and we can only carry one per sailing. Fares for towed vehicles or trailers are calculated at the combined connected length of both vehicles. Vehicles may not be disconnected for travel at separate rates on the same sailing.

It is the policy of the IFA that pets must remain on the car deck and stay in a vehicle or suitable owner provided pet carrier for the duration of the voyage. Due to Coast Guard regulations, passengers are not allowed on the car deck while the ship is underway. Pets traveling on IFA vessels should be able to be left unattended for the duration of the voyage.

Pets are not allowed on the passenger deck under any circumstance. Service animals are allowed on the passenger deck in accordance with IFA Service Animal policy. If you are traveling with a Service Animal, prior notification is required so that the crew can be prepared to accommodate the passenger and animal. Please contact IFA reservations at 866-308-4848 for additional information on traveling with a service animal.

The General Manager is responsible for receiving and investigating complaints about IFA’s operations or employees. Please Click Here for more information.

There is a $10 charge for each fish box or fish cooler transported on IFA vessel traveling from HOLLIS to KETCHIKAN. The first fish box or fish cooler is FREE and each one after is $10. Fish boxes/coolers, like all other luggage, must be accompanied by a passenger.