Cruising the Blue HIGHWAY.

• Author: JONES, PATRICIA
• Position: Alaska's ferry system

The state's ferry system provides an inexpensive cruise alternative.

Less than a year ago, managers of the Alaska Marine Highway System were scrambling to readjust bookings for thousands of travelers on the state's ferry system in the midst of the busy tourism season.

A fire that broke out on the M/V Columbia-the largest Ship in the state ferry system--took the 418-foot vessel out of commission starting June 6 and continuing throughout the year.

Overnight, the state-owned fleet of nine ferry ships suddenly dropped in size and carrying capacity, just as the 2000 summer tourism season was starting in earnest.

"It was a major undertaking for us," recalls Capt. Norm Edwards, operations manager for the Alaska Marine Highway System. "We had to move 100,000 passengers."

Now, nearly a year later, the repaired and refurbished Columbia is scheduled to resume service at the end of May, starting its usual run between Bellingham and Skagway.

"The big news is that this summer we're going to run both the Columbia and the Matanuska out of Bellingham," said Edwards.

The Columbia, with its $10 million facelift, will continue to depart Bellingham on Friday evenings. The Matanuska will depart Bellingham on Tuesday evenings, giving travelers more choice for planning their Inside Passage travels.

The Inside Passage voyage "attracts those traveling to and from Alaska," Ed wards said. "It does bring the greatest revenues to the Marine Highway System."

And he's confident that doubling capacity for that popular summer route will only boost revenues to the state owned system. "The market is there," Edwards said.

So far, that assessment is proving to be true. Despite the doubled capacity from prior seasons on the Inside Pas sage route, space availability on both vessels remains extremely tight, according to Cindy Carter, manager of Northern Lights Travel in Fairbanks, a travel agency authorized to book and ticket passengers on the state's ferry system.

As of early March, no cabins were available on either the Matanuska or the Columbia for the month of June, Carter said, and only a few vehicle spaces were available at the end of the month.

"This was very much needed--typically the ships are just booked solid," she said. "People book for the sum mer as soon as (the ferry system) comes out with the summer schedule."

Inside Passage Popularity

No matter where they live in the state, most Alaskans know that to book passage on the Alaska Marine Highway System during the busy...